Chapter 12

I look to see Carl standing with Scott, looking at me. Both of them have their arms folded across their chest. "What the fuck are you thinking if she's your student?" Carl snaps.

I stay quiet and take her hands from around me. How do I explain this?

"Just leave it for now, Carl," Scott says, walking over to us. He has always been the peacemaker in our group. "Megan," he says gently. Her eyes open, and she blinks a couple of times. "We should take you home," he states.

"No," she and I say at the same time. Carl looks at me, frowns a little, and then looks at her.

"She can stay at mine and Logan's," Carl states. I look at him and gulp a little. He has never looked at me so angrily. Scott turns to look at us, then looks back to her.

"I need to find Melanie," she says, pushing herself off the wall. "She'll be angry at me."

"No, she won't," Scott says. "Melanie knows you’re safe," he states. She turns her attention to him and starts to giggle. He looks at me and Carl and then back at her as if she has gone mad.

"Aww, I've never met anyone as short as you, not a man anyway," she says, giggling and ruffling his hair. Scott is around 5ft 6. He frowns. "It's so cute," I can hear Carl trying his best not to laugh, and honestly, I'd laugh if I weren't still thinking about what I have just done.

"You met me last week," he mumbles and pulls her by her hand off the wall. She frowns and then giggles again.

"I'm taller than you," she sings.

"Yeah, and I bet you’re taller than most men," he states rather nastily, and I feel angry that he spoke to her like that. She looks down, a little sad.

"Yeah, I am," she says, folding her arms, and she pulls a face. "That is why I've only had one boyfriend; I like men taller than me," she slurs. She is a little bit of a loud and truthful drunk. "And by what they say, taller men have big feet, and you know what they say about men with big feet," she giggles. Carl and I chuckle as we walk behind them.

"Do you have small feet?" she asks him. "You do have small feet," she says, looking down at his feet. Carl bursts out laughing, and I shake my head in amusement.

"I don't have small feet," Scott hisses.

"My ex-boyfriend has bigger feet than you, and he's nearly eighteen," she pauses. "I think." Scott huffs a little and glares up at me. I shrug and look down at the floor.

~*~

We’re in a taxi, Carl, Scott, Megan and I. Megan is asleep with her head on Scott's shoulder. It probably would have been my shoulder if I hadn't sat in the front. Scott is staying at mine and Carls.

We get out of the car, and Carl carries Megan out of the taxi while I pay. I unlock the door to the apartment and walk in. Max, my dog, runs up to Carl and sniffs around him before running off. I sigh and watch Carl walk off with Megan in his arms. We had arranged to put her in my bed, and I’ll sleep on one of the couches in the living room with Scott. Scott sits on the couch, and I follow Carl. He lays her gently on my bed and pulls the covers over her. "Take her shoes off," I say, looking at her in my bed; I don’t think I’ve ever felt so content at seeing a woman in my bed. He looks at me and sighs.

"You can't have feelings for her," he says, moving her legs out from under the covers and removing her shoes.

"I don't have feelings for her," I state.

"So? What? You kissed her because you wanted a bit of fun?" he asks with a hint of anger.

"She kissed me," I say quietly.

"And you thought you'd be the gentlemen and not push her away and let her kiss you and make a fool of herself," he snaps.

"I don't know," I snap, "You think I'm not thinking about what can happen to me if anyone finds out," I growl at him. He’s starting to piss me off. He sighs, puts Megan’s legs back into the covers, and walks up to me, pushing me out and shutting the door behind him.

"Scott, please explain to him why he can't do what he just did ever again," Carl says, sitting on the couch next to Scott.

"I know I can't; I’m not an idiot," I snap and lay on the other couch "fucking hell, you're acting like I've had sex with her," I say, turning to look at them both.

"I know you’re not an idiot; you’re the most intelligent man I know, but you wanted to, " Carl stated.

"So did you," Scott adds. Carl turns to look at him with a dark glare on his face.

"I didn't know how old she is" he snaps.

"And you did more than just kiss her," Scott says. Carl's glare gets deeper. "What? I'm just saying," Scott says, holding his hands up in surrender.

"Well, don't; you’re not helping," Carl snaps.

"Carl," I say, getting his attention. He turns to look at me. "I don't think I can’t kiss her again or not want to have sex with her," I state, looking up at the ceiling. I hear him sigh.

"You can have my bed," he states, presumably to Scott. "I'll sleep in here." Scott sighs and walks to Carl's room. "We can talk more in the morning," he tells me. "When you're sober," and he lays down, putting the blanket provided over himself, I do the same.

I’m being honest with myself and with him. I’m drawn to Megan. She’s unlike the other girls I teach. She doesn’t even look my way most days. Over the past few weeks, I’ve watched her in class. I’ve even thought of reasons just to talk to her. I find myself wanting to know everything about her. She’s wicked smart and funny. I’ve caught some of the things she says to her friends.

At first, I figured it was just a crush, and it would go, but what grown man has crushes? Then, last week, I realised it’s not a crush, and I needed to stay away from her, and that is what I’ve done until tonight. I’m screwed if anyone finds out. Falling asleep is difficult, knowing she’s asleep in my bed.

“I think I more than like her,” I say out loud for Carl.

“In that case, you’re screwed. And not just because of her age. She’s obviously got other things happening in her life, and given you’re only just getting your life back on track. You won’t be any help to her. So just leave her alone,” he tells me. I sigh. He’s right, but I don’t think I should leave her alone. I need to help her somehow.