Chapter 14
Before they knew it, it was the end of August and school was starting up again. Simone was in her office with a student who had some questions on an assignment when she heard a knock at the door
"um excuse me Professor Bradley" as soon as she heard the voice she felt the goose bumps, Annabelle always did that to her, not bothering to look up she smiled "yes"
"I have a couple questions about" Annabelle said in her sweet and innocent voice, but was cut off "just give me on second I'm almost done here" as she turned back to the girl she was talking too "just redo this and you'll be good"
"thank you, professor Bradley," the girl said as she made her way to the door she gave Annabelle a shy smile as she passed, she obviously didn't know who Annabelle was.
"yes, Miss Tillman what can I do for you" Simone asked playing Annabelle's game. Annabelle smiled stepped into the office shutting the door. "um, you should"
"no" Annabelle said clicking the lock "you promised me to test out Catherine's theory and I'm here to collect" she smiled the smile that she knew Simone couldn't resist
"you're so not fair"
"baby, I never said I played fair" she walked over grabbing Simone in her arms placing a kiss on her lips. As Simone got lost in her eyes.
"Annabelle really, now isn't the right time" Simone said when she came out of her daze.
"I know I was just playing, but some day we're doing it" Annabelle winked as she went to the door
"are you leaving?" Simone asked sad
"no just unlocking it, do you want it open?"
"no that's fine" Simone said sitting down at her desk "how's your day going?"
"great! I'm done"
"you're done? Already?"
"yup" Annabelle said making herself comfortable kicking her feet up on the other side of Simone's desk
"make yourself comfortable" Simone giggled as Annabelle smiled at her.
Simone was walking though campus on her way to Catherine's office, when she heard someone call out her name "professor Bradley" she didn't recognize the voice, thinking it was a student she turned around and smiled "yes" to her surprise it was professor Nancy Johansson, another English professor.
"sorry to bother you" she smiled
"it's no bother" Simone said
"the other professors and I were wondering if you and professor Stark could join us for dinner on Friday"
"oh um" Simone didn't know what to say. Nervous she didn't realize she lifted her left hand to play with her necklace.
"oh what do we have here?" she said noticing the ring
"oh um" Simone said quickly dropping her hand,
"when did you get engaged?"
"over the summer" Simone managed to squeak out
"well I've love to meet him, you can bring him Friday if you want"
"um" Simone was so flabbergasted, she obviously didn't know, she chuckled "I don't think he can make it, but I'm on my way to Professor Stark's office now, I'll pass the word on and one of us will get back to you with an answer"
"ok sounds good, and congratulations, the ring is beautiful"
"thanks" Simone said nervously as she turned, almost running to Catherine's office. She was with a student when Simone arrived standing in the door way Catherine noticed her "just a second I'm almost done here" Simone nodded as she leaned against the door frame.
"thanks again professor Stark" Simone recognized the student
"anytime" Catherine smiled as she watched the student pass Simone
"hi professor Bradley" Simone just smiled and nodded
"so, what's up?" Catherine asked as she looked at Simone who was still in her state of shock she giggled "are you ok?"
"yeah, I will be, I just ran into the Nancy Johansson, she um, she wants us to join them for dinner on Friday"
"us, like you and me, us or you and Annabelle"
"you and me" Simone said, "pretty sure she doesn't know about Annabelle"
"why you say that?"
"she saw my ring, and told me I could bring HIM, with on Friday"
"him huh?" Catherine chuckled. "good thing I don't have a ring"
"yeah, they might think we're together then"
"hey that'd be a good decoy" Catherine said looking up at Simone, "if we had them thinking you and I were a couple, that'd take them off the scent of Jackie and I"
"you're kidding me right" Simone giggled
"yes, but think about it?" Simone shook her head "I think we should go, the girls will be alright by themselves for a night"
"you really think we can leave them alone on a Friday night and not come home to a dance party in the living room" Simone said ending in a laugh remembering the night they came home Jackie was drunk and Annabelle was dancing around.
"they'll be fine" Catherine said as she reached for her phone "I'm texting her letting her know we'll be there"
"fine" Simone said plopping down in a chair
"I'll be done in a minute just packing stuff up" Catherine said Simone smiled
"Jacks, that's not how it goes, like this" Annabelle said as she was trying to show Jackie some moves to a dance
"this is hopeless" Jackie said throwing her hands in the air
"oh stop"
"no I suck at dancing, the most I can do is sway back and forth and turn in a circle" she said showing her
"I happen to like how you dance" Catherine said giggling
"it's like this" Simone said standing next to Jackie doing the dance
"that's my girl" Annabelle said giggling
"Simone, I didn't know you could move like that" Catherine giggled
"you get up here and try it"
"nope I'll pass I'm worse than Jackie" Catherine leaned over giving Jackie a kiss "how was your day" she whispered
"fine, until now" Jackie giggled
"you looked pretty sexy"
"yeah" Jackie said watching Simone and Annabelle who were having pretty much the same conversation
"oh hey, did you know Simone is engaged to a guy?" Catherine blurted out giggling
"oh" Annabelle said stepping back to look at her "when did this happen?"
"I ran into professor Johansson she saw the ring"
"ah professor Johansson, she's so oblivious" Jackie said remembering when she had her class last year
"she wants us to join them for dinner Friday night" Simone said rolling her eyes
"I told her we'd do it" Catherine said giggling
"go for it" Annabelle said looking at Jackie, they smiled at each other "we can go out, maybe run into Sandy"
"I'd rather not run into her"
"Sandy huh?" Catherine asked
"yeah, we have a class with her and Annabelle has taken it upon herself to make sure she invites her to join us in whatever we have going on"
"really" Catherine chuckled
"hey, I figure she's going to make us uncomfortable I'm going to do the same to her"
"Catherine had what she thinks in an amazing idea" Simone said sitting down
"when she told me about Nancy seeing her ring and assuming she was with a guy, I thought it'd be fun to let on that we were in a relationship"
Annabelle busted out laughing Jackie looked at her confused. "that's perfect"
"I thought so" Catherine said smiling.
"well do what you want, just as long as you come home to me" Annabelle said kissing Simone. "I'm just surprised she doesn't know about us. I mean it was all over the news, remember Jacks, when we were in LA we ran into Jamie Davis, they seemed to know all about it, and they're from Wisconsin"
"well she does kind of live under a rock" Simone said, "that's what I've heard anyway"
"hey Jack, maybe we should just invite Sandy out with us?"
"Annabelle" Jackie said rolling her eyes "I would rather not"
"fine"
"so, professor Bradley tell us about this guy" professor Johansson said
"um" Simone said nervously
"it's not a guy" Catherine said
"Catherine" Simone scolded
"it's ok Simone, it's me" Catherine said waiting for Simone to say something but she just rolled her eyes
"professor Stark I, I didn't realize you were"
"gay? It's ok you can say it"
"Catherine" Simone said giving her a stern look "we aren't together" Catherine just shrugged her shoulders with a smirk "you all know Annabelle"
"Annabelle Tillman?" Professor Storm asked
"yes, Annabelle Tillman" Simone said
"oh, my god, you're that teacher and student from that catholic school out in LA that got caught sleeping together" professor Johansson exclaimed as Simone nodded "and you're here in Bloomington"
"we are" Simone said shyly they started asking questions Simone didn't want to answer, rolling her eyes and trying to deal with it when she heard the voice she'd know anywhere
"excuse me Professor Bradley"
Rolling her eyes and sighing, this was all she needed Simone said, "yes Annabelle"
"um I was just wondering"
"Annabelle, they know it's ok" Catherine said looking back at the two girls smiling at Jackie, with the fact that they were with other professor's Catherine had to keep it low key.
"awe what fun is that" Annabelle said smiling "hi ladies" the other professors at the table just smiled they were still too stunned to say anything.
"what are you doing here?" Simone asked
"came to eat, just like you silly" Annabelle said bumping her arm she could tell Simone was annoyed, "I guess we'll just go" she nodded to the direction of their table noticing Jackie had already retreated to it.
"I'll see you at home" Simone said shyly as Annabelle smiled.
"wait I thought you two lived together?" professor Johansson asked confused
"we do" Catherine said setting her drink down on the table.
"with Annabelle?"
"yes" Catherine said. Johansson always asked the strangest question.
"ok this is just too much, I don't think I can take anymore" Nancy said sitting back in her chair. "Catherine, are you?"
"seeing anyone?" Nancy nodded "I am, but I'm not one to talk about it"
"but are you?"
"gay?" Catherine looked at Simone and let out a laugh "yes, Nancy I am gay and the person I am seeing is a woman"
"hey, let's go eat" Annabelle said "there's this restaurant I've been wanting to go to" Annabelle said as she and Jackie were studying
"ok" Jackie said flipping her book closed "I'm starving"
"me too" Annabelle smiled, Jackie giggled at her
"hey look" Annabelle said as they pulled in the parking lot they saw Catherine's car "I got an idea"
"oh god"
"come on it'll be fun" Annabelle said climbing out of the car. As they waited for the hostess to seat them she spotted Simone, her back was toward her but she'd know her anywhere. The hostess brought them to their table which wasn't far away from their professors. "ready?" Annabelle asked and she went and stood behind Simone, she could tell they were in some conversation and by Simone's body language she was uncomfortable. She walked up behind her cleared her throat "excuse me, professor Bradley" she couldn't see Simone's reaction but heard it in her voice
"yes Annabelle?" she said turning around when their eyes locked she got lost in the pools of blue and forgot what she was doing.
Stammering a little "um, I was just wondering"
"Annabelle, they know" Catherine said looking up at Annabelle seeing Jackie behind her, she smiled, it was the only thing they could do being in public with the professors.
"awe what fun is that?"
"what are you doing here?" Simone asked
"came to eat, just like you silly" Annabelle said bumping her arm she could tell Simone was annoyed, "I guess we'll just go" she nodded to the direction of their table noticing Jackie had already retreated to it.
"I'll see you at home" Simone said shyly as Annabelle smiled
"yes, you will" Annabelle said giving her signature smirk, turning around and walking to her table "that wasn't very fun"
"you thought it would be?"
"I was hoping" Annabelle giggled
"she's going to kill you"
"maybe, but they should have already known, it's not like we are hiding" Annabelle said as the waitress showed up to take their order.
"let's never do that again" Simone said as her and Catherine walked through the door to the house.
"it wasn't that bad" Catherine giggled
"you weren't the one on trial there, and then having Annabelle show up"
"I thought it was perfect, and still think we should have went with us being together, would have been hilarious seeing the look on their faces"
"yeah"
"I think it was pretty hilarious when I told them I was gay; did you see Nancy's face?" Catherine giggled, Simone nodded hearing her phone go off it was a text from Annabelle
Hey we're going to check out this party, we won't be out too late love you ~A
"guess they are going to a party" Simone said
Ok just be careful, don't let Jackie get too drunk ~S she knew that Annabelle wouldn't be drinking, she only drank at home, and not much.
I won't tell cat she loves her, and I love you ~A
Ok, love you too ~S
"Jackie loves you" Simone said with a smile. She saw Catherine shake her head pulling out her phone, she figured Jackie didn't text her just in case they were still with the other professor's
I love you porcupine, be safe ~C
I love you too ~J
"well now what do you want to do?" Catherine asked tossing her phone on the coffee table. With the girls gone, they found themselves rather bored. Normally on a Friday night they'd have dinner and sit around talking.
"we could, play a game?" Simone said she wasn't sure what she wanted to do. She was still a little on edge from their dinner
"scrabble?" Catherine said she knew Simone loved that game and Annabelle hated playing with her.
Simone looked up at her and smiled "sure" as Catherine got up and brought the game out.
"Annabelle is right"
"about" Simone asked giggling
"I never had a chance" Catherine looked down at the score
"I'm having fun"
"I bet you are, next time we're playing monopoly" Catherine giggled as she looked up at Simone "this is nice"
"yeah it is, it's too quiet though"
"yeah" Catherine said looking at the clock it was going on midnight and the girls weren't home yet "wonder if they're having fun?"
"Jackie come on" Annabelle pleaded
"Anna just be a college student one night please" Jackie begged
"fine, but we aren't staying long"
"you're such a drag, you know Simone isn't going anywhere"
"I know but"
"it's like you two are already married I don't think you need that piece of paper"
Annabelle took a deep breath "fine let's go to this party" Jackie smiled "but if any guys try to hit on me, I'm going to say we're together"
"I'm pretty sure all the students know you're with Simone" Jackie giggled "hey maybe Sandy will be there" that made Annabelle smile she enjoyed her game she was playing with Sandy. She sent Simone a quick text letting her know what was going on. Jackie didn't want to text Catherine with fear they were still with the other professor's. To her surprised she found herself having fun. Forgetting what it was like to act her age, the last year and a half she was either trapped inside that damn school or spending all her time with Simone. Feeling herself finally relax she grabbed a drink. The next thing she knew she was on her fourth and her and Jackie we're in the middle of playing 'I've never' Annabelle thought back to the basement at the school when she, Cat, Kristen and Collins played, the night they found out she was gay.
"I've never slept with a teacher" one of the guys said
"well" Annabelle said raising her glass
"what?" they exclaimed
"oh come on, you know I'm engaged to professor Bradley" Annabelle said in her not so sober state giggling with Jackie, who snuck a drink, hoping no one saw her.
"engaged? How is that possible"
"I don't want to go into it. Just google us and you'll see" she said as she noticed someone pull out her phone. Then heard "oh my god, really?" Annabelle rolled her eyes and downed her drink. "shit" she said to Jackie as they made their way to the bathroom "I don't think I can drive"
"I know I can't" Jackie said leaning into her.
"should we call Simone or Catherine" Annabelle asked looking at Jackie "Simone" they both said at the same time. Annabelle pulled out her phone, hoping she wasn't in bed, but she knew she'd come no matter what.
"hello"
"hey beautiful" Annabelle said slurring her words
"Annabelle, are you drunk?"
"just a little bit, um, can you come get us?"
Rolling her eyes, she was happy she was acting her age, but dreaded this phone call "where are you at?" as Annabelle tried to explain "we'll just look for the car" Simone said "we're on the way"
"thanks baby, I love you"
"love you too" Simone said hanging up "well, they are both drunk, we have to go get them"
"ok" Catherine said standing up and grabbing her keys "where they at?"
"the dorms by the psych building or somewhere I couldn't quite make out what Annabelle was saying she said they'd meet us at the car." As they pulled up they saw them leaning against the car "at least they were smart enough to call" Simone said
"yeah" Catherine said stopping the car as Simone got out, Annabelle ran into her arms.
"I love you" Annabelle said kissing her
"let's save this for home" Simone said taking the keys and unlocking the car, as Jackie hopped in with Catherine, Simone saw Jackie lean over and give Catherine a kiss, she looked around she saw Sandy. Shaking her head, she knew this wasn't going to end well. She got into the car as Annabelle leaned over and whispered, "hurry home" and kissed her neck. They pulled up to the house at the same time Jackie and Annabelle rushed inside fighting for the bathroom
"as we were leaving I saw Sandy"
Catherine rolled her eyes "do you think she saw Jackie get into my car"
"pretty sure"
"well" Catherine shrugged her shoulders "maybe it's time it finally came out, I'm tired of hiding anyway"
"maybe, I'll see you in the morning" Simone said heading up the stairs.
"so why are you drunk?" Simone asked normally Annabelle didn't drink
"Jackie wanted to check out this party, so we did, I found myself relaxed so I grabbed one" Annabelle said as she flopped on the bed. "the next thing I knew we were in the middle of playing 'I've never'"
"what's that"
"a game, where someone says they've never done something and if you have you have to drink"
"ah"
"the last time I played it was in the basement"
"the night I caught you guys down there drinking?"
"exactly" Annabelle said "that was the last time I drank, until we came here" she looked at Simone trying hard not to slur her words, she was drunk, but not like she used to be "are you mad?"
"no why would I be"
"I call you in the middle of the night saying we're drunk we need a ride"
"I'm not happy that I had to leave" Simone said sitting on the bed next to Annabelle "but I'm glad you called instead of driving, that and you're acting like the 19-year-old you are. Annabelle I won't ever be mad about that"
"do you know how fucking sexy you are right now?" Annabelle said the alcohol taking control as she pushed Simone back on the bed and straddled her. Simone smiled and shook her head "pretty damn fucking sexy" Annabelle said kissing her neck.
"have fun tonight?" Catherine asked in a tone that Jackie knew she was upset
"I did" Jackie said as she unbuttoned her pants almost falling over as she went to step out of them.
"good" Catherine said as she caught Jackie, Jackie looked up and found herself looking deep in Catherine's eyes "please don't be mad"
"I'm not mad, I'm happy you guys called instead of trying to drive"
"well we got that going for us."
"Jackie" Catherine said helping her sit down on the bed. "I can't be mad at you for acting your age, lord knows I did when I was your age"
"ok" Jackie said looking back in her eyes. Catherine leaned in kissing her neck, in all the spots she knew Jackie would melt. After Jackie had passed out Catherine laid there staring at the ceiling. Simone's words haunting her, no she didn't care if she got caught she was more worried about Jackie. Looking over at Jackie, naked curled up in a ball, she whispered "I hope you know exactly how much I love you" she kissed her forehead and shut her eyes.
"good morning" Annabelle said as she made her way into the kitchen
"morning, how are you feeling" Catherine asked she was already dressed and looked like she was headed out
"I've been better" Annabelle said sitting at the table putting her head in her hands "now I remember why I stopped drinking
"yeah, I don't miss the hangovers" Catherine giggled "Jackie is still asleep, if she gets up before I get back will you tell her I had to run some errands?"
"sure" Annabelle said with a smile.
"take some aspirin, and have some coffee, oh and eat something, you'll feel better" Catherine said patting her on her shoulder
"thanks, I will see you later"
"yup" Catherine said grabbing her brief case and headed out the door.
The campus was quiet, only a few students milling around, which surprised Catherine it was still early on a Saturday. She made her way to her office, pulling out her laptop she began to type. When she was done, she printed it and signed it. Finding an envelope, she folded the letter neatly stuffing it in. Looking around her office she sighed, she had worked so hard to get to where she was at, career wise, but Jackie was worth losing it all for. Sighing she picked up her things. And headed out the door. Walking down the long hall, she saw Professor Haacht's door open, knocking softy he looked up "Professor Stark, what can I do for you" she stepped in and closed the door behind her, handing him the envelope "what's this?"
Sighing "I have a feeling things are going to start blowing up in my face, and if or when they do, you already have this on file" she nodded for him to open it.
"Catherine" he said
"Leonard, you know how much I love my job, but Jackie, I love Jackie more. I can find another job"
"I think you're making a big mistake" he said holding up the letter
"I'm just being prepared, I think someone saw us last night and I wanted to be prepared if it all blows up" she said nodding to her letter of resignation "by the way people are going to be talking about Simone too"
"that I'm not worried about, we knew all about her relationship when we hired her"
Catherine smiled.
"I have some news for you"
"what's that?" he asked intrigued he had always look at Catherine like she was his own daughter, it was a shock to find out she was gay, let alone sleeping with students.
"we're engaged" Catherine smiled thinking about Jackie
"congratulations" he said with a warm smile, but surprised by the rumors he heard floating around campus she was a player and to finally settle down was a shock. "don't forget to invite me to the wedding"
"I won't, it'll be some ways down the road, I want Jackie to finish school"
"Catherine, you are an amazing woman and teacher, your parents would be so proud of you"
"would they really?" Catherine asked sternly "come on Leonard, I sleep with students, how proud of me would my parents be"
Taking a deep breath he said "I'm proud of you, for all that you've accomplished, you forget I watched you grow up, you are like my own daughter, and" he paused "and I don't want"
"it's ok, I knew what the consequences were when I started this" she said shyly. "and I'm prepared for the worst"
"ok" he said setting the letter down on his desk
"you have that, when the time comes" she nodded as she slipped out the door.
On her way home, she stopped and picked up some donuts, knowing both Jackie and Annabelle were hung over.
"where'd you go?" Jackie asked when she came through the door
"um" her eyes darted to Simone "I had something I had to do" she smiled "I brought donuts" she added holding them up.
"sweet hangover food" Annabelle said Once they had eaten Annabelle was feeling better "want to go for a run?" she said looking at Jackie
"sure, why not, maybe I can sweat the alcohol out of my system"
"ok I'm gonna go change" she said standing kissing Simone before she left the room. As Jackie followed, doing the same to Catherine.
"so, where did you really go"
"to see Haacht"
"why?" Simone asked confused
"if Sandy really did see us, I need to be prepared for everything to blow up in my face"
"Catherine"
"Simone, I knew what I was getting myself into, was I expecting to fall in love? No, but I did and it's worth losing my job over" she said smiling "it's not like I need to work anyway"
"that's not the point"
"what's the point then?" Catherine asked rolling her eyes "look, Simone, I'm just preparing myself for whatever happens, I mean it's not like it's going to be a shock to those important to me"
"fine" Simone sighed in defeat she couldn't think of anything to say anyway. Catherine had a point, she fought her feelings for so long, and ended up losing everything for the one she loved and she'd do it all over again in a heartbeat. There was no doubt that Catherine loved Jackie just as much as she loved Annabelle. "just know no matter what we're here for you" Simone said looking in Catherine's eyes. As they both smiled.