Clara's Undoing

Clara's Undoing - Chapter Eight: Busted And Acknowledged

William

“I’m so excited for Clara.” Jodie stated as she looked over to their table. “She’d been waiting for this moment her entire life.”

I looked down as I licked my lips. “I assume she’s had a crush on him for a long time?”

She turned her gaze towards me as she nodded. “Yes. Since third grade. I was there with every valentine she made but never gave him.”

“How do you know all this?” I inquired.

“I was her sitter for a long time.” She answered. “Don’t tell her I told you that. Her parents aren’t home most of the time and I didn’t want to be in mine so I took a job. I think I was the only one at school who did since you know how prestigious Bridgeborn is.”

I looked over to Clara and James’ table once again. She looked like she was having the time of her life. The waiter came and I immediately ordered a glass of double whisky after Jodie gave her choice of beverage.

“I’m so glad Clara has finally come out of her shell.” Jodie said. “She used to be so timid.”

Clara? Timid?

“I doubt that.” I disagreed. “She’s the only student who talks back to me.”

She chuckled as she drank from her wine glass. “It seems, though, as if you enjoy it.”

I took a sip of my drink as well before answering. “Until now, I’ve only had students—and colleagues—who constantly agreed with me. Never someone like her.”

“You should’ve seen me when I was still going to Bridgeborn. I was a force of nature.”

I let out a small chuckle. “That, I don’t doubt. So what are you majoring in?”

“Psychology.” She replied. “I go to Brown and it’s my last year so I barely have time to visit home with all the stress and pressure going on. So much for being a psych major huh?”

I glanced over to the other table again, unable to stop myself. Their food had arrived but it didn’t seem to have gotten in the way of their conversation in any way. Clara laughed and smiled sweetly at James the entire time.

“Look, I have nothing against the whole age gap thing considering she’s already eighteen but the teacher-student thing, that’s another story.”

I peeled my eyes off of Clara as I knotted my brows at the woman before me. “Sorry, I don’t follow.”

She smirked, as if she knew something she thought I knew too. She then glanced at Clara for a moment before returning her blue eyes at me knowingly. “Exactly.”

It was my turn to look at Clara, again. I could hear how she was in the middle of explaining to James how Sidney made her promise to come to the blood drive next week. The way her nose scrunched up when she mentioned the word “blood” with an ick factor made me snicker to myself. I was certain she didn’t realize how unfailingly adorable she was.

“Can’t blame you.” Jodie whispered to me. “She’s amazing. It’s a shame not many people realize that, sometimes not even herself. The way she hides all of those incredible qualities underneath her glasses and quiver under the idea of a normal social conversation with another human being is a masterpiece really. But you… you seem to notice her.”

I took a rather large sip of my whisky. “Still don’t know what you mean.”

“Oh come on, give me some credit.” She laughed as she mimicked my gesture with her own drink. “I may be younger than you are but I’m not naive like her. Clara has the patent on that.”

“It’s not what you think.” was all I could say.

“Oh really?” She asked rhetorically before continuing. “Your eyes have been literally glued to her the entire night. They’re basically heart-shaped and the way your ears perk up everytime she tells a story is an automatic giveaway. Even if she’s at a different table. You’ve barely asked anything about me since we got here.”

Not one coherent word came out of my mouth other than a chuckle. Sure, I’d noticed Clara but I noticed some other girls from her school too. True that there was a big difference in the way I saw them versus the way I saw her but that was only because Clara’s got something about her that makes me want to keep looking.

After a few moments, I watched as Clara excused herself and stood up. Then I was stunned.

She looked extraordinary in her dress. I felt my world stop, as did my breathing, and I began to wonder if I could ever look at her as a student ever again. As my student.

Wrong as I knew it was, this may have been the most certain I had been in my entire life.

“But like I said, the whole teacher-student thing…sexy as it may seem… it’s gonna get the both of you in a whole lot of mess. And that’s not something I want for her.”

Like a grown, capable, literate man I venture out to be, the only reaction I seem to have was a laugh. “Absurd, is what this is.”

“I know.” She pointed out. “But you better brace yourself. Clara’s finally getting what she’s always wanted. Like I said, she’s been in love with James her entire life and it seems like you’re not the only one who finally noticed her.”

I looked at the other table, Clara was back and seeing how engaged they were in their conversation, I can see the admiration in her eyes. It was evident on the way she laughed how head over heels she was for this guy and it wasn’t sitting well with me.

Clara caught my eyes and my mind scrambled for a reaction but came up with nothing. I just stared at her even after she gave me a sweet soft smile.

“See what I mean?” Jodie asked, pulling me out of my trance. “So now that that’s settled, why don’t we at least try to have a good time tonight?”

Clara

Jodie laughed from the other table. I turned to look at them and saw Mr. Parrish leant in whispering something that seemed funny enough to make Jodie laugh that loud.

“Seems like we’re not the only ones having a good time.” James insinuated as he took a sip of his club soda. “I think they’d make a great couple.”

My chest constricted a little, although I was unsure why. Maybe because he was right. They do look great together. Jodie was gorgeous and smart. She could level up to how intelligent Mr. Parrish was and I couldn’t even begin to describe how incredibly handsome and hot he was. I don’t think I’ve ever made her laugh like that.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen or heard her laugh like that.” I mumbled under my breath.

“Yeah, she’s totally into him.” James stated. “Look!”

I laughed out loud, disregarding his order to look at the couple on the other table. “You said ‘totally’.”

“What?” He shrugged. “Lots of guys use that word.”

I laughed even harder and spoke in between breaths. “No, they don’t. It’s funny. You remind me of White Chicks.”

“It’s not that funny.”

I nodded slowly while still laughing. “Yeah, it is. Totally!”

“Anybody ever told you you’re crazy, Wheeler?” He said, eventually joining in on my laugh.

I decided to settle into conversation with James rather than focusing on the couple from the other table. He told me all about how Coach Fredmaan was riding him up about the championship game and how nervous he was about scouts coming in from different colleges to watch him play. He pretty much had a tight schedule coming up for training and asked me if I could come watch him after school. Of course I told him I would since I’d already been doing that for the most part of my high school life but I didn’t tell him that bit. I didn’t even think I would ever get the chance to be here with James in the very manner we were in right now. It seemed like there was nothing else I could ever hope for.

Jodie and Mr. Parrish’s dinner lasted as long as ours. We all got out of the restaurant together and walked side by side with our respective partners towards the parking area.

“Listen,” James started reluctantly. “Coach just texted. He’s making us come in now for a meeting since the entire team’s gonna be at the TFP this weekend. I’m already half an hour late.”

I blinked at him. He actually finished our date instead of leaving early? “Oh God, go! You should’ve said something earlier! Jesus, I had two desserts.”

“It was worth it, watching you gobble it up like Pacman.” He said teasingly.

I looked at him menacingly which only caused him to ruffle my hair. His gesture made my cheeks grow hot.

“I can drop you off really quickly–”

I shook my head. “No! I’ll be alright. I’ll catch a ride with Jodie or call a cab.”

He looked at me pleadingly, “Are you sure?”

I nodded and gave him a reassuring smile. “I’ll be fine. Go! You’re gonna be running laps in the middle of the night if you don’t get out of here now.”

We caught up to Jodie and Mr. Parrish, realizing we were standing in front of Jodie’s car. He seemed to have made sure to walk her up to here. That was nice of him.

James bid his farewell to Jodie, planting a polite kiss on her hand while he patted Mr. Parrish on the shoulder, thanking them both for tonight. He then faced me and gave me a kiss on the cheek and told me he’d be calling tonight after his meeting before running up to his car and leaving the three of us behind.

“How are you getting home Clara?” Jodie asked, her voice filled with worry.

“Seeing as how my ride just left, I was hoping I could catch a ride with you, Jodie.” I immediately regretted my words. “But I can just get a cab if you guys have plans after this. I think I saw some out front.”

Jodie bit her lower lip and looked at Mr. Parrish knowingly before looking at her phone. “You know what? I’ve actually got somewhere to be. My mother’s making me pick up some stuff for her for tomorrow’s party and she’s gonna get crazy mad if I don't do it, so… I better go.”

Uh oh. Did I just mess up their plans?

I sewed my lips shut. Geez Clara, you can be so dense sometimes. I may have just ruined their night.

Jodie placed a languid kiss on Mr. Parrish’s cheek and whispered something to his ear. My face immediately grew hot just as his ears turned red. I feel like I’d interrupted some sort of plan between them and now she might be whispering sexy, sweet promises to his ear—something I shouldn’t be aware of, and I was smacked in the middle of it to witness.

We stepped aside as Jodie left the parking lot in her gray Lexus, the one she’s had since she was in high school. A lot of memories came down in that car and I couldn’t help but feel bad about how I practically sabotaged her night because I was such a big wuss about getting a ride home. Jodie was practically my best friend apart from Sidney. She stayed with me, despite being extremely popular, ditching parties and whatnot just so I didn’t stay home alone when my parents were gone.

“I’ll take you home, Ms. Wheeler.” Mr. Parrish offered. “Come on.”

My brows furrowed together. “Are you sure?”

“Come on, before I change my mind and leave you out here on your own.” He said as he started to walk away.

Mr. Parrish led me to his black BMW I7 and opened the door for me. I slipped into the passenger’s seat and just now sunk into me that I was in my teacher’s car alone at night. How often did that happen to people?

Sure, a lot of teachers offer their students a ride but how often does that teacher turn out to be young and hot?

“Thanks for doing this, Mr. Parrish.” I said, breaking the silence that settled between us as soon as he got in. “And I’m sorry if I ruined your plans with Jodie.”

“It’s fine. I don’t mind.” He replied as we exited the parking lot and into the night.

I pursed my lips. “I could give you her number, you know.”

“For what purpose?”

“You know, so whatever plans I may have ruined tonight, you can call her some time later and un-ruin it.”

He scoffed. “I’m pretty sure I don’t need dating advice from you, Ms. Wheeler. I don’t see you having late night plans either. I can manage perfectly on my own.”

I gave him a flat look. He didn't see it because he was too focused on the road but I was pretty sure I was burning a hole through the side of his head. I doubt he couldn’t feel it.

“You know, you two looked good together.” I started the conversation again. “I’m glad this night went great… Apart from the unfortunate turn of events after, dinner was great, don’t you think? You two seemed like you hit it off.”

“Unfortunate?” He asked, finally looking at me with a hint of disdain in his eyes. “Being stuck with me is unfortunate?”

“That’s not what I meant, Mr. Parrish. Don’t be such an ass.” I told him playfully.

“I’m taking you home and I’m the a*s?” He asked. “I don’t see your date who you had a great night with taking you home.”

“Why are you so hard on James?” I asked. “He wouldn’t leave me if he had a choice.”

“I’m just saying, if I were him I wouldn’t leave someone so beautiful behind. Trust me, a lot of guys would bend more than backwards just to take you home.”

I rolled my eyes. “You have to say that because you’re my teacher.”

By now, only one of his hands was on the wheel. The other was folded against the window frame and his fingers were slightly grazing his lips.

“Actually, I shouldn’t say that because I’m your teacher.”

I was stunned. The calmness in his words were too obviously bursting at the seams and I couldn’t tell whether he was joking or not. His voice, ever soft and tenor, came out almost like a whisper—like he didn’t want me to hear what he just said.

So I had to change the topic.

“So how was your dinner with Jodie?” I asked after clearing my throat silently. “Were there any talks about future get-togethers? Maybe a second date...”

“You were there, why do you even have to ask?”

I rolled my eyes again as I turned them towards the window, glaring at everything we passed by. I knew he was pissed at me for ruining their night but he said he didn’t mind. If I’d known this was gonna be an awkward car ride, I would’ve hailed a cab instead.

So I kept my mouth shut the rest of the way, thinking about how the night had gone. Mr. Parrish and Jodie really did make a cute couple should they continue moving forwards but I think she’d be in for a tough time. Mr. Parrish seemed like a handful—grouchy and mean most of the time but if there was one person who could bring someone out of their shell, it was Jodie. That was what she did with me.

I never would’ve gone to school dances if it wasn’t for her. She was the tracks to my ultra timid wagon and always gave me the push I needed all throughout middle school. When she graduated and left for college, I had already found my Sidney by then.

We reached my street and the only conversation we had again was me telling him where to take a turn so he could get to my house. His car slowly delved into our driveway and as soon as I felt the wheels stopped, I took off my seatbelt and exited his car.

I leaned into his window as soon as I did. “Thanks again for the ride Mr. Parrish.”

The peevishness on his face was briefly replaced by a tender smile. “Anytime Clara.”

My breath hitched. It was the first time he ever called me by my first name and the shiver it sent running down my spine was colder than the Autumn wind.

“You know, James was right.” I stated, pulling out my reverie. “He said you and Jodie would make a great couple. Goodnight!”

William

“Goodnight.” I mumbled to myself as I watched her hastily enter her house, my left hand curled into a fist against my lips thinking about how she had to mention his name again.

Jesus Christ, what was happening to me?

Subconsciously, I softly bumped my fist against the wheel twice before driving off her driveway.