Breaking Rules

21.

Thalia's POV:

I arrived at school early that Monday since I had a bunch of work to do since my weekend had been full.

Harper left fairly abruptly after sleeping at my house, her brother was calling her about something or other for most of the night so I understood. She also gave me a kiss before leaving so that put me in a good mood.

I managed to get all of the marking done by the time the bell for homeroom rang out. Some students scattered in from the hallway but I couldn't help but notice that a certain one of my pupils wasn't in her seat. The teacher side of me had to take over though, and I shut my classroom door and took registration.

When Harper wasn't in school I grew more and more worried but when I saw her on Wednesday I realised why. I'd been texting her since lunchtime on Monday checking on her, she made excuses for not calling but I foolishly believed them. Her replies were blunt but she still managed to send me good morning and good night texts that I'd spend all day looking forward to.

I had my coffee in one hand and my other was clutching some worksheets that I'd printed off as I walked into my classroom before Homeroom began. The bell went and I placed everything on my desk and greeted my students with smiles and nods as they took their seats. My hand was on the door, ready to close it shut when Amie and the girl I'd spent all week thinking about, entered my room.

My eyes widened when I saw the bruises on the poor girl's face. She had one that surrounded her bloodshot eye. I tried to scan her body for more marks but she wore her baggiest jeans and an oversized sweater that she must have been overheating in.

I pulled my eyes away and shut the door behind the girls as they took their seats. 

"Just on time girls. Harper, see me at lunch time so we can go over what you've missed, please." She gave me sheepish smile so I gave her a quick one back.

All of my classes of the day had tests which gave me too much time to worry about the girl I'd become infatuated with. I had no idea who could hurt her but it highly pissed me off and throughout the day I'd find myself clenching my fists at the though of it.

Could it have been her brother? No, they seemed to really get along. Unless they didn't.

It could have been Josh? I sweat to got if it was that twat I'd kill him

What if it was a group of people? Oh my gosh did she get jumped?!!

The bell for lunch time snapped me out of my trance and my freshmen students rushed to leave the classroom.

"Put your tests on my desk as you leave guys. I'll get them back to you as soon as possible."

After everyone had left I slouched in my chair and rubbed my face out of frustration, confusion, anger, stress. Pretty much every emotion. 

"Woah, you look stressed out. Long day?" I sat up straight and faced the door, following the gorgeous accent to see Harper closing the door of my classroom.

"Something like that." I walked over to stand between her legs as she sat on the edge of a desk at the front of the classroom. Her head was glued to her lap, she only shifted slightly as I brushed a curl behind her ear.

"What happened?" I whispered. She still didn't look at me. "Don't lie to me Harp."

"My brother- he..."

"That fucking asshole, I'll beat his ass he has no right to lay a hand on you."

"No!" Her hands grabbed mine to relax me and I got a closer look at her bruised eye. "He didn't. Let me finish." I nodded and took a deep breath, a little embarrassed about how angry I got so fast, but I couldn't help but feel overprotective of Harper.