Chapter 55

**Wednesday**

**Logan**

It has been five days since I last saw Megan. I'll never get that image out of my head, the look on her face and what she said to me. Had I really done something that bad? I figured she was just skipping my lessons, but when I checked on her attendance it turns out she hasn't been in at all.

I had seen Melanie, Yasmin and Julie and they weren't much help since they were ignoring me. I have stayed at my aunt and uncle's house every night since Saturday. I just want to see her and make sure she is ok. The curtains at her house are shut blocking any vision and the only light that ever comes on is the living room light. I have seen her father leave the house but only for a few minutes. He seems to start work later than me and finish earlier than me. It is frustrating that I hadn't seen her once.

I'm at work now, the last lesson of the day and I just want to get it over with and get back to my aunt and uncle's house. I look up at the clock to see the lesson will end in five minutes. I sigh and run my hand through my hair. My students slowly start to pack away as I sit there and hold my hands in front of me.

Melanie actually came to my lesson today so I figured her anger had subsided. I look towards her to see her still sketching "Melanie" I call. She stops and looks up at me "Can you stay behind please" I order gaining an 'Oooo' from the class. Melanie rolls her eyes and then glares at me. God that girl is cold she obviously hates me. I sigh and look away from her.

The bell goes and everyone but Melanie exits. She stands and walks over to me, dropping her bag on the floor.

"What?" she snaps at me. I can’t even be annoyed at her tone. She has every right to feel angry at me. I may have put Megan in more danger by my actions.

"Have you erm… heard anything from Megan?" I ask.

"It's your fault!" she snaps "if you hadn't hit him then she'd be in school now and he probably wouldn't have hit her,"

"Are you saying he's hit her?" I ask. I need her to tell me, so I can do something.

"No" she says turning her head away and folding her arms "I just," she sighs and starts again "it's your fault he was so angry, if you had just left her alone," she pauses and looks at me "she doesn't need someone like you messing her around,"

"What do you mean?"

"You’re her teacher, you two can't possibly have a relationship. In the end it's going to be her that's going to be hurt," she pauses "cos let's face it, it isn't like you want a long term relationship or that you’re even in love with her," she says and bends down to pick her bag up. "She just doesn't need someone who's going to use her whenever they want for their own desires, she deserves better," she mutters and put her bag over her shoulders. "All I'm saying Mr Peters is; if you're going to get involved with my friend, get involved with her for the right reasons and not the wrong ones because if you hurt her I'll hurt you," she says walking away.

I sigh and rub my eyes. Some of the girls at this school were like the godfather but she is right, whatever is happening to Megan right now is my fault but I couldn't help it. What he said to me angered me so much I still couldn't get them words out of my head 'I haven't done anything that she hasn't wanted' how dare he say that? It made me angry just even thinking about it. He is the lowest of the low.

"Sir?" I hear someone say. I look up from the floor to see Julie.

"Yes Julie," I sigh.

"Urm..." she walks fully into my art room and stands a few feet from me "Melanie doesn't understand," I give her a confusing look. "I can tell you really care for Megan and well we are all worried about her," she pauses and presses her lips together as if trying to stop herself from saying more. "Melanie told me and Yasmin about her dad beating her and..."

"And...?" I ask.

"Well erm apparently he actually doesn't mean to do it," I frown and she can obviously tell I don't believe her or actually like what she had just said. "I mean he's ill, he has this disorder or something. I'm not fully sure

Melanie was telling us all about it and how he refers to Megan as someone else and refers to himself as someone else," she pauses again and I take this as my chance to cut in.

"Julie!" I say getting her attention "I don't care what disorder he has I still want to kill him," she sighs and looks down.

"Well me too but it's complicated and well it'll be hard hiding a body," she mutters. I frown and shake my head. I swear this girl is high sometimes. "Anyway I'm off to the principle about it tomorrow if she's in I would go to her guidance counsellor but Megan stopped going to those sessions a while ago. Megan never made me promise not to tell anyone and neither did Melanie," she says and starts to walk out "Cya Mr Peters," she calls and walks off out of the classroom.

"Bye," I say and rub my face and press my fingertips lightly into my closed eyes and let out a deep sigh. This is frustrating if I wasn't Megan's teacher then I probably would have killed her father by now, it would be easy too. It would mean getting in contact with some old friends, breaking the law and disappearing for a while myself just until things calm down. But I can’t do that. I promised myself when I came back I’d do things by the book. That I will be a normal person. So I have to think, I have to get him punished lawfully, and if that doesn’t work, my way will.