[First Draft] Crystals (girlxgirl) (studentxteacher) (lesbian story)

Chapter Forty-seven

Laura

"Hello. My apologies for missing your call; I was working."

"That's no problem, ma'am, I was calling to inform you that we have deposited the amount you're due into your bank account. If there are any issues please contact us immediately through our helpline. Have a great day."

"Alright, thank you."

Stephanie was picking me up today, having begged me to do something, saying she hadn't seen me in years. She would hopefully be waiting outside so we could go shopping.

I was packing up my things when a light knock on the open door made me pause.

"Can I help you?"

The girls face was hidden behind her hair but I recognised the trembling voice, broken by gasps for air. Her words were inaudible. She was in my class, the one I'd taught last in fact. Her name was Gemma. "Sweetie," I stood up and she stumbled forwards into my arms, her tears so heavy I could feel them soaking my shirt in a matter of seconds. "Shh, calm down." I stroked her hair, and attempted to soothe her. It worked sufficiently; she was still crying, but lightly and could speak without too much difficulty. "Tell me what's wrong," I urged.

"I don't know what to do, you're the only teacher I could find that I like." She sniffled, rubbing her face.

"Go on."

"I know I should've told someone before but I could handle it. But then he tried it with one of my... My f-friends." Her words were once more swallowed by sobs.

My stomach was beginning to sink, nausea burning in my throat. I already knew what the he had done. I just fucking knew it. I battled with the internal panic, ordering myself to get it together and act the way a teacher should.

"What did he do?" I pushed her hair from her face and handed her a tissue. "Come on, Gemma, you have to tell me if you want me to help you."

She blew her nose and breathed deeply several times.

"He raped me."

There was a deafening silence, her word hung in the air. Heavy and dangerous. The girls tears had stopped, all I could hear was my own breathing. Loud, laboured. The only physical sign (I hoped) that I wasn't handling this well. I couldn't formulate words and simply pulled her against me and held her tightly. My brain flooded with all the things I must do to help this child. The police had to be contacted, assessments of her safety, interviews. These thoughts distracted me from my own distress, helping me think more clearly.

"Who did it?" I asked first, deeming that the most important question.

"My cousin," she whispered, "he lives with us.

"Who's us?"

"My mum and dad and me."

"Has it happened... More than once?" She nodded stiffly, tears trickling down her face. “We’re going to get this sorted out, Gemma, don’t you worry.” My mind was already hard at work, running over all the paperwork I had to fill out, making a list of all the authorities I would need to notify. “Could you wait here for a few minutes?” Gemma nodded. “Will you be alright? He isn’t waiting for you or anything?” I began to feel a little panicked, imaging the worst.

“I’ll be fine, Miss, he isn’t waiting for me... My boyfriend is outside though, can he come in?”

“Of course,” I got up and was quickly striding out of the room to find Barry. I had to get him before he left and seeing as it was a Friday there was a strong chance he had already gone.