Page 228 of The Silent Note

“Is this what dating at eighteen is like? Just…” I breathe out as he nibbles my ear and skates his hands over my thighs. “Making out?”

“We did more than make out in the romance section,” he says, sucking on a finger to prove the point.

A jolt of electricity zips up my spine.

Zane chuckles, a dark and filthy sound that reminds me of the bookcases pressing into my back.

I lift my curls away from my neck, feeling hot and flushed.

Zane presses one more, firm kiss against my lips and then he sets me off his lap. “It’s about time for school to start. You should check if the principal’s in his office now.”

“Yeah.” I sigh heavily and leave to accomplish my final task.

The talk with the Vice Principal is as tense as I expected.

He wears a stern expression as he pulls my resignation letter across the table. “Thank you for… doing what’s best,” he says.

Watching his disapproving eyes, I get the feeling if I hadn’t resigned before school started this morning, I would have been fired during regular working hours.

“I’ll process this resignation immediately.” He plucks at the edge of the envelope like it’s filthy.

“Understood.” I nod.

“Miss Jamieson,” the Vice Principal’s face is grave, “I don’t like confrontation and, now that you’re also married into the Cross family, I have even more reason to choose my words carefully. However, I have to ask for the safety of all the students at Redwood and for our internal write ups…”

I hold my breath, waiting.

“Were you and Mr. Zane Cross…involvedbefore he turned eighteen?” A blush steals across his face. “And did any of your…interactionshappen at this school?”

“No, he was eighteen at the time we…” I clear my throat. “And about the second question, I won’t answer that.”

“Even if you don’t answer me, you may have to answer the police if the parents’ petition gets enough signatures.”

My back stiffens but, I was prepared for that kind of response too.

“Understandably, the parents and the staff are horrified to learn that you not only dated a studentwhilehe was attendingRedwood Prep, but you married him. They believe you may have crossed a legal line.”

“Zane is eighteen, so no laws have been broken.”

The Vice Principal firms his lips. “Miss Jamieson, if your only defense is that your deed is ‘technically’ legal, how strong is that defense?” He shakes his head. “If you were a male teacher who had done this to a female student, whether she was eighteen or not, the outrage would have been immediate and visceral. You would not be standing here, so calm and unaffected. And the world… the world would not crown you as a hero because you avenged your deceased friend.”

His words give me pause.

“I simply don’t understand,” he continues. “Eighteen-year-olds are adults in the eyes of the law, but I’ve been an educator for forty years and one thing holds true. Reaching their eighteenth birthday doesn’t magically turn an eighteen year old into a mature adult. These kids are not yet developed and have immense growing left to do. Zane Cross in particular is known, even by the staff, to be unmotivated by anything but having as many girls as possible.”

“It sounds like you’re concerned formenow, Vice Principal.”

“You belong to the Cross family. You’re up here.” He points to the ceiling. “And I’m down there. How can I feel sorry for you when we both know nothing will come of this scandal? Those boys won’t let you suffer.” He frowns.

“You seem disappointed.”

“Can I not be disappointed by a fellow teacher dishonoring the profession I gave my entire life to?”

My expression doesn’t change but, inside, I flinch.

“No matter how much money they throw at us, no matter how this family tries to hide your faults, that won’t fully scrub away this scandal. It will follow you for the rest of your life. With one choice, with one student, you’re ruined.”

I purse my lips, not because I don’t have an argument but because it’s pointless. Nothing I say will convince him of my innocence. No evidence will prove that I deserve his respect. The world will assume the worst, so he’s right. My reputation is shot.