The Substitute Teacher

Part 81 ~ Breaking Down

"He left? . . Daddy where did he go?? did he say something?"

"I don't know . . I was watching TV"

"DAD!!! what did you guys talk about? what did Michael say?!"

"He said something about putting up a camera"

"Putting up a camera? . . where??"

"At his house . . something about the front door . . Pumpkin, I would really love to watch this football game right now. . ."

"Dad!!! I can't believe you let Michael go back home!!"

"I was trying to talk him out of it . . believe me, I was!! . . I told him it was a dangerous idea and that he should just call the police but he didn't listen . . he wanted to do it . . who am I to stop him, Ariana?"

"You are his father-in-law, dad!!! he's MY HUSBAND!! I can't believe you let him go back without me knowing!! what if something happens to him??"

"Nothing will happen to him . . . he's a grown man"

"Yea but Cameron is a FREAK!! . . I can't believe you dad!!!!!"

I run upstairs to my parents' bedroom . . my mom is half asleep. I know I should leave her alone but I need someone to talk to . . I sit down on the bed and shake her gently . . 

"Mom? . . mom please wake up!"

"What's the matter?"

"Michael left . . . he went back home . . ."

"He did? . . why?"

"Dad said something about Michael putting up a camera . . . mom, I'm scared . . what if something happens to him? . . I'm so worried . . I can't breathe . . ."

Mom and I sit down in the kitchen. I'm so glad that she came out of the bedroom to comfort me even though she's sick. I really need a shoulder to lean on right now . . I want Michael to come back here. I tried calling him but he doesn't pick up . . . he's been gone now for over 45 minutes . . . the thought of him getting hurt feels like someone ripping my heart out . .

"You guys know what you gotta do, Ariana . . you guys need to move!"

"I know . . Michael and I talked about that on the way over here . ."

"You really need to leave that place . . . . that Cameron guy is out of his mind . . he could've hurt you and the babies . . he could've killed you . . this is reality, babygirl . . and reality doesn't always taste good. There are sick people in this world and you have to protect yourself . . Michael going over there to put up a darn camera is plain stupid! . . . there was a guardian angel watching over you, Ariana . . you were in luck . . "

"I know :( . . . but what about Michael? he's there right now . . all by himself! . . what if he doesn't have a guardian angel? what if at that very moment Cameron comes back?? . . I mean, he has my keys!! . . he can go back there anytime!! . . mom, I'm about to have an anxiety attack . . I need to speak to Michael . . I need to make sure he's alright!! . . I can't breathe . ."


~ Michael's point of view ~ 

I'm back home now trying to put up this camera at the front door . . when I go back to Ariana's parents' place I will leave the lights on . . maybe then Cameron will think Ariana is home alone . . he probably will, since my car won't be here . . I knew that guy was trouble . . I knew it from the first day on . . I told Ariana! I TOLD HER! . . but of course she didn't believe me . .

''he's so sweet and polite'' she said . . yea right . . polite my ass!!

Now who's scared of him? . . SHE IS!

Why? because he almost killed her!! . . her and my twins!

I can't believe that man has my wife's keys . . MY keys . . to MY house!!! . . what kind of a freak is he?! threatening my wife with a knife . . I will kick that guy's ass so bad! . . He will not get away with this . . oh no . . first he kisses her and now he scares her to death? . . no, no . . not with me . . he will pay for this. He didn't have to pay for the car but for this, he will . . . darn right he will . .

I'm sitting in the livingroom ''watching TV'' hoping for the freak to come  . . my car isn't here . . I parked it down the road next to a flower shop . . he will think Ariana is home alone. . but she won't be here . . I will be here to kick his ass. I'm not scared at all . . I feel pretty safe actually. . 

. . I knew my dad's gun would come in handy one day. 


~ Ariana's point of view ~ 

"Mom . . I'm having a really bad feeling . . Michael has been gone for over an hour now and he doesn't pick up the phone!!"

"Honey . . all this stressing and worrying is so bad for you . . please try to sleep, ok? . . have another hot chocolate and try to fall asleep . . Michael will be back later, I know he will . . don't worry, ok?"

"Yea, you're right . . . thank you mom . . thanks for the talk"

"You're welcome sweetie . . love ya!"

"Good night . . love you too . . ."

I'm back in the bedroom now . . all by myself, worried to tears. I talked to Carli on the phone and told her everything. I'm so mad at Michael for not picking up the damn phone!! why can't he pick up the phone?!!!!! . . UGHH . . he's so gonna get ass-slapped when he comes back here . . he knows how much I hate it when he doesn't pick up . . . 

At 10:15pm I get a call from Felicia.
Why is she calling me at this time of the night? . . I pick up:

"Hello?"

"Ariana . . are you ok???"

". . . yyes . . why?"

"There are police cars and an ambulance in your driveway!"

"WHAT???!!!"

"Yes . . I just walked by your house on my way home from my sister's place where I dropped off Selena . . I can't even walk up there . . they're blocking the way . . where are you???"

"Felicia! you need to find out what happened, MICHAEL IS THERE!!!!"

"Oh heaven . . . . ."

"Ok . . wait . . hold on a sec . . I try to get up there somehow . ."

"PLEASE tell me Michael is ok!! look for Michael, WHERE IS HE?!"

"Oh my god, Ariana . . . . ."

"WHAT WHAT WHAT??? IS MICHAEL OK?? SAY SOMETHING!!!!!"

"Michael is on a hospital bed!!! . . Ariana . . I'm about to faint. . ."

"WAIT THERE!!! I'M COMING!!!"

. . . *hangs up*

I throw the phone across the room and run down to the livingroom. Dad is fast asleep on the couch . . 4 empty beer bottles on the coffee table . . GREAT!! . . I look for his car keys and drive home as fast as I can . . . I'm only wearing a freakin' nightgown but I don't give a flying crap . . .

I know what happened . . CAMERON HAPPENED . . he came back and he hurt Michael . . just like he said he will when he threatened me with the knife . . . . . I should've went there earlier . . I could've prevented this . . . my baby . . my baby is hurt!!!! . . I can't even see the road, the tears in my eyes make my vision blurry . . I know I'm risking mine and the twins lives right now but I HAVE to go home . . I HAVE TO SEE MICHAEL!!

Honey, I'm coming . .

PLEASE BE OK . . . 

I park he car on the side of the road. . one police car is standing there . . but no ambulance . . did they leave already?? . . no one is here . . where is Felicia?? I told her to wait for me!!! I walk up to the police car with my hand on my belly . . suddenly I hear Felicia's voice behind me calling my name. . she's running up the drive way . . .

"Ariana . . they just drove away!! . . they just drove to the hospital!!"

I fall down on my knees . . . the officer and Felicia help me back up. She takes off her jacket and puts it on me. I can't feel my legs . . I can't feel my arms . . I'm a wreck . .

The officer picks me up and carefully puts me down on the backseat of his car. . . Felicia gets in on the other side. She tells the officer that Michael is my husband and that we need to know what's going on. I'm glad she's talking for me because I couldn't get a word out right now . . .

My heart feels numb and my belly hurts . . really, really bad . .




~ to be continued ~