________________________________________

BITTERSWEET
:: xxiv. | ms. teacher

Vanessa was at work, eraser in her mouth as she lightly bit down on it. She has been making plans, writing things down of what she was going to say to jj. She just couldn't stop overthinking and over analyzing everything, like what if it goes wrong or jj doesn't feel the same. She's just scared that she'll ruin their dynamic.

So focused on jj, she didn't even feel her phone vibrating in her back pocket. It wasn't until she felt her phone being pulled out, so she turned around.

"Someone's calling you." Her friend handed her the phone.

Vanessa flipped her phone open and brought it up to her ear, "Kid, what did you do?"

"What makes you think I did something?" Cole was a little offended by that accusation.

"Well by the look of the time, you're still at school and calling me. Thought you'd be on your way home by now. So again, what did you do?" She explained to her daughter.

Cole sighed, "I did nothing mom, I swear. My teacher just wants to talk, an innocent conversation."

"When? What teacher?"

"Ms. Charles, history teacher and right now."

"Right now? Cole I'm at work." Vanessa informed her.

"That's what she said. Can't defy a teacher mom."

Vanessa groaned, "Ok, give me fifteen minutes."

The call was hung up and Vanessa turned to her coworker who was standing next to her, arms leaning on the desk.

His eyes shifted towards her suspiciously, "Need me to cover for you, don't you?"

Vanessa quickly hugged him, "Thank you. It'll be quick."

So Vanessa hurried to the car and got in. She started the engine and then was off to the school. However she wasn't sure if she believed Cole when saying it's an innocent conversation since Cole gets in trouble quite a lot.

• • •

Vanessa walked through the double doors, down the hall, made a right and found Cole sitting on the floor by a classroom door. She approached her daughter and Cole stood up. Cole gestured for Vanessa to go in after she shared a brief hug with her mother.

Vanessa slowly opened the classroom door as she peeked her head in, seeing Ms. Charles at her desk. Vanessa then opened the door all the way and cleared her voice, standing in the doorway.

Ms. Charles looked up, "Please come in, Ms. Reigns."

Vanessa closed the door behind her as she walked in, heading to one of the many desks in the room. She preferably sat in the one across from Ms. Charles, in the very front row.

"Cole's been a good kid? She's not in trouble?" Vanessa couldn't figure out any other reason of why she would be called in.

"No, no. Of course not." Savannah rose from behind her desk and walked around, "She's excelling as usual, but I feel she needs to be more challenged." Savannah sat on the edge of her desk, hands on her lap.

"Oh. So AP classes?"

"Yes." Savannah nodded, "I wanted your input before I spoke with her counselor and her. Of course you can mention it."

Vanessa awkwardly chuckled, "A challenge is good but I don't think that's what she needs right now."

"Why's that?"

"Not that it's any of your business but she's going through things and I don't want the pressure to add onto her current stress." She gave as little information as possible.

"I understand." Savannah stood up, "But if you change your mind . . "

Vanessa stood up as well, nodding her head, "Yeah, I will give you a call."

The two shook hands then Vanessa exited the classroom as Savannah went back to behind her desk.

Vanessa sighed as the door closed behind her. She looked to the right and noticed Cole talking to Daniel. She walked over to them and whispered to Cole that she would be in the car, so the two could have a quick chat.

• • •

She knew running into Daniel would be inevitable and well they're still together, so avoiding him wouldn't have lasted long anyway. She still haven't mustered up the confidence to tell him the truth. I mean how does one tell someone that they cheated with their best friend? The worst thing was she didn't know if she did it out of anger that night or if she genuinely has feelings for Mia.

The two stood at a distance, awkwardly, looking at one another. It's like they suddenly forgot how to be around each other . . . how to be a couple.

Finally someone spoke  . .

"I've been wanting to talk to you." Daniel began, "I call, texts, nothing back. I get it to a degree, I didn't necessarily defend myself when you accused me of lying. But I thought this could be something we could work through." He looked for her eyes, "Right?"

She felt so guilty, she didn't know what to say.

"You're so good to me." Cole spoke softly, "And im the worst."

"What are you talking about?"

She walked around him, "I slept with someone else. I cheated on you."

His jaw clenched, "With who?"

"Doesn't matter."

"With who, Cole?" His voice was slightly raised as he asked once again.

"Mia!" She blurt out.

All he did was chuckle as he shook his head. He couldn't believe that she got him again. He thought one was enough and that'll be it, but no, Mia Collins struck once again. She found another way to ruin him.

"Mia Collins strikes again." He awkwardly laughs, "First she cheats on me then she sleeps with my girlfriend."

"Cheats? You and Mia dated?"

"Obviously." He deeply sighed, "Before we got together, I knew you had problems but i promised myself that I would never let this happen again. Not to me." He huffed, "Honestly, I don't know if I'm mad at Mia, you, or myself. Maybe if I came clean . . "

She walked closer to him, "Can we work this out?"

"No, I don't think we can."

And with that, he left her. Daniel turned around and headed the opposite direction from Cole. He was angry, sad, more angry.

Cole just watched as he disappeared in the distance. She wanted to cry but the tears didn't want to come out. She was mad at herself. She was mad at Mia, at least she thought she was. She was confused about everything. In all one swoop, she lost her boyfriend and came out.

However, she knew there was one thing though and that was she needed to figure her shit out.

a/n:
Cole's got her shit.
what do y'all think
of Savannah Charles?