Chapter 27

**Logan**

"Megan, go back to class please," I say. She turns to look at me, "the bell will be going soon and I need to talk to Tyler," she nods and walks out of my office. I walk over to my

desk and take out the first aid box "I'm guessing the door looked at you funny," I joke as I hold out my hand for him so I could clean his knuckles.

"I can go to the nurse you know," he says.

"Yes, and she will ask how it happened, and most likely inform the principal about you damaging school property," I state. He sighs and puts his hand in mine. "Do you want to tell me what that is over?" I ask. He doesn't have to tell me, but if he did, then I could go to someone to help.

"I can't tell you," he says, looking past me. "She made me promise," he adds. I sigh slightly, and the room falls silent as I wrap his hand in a bandage. The high-pitched ring of the school bell, signalling school is over, rang through my office once I'm done. I can hear everyone packing up and leaving, and then there is silence again.

"What was it like when your wife died?" he suddenly asks. I look at him and take my hands off his hand. Did he think Megan would go the same way? I hoped she wouldn't.

"Painful" I say quietly "in a way I felt it was my own fault because I didn't protect her"

"Megan was rushed to the hospital on Monday," he says. I look at him, surprised because I shouldn't have known that, but I'm more surprised that he knew and didn't come to see her. "Melanie told me yesterday after I spent two days asking why she wasn't in school and why she wasn't answering my phone calls."

"Why is she in the hospital?" I ask.

"Apparently she went to a party and got jumped by a group of boys and girls," he says, still looking out the window.

"What do you mean apparently?" I ask. All he had to do was tell me what she told him then I can help.

"I've already said too much," he says, walking towards the window. I follow and stand, following his gaze, which is towards where Megan is standing, obviously waiting for her father or Tyler.

"Is she waiting for you, or," he cuts me off.

"Jonathan, her dad," he hissed, "if you can call him that," he muttered. He shoved his hands in his pockets and carried on staring down. "Have you noticed that she's lost weight, or is it just me?"

"Urm...I don't take that much notice to my students but I heard one of the teachers saying something about her in the staffroom," I lie. I have taken notice. I have taken a great deal of notice of her but he can't know that.

"How serious would something I tell you have to be for you to report it?" he asks.

"Well, it would depend on whether that something is about you or another person."

"What about both?"

"Well, if yours or the person's life is at risk or in danger of being hurt, then I will have to report it. But if it's something like someone being bullied, I would deal with it myself."

"What if I told you I'm going to kill someone tonight?" he asks. I look at him. Anger is clear on his face. I look down and realise his hands are no longer in his pockets and clenched so tightly the bandages I had put on him look like they were about to tear. There is something wrong with him. I mean I'm angry about what's happened to Megan but it is as if his whole persona has changed. I look back out the window to see a car stop in front of Megan and she slowly climbs in.

"Well that would depend on the person and the reason for killing that person," I say hoping that would make him tell me.

"It wouldn't really matter because either way I'm still going to kill him," he says coldly. He watches as the car Megan had climbed into drove away. "I don't think I will be in on

Monday, sir," he says, turning to walk out. "I don't think I'll be in for the rest of the week," he says and walks out, slamming my office door.

I let out a breath I didn't realise I was holding, and then I realised what he just said. I quickly grab my coat and run out of my office after him. "Tyler," I call when I see him running down the steps. I run after him until I get out of the school. He walks into the parking lot, and with him having to move around the cars, I catch up. I grab him and hold him up against a car. "You can't," he squirms and then pushes me away from him. "I'm being serious. I know who you want to kill, but trust me, doing that will only cause her more pain," I say. He stops and turns to look at me. "Let me drive you home, and I will explain in the car," he nods and walks with me to my car.

Once we are on the road driving, I start to tell him what I know. "I overheard you both," he goes to butt in, "but...I can't say anything because she hasn't come up to me to tell me and neither have you," I pause. "And if she denies it, her dad could get me done for slander," I glance at him to see he has calmed down a little, "but if you can somehow get her to tell me what is going on at home, then I can help," I state. "Do I turn right here?" I ask. He nods and folds his arms. "So I take it you still aren't going to explain to me?" I ask.

"No, I promised her I wouldn't say anything," he then pauses. "How do you know we are on about her dad? We could be on about anyone," he says.

"Well urm..."

"It could be her uncle I'm on about or a friend we never said who," he says

"I just assumed. I mean, isn't that what someone would think?" I ask. He shakes his head a little. "Well, um, I don't know, to be truthful," I say quietly.

"Well whatever. I'm not telling you if we are or if we aren't," he pauses "I promised her," I sigh slightly because he sounds exactly how I sounded when my aunt and uncle asked why I'm so angry at Stephanie's parents. "Was your wife pretty?" he asks.

I nod "I'm going to tell you something now but I don't want you telling anyone ok not even Megan," he nods slightly "my wife isn't actually dead," I sigh and rub my eyes when we get to a traffic light "she's on a life support machine," I breathe.

"So why did you say she's dead?" he asks

"She made me promise to live my life as if she is dead and made me promise to tell anyone if they asked that she is dead as she practically is," I pause "I'm the one keeping her alive,"

"Isn't it good she's not dead?" he asks

"I don't know, she can't do anything, she can't leave the hospital. If anything I'm putting her through more pain than what her parents put her through," I explain.

"I highly doubt it,"

"No, I am. I can tell but I can't bring myself to pull the plug. She tells me to do it every time I'm there and I deny her every time because I'm selfish,"

"You can't blame yourself for wanting to be happy," he says. "Everyone has the right to be happy."

"Not at the cost of someone else's happiness," I say starting the car now the light is green.

"I guess," he says.

I sigh, "but anyway, um... you can't just go to her house and start hitting him when it's just going to get you into trouble. Nothing will get done, for the simple fact Megan will deny it,' I say, glancing at him."

"Well what shall I do? Because killing him sounds like the best option to me," he states. I tilt my head slightly as it seems the best option to me too.

"Just try to keep away over the weekend, and we'll see what happens on Monday," I say. I hear him growl in frustration. "I know it's a lot to ask, but if it didn't get me anywhere, it won't get you anywhere, trust me," I state. He nods. "You have your car back at the school, don't you?" I ask.

"Yes, I do, but I'm walking with her and Melanie on Monday, and I can get around over the weekend without my car," he explains.

"Good" I say and carry on driving to his house.