Between the Lines (13 page)

Gabe – 20

As much
as I try to ignore the thoughts, I know, in the back of my mind, I’ve just
taught my last class at Baxter. I love this job, but I can’t be here if Isaac
is, and he needs this more than I do.

I’ve
tried to ignore Ellen sitting in the back of the class, but her intelligent
brown eyes indicate that she hasn’t missed a damn thing. I can almost see the
questions rolling around behind that pretty face of hers. Why did she have to
be a fucking reporter and why the hell did she have to come here?

Since she
entered my life, nothing has gone right. Okay, for a few days, I was on top of
the world, but that crashed soon enough. And now, I’m about to be out of a job,
the best teaching job I’ve ever had.

The last
bell of the day rings and the kids start gathering their things.

“You all
have your assignments. If any issues come up, please let me know right away.
Otherwise, I expect to see your proofs by close of class on Friday.” I can’t
let them know that I don’t anticipate being here to get their articles, but
they won’t really question it if I disappear either.

Isaac
stands by his desk, as if he doesn’t know what to do. He’s been silent and I’m
not sure if it’s because I’m here, or it’s just the whole getting acclimated to
a new school thing or a combination of both. At least he didn’t have a meltdown
or suffer a panic attack upon seeing me. Not only would I hate to see him go
through something like that, but I wouldn’t want Ellen further wondering about
things that aren’t any of her business.

“I can’t
wait to read the paper now,” Tara blurts out. “I mean, I always read it, but
it’s interesting how the kids get the assignments.”

She’s
babbling and we both know it. I’m sure the conversation would be much more
serious if Ellen wasn’t standing beside her. And, what to do with Ellen? She
can’t be left to wander alone. Tara can’t leave Isaac alone with me to see her
out, and I sure as hell don’t want her around Isaac any more than necessary. 

“I’ll
escort Miss West to the administration building so you can continue helping
Isaac get settled.”

Ellen
gathers up her things and I follow her outside.

The kids
are scattered around the campus, sitting in groups, enjoying the nice day until
its dinner time. I’m sure they all have homework, but most don’t touch it until
after they’ve eaten. This is about the only leisure time they get.

“Why are
you here?” I demand the minute we are away from the building and nobody is
close enough to hear.

Ellen

The
question startles me. I had hopes that when he offered to escort me out, he
might want to talk after the way we left things. Instead, he just wants to
interrogate me. Hasn’t he done that enough already? 

 “I’m
doing a story on Baxter.” It’s the truth, but I plan on it being more of an
expose. The more I’ve tried to learn, the harder it is to find out anything,
which makes me only want to dig deeper. I keep remembering what the girls said.
I owe to her and these kids spread out around the campus, enjoying a nice
afternoon, to get to the truth and help them.

Though,
honestly, none of them really look distressed. There are several groups
talking, others sit by themselves, there are couples, though no boy-girl
couples, but it looks like an average high school campus where kids don’t have
to be anywhere. They don’t appear frightened or angry. A few seem a bit
withdrawn, but that’s about it. There are kids like that everywhere.

Was that
girl just pissed at the school for getting kicked out because she was a
disciplinary problem?

Have I
done all of this for nothing?

It can’t
be. There are secrets here, a tension from the adults, as if they’re afraid
I’ll discover something I shouldn’t.

“Why
Baxter?”

“Because
I’m curious.” I’m not about to tell him the truth. Maybe if this weekend
wouldn’t have gone so bad, I might have told him what I’d overheard, but not
now.

“It’s a
private high school. There’s nothing interesting about it.”

“There
you are wrong.” On more counts than I’ll ever admit. “This school is rumored to
educate the next great artists of their generation. Admission isn’t based on
academics, but talent, and those who can’t afford, are granted scholarships. In
fact, one hundred percent of your students are here are on scholarships, at
least according to statistics, unlike the rest of the private schools.”

He nods
in agreement. “So?”

“So?
Isn’t it time the world learned about them? The school?”

His eyes
harden. “No.”

Gabe is
going to be uncooperative. I can’t really blame him. He’s not going to tell me
a damn thing. I’m surprised he’s talking to me now, but he has little choice
since my babysitter had to look after a new student.

That was
still odd with the way everyone reacted. I don’t get it.

As Gabe
won’t tell me about the school, I’ll ask him a few more questions. “Did you
teach anywhere before coming to Baxter?”

He glares
at me from the corner of his eye. “You’re writing about Baxter, not me.” We’ve
reach the front gate. “And, it’s time for you to go.”

Gabe – 21

This’ll
probably go down as my shittiest day at Baxter. I’ve been cooling my heels in
the administration buildings in one of the receiving rooms. I’m pretty sure the
furniture is as old as the plantation house and not a bit comfortable.

I tried
to read, but couldn’t focus on the book long enough and found myself rereading
pages, absorbing none of the words. Frustrated, I put it back in my pack and
begin to pace, which didn’t last long because of the shooting pain in my knee
and up my thigh.

I really
don’t want to have to call the doctor again. I’m sick of them, and therapy, and
injections and medication. Maybe a massage, or a swim at the health club will
help. Though, I’m not sure I should plan on either. If I’m about to lose my
job, I can’t afford a massage therapist and I’ll probably have to give up my
club membership.

What’s
taking so long? Isaac and Tara went into her office well over an hour ago and
Mag hasn’t come back from wherever she disappeared to. There’s probably all
kinds of meetings and conversations going on, all about what to do with me.
Kids coming face to face with the adults from their past isn’t something Baxter
takes lightly.

At least
Ellen is gone.

Maybe I
should just head back to my classroom and start packing up my stuff. It’ll save
me time in the end. Not that I have all that much stuff. Favorite books I’d
like the kids to read, a picture of my sister and mom, but that’s about it.
I’ve never been one to have a bunch of possessions. I didn’t even take my
trophies and awards when I moved out. Dad was more proud of them than I ever
was.

“Gabe, we
need to talk,” Mag says, coming into the room.

My
stomach sinks. At least it’s spring and I’ll have plenty of time to find a new
teaching position before the fall. But, I don’t want to leave Baxter. I like it
here. I like what the school stands for and the kids are so much better than in
a public school. Baxter doesn’t tolerate cliques, drama outside the theatre,
and there are certainly no gangs dealing drugs or kids bringing guns to school.
That doesn’t happen at all schools, but it seems the only schools that need
teachers are the ones with the most trouble. And, the kids at Baxter are
accepting of everyone. Even if they never become friends, the respect is there.
They’re also fucking smart and talented. I don’t want to leave here and go to a
school where my hands are tied by bureaucracy and standardized tests to simply
babysit one group of students after another. Teaching isn’t supposed to be like
that. It wasn’t when I was in school, but it sure as hell looks like it’s
headed in that direction.

“A
decision hasn’t been made.”

“What?”
She’s not firing me, yet?

“Isaac is
fine with you remaining on staff and being in your class.”

A part of
me relaxes.

“But,
he’s sixteen, and might not be the best judge of his recovery.”

I lost
track of what happened to Isaac. After he was released from the hospital, he
just disappeared. At least they cleared me of any wrongdoing. It wasn’t my
fault. It was his fucking father’s. Isaac and I do have one thing in common. We
both have dick dads.

“For the
moment, we are putting you on paid leave. Tara wants a few more sessions with
Isaac, to better evaluate his emotional stability, maturity and overall mental
health.”

As much
as I don’t want to lose my job, Isaac is the most important person in this
situation. It’s all about what is best for him, whether he thinks so or not. “I
get it.”

“Hopefully
I’ll be able to get back with you by the end of the week,” she says
apologetically.

“Take
your time. I want what’s best for Isaac too. He deserves to be in a good place.
And, he’ll make a great soccer player.” At least there are two kids now to make
up the team.

Ellen

There’s
nothing in my apartment to cook so I head to Sullivan’s Pub, which I quickly
learned was probably the best restaurant in town and grab a table in a back
corner. After plugging in my laptop and switching on the hotspot on my phone I
pull up the internet browser and type in Gabe Kent. There are all kinds, but
I’m not seeing his picture, or anything of interest. Then I type Gabriel Kent.
I can’t believe I didn’t Google Gabe before, and it’s as good a place to start
my research into the adults who are a part of Baxter. It has absolutely nothing
to do with the fact that I still want to know more about him, even after how
our trip to New York ended.

The
waitress stops by my table and I give her my order. I hadn’t really looked at
the menu but after a quick glance I see they have burgers and order one with a
Coke.  When she leaves, I plug in my earbuds so I can block out the noise and
look back at the screen to see if my search produced anything.

“Holy
crap!” The reporters sure loved him once upon a time. The page floods with
links, and a ton of images and I start reading the articles.

The
waitress brings me a burger, the size of New York, and way more than I can
possibly eat, and refills my Coke. I cut the burger into quarters and go back
to reading article after article about Gabe. He was quite the athlete, promises
of the pros after college. Then I see the video clip of the career ending
injury. A tackle from the side, his body going one way, but the lower half of his
left leg going another. My stomach revolts and I push the plate away. I was
getting full anyway, but I’m sure I’ll never get the sight of his pain filled
face, the lower half of his leg folded and turned in the opposite directions,
the blood around is knee, or the screams, loud enough to silence everyone else
in the stadium.

The
following reporters detail his injuries. A complete break of the femur, right
above the knee. No amount of surgeries or therapy could help Gabe return to the
field.

There’s
nothing much for a few years before his name pops back up in the news. He was
being investigated for child endangerment. I read the article about lightning
striking the field during track practice. He and a student were injured. He was
cleared, but nobody answered the question of why they were out there with a
storm coming in the first place.

Is that
how he injured his knee the second time? I’d ask but he sure as hell isn’t
about to tell me anything.

The kid,
Isaac Peters, ended up in the hospital in a coma.

Is that
the same Isaac who showed up in class today?

No,
couldn’t be.

Could it?

That
would certainly explain Gabe’s surprise, but not the way everyone else reacted.

What am I
missing?

Gabe – 22

I’d come
to Sullivan’s to relax and order dinner to take home. After today, I’m not in
the mood to cook and then clean up. Besides, it might be the last time I get a
chance to eat out for a while. Unfortunately, any relaxation I hoped to find by
talking to Shamus, who owns the place and always bartending, was destroyed the
minute I see Ellen sitting at the back corner table. Her laptop is open and
she’s listening to something. A look of disgusts crosses her face and she
pushes the plate with her half eaten burger across the table.

She leans
forward, as if reading something interesting. She’s probably trying to dig up
more dirt on Baxter. She won’t find any. Of that I’m confident.

As much
as I should avoid her, I find myself walking toward her anyway.  This is a
mistake. Probably a huge one, but I can’t help myself. I’m only doing this
because I want to find out what she’s up to. It has nothing to do with the fact
that I’m still attracted to her, despite everything.

Warning
bells to stay away from her are going off in my head, but I keep walking
because I’m fucking stupid. Besides, she has a lot more to answer for and now
that I’ve done a little research, I have a few questions of my own. I just
wasn’t thinking about them as I escorted her from the campus. I was too busy
reeling from seeing Isaac in my classroom and the complications that would
result.

She
doesn’t look up right away when I stop at the side of her table and clicks on
something. Maybe she’s playing a game. After a second she stills and slowly
looks up. Her eyes go wide and she pulls the buds out of her ears. “Gabe?”

“Miss
West.”

Frowns at
me. “Would you like to sit?” She gestures to the empty place across the table
then closes her laptop.

What is
she trying to hide now?

“Why
Baxter?” I’ve asked her before, but my gut tells me I’m not getting a straight
answer.

“Why
not?” She counters.

“I’ve
read your blog.”

She grins
at me. “What did you think?”

“You’re
very thorough, I’ll give you that. But, I don’t get why you’re here. We’re
nothing like any of the stories you report on.”

“If I
don’t find anything, I won’t write an article. It’s as simple as that.”

“There’s
nothing to find.”

“Then why
not let me find that out for myself?” she counters.

The
waitress stops by the table and puts a menu in front of me. I order a beer. I’m
still not sure if whatever I order will be eaten here or taken home. I peruse
the menu, even though I know it pretty well, and finally settle for cheesesteak
and fries before closing it. “What were you watching on your laptop? Or
reading?”

She bites
her lip and looks away, her cheeks become a little pink. Maybe Ellen’s research
isn’t all work related. Though, if it’s embarrassing enough to turn red, a
public restaurant is probably not the best place to be viewing such sites.

“I was
researching you.” she blurts out.

Well,
that isn’t exactly as exciting as I’d imagined.

The
waitress comes back and puts the beer on the table and I give her my order.

“Why me?”

“Well…um….”

“Don’t
lie to me.” I should just get up and wait for my order at the bar.

“I’m
not.” She snaps then takes a drink of her soda before running her hand across
the top of her laptop. “I just saw the video.” She grimaces. “I can’t imagine
that kind of pain.”

I don’t
really care that she researched me. I did the same to her, even if I should
have done it a hell of a lot sooner. Besides, that part of my life was more
public than private anyway. I just hope she doesn’t uncover the story about
what happened to Isaac. She was there when he showed up and if she’s half as
intelligent as I think she is, she’ll put two and two together and it’s none of
her business. I certainly don’t want her writing about it. The story is over
and done. Or, it was until Isaac showed up today and might cause me to lose my
job.

“Have you
called your doctor yet?”

I glare
at her. She lost any right to ask about me the moment she met with Scott and
then lied to me about him.

“You need
to have it checked out.”

Clearly,
she doesn’t get that it isn’t any of her business. “I will when I’m ready.”

“What,
when you can’t walk anymore?”

The
waitress sets the plate in front of me. I’d feel rude eating in front of her,
but she’s already eaten her meal. “Pretty much, yeah.” I dip my fry into the
ketchup. I should have just left.

“There
has got to be something they can do.”

“Sure
there is. A knee replacement.”

“Why
don’t you have one?” This time it is curiosity more than chastising me.

“I’m not
sure it it’ll really help, though the docs say it will.” I take another drink.
“I’m not ready for yet another surgery and rehab.”

“That
must suck.”

I laugh,
despite myself. She isn’t being all sympathetic, which I hate when people are,
or giving me advice, like so many people try to do. “So, you going back to
Baxter tomorrow or do you have all you need?” I need her out of town. I won’t
be able to get my head back on straight until she’s gone and I can forget we
ever met.

If I’ll
ever forget.

Shit. I
may be pissed, unable to trust her, but I still think she’s hot as hell, and
could sleep with her again.

That’s
fucking messed up!

Why does
she have such a hold on me? I’ve not know her a week and those claws are in
deep. I need distance.

So why
the hell am I sitting her with her now?

“I think
I wore out my welcome today,” she finally says.

That’s
it, she’s done? Perfect! Now she can go back to New York and Scott, and I can
get on with my life, which includes drafting a new resume and finding a new
school to teach at.

“I’ll
return in a few days, after I’ve done a little more research.”

Crap,
what if I’m not employed any longer?  She’ll want to know why and I won’t be
able to tell her. It isn’t like I’d lose my job because of cutbacks or because
I screwed up. “You’re wasting your time at Baxter. I’ve read your blog. You
blast companies and people for the wrongs they’ve done. Baxter is just a great
high school full of talented kids.”

She shrugs.
“Maybe I want to change my focus, or expand, and write about good things too.”

I narrow
my eyes on her. “What do you
really
expect to find by investigating
Baxter?”

The smile
slips and she stares into her Coke.

Ellen

Do I tell
him? Come clean about what I heard? Would he even believe me?

If I do
tell him, what if he tells everyone and I’m booted? At least with corporations
I could ask the right employees the right questions and get answers. Of course,
those were usually the disgruntled employees, which are always easy to find.
That isn’t the case with Baxter. I didn’t meet one person who gave any
indication that wanted to talk to me privately and away from listening ears.
Everyone clammed up the moment they learned why I was there. That’s never happened
to me before. Every place has a snitch or a leak. And, Baxter just seems too
perfect to be true. If I could talk to the kids, I bet I’d get a different
response.

I should
have just asked Gabe more pointed questions when we were together. At least
then I had a chance of learning something. Now he just hates me. So, why the
hell did he sit down here?

I wish I
could take back that fight, my slap, and just tell him why Scott found me. God,
it would feel so good to tell someone. But I can’t. So, I have to live with his
hating me.

“This is
your first year at Baxter, right?”

“Yep.”

“And you
were only a substitute before?”

“Teaching
jobs aren’t that easy to come by.”

“You’re
twenty-six. Did you take your time getting through school?” Shit, that came out
wrong, or at least offensive. “No biggie,” I quickly say. “Some of my friends
were six year college students because they kept changing their majors.”

“You’re
nosy.”

“I’m a
reporter.”

He
snorts.

“Come on,
you’re good with the students. A natural teacher. I figure you graduated at
what, twenty-three and you don’t start teaching until what, twenty-five?”

“Nope.
The football injury delayed me a year. I didn’t get a job right away and
subbed. The second injury, with the surgeries, kept me from looking again until
last spring.”

That
makes sense. Nobody is going to hire a teacher who was going to be gone more
than he was there.

He takes
a drink of his beer and leans forward. “Listen, you’re here to do a story on
Baxter, not me.”

The
waitress stops at the table and asks if I need anything else. I’m good so I
request the check. “How did you know the new kid at the school today?”

His beer
is half way to his lips, but Gabe freezes, glaring at me over the rim. “He was
a kid at one of the schools I subbed at.”

“Which
one?”

“That’s
none of your business.”

This was
going well, for about a second, so I might as well get down to the reason I
came to this town to begin with. “Why? And, why did the others seem concerned
or alarmed?”

“They
were just surprised. I’m not from the area so they were probably shocked I knew
the new student.”

He’s not
telling me the truth. There was much more to their reaction than being
surprised
.
Do I ask him if the Isaac in the class is the same one who was in the coma?
Would have he give me a straight answer? “Why don’t you coach?”

“Why are
you interviewing me?”

“Nobody
else will talk to me.” That’s kind of depressing, especially since it’s the
truth. I don’t exactly have that many real friends and the ones I do have are
spread out over the country and Paige travels most of the time. It’s hard to
make friends when the only people you spend any time with you’re investigating.

“Maybe if
you weren’t poking around in their business.”

He’s got
a point. “Okay, go ahead and poke around in mine.” As soon as the words are out
of my mouth, I remember that last night in New York and Gabe most definitely
doing some poking. Though, more like deep thrusts, filling me. My face grows
warm and I hastily take a drink.

He
relaxes back, studying me. “Okay, where are you from?”

“Nevada.
I’ve told you that already. I’ve lived in New York since I moved here to go to
school.”

“Okay.”
He nods. “Then answer another question for me.”

“Sure,” I
answer slowly, afraid he’s going to bring up Scott again.

“How come
when I search for you, there’s no Ellen West, or the ones I found aren’t you.
All I can find is your blog.” He holds up a hand. “No, I find pictures of Ellen
West at Columbia, but nothing else. It’s as if Ellen West didn’t exist until
she went to college.”

I swallow
and then take a hasty drink again. Shit! I wasn’t anticipating this.

“I had it
changed legally. I didn’t like my other last name.”

“So, what
is it?” He’s staring at me, waiting.

“I don’t
see that it matters.”

“You see,
it does to me.” Gabe leans forward, his hands braced on the table. “Why should
I, or anyone at Baxter, tell you a damn thing when I don’t even know who you
really are?”