Better (Too Good series) by S. Walden Page B

until she recognized Cadence.
    “You went to Crestview High.”
    Cadence’s face fell. “Yeah.”
    “My friend went there. She graduated with you.”
    Cadence nodded.
    The girl leaned in and whispered, “Did you really have an affair with your math teacher?”
    Cadence shrugged and turned around. So much f or being inconspicuous. She almost moved to another seat, but she didn’t want to come across as a bitch. Michael walked in, and she actually felt relief. He sat in the desk in front of her.
    “I’m assuming you saved this for me even though I don’t see a pen or n otebook or anything else on the desk,” he said.
    She smiled nervously .
    “What’s wrong?” he asked.
    “Nothing. I’ll tell you later,” she mumbled.
    “Tell me now.”
    She glared at him. “I can’t.”
    He nodded. “Okay. When are you free?” he asked.
    “Noon.”
    “Wanna get lunch?”
    “It’ll have to be quick. I work today.”
    “Isn’t it fun being a grown-up and having responsibilities?” Michael joked.
    “The best,” Cadence replied.
    Conversation ended once the professor walked into the classroom. Dr. Callahan. Cadence thought he was nice. He was an o ld one—grandfatherly. He didn’t teach, just explained the syllabus and his classroom expectations. She thought he was one of those “understanding” professors. She could miss a deadline for a paper and he would “understand.” He had the demeanor. It was really in his eyes. They were kind and soft. She realized she spent all fifty minutes of class time developing a character sketch of him in her mind instead of listening to him. And then it hit her! She was subconsciously looking for a companion for Fanny! She burst out laughing as students exited the room at the end of class.
    “What the hell?” Michael asked.
    “Nothing,” she giggled.
    “Meet me at the union at noon , dork.”
    “Whatever.”
    ***
    “So, why are you so weird?” Michael asked, pushing out the chair for her with his foot. She crinkled her nose and wiped the seat with a napkin.
    “A multitude of reasons,” she replied, plopping in the chair and tearing open her Chick-fil-A sandwich.
    “What couldn’t you tell me in class?” Michael asked. “We’ll start with that one.”
    Cadence took a deep breath. “Well, I was all excited about starting college and running away from my complicated past until it was pointed out to me by the girl sitting behind me.”
    “You have a complicated past?”
    “Hard to believe, but yes,” Cadence said.
    “And what is it?”
    “I had an affair with my math teacher,” she said airily. “My current boyfriend.”
    Michael’s mouth dropped open. “Um, a million questions starting now.”
    Cadence checked the clock hanging above them. “You better hurry,” she said with her mouth full.
    “How old is he?”
    “Twenty-eight.”
    “How old were you?”
    “Seventeen.”
    “Fucking. Awesome.”
    Cadence stared at him.
    “Did he change your grades?”
    “No.”
    “Is he in jail?”
    “No. He didn’t commit a crime.”
    “No?”
    “No.”
    “Whatever. Were you found out?”
    “Yes.”
    “Did he go to jail?”
    “Seriously?”
    “Did he lose his job?”
    “Yes.”
    “What did your parents say?”
    “Stuff .”
    “What did they do?”
    “Punched me in the eye.”
    “What the fuck?”
    “Tell me about it.” Cadence took another huge bite of her sandwich.
    “Both of them punched you in the eye?”
    “You’re an idiot.”
    “So what happened after that?” Michael asked. He’d abandoned his food in favor of gawking and drilling her.
    “I ran away.”
    “Seriously. What happened next?”
    “I’m telling you the truth. I ran away. I live with my boyfriend now.”
    They were quiet for a time. Cadence finished off her sandwich and licked her fingers.
    “What did your parents do?” Michael asked.
    “Disowned me.”
    Michael sat back in his chair. “Are you telling me the truth?” he said quietly.
    Cadence nodded and gathered her