Page 1 of Her Forbidden Teacher

Chapter 1

Addison

It all started with a dumb picture.

A picture of me, topless and only covering my nipples with my fingers, while still wearing my school uniform skirt. I’d sent it to my friend Lucy with the words, “Should I go bigger?”

We’d been discussing plastic surgery. Lucy wanted a new nose. I thought having bigger breasts would be cool. It was silly girl talk.

Or so I thought...

Betrayal burns hot in my gut as I make my way up to my new school. Brown High School is such a far cry from my private one. People can park anywhere since there aren’t reserved spots. You can wear whatever you want. And I have suddenly gone from one of the poorer kids at school to no doubt the richest.

I feel so out of place.

My stomach roils as I approach the door to the building. I get a few curious stares which I expected. I’m the new girl, showing up her senior year. I know no one. I have no friends here. It sucks.

When my phone buzzes in my purse, I glance at my watch to look at the notification.

Kenzie: Where are you? We’re waiting in the library for you.

Bile creeps up my throat.

I should have told them.

Seconds later, I get another text.

Halle: I saw Cason, but you weren’t with him. Sick on the first day?

Then, another text pops up.

Lucy: Everyone’s looking for you. Are you in Mr. Thompson’s room?

My blood turns to ice at her text. Lucy knows good and well where I’m at. Or where I’m not in this case.

I should have told Kenzie and Halle the truth—that I’m no longer attending our private school because of a stupid picture I didn’t even send, but I was too ashamed. It was easier to pretend all summer that everything was fine. Sweep what happened under the rug.

Lucy’s text is a stab to my heart. I sent that picture to her in confidence. It was supposed to stay between us. What she did with it was a hard lesson I’ll forever be learning from.

I shudder at the memory of being in an office with my parents, their lawyer, Mr. Thompson, his lawyer, school officials, and two police officers. It was humiliating. All for something I didn’t even do.

Another buzz on my phone. This time, a text from my brother.

Cason: Word is spreading. The secret is out.

I read his text as I make my way past some students just inside the building door. This place smells like floor cleaner, a mixture of cologne and perfume, and mildew. The flaking paint on the lockers that line the hallway and the brown water stains in the ceiling tiles point out how different this place is than my old, pristine, beautiful school.

In a way, I’m glad to be here as the secret gets out. Everyone is going to think I’m some whore who threw herself at her teacher. Mr. Thompson was friendly with all the students, especially us girls, but I didn’t like him like that. In fact, Lucy was the one who shamelessly flirted with him.

I still can’t believe she did that to me.

Lucy: Oh no. People are saying you did something terrible.

It’s then, the texts start rapid-fire hitting my watch.

Halle: Did you and Mr. Thompson have a fling?

Kenzie: Someone just said you were expelled! What’s happening right now?!