The Substitute Teacher

Part 133 ~ "Cutieface"

~ Jaden's point of view ~ 

I'm happy that I don't have to go to school today but I wanna see Julianna . . Dad is looking at me funny . . why is he looking at me like that? He gives me a kiss on my forhead and leaves the room . . . I'm about to fall asleep again . . I'm so tired . . I feel like I haven't even slept at all . . . .

And I wish I still had my phone . . . I wanna talk to Julianna. .  I wanna send her a text message! . . I love that woman to death. . . all I need right now to feel better is getting a message from her . . or better yet . . .  I wanna talk to her on the phone . . that would make me feel so much better . . . .


~ Michael's point of view ~

Julianna? . . was he talking about his teacher? . . I can't get it out of my mind. I'm confused. Why would Jaden call Ms.Dean by her first name? . . . I'm on my way to school now . . I'm tired . . my eyes keep closing on their own . . . but I need to get to school, I can't just stay home . . . . I'm not just employed somehwere . . I'm a teacher . . . I can't be sick . . . that's the bad part.

I give my students something to work on and walk to the teacher's office lounge. I need to talk to Julianna. . . I grab the phone and call her classroom from the office lounge. She tells me that she's on her way here . . . A few minutes later she walks in . . . I give her a smile . . . she sits down in front of me asking me what's going on. I tell her about Jaden what happened the other night . . . she seems worried.

"Julianna . . . Jaden is fine . . don't worry . . . he's at home in bed"

"Thank god . . . I feel so bad Michael . . . it's all my fault . . ."

"Your fault? . . ."

"Yes . . it's all my fault!! I should've gotten into that car and drive him home but . . I was so tired, I couldn't . . I gave him the money to catch a cab . . . gosh I feel so bad . . . none of this would've happened If  drove him home . . ."

"Wait a minute . . . you wanted to give him money to catch a cab? . . from school? . . why a cab? he doesn't have a long way home from school . . what are you talking about?"

"Nothing . . . nevermind . . . ."

"Umm . . I think I do mind . . we're talking about my son here . . . why did you wanna give him money to catch a cab from school? . . I don't get it . . you could've just called me . . I would've picked him up"

"Michael . . I . . ummm . . I just  . . I was worried about him . . he didn't look too good, so I wanted him to catch a cab . . . I'm sorry . . I . . I guess I should've called you . . ."

"Yea . . you should've . . . when Jaden called me yesterday night I was worried to tears . . . I had to pick him in NYC . . . he doesn't have a phone anymore and his jacket got stolen . . his watch is gone too . . . the boy had a rough night . . . . he should've never gotten into that cab . . . he is MY son . . .I'm his FATHER . . . I'm the one to pick him up . . . ok? . . . I don't want you to give him money . . . ."

"I'm sorry Michael . . I . . I didn't think . . . I should've called you . . you're right"

"Yes . . I am right . . . and uh . . . Jaden is gonna stay home for the rest of the week . . I'm gonna make sure he catches up on school work . . don't you worry about a thing"

"He's gonna stay home all week? . . . . ."

"Yes . . . don't worry . . . he won't miss a thing at school . . I'll get him to study"

"Umm . . . alright . . . thank you . . . . I have to go back to my students now . . . see you around"

"Alright. . ."
__________

The day goes by fast . . . it's already 4:30pm and I'm on my way home. I park the car in the driveway and walk inside . . . the first thing on my mind is Jaden of course . . but Ariana looks so lovely in that pink shirt, I just have to kiss her before I make my way upstairs.

"You look so beautiful . . ."

"Hi honey . . . . how was your day?"

"Good . . I'm going upstairs to say hi to Jaden . . I'll be right with you, love"

I run upstairs . . I open Jaden's door and walk inside . . . 

"Hey buddy. . . how are you feeling?"

"Good . . thanks . . . ."

"Can I ask you something?"

"Yea . . what?"

"Why didn't you call me yesterday? you know I would've picked you up"

"Pick me up? . . I DID call you to pick me up. . . ."

"I mean from school . . . . after school . . . why didn't you call me then?"

"Um . . . . ."

"Ms.Dean said she gave you money for a cab . . . why didn't you just call ME?"

"She told you? . . . . ."

"She told me what?"

"Did she tell you that I was at her house yesterday?"

"What? . . ."

"Nothing . . . . ."

"You were at her house yeterday? . . ."

"No I wasn't . . ."

"You just said you were? . . . ."

"I wasn't . . ."

"Jaden . . . . what's going on here?"

"Nothing . . . . why?"

"I think you need some sleep . . . go lay down . . I'm gonna bring you dinner in a minute"

"Thanks dad . . . ."

"You're welcome"

I walk back downstairs . . Ariana greets me with a passionate kiss downstairs . . I kiss her back and wrap my arms around her. Ughh . . . how much I missed her today . . . and gosh . . . I'm so tired . . I'm gonna go straight to bed after dinner . . . oh yes I will . . . I'm so darn tired . . .

"Honey . . you wouldn't believe it . . . they found Jaden's phone in NYC! they sent it in the mail! . . I took it out of the mailbox this afternoon!" Ariana says excidetly.

"They found his phone?? . . oh lord . . thank god they found it! wooow . . . they really did? . . . I was gonna get him the new iPhone 6 but I totally forogt to stop at the mall after work! . . I'm so tired, I can't even think straight!"

Ariana hugs me and kisses me deeply.

"You're such a wonderful father . . . . I don't tell you that enough"

"Thank you sweetheart . . . you're an amazing mother . . . you know you are"

I plug Jaden's phone in and sit down at the kitchen counter. Dinner is ready soon and it smells amazing . . I can't wait to dig in . . . I'm starving. . . . I put the newspaper down and start setting the table for all of us. Ariana keeps looking at Jaden's phone . . . 

"Sweetheart? . . is something wrong?"

"No . . not at all . . I'm just a little shocked, I guess. . . Jaden keeps getting messages from this one person that he named ''MY LOVE'' on his phone . . . I didn't know he had a girlfriend . . . I'm a little sad that he never told me about her . . ."

I pick up his phone and take a look at the display . . holy crap . . . 4 messages? . . this girl really must be into him . . . I wonder if she goes to school with him . . . the nosy father I am, I open his messages and read:

(first message)
"You were so wonderful tonight. . ."

(second message)
"sweetie? . . . are you still up?"

(third message)
"You must be studying . . . I hope you are!"

(fourth message)
"I miss you, cutieface . . . see you tomorrow at school . . . don't spend the money I gave you for the cab on something else . . and if you do, I'll find out :) . . . sweet dreams sweetie! . . Love, Julianna . . xoxo"



~ to be continued ~