For the remainder of the morning, my Care Bears presented their Show and Tell projects. They were all in fits of laughter through most of their peer's shows. I seriously didn't realise we had so many comedians amongst us in the classroom. I can only imagine how entertaining they'll be at the end of year talent quest. When the fits of laughter died down, and the classroom became respectfully quiet again. The sudden rush of worry and guilt returned. It made me think about Sanz and hoping he kept his word by calling the police.
The moment the interval bell rings and the last of my Care Bears leave to go play outside, I make a quick beeline to Sanz office. I knock on the door...
"Come in." He replies gruffly.
I enter his office and sit down on one of the chairs in front of his desk.
"Have you notified the police?"
Sanz looks up from his computer.
"I did."
"And?" I ask impatiently.
"Seems they packed up in a hurry and left."
He stands and starts pacing up and down his office.
"Shit.." I mutter.
"Yeah... Shit, alright." Sanz sneers.
"What happens now?" I turn to face him.
"The police said they will try to track them down, and if they find them they will perform a well-being check on Ryder. Once it's completed they will get back to me." He stops pacing and sits back behind his desk.
"This is ridiculous, surely Thomas didn't pack up and leave after last nights occurrence." I protest, refusing to believe it.
"Maybe he has something to hide and didn't want to risk it coming to light through one of Ryder's journal entries." He picks up a pen and throws it across the room. His eyes watching it bounce back from the wall.
"The whole point of my journal scheme was to help build and encourage my students with their creative writing capabilities. There were no actual intentions for it to be used as an actual diary for me to use to spy upon them. I would never invade their privacy like that." I claim, feeling astounded as I remember Thomas's previous accusations.
"I'm sure your intentions were pure... like water, Nessa," Sanz says softly.
"It's all my fault damn it." I put my hands over my face and sob lightly.
"Hey... It's not your fault, so stop blaming yourself. No one was to know what was going on behind closed doors. None of us at the academy had an inkling." He says softly as he walks around his desk, handing me a tissue, and gently lays a hand on my shoulder.
Offering me comfort.
The school bell rings, and I quickly wipe my face with the tissue.
"Try to be positive Nessa. I'm pretty sure Ryder isn't accusing you of being the cause of the misfortunate predicament he's currently facing." He says soothingly.
"No... But, I'm pretty sure he's scared as hell and that's what's chewing me up the most." I stand and let out a frustrated sigh.
The walk back to my class seemed like a fair distance away, when truth be told it was only a block away from the office. I thought about cancelling lunch with Luca. My current mood from this morning dissolved the moment Sanz reminded me about Ryder. But I also know if I cancel, he will still show up to the Academy and demand answers. The big sexy Italian is always demanding something from me whether I give consent or not. But it's always something and it's always on his terms. I decide against it. It's probably the wisest decision I'll make for the entire day.
My phones Dings... And pulls me from my train of thought.
Chrissy: You coming home tonight?
Ding...
Chrissy: I have a big bottle of wine with your name written all over it.
Hmmm, Chrissy buying alcohol to be consumed at home is something new.
Vanessa: Hope it's a big bottle. I reply with a smiley face emoji.
Chrissy: All the big bad B's Nessa.
Ding...
Chrissy: Big, Bubbly, and bloody delicious.
Reading the Big Bad B's have me faintly smiling.
Vanessa: Can't wait.
***************************************
I finish descending the stairs and walk over to Cullum.
“Hey, Cullum,” I say with delight as I approach him.
“How is he?” I mumble, standing in front of him, waiting for his reply before we walk towards the car.
“Miss Maddison, I do believe Luca has a few questions for you about the young man that approached you this morning.” He says curtly.
“You’re kidding me right?” I scoff at him.
“I’m afraid not. He asked me if you got to work alright, and I may have let it slip about the young man greeting you upon your arrival. I am sorry.” He says sympathetically with remorseful eyes.
I nod at him. “You have nothing to be sorry about. Luca is a full grown-ass man. You can’t pacify everything for him.”
We walk to the Beast and Cullum opens the door for me, I look inside and see Luca sitting there staring right back at me, his eyes darken as they continue to scowl me. I slide into the car and shift so I am facing him.
“Hello Luca, how has your morning been?” I lean in and give him a quick peck on the cheek.
Luca continues to sit silently and stare at me until Cullum has pulled out into the flowing lunchtime traffic.
“My morning was going fantastico until I was informed that another young man approached you the minute you stepped foot outside of this car.” His voice holds a no-bullshit tone to it.
“Sanz. Luca, his name is Sanz. He's the new acting headmaster for the academy and he had a perfectly good reason for why he was waiting for me upon my arrival in YOUR car.” I let out a long sigh.
"I don't care if he was the damn king of England. I doubt there to be a perfect explanation for his presence." He snarls.
"One of my..." I start to tell him about Ryder.
"Are you going to sit here and makeup excuses for him?' He rudely cuts me off.
“I’ve agreed to have lunch with him tomorrow. And if that disturbs you, I'm not sorry about it.” I throwback at him pissed off.
I look out the window briefly breaking away from the intense scowling he keeps casting upon me. I hate being dismissed like that...
“Cullum will go with you.” He snaps coldly.
“What? Cullum... NO!” I yell at him and look into the rearview mirror meeting Cullum’s gaze.
“No offence Cullum,” I say apologetically and he nods before turning his attention back to the road.
I face Luca again and try to calm down not wanting to say anything that would upset him further or myself.
“Luca…. You can’t do this. It’s lunch that’s all.” I implore. "I don't need a chauffeur."
“Cullum will go with you and that is final Vanessa.” He clasps his hands together as he places them on his knees.
“No, it's not. Don’t try to dictate my social life, Luca! I will see and have lunch with whomever I please. You don’t have rights to me and we aren’t in an exclusive relationship. I won’t keep tabs on who you see or have lunch with because it’s not what we agreed on.” My voice starts to shake as my anger begins to surface.
“Is that what you want?” He asks, glaring at me.
“Do I want what, exactly?” I say like a spoiled brat.
“To be in an exclusive relationship?” He growls aggressively.