Page 20 of Miguel
“Lorena? Can I have a moment with you in my office, please?”
My entire body froze at the request. More specifically, at the voice behind the request. I turned. The morning air had my eyes wide open and my spirits high, but seeing the way the principal eyed me up and down put a damper on my mood. I kept my smile in place, though. If my lips were a little tight, I hoped he didn’t notice.
“The other teachers will take over for you,” he assured, as if mistaking my hesitancy for something it wasn’t.
It wasn’t that I didn’t want to leave my current spot as the kids filed in that morning. It wasn’t even that I was bouncing on the balls of my feet in the hopes of getting a glimpse at Miguel, who had yet to arrive with Zeke.
I just didn’t want to be alone withhim.
“Of course.”
I followed him inside the school and towards his office. It was a private little nook with small windows. There weren’t any images of cartoons painted within it like there were everywhere else throughout the school, which made it seem so much more grown-up and foreboding.
Inside, he closed the door, the click of it snapping behind me like something out of a horror movie. I held my breath as he rounded the desk and sat behind it before gesturing at me to have a seat.
“Please, Señorita Flores.”
I did as he asked, smoothing out the crinkles in my skirt. “What can I do for you today, Director Ramón?”
I’d never liked Ramón. I’d only ever tolerated him because I loved my job and I loved the children, even if I didn’t particularly feel too crazy about him. Sometimes, I pictured myself in his position and a strange longing surged through me. I wanted what he had, if only because I knew I could be a far better director than he ever could.
He was very strict, and sure, he had to be because of the nature of his job and because some parents tried to take advantage of school systems. But there was something about him that made my skin crawl.
He never threatened me, never flirted, but it was in his roaming eyes. The way they settled on my chest sometimes when he thought I didn’t notice. The way he leered or made comments that were sometimes passive aggressive.
“It’s come to my attention that you took a student off the premises and to their home–”
“I had their parent’s permission to do so.” I twisted my fingers into the skirt of my dress, my heart pounding with fear at the obvious disdain in his voice.
His gaze narrowed. “Please don’t interrupt me.”
Chastised, I all but sank into my chair.
“You know well that for permission to be given there has to be a written notice, signed by the parent, stating that they give the teacher in question authority to make that decision and recognize the consequences, as well as leave the school free of culpability should anything occur outside of our grounds.”
“I know.”
He steepled his fingers together above the table and leaned forward, glaring at me. “Then why did you do something so foolish?”
“I–”
I had no words. Nothing I could say to defend myself. He was right. I’d broken the rules, knowing very well that I wasn’t allowed to leave with Zeke and I’d done so anyway.
“Señorita Laura never should have added you to the list,” Ramón went on. “Youbothknew better.”
A lump formed in my throat, and I tried to swallow past it. I didn’t rattle off excuses because there were none I could think of, but also because I was old enough to accept I’d done wrong.
Director Ramón sighed and leaned back in his chair. His eyes roved over me, penetrative, uncomfortable. They made me want to squirm in my seat. “Look,” he said. “I heard the other teachers whispering about this new kid and his… father…”
I gulped, hoping he couldn’t see it from where he sat.
“They’ve said he’s very attractive.”
I forced a smile to my lips. “Sure, Zeke is very cute.”
His eyes narrowed at my obvious sarcasm. “I meant the father.”
“Oh?” My head tilted slightly to the side. “I hadn’t noticed.” The lie slid easily off my tongue, but I could tell he didn’t believe me.
