The Institute by Kayla Howarth

heels she once gave me.
    “They were
together weren’t they?” It’s quite obvious by the look on his face
that I shouldn’t have asked that. “I’m sorry, that’s a really
inappropriate thing to ask. You don’t have to answer.”
    His look says
it all anyway. Mr. Williams is openly weeping now and I don’t think
I have ever felt this awkward in my whole life. This is worse than
when Dad tried to talk to me about the birds and the bees. I think
I would rather it if Mr. Williams would go back to pretending like
nothing is wrong.
    “I told him to
stop, I knew he would get himself into trouble. He was going to be
a teacher, a proper one and then he had to go and fall for a
student and ruin everything.” He sighs, “Now I don’t even know
where he is,” he says.
    “Do you think
they are together now?” I ask, a little stunned by this
revelation.
    “I’m sorry
Allira, I really shouldn’t have pulled you into this. I really
shouldn’t have been talking to you about it at all.” I know he
shouldn’t have as well but I’m glad he did.
    “That’s okay
Mr. Williams, I won’t tell anyone.” The rumour mill is working
overtime with Ebbodine missing, I don’t want to add fuel to the
fire.
    I leave the
room a little confused but also with a little bit of hope. Will
Ebbodine come home when this relationship fizzles out? Is that
where she really is, shacked up with our English teacher’s son? It
seems plausible.
    I spot Drew on
my way out of school. “I just had the weirdest conversation,” I
blurt out.
    “Oh really?
That sounds interesting.” He flashes me a smile and I almost lose
my train of thought as I involuntarily smile back at him. Smiling
when I’m around him has become a reflex. I know I only just
promised Mr. Williams that I wouldn’t tell anyone but I have to
tell someone, it’s the best news I have got in weeks.
    I lean in and
talk in a hushed tone so no one else can hear me, “Mr. Williams
thinks Ebbodine is with his son Chad and they have run off
together. I don’t know where Carwyn fits in – possibly she was
dating them both at the same time but Mr. Williams is pretty
convinced it’s true. She never told me but seeing as he was
teaching here, I guess it would make sense for her to keep it a
secret.”
    I would like to
be a little offended that she kept this from me but it’s not like I
haven’t kept secrets from her.
    “Well, that’s
good news isn’t it? There’s still a chance she’s not far away and
will be home soon,” he says.
    I nod, “It’s
the first time I have felt the slightest bit of hope since she
disappeared.”
    “Hey, we should
do something fun tonight,” Drew suggests as we start walking to the
train station.
    Fun? Is he
kidding? I already feel guilty enough around him, like I shouldn’t
be happy when there’s so much going on. I should be doing more to
find Ebbodine. I give him a look that must say I’m less than
impressed with the idea.
    He touches my
arm lightly, “You don’t need to give me that look, Allira. All I am
trying to say is you are constantly worried about your current
situation, it’s a lot to handle on your own. You are allowed to
have a little fun and we haven’t really been out on a date
yet.”
    So we are
dating then? Did I miss the part where he asked me? Or is this his
way of doing it?
    His
heart-melting smile makes it too hard to resist. He does have a
point. I can’t think of a single moment where I have not been
worried about Ebbodine, or remembering Jax’s face as the life
drained from it. It has been a lot to take in and I can feel it
starting to get on top of me. Maybe a night out isn’t such a
horrendous idea like I first thought.
    “Okay. Where
exactly did you have in mind?” I ask.
    “I know exactly
where we can go,” he smiles.
     
    ***
     
    Drew takes me
to a secluded park close to where I live. “I didn’t even know this
place existed,” I say, thinking that maybe I should get out
more.
    “I discovered
it