A message alert echoes throughout the classroom, stunning me just as I’m setting up the projector. That’s me! Why isn’t my phone on silent? Then the memories of last evening begin to resurface. I finish setting up and slide my phone across the desk. There are now three unread messages from Greg.

7:49am… Good morning. I just wanted to wish you a productive day today. I know these are your last classes, but DON’T BE LATE!

4:57pm… Hi, haven’t heard from you all day. I guess it was a long one.

4:58pm… I’m staying back to help Mrs Baker with her Math again. If she doesn’t pass this time I’m firing her.

And another one comes in while I’m reading these.

5:01pm… Please be kind to the kids! That class is at the Southern branch right?

I type a response and hit send.

5:08pm… Yes, it’s the southern branch and of course I made it on time. In fact I’m already here. See, I do listen to you.

And another.

5:09pm… And aren’t you contradicting. You tell me be kind to the kids but you want to fire Mrs. Baker. She’s been a loyal employee for over ten years. If anything she deserves a raise. Anyone who puts up with you that long deserves to be rewarded. I’ve only known you for seven and you’ve already maxed my tolerance level.

I’ve just finished switching my phone to vibrate when he calls.

“Yes?”

“Good afternoon!”

“Good afternoon Greg.”

“Mrs Baker is not a kid. She’s old enough to be my grandmother.”

“Yes, I know. Well then be kind to your elders. That’s an actual thing though unlike your ‘be kind to the kids’ mantra.”

“Maya!” he scolds. “You know what I mean.”

“Fine, I’ll be nice to them but you have no idea what it’s like having to deal with twenty teenagers between the ages of sixteen and nineteen. But it’s our last session. Last sessions are always awesome.”

“So how was your day?”

“Great! All of my classes ran like clockwork. I just have a strange feeling about this last one but I’ve organised so well, nothing can phase me now.”

“You sound like you’re in a good mood.”

“I do? Well I am, considering the circumstances.”

“Maya I need more time.”

Well that was blunt and he’s trying to bargain with me again. That’s what all this is about?

“No! More time will only make it worse. You need to fix this… NOW!”

I hang up and slide the phone back across the desk. The starts buzzing again ans I can see the notification light flashing but I ignore it and resume prepping for my last class. I will miss Teaching. It was always my first passion and I conquered every level of course study. It’s time to move on to the next phase of my life. Replaying everything that’s happened between us last month confirms that Greg is ready for this… but not this month. I shake my head, releasing any doubt. Of course he is.

The session was epic as usual, culminating with student summary presentations and the usual pizza at the end. I had just finished saying final goodbyes and I am packing up my folder and markers when someone knocks at the door.

“Come in.”

I hear the tell-tale click of the door as it opens. I assume it’s probably security ready to lock up.

“Perfect timing, I just finished packing up.”

I reach down to get my flash drive from the computer below the desk and when I raise up, there is Julia, standing very poised in the doorway in a mint green dress held taut at the waist by a thin white belt to match her Peter Pan collar and a clutch held captive underarm. The door behind her slams shut and she stands barring it with her arms folded. What is she doing here?

Just then my phone buzzes on the desk in front of me. I slide it within my viewing range and swipe my finger across the screen to unlock it.

“It’s security. They’re ready to close up.” I lie. It’s a message from Greg. He’s on his way to pick me up… since when? Ever since we got back, he has kept his distance. I’ve only seen him in person twice, three times if you count last evening. And now she is here, and he is on his way. What are they up to?

Whatever this is, I don’t intend to do this at my place of work, even if it is my last day. I collect my things and brush past her as I head for the door but she attempts to stop me and I pull away.

“He told me everything.”

“So… what do you want from me?”

It’s the only thing I could think of asking. I mean, why is she here? She hasn’t exactly said. And if he did tell her, why would she come here to confront me? Shouldn’t they be discussing… or something, I don’t exactly know how these things go.

“I know about Paris.” I can’t believe it. He actually listened. Does this mean it’s finally over? Is that why he is coming to meet me? Is that why she came to meet me? A few minutes have passed and she hasn’t said anything else. Instead she appears flustered, gauging my reaction which confirms my thoughts. He hasn’t told her anything at all and she’s just fishing for information.

“Listen, whatever it is that you came to tell me, I don’t want to know. So this visit, well while you wasted your time coming here, I don’t intend to waste mine listening to you.” I bolt out the door but it doesn’t slam. I suspect that she has caught it and is likely right behind me, fast in tow. I drop my folders in the security tray, sign out and wave the guards goodbye as I pass the booth and exit the compound, picking up the pace as I walk into the street. The sound of her footsteps grows louder as the distance between us lessens.

“Whatever happened between you two meant nothing.” She shouts from behind me. “It was just business.”

“Bitch do you hear me?” She barks from across the roadway. “Leave us alone!”

Beaming headlights are speeding down the street and screech to a sudden halt a mere foot before us.

“Why are you guys standing in the dark in the middle of the street? I almost hit you… wait Maya? Julia?”

He’s here!

Either Julia lost her balance and fell on me or she attempted to launch the feeblest form of attack I have seen to date but my default defence mechanism of pushing her away from me helped to fuel an onslaught of hands swinging in every direction from both parties.

Greg quickly shut the engine off and jumped out, forgetting however to turn off his headlights.

He stands in the middle of the roadway in the pink Van Heusen I bought him last Christmas with the cuffs folded at his elbows as per usual. His hands are outstretched with a palm facing each one of us on either side as a means of separating the debacle.

“What’s going on here?”

As if on cue, she runs to him, buries her head into his chest and bursts into tears.

“Maya told me to come and meet her here.” She stops mid sob and heaves in a deep breath. “She said she had something to tell me…" she whimpers.  "... about Paris.”

I can’t help my sardonic laughter. She cannot be serious. But looking back in hindsight, I don't think me laughing helped prove my case. Greg looks hurt. I can see it in his eyes. “Why would you do this? You were fine earlier. You actually said you were in a good mood when we spoke.”

I can’t believe he bought that.

“Greg she is lying. I was fine. I didn’t call her, she came here on her own and just showed up in my classroom as I was about to leave.”

“Julia! Why are you here? All day I’ve been trying to contact you and you’ve been avoiding me. I told you I need to talk to you but you just sent the lone message saying you’ve been busy all day and you have plans with your family later.”

Ah, so he does know what it feels like to be avoided? And surprisingly the formidable actress is at a loss for words. I can see her mind working overtime trying to conjure a new story in response but Greg starts again.

“Anyway it doesn’t matter. I’m actually glad you’re here. Guys can we go somewhere and talk?” He summons me and taking Julia by the hand, begins walking back to the car but Julia pulls away from him frantically. “No. No! I’m not doing this again.”

“Jules, just calm down!” He pulls her back into his arms, trying to console her but she refuses and pushes him away.

“I knew there was something, but you kept denying. No! This is not happening again. I can’t take another rejection. I just can’t!” She starts fidgeting with her bag.

“Greg!” I scream after I see her pulling something out of her bag. “She has a knife!”

He reaches for the hand with the shiny object but she is quick and he just misses. I run over to help but he pushes me away.

“No Maya, wait!”

The street light above us reflects off the blade as it makes another swoop. I think she is going to cut him but instead she makes an attempt to slit her own wrist.

“Julia!” he shouts hysterically. Finally he is able to overpower her and retrieves the object, throwing it into the nearby bushes. Immediately he clamps down on the gaping wound on the inside of her forearm and we hurry to the car, leaving a bloody trail behind us. I fish out a rag from my bag but she refuses. I tell her it will help with the bleeding but her refusal is certain and thus her ignorance levels remain intact. This girl is crazy. I watch as Greg offers her his handkerchief, which she gladly obliges and then  helps her into the back seat, jumping in beside her and closing the door after them.

I’m about to walk away when I notice him staring at me through the window.

"What?" I bark in their direction.

He rolls the window down. “Aren’t you coming?”

"Coming where?"

"To the hospital obviously. Did you not see the blood? Did you not see the wound? She needs medical attention."

You have got to be kidding.

“No!” I roll my eyes but his remain firm and piercing. “Fine!” I hop into the driver seat, close the door, start the engine and put the car in reverse.