Chapter 9: Did I Offend You?

Sarah jumped up from her chair. “Since when has this happened?” she asked, embarrassed. Bryce, a student, snorted. “Since you couldn’t keep your mouth shut to your rich boyfriend and they found out we wanted to be tutored by you. It’s not our fault that your sense of morality is skewed.” This comment angered Sarah. “Watch what you say,” she warned. “Or what?” Bryce shrugged. “I can transfer to another college if you blab to your boyfriend again.” Wendy nudged him. “Bryce, stop it.” “Yeah, Bryce, shut your mouth. You’re just making it worse for the rest of us,” Justin scoffed and looked at Sarah. “Oh, my bad. Did I offend you? Looks like I will be scolded by my dad today.” He rolled his eyes and shook his head before turning away from Sarah. “You have all been disrespectful.” Sarah glared in sheer disbelief. “I didn’t cry to anybody. And for your information, Miss Wendy Stone approached me and asked me to tutor her so that she could do better than all of you in class. I didn’t approach her like she told all of you.” She whirled around to face Wendy. “You should at least acknowledge what really happened. It’s not bad to be ambitious.” “Enough!” Bryce slammed his hand into the table. “Miss Mitch,” he sighed, “you probably think you are doing something great, but at the end of the day… you’re rather insignificant. We won’t be biting our tongues or stay in your good books just because—” “Stop!” Sarah shouted. Everyone was watching her. “Oh, you don’t need to worry. I have never been one to be accused of a crime and take it lying down.” Especially when she had done nothing of the sort. - - - - - “What do you mean you quit the tutoring gig?” Sarah was walking quickly and ignored the annoying voice on the other side of the phone. Amanda couldn’t grasp the fact that Sarah was actually doing something out of the norm for her. “Sarah, you can’t quit teaching! You didn’t apply for anything else. What will happen to your credits?” Amanda shouted. “And what is with you staying with a guy? What has gotten into you?” Yeah, Sarah was surprised about that too—she had practically been living with a guy for some time, though she had not seen said guy in a while. “I am going to hang up,” Sarah announced. And that was about an hour ago. She went back home to avoid all the drama after informing the professor that she would not be coming back. “Open the damn door!” Amanda called and banged on it. Sarah opened it after a while, and went back inside the apartment without another word. “Damn it, stop ignoring me!” Amanda screamed. Sarah had had enough. “Then stop pestering me!” Her voice echoed around the apartment. She was sure her neighbors heard her too. Amanda’s cheeks were flushed with anger. “Don’t talk to me like that,” she hissed. “I am on my last thread with you, Sarah. You have no idea how hard it has been dealing with your newfound rebellious side.” Sarah gaped. “You pushed me to live recklessly.” “Yes, but not throw your entire future down the drain while you were at it!” “I am done!” Sarah cried. “I am tired of getting judged because of where I come from or who I associate with. So screw teaching, and screw entertaining a man who is nothing but trouble. I will not be a puppet any longer.” Amanda’s face fell at her words. “Is that what you really think?” “I don’t know…” Sarah grimaced and rubbed her face in frustration. “I am just tired of taking shit from those rich brats, especially when it comes to their comments on who I date.” “Sarah, I need you, okay? You… you can just de-stress after classes with me for the rest of the year if you want. I will skip every party and hang out with you. Just please don’t give up on teaching and your grad program. I need you,” Amanda begged. Sarah rolled her eyes at the theatrics. “You only want me because I am a good editor. You will do fine without me. I will find a way to make up my credit points and get out of that university.” She needed to be as far possible away from Wendy Stone as possible. “I can’t be there anymore.” “Sarah—” Amanda started to speak but there was another knock at the door. “Who came at this hour?” she asked. Her eyes lit up in recognition and she stumbled to the door and opened it. A part of Sarah wanted it to be William, but it was not him—it was his assistant, Luca. Sarah ignored Amanda and pushed her aside. “Did William send you here?” she asked without conviction. She was tired and just wanted some peace. “Miss Mitch, can I speak to you in private?” he asked. He looked past her and at Amanda. Sarah told Amanda to wait and followed Luca to the car. She had been in the same car as him before, but never without William. “Where is William?” she asked. “I sense some animosity there,” Luca said with a slight smile. Though he was a salaryman who couldn’t offend the boss’ girlfriend, he really needed to set things straight. “Where are we going?” she asked. “You finally asked.” He smiled. Sarah huffed. “Why are you doing this? I thought you hated me.” Luca seemed surprised by that. “I never said I disliked you, Miss Mitch. On the contrary, I constantly try to find redeeming qualities about you.” Sarah raised a brow at that. “I have found some, but…” Sarah’s mouth was set into a thin, tight line. “If this has to do with William,” she said, turning in her seat to face him, “you are wasting your time.” Luca refused to look at her. “No. And I would appreciate it if you didn’t tell him I looked for you.” Sarah finally chuckled. “We are not close enough for me to keep secrets from you,” she quipped. “I can see why William is taken with you.” He shook his head like there was a joke about her hidden in there. “No, seriously, what do you want?” she demanded.