Chapter 3- Extra Credit

Mr. C. called me to stay after class to speak with him in private, I stayed because I was scared. I went to his desk after class and he asked me to sit down on his desk, he pulled his chair out and sat in front of me looking up at me. I was able to get a quick glance at his grade book and saw that he had marked zeros through the end of the year for me, even on assignments he had yet to give out." I know class has been difficult for you recently Bella, do you know why?" Mr. C asked. I stated that it was because I had evidently misconstrued his concern and blew it out of proportion. He then stood up, towering over me at his lanky 6 foot 2 inches to my simple, and short 5 foot 6 inches. He reached down and grabbed my chin and forced me to look at him. He growled out that I had to break up with my boyfriend James, because he is only interested in me for sex, and would never want me for anything more. Mr. C. then tried to convince me he, himself was the only man who could love and protect me. He stated that If I didn't break up with James, that he would make sure we both failed his class.

I was crying by this point and terrified, I didn't understand what was happening. He was so angry and I had never seen his face look so fierce. As I looked into his eyes all I could see was his obsession, his eyes were black with fury and his grip tightened on my face and his other hand curled into a fist at his side. I realized he was shaking. He repeated his demand, "James is a horny little boy who would hurt you, he only wants you for sex. He will leave you as soon as he gets into your pants. Bella, you're mine, I know you don't feel that way now but in time you will learn to respect me and maybe even love me, but for now you will do as I say". He let go of me and I stood up and tried to leave.

Of course it wouldn't be that easy. I took one step and he grabbed my wrist and started squeezing it, "Bella please don't make this hard, cause its only going to get worse for everyone around you". I nodded my head keeping my eyes on my feet, he let go and I ran from the room. I called Tanya and Kate to let them know I wasn't going to hang out with them I didn't feel good, and would be going home to get some sleep. I then texted James to let him know that I didn't want to go out with him, that I was sick and would see him at school tomorrow.

When I got home I took my shoes off at the front door and walked up the stairs dropping my backpack on the bottom step. I went straight into my bathroom and washed my face. I had mascara running down my face, and I couldn't stop the silent tears from running. Once I calmed down enough I crawled into my bed and curled up into a ball. Knees pulled up to my chest and my arms wrapped around my knees. I just shook, I hadn't realized how shaky I was, I took several deep breaths and laid down and wanted to forget today and just move on. As I was drifting off to sleep, the sound of Now 35 coming out of Dylan's bedroom.

I pulled myself out of the bed and stomped across the hall to pound on his door, it was locked as always. "Dylan! Turn down the music. DYLAN! I AM TRING TO SLEEP TURN IT DOWN!" His door opened and he smiled at me, I repeated my request letting slip that I had a pretty rough day. He stuck his tongue out at me and slammed his door in my face. Thank god he turned down the music. This was a constant fight with us. I hated the upbeat preppy music. It wasn't my style, and I hated Justin Bieber.

I went back to my room and my cell was going off. It was playing James' ring tone. I went over and read the text and it seemed that my horrible day would only get worse. James text read that he was breaking up with me. He said that he was tired of my drama and didn't want to deal with it anymore. It was taking over his life, everyone was talking about it and it was too much of a hassle to try to fight with everyone over me. He said that it would also be better if we didn't hang out together anymore.

All of April was hell, I tried talking to James about the break up but when he would see me in the hall we would turn and walk away. He blocked my calls and wouldn't return my texts. I didn't have anyone but my mom, Tanya and Kate. Even Phil turned on me saying I must have real daddy issues if I think a teacher would say the things he did. My classes with Mr. C. got worse and he just got more intense. I wouldn't stay after class when he demanded it of me, he started following me around campus when he didn't have classes to teach. One day at the end of April I found a note in my locker, it was from Mr. C. he stated that If I wanted to pass his class, he would need me to come by after school and do some makeup work. I asked Kate and Tanya what to do and they agreed that they would wait outside the classroom for me after school in case anything happened.

When I walked into the classroom all of the lights were off, assuming that he wasn't there I went and sat at his desk, to wait for him. I booted up his computer so I could at least check my email while I waited. When I turned on his monitor I was terrified, The background was a photo shopped picture of me with Mr. C's, arms around me, holding me. I heard the door open and I quickly turned off the monitor and looked up to see Mr. C walk in. He had this shit eating grin on his face while he sauntered over to me. I stood up and backed up against a wall realizing that this was not a good situation, as he stalked closer. I felt like prey to his predator. I could tell he enjoyed the look of fear on my face. He leaned over me and place a hand on each side of my head and leaned in to smell my hair. He commented about how good I always smell and he would never forget it. His breath on my face made me want to vomit, he said that he would never let me out of his sight because he couldn't trust the rest of the male species to leave me alone. He stated that he knew I didn't feel the same but I would. I would eventually come to him and admit that he was the only man I would ever love. I started shaking and tried to move away from him and the wall but he just leaned into me placing more weight on my chest as he leaned closer. He moved in to kiss me when I let out a blood curdling scream, resulting in the afternoon Janitor Felix to run in, catching Mr. C, leaning on me with my head in between his hands and shaking with my eyes closed in fear.

Once Felix was able to get Mr. C. away from me I ran straight to the office where I told the whole story to Mrs. V., and now that I had an adult witness to the whole episode Mr. C. was fired and escorted from the school. His teaching Certificate was revoked a few weeks later. I had my mom take me to get a restraining order on Mr. C., I figured this wouldn't end with him being fired. I figured since there was only a month left of school, I would work hard to catch up on my grades and move on. Phil and Dylan apologized to me about not believing me, and my life returned almost to normal. Every day when I would come home from school I would find a letter in the mail box addressed to me from Mr. C, they were all about how he loved me and I needed him. That I was unsafe without him. At the bottom of every letter was a simple promise scrawled at the bottom, " You will be mine". I would always take it to my mom who would add it to the file that we would hand over to the police at the end of the month.