Chapter 15

Right after breakfast, Sophie and I went home to change. As usual, it was a struggle to separate her from Liam and Collette. After many promises from Liam and persuasion from Collette, she agreed to come with me and see her new school.

" Mom, can I use your car for a while? I need to go to Glendale Elementary School for my orientation and meeting with the Principal." I asked my mom when I came out of my room. I am wearing a grey below the knee pencil skirt and a white long sleeve shirt.

My baby girl is wearing her pink dress and white sweater. I tied her hair up in a ponytail the same as mine.

" Oh, sure, sweetheart, be careful, though. The car was having problems yesterday, but I guess it should be fine. The school is not too far from here, anyway. When you come back, I'll bring it to the workshop and have it fixed." My mom replied and handed me the key.

" Oh, okay, mom. It will only probably take an hour max. We'll be back before lunch, I hope." I told her and grabbed my bag and my daughter. Then we're on our way.

I love my new school, especially in my classroom. In fact, even Sophie loved her new school. She is so excited to start and has been very talkative. Principal Thomas Peters was so fascinated by her enthusiasm.

I did not expect Principal Peters to be so young and still single. I thought he would be a middle-aged guy with less hair, but he actually looks good. He is the same age as Liam but not as good looking. Darn it! There I go again! Always comparing guys I meet with Liam, how can I ever move on from him?

After our meeting, Tom introduced me to the rest of the faculty and gave us a school tour. He invited me to lunch, but I respectfully declined. " I appreciate the invitation, Tom, but my mom will be waiting for us for lunch,"

" Oh, okay, no problem then. Some other time maybe?" He said, smiling, and I smiled back. He accompanied us outside to our car, then waved goodbye and went back inside. I turned on the ignition, but nothing happened.

I tried again, still no response or at least a spark.  I sighed in frustration and called my mom.

" Hello, honey." Mom answered on the other line.

" Hello, mom? The car won't start, and we are stuck here in school. I'll ditch the car here and call a cab. Maybe you can call the workshop and have it towed?" I informed her. I scrambled out of the car and lifted Sophie to my arms.

I made sure that the car is locked before I started walking outside the school to look for a cab. Sophie is acting irritated again. I guess she's already hungry and thirsty too, so do I. I walked a few feet away from the school when a horn sounded at my back.

I stopped and turned around to see Principal Peters come down from his car. He came towards me in confusion.

" What happened, Miss Montreal? Why are you walking under the heat of the sun?" He asked.

" My car won't start. I was waiting for the cab or the bus." I answered him. I am sweating like a pig and probably looked exhausted and dehydrated. Sophie is crying full-blown now and won't stop.

" Well, come on, I'll send you home. Your daughter is getting tired, and you looked exhausted yourself." He offered and held my elbow to guide me back to his car. Just then, a car screeched beside us, and the driver went out in a hurry.

" Bella? What happened, babe? Why is Sophie crying?" Liam came out of the blue. I was astounded. How did he get here so fast? When Sophie heard his voice, she reached out to him right away, crying.

Liam has been eyeing Principal Peters and stared at him openly with so much indifference. He took Sophie from me and massaged her back. Kissing her head and whispered sweet words to her ear. Thankfully, she stopped crying, but you can still hear her hiccups.

" Mom's car won't start. I was waiting for a cab or a bus, but Sophie started crying. She's hungry and thirsty, I guess." I explained to him. I'm so near to collapsing myself due to exhaustion and the heat of the sun.

" Let's go. I'll take you home. I told you I would send you this morning, but you're so stubborn. Good thing I passed by your house, and aunt Carmen told me you're still here." He placed his free arm around my shoulders and guided me to his car without saying a word to Tom.

I turned to look at Tom and said, " I'm sorry for the bother, Mr. Peters, but I'll go with Doctor Jones. We lived in the same street, and he can pacify Sophie faster than I can." I joked a little to ease the tension and awkwardness.

" No worries, Miss Montreal. I'll see you soon? Bye, Sophie, Doctor Jones." He smiled at me, waved at Sophie, and gave Liam a curt nod. Then he climbed back to his car.

" Was he hitting on you?" Was Liam's first word when he started his car.

" What? No?! He was only offering to send me home. He saw me walking by the road, and Sophie was throwing a tantrum." I looked at him, shocked at his question.

" Well, I'm a man, and I know when a man is trying to hit on a girl. He is trying to hit on you. Isn't he married?" He asked again, glancing at me. I glared at him and shook my head in disbelief.

" No. He is very much single, and he's the same age as you." I answered him, laughing a bit. I turned to look at Sophie, who is now sleeping at the back. She probably got tired after being exposed to the heat of the sun.

" So, he's my age. Does it mean he can court you?" He didn't stop interrogating.

" Liam!? Stop! He's only trying to help. And besides, so what if he wants to court me? He's single, I am single, no problem, right?" He suddenly stepped on the brake and turned to look at me.

" So you want him to court you? Is that it? Bella, you had only met him a few hours ago. How sure are you that his intentions are sincere? You are so naive!" He shouted, nose flaring and eyes blazing. Oh, boy. Am I in trouble now?

" Liam, what is wrong with you? I was saying what if. I didn't say I'll consider him. And I am not a kid anymore! In case you forgot, I am a mother now and a teacher. You don't have to look after me as your little sister!" I flared up as well. Why can't he see me as a woman? Not a little girl he used to protect at school.

" I know, Bella. I noticed that you are not a little kid anymore, more than you know. I was only giving you a bit of advice. Stay away from men like that. They are just looking for fresh meat and their prey, alright? I don't want you getting hurt again and be played at." He added slowly and reached out a hand to tuck my stray hair to my ear.

There was tenderness in his eyes, and the way his fingers lingers on my cheek felt so nice. He sighed, then turned on the ignition again. The journey to our house was so quiet and so full of tension. There's this sexual tension between us that is so hard to ignore.

Liam is gripping the steering wheel so hard his knuckles turned white. The tensing of his jaw betrayed his deep frustration. It is obvious that he's jealous of Principal Peters, but why? He doesn't like me. Not before, not now. I am hallucinating. I imagine things that aren't there. It was just wishful thinking, a prayer made by my traitor heart.