I close my car door and look at my father behind the wheel. "Are you sure you don't want to go?"

"I'm sorry but you know I can't, dear." He gives me a half smile and I nod. "I would but I have to take care of your mother. Maybe all three of us will go next week when she's not sick."

"Alright...Well, just remember to pick me up, dad."

"Yes, yes...What time do I pick you up again?"

"Dad!"

"I'm kidding, Lynn! I'll be here at 3!" I shake my head and we laugh. I wave as he drives off and I turn towards the church's facade. I fix my dress and carefully walk up the steps.

"Susan?" I turn around and find George staring at me from the ground. His face falls as he recognizes me and I feel a bit offended. He slowly climbs up and meets me at the top. "Sorry, Lynn."

I fake a smile and look at his shiny black shoes, feeling too awkward to look him in the eyes. "Quite alright."

He chuckles nervously and coughs. "Uh...Well, that's a very nice dress you're wearing." I look and see George massaging the back of his neck, avoiding eye contact.

"Well," I say. "You yourself look very dashing this morning, doctor." And he does. George wears a very professional looking suit with a midnight blue tie to match. His hair is combed back and it compliments his brown eyes nicely. He mumbles thank you and we stand in silence as people walk past us and go inside the church. "Listen George, about last time..."

"Excuse me!" A large middle-aged woman grumbles as she shoves past us. I falter back and watch as she rushes in as well.

"Alright?" George asks.

"Fine, fine."

"Well," George says with a hint of laughter stitched in. "Perhaps we should go in. Sit with me?" He gives me a sincere grin and I match it.

"Sure." He holds out his arm and I take it.

"So, explain to me why you were going to church alone?"

I set my coffee mug down and cross my ankles. "I don't always go alone," I inform George. "My mum's just sick this week and my dad's watching her. My dad said I didn't have to go to church if I didn't want to and if I did, I'd have to go alone."

He nods his head and takes a sip of his tea. I turn my head to the side and watch as bodies walk up and down the busy streets of London. Car horns blare in the distance and the chatter of everyone meshes together, creating a big headache. Our waitress comes to our table, refills me, and asks George if he'd like more tea. He politely declines and leans forward on the table. "Should you really be drinking all that coffee? It's not good for you, you know. You're still growing and all."

I laugh. "I'm seventeen. I'm fairly certain I'm done growing."

"Fair enough."

The calm atmosphere of the coffee shop affects us and we both sit in our wooden chairs, deep in thought. I listen attentively to the steady tapping of George's foot against the cold tile floor. He stares past me, looking as if he were someplace else, somewhere far away.

"About last time..." His eyes dart in my direction and his face suddenly becomes...pitiful. "Susan isn't usually like that. She's let her real self go. She's let herself down."

"But why?" George asks harshly. "I've done nothing to her. Why is she being so hostile to someone she doesn't even know?"

"Because you look like some she knows." I realize that I'm standing now, my palms against the top of the table. I quickly sit down and shrink in my chair. "Listen, she has nothing against you, George. It's just that she's been hurt before and you happen to look like the guy who hurt her."

He crosses his arms and glares at me. "So you're saying I have no chance with her?" It comes out as more of a statement than a question and I feel a bit ashamed.

"No, no! I'm not saying that at all! It's just that-"

"Are you trying to hurt me, Lynn? Do you want to see me humiliate myself? Just tell me that now so I can leave and-"

"I'm not trying to hurt you!"

Abruptly, he stands up and his chair falls to the ground with a loud crash. "I'm leaving," he states. Just as he turns to leave, I get up and catch his arm.

"Then perhaps we could meet up again and talk when you're-"

"NO!" He roars as he pulls me off of him. He looks at me with an icy look that soon becomes sad. "We can't, Lynn. We just can't, okay? Tomorrow...tomorrow, I'm leaving for America."

I reach my hand up towards his arm again but he backs away. "But you can't!" I cry. "You have to stay here! For Susan!"

"No, I don't have to stay here for Susan!" He pauses and looks from side to side, gazing at all the people in the shop who are watching us now. "Look," he whispers. "Why should I waste my tame trying to win her if I know I'll end up getting hurt in the end?"

"Please!" I plead. "You're not going to end up getting hurt! If you just let her warm up to you, I know everything will work out! You're good for her, George, you know that? Just give Susan some time and I know-"

"The thing is that I don't have the time, Lynn! I'm not getting any younger! If I go to America, I can start anew. Explore. Try new things. Even find someone, hopefully."

"I just don't get why you can't stay here and start anew with Susan!"

He puts on a grimace and turns on his heel. "Because she won't let me, Lynn. She just won't let me." As he opens the door, he looks back at me and bites his bottom lip lightly. "You know, I thought it was love at first sight when I met her that day. I was probably just being childish and silly, huh? Let me tell you something, Lynn. If something is supposed to happen between your friend and I, it'll happen somehow..."

Realizing I can't stop him, I nod. "You take care of yourself then," I say with my clear American accent. "America can be a rough place, you know. Just remember to be friendly to everyone and use your manners."

"Yes, mum."

I laugh and shake my head. "I'll be praying for you. Visit, alright?"

"I'll make sure of it."

"Well, goodbye then."

With an unexpected hug, he whispers in my ear. "Thank you for being so nice...Goodbye." With that, he's gone.

"Evalynn?"

I look up from my textbook and see Mr. Jackson wiggling his finger in my direction, motioning for me to come up to his desk. As I get up, the bell goes off and my classmates hurry out of the room. I reach his desk and bite the inside of my cheek. What could be wrong? I thought I aced that test for sure. "Yes?"

"I thought you'd like to take the opportunity to get some extra credit. You must need it, seeing as you've missed so much school." He holds a stack of papers out towards me. I take it and notice a torn note with Mr. Jackson's undeniable chicken scratch on it. I lift the note and look at him before I start reading. "How would you feel about going to dinner with me tomorrow?" I look up and crease my brow.

"But you're my teacher, sir." I set the pile of papers down with the note on top on his desk. "I'm sorry but I can't."

"Lynn..." With the back of his hand, he strokes my arm. I back up and scurry to my desk, picking up all my things. Mr. Jackson comes close to me and grabs me by the shoulders. "Oh, come on Lynn! You can't deny that there's something between us!" He touches my cheek and I close my eyes. "Shouldn't you be jumping at the chance? I know the young women in this class would die to be in your position right now. And let's face it, Lynn, you're gorgeous."

My eyes flare open and I see Liam standing behind Mr. Jackson. His arms are folded and he's shaking his head at me. "I-I can't." I stumble as I look over Mr. Jackson's shoulder. "I'm sorry but I can't." I push against my teacher's chest and sling my backpack over my shoulder. "I can't hurt him."

As my hand touches the door knob, I'm shoved against the wall. "Who's him?" Mr. Jackson growls close to my face. "Are you referring to that so called 'Liam?' God, Evalynn. I can make you forget about him. I can make you forget about him so-"

I slap Mr. Jackson. I slap him with all my might. Shockingly, he backs up all the way to the other side of the classroom and holds his cheek with both hands. "Get away from me!" I scream. "There's no way I'll ever give up on Liam, you hear me! You can forget about me ever going out with you! You're absolutely disgusting and you can bet your ass that as soon as I-" My eyes widen as he makes his way toward me and I run toward the door again.

"Mr. Jackson?" Susan steps through the door and soon finds me. "What are you doing here, Keynes? Just back off, alright? I saw him first."

"I saw Liam first," I shriek in my mind. "Don't waste your time with him, Susan." I take a moment to catch my breath and Susan rolls her eyes. "He's your teacher; you're just asking for trouble."

"So why are you here then?"

"Mr. Jackson called me up at the end of class, remember?"

"Yeah," Susan snaps. "For what?"

I shrug and pull at her hand. "Extra credit, okay. Let's just get out of here and-"

"Evalynn!" I turn around and find Mr. Jackson at the back of the room now, pretending to tidy up back there. "Could you please step out for a moment? I'd like to talk to Susan here in private for a moment."

Susan's face brightens up in a matter of seconds and she prys my hands off of hers. "Get out," she whispers with a smile on her face, looking at Mr. Jackson. I shake my head and motion for her to follow me.

"No, Susan. Please, he isn't safe! You can't-"

"I said get out."

I open the door and cast one last look at Mr. Jackson. He is now talking to Susan, a hand on her shoulder, a dark look in his eyes. As soon as the door closes behind me, I crouch down and press my ears against the thin wood.

"You know," Mr. Jackson's voice feeds to Susan. "You're very beautiful, my girl."

She giggles and it becomes much quieter. "Well, sir." she says in her familiar seductive voice. "You're very handsome."

It's his turn to laugh and I can just feel myself become angrier and angrier. "Tomorrow. Dinner with me? Wear something to match that pretty face of yours."

"What? Just dinner, Dale?"

"That's Mr. Jackson to you, Pevensie."

More giggles. I shove the door open and find Susan wrapped in Mr. Jackson's arms against the wall. "Don't you dare go!"

"Keynes?" Susan screams. "Get out of here!"

With much force, I pull Susan out of the man's arms and pull her towards the door. "Don't you dare even think about seeing him, Susan!"

Mr. Jackson chuckles and we both turn to face him. "Are you perhaps jealous, Miss Keynes?"

"You be quiet!" I roar. "Listen Susan, if you see him, I'll tell your family!"

"You wouldn't!"

"Try me."

We gaze at each other with hateful eyes and she looks about ready to kill me. "I hate you."

"Just get out of here." Her shoulder bumps mine as she walks out and I stare at Mr. Jackson. "You stay away from her, you hear me?" I back up and reach for the door knob behind me. "Don't expect to still be able to teach here after today. I'd pack up my things if I were you."

"Susan!"

I turn over in bed and cover my ears with a pillow. "Go away."

My roommate, Jennifer, sits down beside me on my bed and shakes me. "Don't worry, I'm on my way. Care to go on a morning run with me?"

"It's Saturday. It's too early."

"You don't know what time it is!"

"Is it noon yet?"

"No...but-"

"Then it's too early."

I can feel the bed shift as she gets up. "Alright then. Well...make sure to get up...whenever. Oh, and Kelly got us a newspaper. I haven't read it yet but feel free to if you'd like. It's on my desk!"

Soon, the door closes and I grunt. God, how does she expect me to to be able to sleep after that? I get up and brush my hair, ferociously pulling at the knots. For a few moments, I just stand in the middle of the room, doing nothing. When my legs become sore, I search for the newspaper on Jennifer's desk and sit in her chair. I smooth out the paper and read the bold headline.

"FEMALE STUDENT FOUND RAPED AND MURDERED BY PROFFESSER."

I rub my eyes and look at the words again. In disbelief, I reread the article over and over again, once aloud.

"-Dale Jackson, 26, arrested last night after raping and murdering Abigail Jacobs, a student of his. Police had caught him attempting to rid of the body in dumpster in ally behind a local restaurant. After confessing to sneaking her off of school grounds, Jackson had-"

I throw the paper down and put my head in my hands. Abigail Jacobs? Why her? She was so nice, so sweet! It could have been anyone but her! Anyone! God...it could have been me...

Then it hits me.

She saved me.

Evalynn saved my life.

OHMYGOD, LOOKY HERE AT ANOTHER PM QUESTION I GOT!
Is susan ever gonna stop being a bitch? I can't tell you how hard I laughed at this. Maybe, maybe not? Hopefully she'll stop being so sour very soon:) Thanks for the laugh though!

Hi there. This chapter was all extra long so I'm really tired and want to keep this author's note short. (Let's face it, that will probably never happen.) Hope you guys liked this chapter even though it can be seen as disturbing:p I hate to say this but this story seems like it'll be wrapping up very fast!Oh, and sorry I'm so slow at updating D': My excuse this time is that I took my time stitching in my love for you guys~ So yeah, return the love and make my day? Leave a review please?

Much appreciation xx