Chapter 28 An unexpected presence
NANCY'S POV
The next day, I made sure I changed my seat, moving from the mid row all the way to the back, all in a bid to make sure that I was physically as far away from Mr. Landon as I could be.
Diana, who had walked ahead of me, paused mid-motion when she noticed that I kept heading backwards, instead of walking into my seat that was right next to hers.
She frowned, then followed after me.
By the time she reached me, I had already found a spot I deemed perfect for myself. It was the last seat at the back and was situated in such a way that whoever sat in front of me, no matter how tall or short, would block me from view.
That alone made it perfect.
I could come into class, take my notes, and do my thing, then get out without anyone noticing me. All of these I felt I would achieve as long as Diana left me alone and didn't bother me.
“What are you doing?” She hissed when she got to me.
I dropped my bag next to the seat, then lowered myself into it. "Nothing."
She snatched my bag off the ground, then set it on my desk with a questioning look, "Nothing?"
"You know very well that you don't sit here."
I lifted my gaze to her slowly, then reached for my bag to set it down, "I do now."
She tightened her grip on it, refusing to let me take it, "No, you don't, not until you tell me why you've suddenly decided to switch seats. You could have pre-informed me, but you didn't. That's fishy..." She narrowed her eyes at me as her voice trailed off.
"I did it because I want to, Diana. Now get a move on."
She paused, then stared penetratingly deep at me, while I tried not to let my discomfort show. "This is about my dad, isn't it?"
Remember when she'd told me we would have a very specific conversation later? Well, I had succeeded in avoiding that, but I could only do so for so long.
I rolled my eyes, attempting to look unaffected, "This isn't about your Dad. The world doesn't revolve around him."
Except my world probably did. There was no other explanation for why I had been unable to get him out of my mind ever since that day at detention.
It was as though he'd made an imprint on me with his touch, and try as I might, I thought of him every day.
There were so many what-ifs that surfaced in my mind, too.
“It is when you start acting like this,” Diana shot back in response to my statement.
I let my hands drop from my bag, letting her have it, then exhaled loudly, "Diana, don't make this a bigger issue than it is, I'm literally just sitting in a different seat."
For much added effect, I went on to say, "I didn't know I wasn't allowed to do that."
"It's not just that..."
"You have been leaving school early, you don't even wait for me anymore. Whatmore, you have been skipping meals, avoiding eye contact....The list goes on and on."
"I'm fine, Diana," I said, a little sterner than I intended.
“No, you’re not!” She stated hotly. The rise in her voice caused a few gazes to turn towards us, and I lowered my head in embarrassment, muttering under my breath, "Lower your voice."
"Let them listen," She muttered dismissively, but did as I said.
"Just tell me what's wrong, Nancy, and I promise, I'll stop disturbing you."
I glanced at her, then bit down on my lower lip. It wasn't even a question of hesitation; I just couldn't tell her.
Images I didn't want to see flashed through my mind, and my hand curled into fists as feelings I didn't want to feel either swarmed at me.
Before I could stop myself, I let out a reckless and impulsive thought, "Can I ask you something?"
It was too late to take it back when I realised, I'd already asked.
I paused for a second, biting my lips again before proceeding to ask, "How would you feel if your Dad was involved with someone close to you?"
Her eyes dimmed in an instant. I almost thought she'd figured it out, but then, she burst out laughing.
I stilled in surprise, wondering what had her so tickled.
"What is it?" I asked when she wouldn't stop laughing.
"That's your question?" She asked, still chuckling.
I frowned, "Yes, it is."
"Care to answer?"
She waved a hand dismissively at me, obviously not taking my question seriously, "That will never happen."
"Why do you think so?"
She went silent for a minute, then folded her hands, "How should I put this...?"
"The thing is, my Dad has never so much as glanced at another woman since my mom died."
"Really?" I couldn't help asking.
"Yes," She nodded in confirmation.
He hadn't looked at another woman since Mrs. Landon died...
But he had looked at me more times than I could count.
What was I to make of that then?
Oblivious to my thoughts, Diana continued, with a hint of sadness in her tone, "My Dad loved my mum a lot. I don't think he would ever find another woman attractive."
Something twisted painfully in my chest when she said that.
Mr. Landon would never find another woman attractive.
It was no wonder he didn't...
My eyes stung with tears, and I quickly blinked them back, nodding my head, "I see."
Just when I thought that was the end of the conversation, Diana continued, "But, if something like that did happen...."
I held my breath, waiting anxiously for her to continue.
"I would never forgive her, whoever it is."
My heart sank to the pits of my stomach.
She would never forgive her....
Essentially, it meant that she would never forgive me if she ever found out.
That night, I couldn’t sleep; Diana's statement kept reverberating in my head.
"I would never forgive her, whoever it is."
I couldn't even blame her, what I had done was betrayal in its realest form, and I hated myself for it already.
“I can’t do this..." I muttered those words in silence, giving my tears free rein to roll down my cheeks.
I couldn't keep on pretending nothing had happened, and I sure as hell couldn't keep avoiding Mr. Landon like a coward.
The more I lied to Diana, the more guilty I felt.
By morning, I had made my decision. It was the only one that felt right, and that was to transfer out of Mr. Landon's class.
I didn't hesitate for fear that I would change my mind, and as soon as I got to school, I found my way to his office.
I walked in at the sound of his voice, asking me to come in, with a heart full of trepidation.
“Sir, I need to talk to you about...”
The words died in my throat when I saw who stood next to him.
"Na...Nathan?"