Page 40 of Mr. Naughty List
“I don’t know,” Doug said, shifting awkwardly. “Does he really want to know anything about what his father likes in the sack? Doesanykid want to know that?”
Aaron blushed. “Well, no, but—”
“Mr. Danvers!” his mother’s voice was sharp and demanding and coming from directly behind his back. It was like a knife plunging in, and his heart dropped into his stomach. How did she have such an instantaneous effect on him?
“Principal Shock,” he said, turning around to smile at her. He motioned toward Doug. “This is Carter Ward’s father, Doug. We were just talking about Carter.”
She lifted a narrow, overplucked brow at Aaron, and then turned a less icy expression on Doug, offering her well-manicured hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Ward. Carter is a great asset to our school community.”
Doug laughed. “That might be laying it on thick, Principal Shock, but I’m glad you don’t have anything bad to say about him.” He glanced between Aaron and his mother and then said, “Pardon me. I’ll get some more punch. Thanks for the chat, Mr. Danvers. Carter likes your class a lot.” He headed away, eager, no doubt, to get away from the crackling tension between his son’s teacher and the principal.
“What do you think you’re doing?” his mother hissed, tugging Aaron farther away from the dance floor into a dark shadow behind the bleachers. “Flirting with a student’s father like that?”
“I…what?” Aaron stared at her.
“That is utterly inappropriate.”
“We were literally discussing his son, Mom. My student. I was not flirting with him.” Aaron’s temper rose hot and frustrated. “You’re the one being inappropriate.”
She loomed over him, using her height to dominate. “I know what I saw, and what every other adult with eyes saw. I’ve warned you not to embarrass me in this school. Not to embarrass me ever again.”
“He’s not even my type.” Aaron could have bitten off his own tongue for saying that. He didn’t need to defend himself. He’d done nothing wrong.
“God forbid this school ever knows what your type might be. We agreed when you came aboard here that you’d keep all of this—” she motioned at him, like whatever she disdained it encompassed the whole of him “—to yourself.”
Ears burning, the words spilled out before Aaron could stop them. “You’re treading perilously close to harassment, Mom.”
“Excuse me?”
“If I were a straight teacher, talking with a student’s father, this would never have come up. You’re harassing me because I’m gay. Which, fine, it’s something I’ve learned to live with at home, because God knows you’re unable to accept me for some reason—”
“I accept you. How dare you say I don’t accept you, Aaron? I simply don’t condone your behavior. Especially not on school grounds. After what happened before, you should know better. You and I have made agreements.”
Aaron’s chin came up, righteous rage giving him courage. “For the sake of our relationship, yes. I’ve agreed never to bring a man into your home. I’ve agreed not to come out at school. I’ve agreed to hide who I am to make you more comfortable, but it’s not working anymore.”
“In what way?”
“You see homosexual intent where there is none, and you’d deny me the natural expression of my feelings with men that might actually matter—”
His mother shushed him, her nostrils flaring. “Keep your voice down.”
“Fine.” There were a few wallflowers whohadscooted in their direction, seemingly to eavesdrop. A reckless part of himself wanted to let them hear. Maybe one of them could learn something about being true to themselves and standing up to their parents, even if it was years and years too late. But a more cowardly part of himself wanted to scrunch down and be small, unobserved, unnoticed, and safe.
He lowered his voice. “You already ask a lot of me, Mom, but it’s never enough. I do my best not to embarrass you, to keep my love life to myself—”
His mother dragged him deeper beneath the bleachers. She hissed, “A ‘love life’? Is that what you call these illicit and, quite frankly, dangerous assignations you engage in?”
Aaron had no idea how his mother knew anything at all about his sex life, but he wasn’t going to ask. It was a small city. No matter what lengths he went to for privacy when getting a sexual fix, gossip would get around. It was why he so rarely indulged. His heart hammered, and he went sweaty and flushed.
“How long until other people find out about these disgusting depravities, Aaron? All it takes is one more complaint filed against you. I can’t help you after that.”
“It’s not depraved to want—”
“To sleep with strangers? I certainly think it is! And the school board would agree with me. Imagine if my other teachers were doing that. Picking up random men. Imagine if a parent found out. You see where this ends up, Aaron. With you fired and me humiliated.”
“Picking up random men?” Aaron gaped at her. “Don’t you see? That’s all you’ve allowed me, Mom. Your rules, your refusal to let me be myself, all that leaves me with is what you just described. I don’t have the luxury of real intimacy, or love, or feelings, or even just having someone who cares for me—”
“Stop! This isn’t the time or place!” She looked around to ensure they were still alone. Kids were scooting closer, whispering amongst themselves. A few other teachers had taken notice and were watching with raised brows. “You need to go home. People are staring.”