Chapter 28- Secrets and lies.
The
morning was yet again, a rush. Gemma woke up late; Emily forgot
breakfast and took a lifetime to brush her teeth. Daniel and Fran
were standing at the door waiting. Eventually they were ready and in
the car, it was the usual routine, drop Emily off first, then head up
to the older school, unload the car, dump the stuff in classrooms,
then head off to the staff room. Everyone had heard about the fire,
but no one knew about Fran. Gemma introduced her while Daniel
whispered to Lesley: "Where's Michael?"
"In his office.
Careful, he's a bit moody," she hissed back.
"Right, I'm going to see him." He whispered back and slipped out the side door.
The breeze was gentle as he walked through the school. Four year eight girls walked past. "Hi sir!" Three of them said, the fourth kept her head down, looking at the ground, saying nothing. He just smiled and went into the office. Michael was looking very stressed, trying to sort out papers but constantly dropping them.
"Michael, what's up? You look really stressed out. You can tell me you know." Daniel said. Michael sighed.
"Dan... I've done something really stupid. And I mean really stupid." He said, scared.
"What is it? Tell me, you're scaring me." Daniel said.
"I... I..." He stammered, then took a deep breath. "I slept with Jessica Stevenson." Daniel's jaw dropped.
"You WHAT?!? You didn't! Please tell me you're joking!" He shouted.
"Keep your voice down! I woke up this morning, saw her and knew it was a mistake. I've told her it won't get that far again and she seemed fine with it." Michael mumbled.
"WON'T GET THAT FAR?!?!?!?!" Daniel yelled. "SO YOU'RE CONTINUING THE AFFAIR BUT NOT SLEEPING WITH HER? It's still illegal!" He hissed. "Won't her parents be curious to where she was?"
"She said she was going to her friend's house, then straight to school." Michael replied smugly.
"Get that smirk off your face! You make me sick Michael Longstaff!" He stormed out the office where he ran into Gemma and Fran. "Come quick, your room, need to talk." He babbled to them. Gemma followed.
"Dan, what's up? You look like you're in a total strop." She said.
"I'll explain when we get there." He growled. Gemma immediately shut up and followed. When they got to her classroom, Daniel shut all the windows and blinds and locked the doors. "Sit down Gemma, I need help with something." He said.
"Why? What's happened?" She asked.
"Not much, just Michael's been sleeping with Jessica Stevenson." He said. Gemma was horrified. "And I need your help to make him see sense." All of a sudden there was a knock at the door.
"Daniel, its Michael, let me in." Came a voice. Daniel looked at Gemma and she nodded. He let him in and re-locked the door.
"Michael," said Gemma, "you've got to see sense. You could lose your job for this and get locked up. You have to end it with her now."
"Gem believe me I've wanted to for ages but I don't know what to say." He said tearfully, Daniel tutted and walked out. "And it hurts me even more to know I've upset Dan by it." Gemma sighed.
"I'll go and talk to him." Fran said leaving the room; Daniel was leaning against the wall next to the door. "What's up Dan? You seem to have thrown a total moody at this whole thing. Are you jealous of him?" She asked.
"No! Of course I'm not jealous, it's just... I've had an affair... recently, and... My wife found out and left me. I lost everything, Emily was all I got, and the house." He said. Fran stared at him open mouthed.
"So you had an affair with my sister and your wife found out. What a home wrecker!" She said.
"No, no! It wasn't like that at all! It was my fault! I was glad to get rid of Stacy! I just don't want to see that girl's life ruined!" He shouted. Then went back in. "Mike, all you've got to say to her is. 'I think we should end this now. There's too much at stake. There's your future to think about and I could lose my job and get arrested for this.' It will be fine and she'll understand." He babbled. Michael stared at him amazed.
"Ok, I'll do that now." He said and ran off. Fran turned to Gemma.
"I heard about the affair." She said. Gemma looked at Daniel. "Oh, don't look at him; I'm smart enough to work it out myself. Do mum and dad know?" She hissed.
"No... And it's going to stay that way." Said Gemma. Fran nodded, tutted and then stormed off in a major huff.
Meanwhile, Michael had just told Jessica it was over and was slightly depressed. He headed over to room two which was deserted at this time. He shut the door, leaned against the wall and began to cry. He stopped when he heard a sob from the other side of the room. He got up anxiously and walked over, only to find Jenny crying her eyes out. He sat next to her and gave her a hug. "What's up Jen?" He asked.
"Me and Adam just broke up; he said he was sick of me." She sobbed. "What about you?" Michael swallowed.
"Well, I slept with Jess Stevenson and I've just told her it was over and I'm feeling depressed. Looks like we're both back to the sad world of singles." He said.
"You know Michael, you've always been a good friend to me, but I just realised how incredibly lush you are." She said, but then again she had been drinking. Still, Michael moved in for the kill and she responded. In five seconds flat they were snogging each other's faces off. It looked like a new relationship was about to blossom.
