Chapter 30- Edward's POV

I waited for only a short while before Nathan spoke again. He was so impatient and so eager to know. He was also angry, too. I couldn't really blame the guy. I had just lied to him once again. Nathan hated liars.

"You said you're not in a relationship with her." He raised an eyebrow. "Liar."

I shook my head. "You don't understand. I'm not," I defended myself. I lowered my voice so that the other students wouldn't hear. I wished that Nathan and I weren't discussing this issue here, in a classroom. I inhaled.

"Then what's this?" Nathan asked, raising the photo once again.

I rolled my eyes, and said in a whisper, "It was just one kiss, okay? Nothing happened."

"Like I believe you. I know when you're lying."

This was a rich statement, coming from a person who actually believed me the first time I said that Ella and I were never together.

"Besides, these messages say everything," Nathan continued. I sighed and shook my head, getting up from my seat.

"Let's talk outside," I stated, eyeing my students, who looked surprised at the amount of action that was occurring in the classroom today. First Ella, and now... this. I walked out and closed the door. Nathan followed me, and took a seat on the stairs, just as John had done a few minutes before. With Ella. I remained standing up. There was no way that I was going to sit with him.

"You know you're such a hypocrite," Nathan said. He looked at the photo in disgust, and then at me, with the same expression. "How can you? First, my mum, twelve years older, and now Ella, ten year younger? What the hell man?"

I ran a hand through my hair. "You don't understand, Nate, I-"

He interrupted me. "Oh please do explain then."

I looked directly at him. "Nothing happened."

 "So what? I'm not asking what happened- just... what the hell? A student? Really? I can't believe this," Nathan shook his head, glaring at me, and still gripping the photo tightly.

I shrugged. "You don't have to. I don't see what the fuss is, really. It was just one kiss, and we both agreed that it was a mistake. It never happened again." I couldn't even believe myself when I said this. I was really turning into a first class liar. But there was nothing else I could do, really. I couldn't admit to Nathan that Ella and I had been together..

Nathan laughed, his voice dripped in sarcasm. "A mistake. Yeah, right. Just admit it, won't you. You think that I didn't notice that Ella disappeared for the whole afternoon on her birthday on Saturday?" he said, referring to the live in. "And you weren't around either, cause I looked around for you. Aside from the fact that I've seen the way you two look at each other- the secret smile and all. So if you think I'm stupid, you'd better rethink it."

I sighed, realising that Nathan had kept his eyes scanned for Ella and I. The photo was probably the only proof he needed to confront me. I looked down at him, trying to show that I did not care and that I wasn't fearing him. "So what, then?" I asked.

"What?"

I took a deep breath. "What do you plan on doing now that you know?"

"What, about you and Ella?" Nathan looked confused.

"Yes."

He looked up hurriedly. "So you admit it."

I didn't answer right away. After a few seconds, I murmured, "Yeah."

"You and Ella?"

"Yes." I hated having to admit it.

Nathan stood up, looking at me with a baffled expression on his face. He seemed to understand less now that I had finally admitted it to him. "Really? A relationship?" he asked.

I just had to roll my eyes once again. How many times did I have to admit it? I muttered another yes, and added, "What exactly is it that you intend on doing now that  you know it's true?"

I saw guilt in Nathan's eyes for a brief second, which he immediately masked. "Nothing. Why would I do anything about it?"

"I thought you'd jump on the opportunity to bail me out after... what happened last year."

"I'm not going to," he muttered.

Silence flooded the hallway for a few seconds. I did not know what to say, but could barely believe that Nathan would not tell anyone about this. He had looked so guilty for a second. I couldn't help but wonder what was going on in his mind, but I didn't dare ask. I did not want him to snap at me and change his mind about not bailing me out. I sighed, leaning against the door frame leading to my class room. I kept on glancing at Nathan without saying anything. He looked thoughtful for a while, too, until he finally looked up and decided to speak.

"And someone's threatening you about this as well?"

I nodded. "Uh-oh. Practically stalking me, actually."

"And you don't know who it is, still?"

It wasn't him, that I was sure of. I shook my head instead of speaking.

Nathan nodded, seeming to think about it as well. He suddenly looked straight at me, seeming to remember something. "Wait...what? How's Ella with John then all of a sudden? This is insane."

"Yeah I..." I shook my head once again, feeling sick. "I- I told you that her and I aren't together anymore. Don't ask me what happened or how they're together now." That is, if they were together. I was hoping that they were not, and hoped that I would be able to forgive Ella sometime.

"Is John the reason you broke up?" Nathan looked like he was trying to fix the last pieces of the puzzle now.

I bit my lip. "I guess," I said.

He glanced at me, then at the photo, and back at me. He opened his mouth to say something, but stopped as he heard footsteps coming from behind him. He jerked around quickly, only to find John himself standing behind him. Nathan looked at him incredulously, while I glared at him.

"You've got some nerve coming here," Nathan told him.

"I'm not here to talk to you, Nathan. You and I already talked," was John's reply. Of course, I'd seen them exchange a few words right before the lesson, and now I wondered what they had been about. Probably Ella, though. I flinched at the thought of her. It honestly hurt, thinking about what had happened. Yes, it really was love. And still is. And love hurts.

John had now moved towards me and waited for me to get back to reality. I barely met his eyes. I had already ignored him twice these past two days, he had tried to talk to me but I wouldn't listen. Don't blame me, I was hurt. And I still am.

"Don't you have a lesson right now?" I asked.

"I dismissed class early... I just had to come here and talk to you," he said. I saw Nathan roll his eyes from where he was standing. He turned around and walked to the art room, totally ignoring both John and I.

I turned to John. "I just don't think I have anything to say to you," I said.

John took a step closer. "But I do. Please, just let me explain." I shrugged and didn't reply, and he took this as a cue to continue. "It wasn't Ella's fault, I swear. I was the one to make a move on her and I'm sorry that I did, because I didn't know how much I would hurt you. It started out as being just some innocent flirting.. and look what it led to."

Unbelievable. "I don't care how it started out, John, I thought you were my friend! And I thought she was my girl. But it turns out that neither of you know how to be loyal. And actually, what the heck?" I paused to take in a deep breath, I had been wanting to say this for such a long time. "You and her were together before her and I were together! You'd been hiding from me for all that time!"

"I couldn't possibly tell you, Edward! How could I? When you two were so happy together! But I swear, it happened just that once and never again. She never cheated on you. Never."

I looked far ahead. "What's it to you anyway? Why are you defending her?"

"Nothing... I just want to justify and distinguish between what you think happened with what really happened."

"It's not going to make me forget, John. Not now or ever." I took a deep breath. "You know how unlucky I've been in love so far, and you still managed to ruin the only relationship I've ever felt that could go somewhere." I looked away, sighing, and feeling drained out of energy.

"I'm sorry, Edward. Really." He did sound sorry, but I didn't look at his face to see how he looked. I'd had enough for one day. First Ella, and now John too.

"Just leave me alone, please. I have a headache." I turned to leave, but felt John's hand on my shoulder immediately. I stopped.

"Please tell me that you'll at least reconsider forgiving me. And Ella."

I chuckled sarcastically. "What? I haven't even considered forgiving Ella, let alone you."

"So Ella is more important to you than I am?" John asked, seeming surprised. I didn't blame him, I'd known him for a lot longer than I knew Ella. But Ella.. she was different.

"She was," I said, emphasising on the past. "Now you guys are equal. You're both as bad as each other." I shook myself free of his hand and walked away, towards my class room. I heard John sigh, and start walking down the stairs. Good, he had left.

I realised that I had forgotten to ask John whether he had received any messages or photos yet, regarding his illegal relationship. It was bound to happen soon, actually. I wasn't the one breaking the rules anymore, he was. I walked into the classroom to find Nathan sitting in my seat, his eyes poring over the photos and messages that Malcolm had left behind. I sighed and grabbed a chair, deciding against a conflict with Nate about who should sit where. Nathan didn't say anything, so I had the chance to think properly for a while.

I was being a bit harsh on both Ella and John, not letting them explain. But what was I supposed to do? I was still under shock about what happened, and only a few days had passed. I wasn't ready to forgive Ella. I really wanted to, but I couldn't. Because I'd thought that she was perfect. But she wasn't. She was human. Just like she'd said to me once. And now I realised how right she was.

And yet, I still loved her.

"What did John say?" Nathan asked.

I shrugged. "Just what I expected him to say."

"Hmm." The lines on Nathan's forehead creased as he turned his attention back to the photos. He pointed at one of them. Malcolm's. "Who's this? Ella's older brother?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"Nothing. Just seems like he also has something to hide. Kinda like you did in the past."

"I still do," I mumbled.

Nathan looked up. "What do you have to hide? Not much."

Distracted from the fact that Nathan actually seemed to be defending me, I said, "Yeah, I do."

Nathan raised an eyebrow. "What? The fact that you were in a relationship with a student's mum and that you were in one with a student? If that is what the person sending you these messages is threatening you with, he really has no idea."

"It's quite a big deal, actually," I said.

Nathan didn't answer, but instead took out a sheet of paper and started listing down 'suspects' for what I presumed to be the person sending the messages. I rolled my eyes, wondering how he believed that he could find out who it was by doing just that. But then I realised that he was helping me.

"Are you helping me out?" I asked.

"Yes," he answered without looking up.

I chuckled. "Why?"

"Because I can't hold a grudge forever," Nathan answered, to my utter surprise, and finally looked up to meet my eyes. "You haven't got anyone in your life right now, and I figured that I shouldn't be another enemy."

"Seriously?" I asked, really surprised.

Nathan smiled... he actually smiled at me. "Yeah."

Even if Nathan was not my favourite person in the world... it was such a relief listening to him say this. I wondered whether he meant it. But at least, I thought, when I believed that nothing could get worse, something positive happened to me.

Nathan suddenly looked up. "I think I know."

"What?"

"Who's sending them. The messages and photos."

"What? How? Who?"

Nathan glanced back at the photo and then at me. "Just by examining the situations. And messages. Really. It can't be anyone else."

My eyes were almost popping out of their sockets by now. "Well who is it??" I asked impatiently.

Just as Nathan opened his mouth to tell me, the fire drill rang. 

We looked at each other, astonished, before I stood up and started ushering my students out of the classroom, and covering my ears to block out the annoyingly loud sound that the fire alarm was making. 

The person sending the photos and messages... whom I also refer to as my psychopath, had been listening in on our conversation. And when he or she had realised that Nathan had found out whom it had been, he had done the easiest thing to stop him. He had pressed the button to the fire drill.

Hey guys, I hope you're doing well. I updated once again, please feel free to vote and comment so that I know what you think. I'm busy with exams right now and will be until the very end of May, but I will update :)

Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed it :)

P.S. I know this has nothing to do with the story, but on the side I posted a link to a youtube video. It's Malta's entry for the Eurovision this year, by the group Firelight. These guys are friends of mine and they're really talented and deserve support, so please, if you can, check it out :) they'll appreciate it!