Chapter 81 Hate to leave
I'm on a plane back home, and I haven't been able to stop crying. T.J. is looking at me like I'm the most annoying person alive.
But he doesn't understand, because he's never been in love.
And in all honesty, neither have I.
Leaving a wounded Miguel behind feels like my heart being ripped out of my chest, and then being trampled on.
I don't even know when I will be able to see him again, but I promised T.J. I would go home, and I couldn't break that promise in case I need his help again in the future. Which I most likely will.
I'm also scared out of my mind. Scared of the feelings I'm feeling, and also scared of the consequences of loving someone I shouldn't.
Loving Miguel is opening up a whole can of worms that I don't know if I'm prepared for.
I wish I had a sleeping pill, so the flight could go over quicker, but I have to endure the agony of an aching heart, and I might be drinking way more wine than I should.
T.J. looks relieved as fuck when we finally land and he drops me off at my parents place, where my mother is waiting, looking furiously at me.
"What the hell, Madison!" She shouts at me. "Do you have a death wish or something? And why the hell couldn't you just tell me where the hell you were going? Do you know how worried I was!"
I rub my swollen eyes. "I'm sorry, okay? But I have a really bad headache right now, and I really just want to pop some pills and go to bed."
Some of the anger dissipates from her demeanor and she walks over to me and envelopes me in her arms.
"I wish you would talk to me." She says in my hair. "Tell me what's going on, why you're doing what you're doing."
"Right now I don't even know what the hell I'm doing." I tell her truthfully.
I'm confused. I should let whatever is happening between me and Miguel just go, I should put a stop to it before we both end up getting hurt, but the idea alone is enough to send me into another emotional state.
She pulls away, but keeps her hands on my shoulders. "You can go take a nap, but when you wake up, you're going to tell me why the hell you had to see Miguel Cargill all the way in Germany."
I gulp, knowing that the hiding is coming to an end now. There's no way I was going to be able to keep the truth from my family after this stint.
I don't know how long I sleep, the wine on the flight definitely helping me to get some shut eye. I awake to the sound of my phone constantly ringing, and I quickly grab it from my nightstand.
Shit, what if something happened to Miguel? What if he got worse and I'm not even there to hold his hand?
But it's Simon's name on the screen. The call ends before I pick up, and I would've let it go and call him back later if it wasn't for the five missed calls already showing.
"Jeez Madison, where the hell have you been, I've been calling and texting you!" He sounds frantic on the other side.
"I'm sorry, I'm just very jet lagged right now, I took a nap."
"The world is fucking ending and you're taking a nap!"
I frown. "What the hell are you talking about?" "Just check your messages, please."
He ends the call and I open the messages he sent me.
"What the hell?"
There are numerous articles from various news outlets claiming that Gregory had a relationship with one of his teenage students a few years back. It's on every social media site with his face plastered all over it.
I've seen Gregory with many students, I was one of them, and I've never heard of him doing anything inappropriate. Usually, there would be rumors amongst the dancers.
"You saw the news?" Mom asks when I hurriedly exit my room.
"Yes!" I quickly text T.J., hoping he would be able to take me over to the theater right away. "Oh my god, I don't know what to think, I don't think Gregory would do something like that. There has to be an explanation."
It's a fucking shit show. Gregory would be removed as a teacher and a choreographer, and he's literally made sure the program is one of the best in the world. He's a fucking ballet genius, and his career might be over.
"T.J. is also probably sleeping right now." Mom's hand closes over my wrist. "I'll drive you. At least you won't be by yourself."
There are dozens of reporters in the front of the theater when we get there, and I actually miss T.J. when Mom and I have to dodge questions on what our thoughts are on Gregory's scandal.
The security manages to get us inside, and I immediately go up to Gregory's office where numerous dancers are standing outside, murmuring to themselves.
"Madison!" Simon waves at me, and I quickly go over to hug him.
"Is he here?" I ask, glancing at the closed door.
"Yes, he's having a meeting with the PR team right now." Simon looks as worried as me. "You know just an accusation like that could ruin your reputation forever."
"I know." I whisper, getting my phone from my bag when it vibrates.
I'm hoping it's Raul with an update. Instead, it's an unknown number that I hesitantly pick up.
"Hello?"
"Baby."
My blood turns cold at the familiar voice.
"What do you want?"
He laughs like the evil fucker he is. "Oh, I was just wondering how you're feeling with your mentor being in the news and all."
Suspicion takes route inside my mind. This has Ben written all over it, and Gregory did tell me that he paid him a visit to threaten him.
"How dare you?" Anger boils in my veins for this vile man who thinks he can play God with other people's lives.
"Oh, this is just the beginning baby." He laughs even louder. "You better buckle up for the ride."