Talking with Ms. Owens and investigation results.

Parting with Emma last night was harder than ever, especially since it took some time to finally fall asleep. Still, Thursday had to come eventually, so you prepare yourself mentally even as you jog to school.

You have English class on the first period today, too, and since you’re arriving even earlier to school since you started jogging, you’re alone in the classroom. There’s 15 minutes before class starts.

“Oh good, you’re here.” You hear the familiar voice of your favorite teacher coming from the door. You probably wouldn’t admit it in front of Emma, but purely as a teacher, Ms. Owens resonates with you much more, probably because your academic interests are very similar.

“Ms. Owens. Good morning.” You greet politely.

“Good morning Mr. Walker. Would you please come to my office for a moment? We need to talk.” She tells you and wastes no time in heading there, trusting you will follow immediately. Of course, you do.

Now in her office, you see her expression soften and her body relax a bit more. She’s being careful about keeping appearances around school, even if there’s barely anyone around. It’s the logical course of action, so of course you do the same.

“How are you doing? Feeling better?” She asks with a kind smile as she sits on the chair behind her desk, prompting you to sit on the one in front of it.

“I don’t know. There’s been a lot on my mind.” You sigh, remembering just how hectic everything was yesterday. “Still, I’d like to believe I’ll be able to keep my head cool today.”

“You managed to stand your ground admirably in front of the headmistress. You’ll be fine.” She praises. “I’m serious. I truly believe any other student and more than a few teachers would have lost their cool in your situation. You managed to buy yourself more time.”

“Please, that was all you.” You say, shaking your head. “If you hadn’t intervened, she would’ve continued questioning me until I gave her something to use against me. I didn’t get to thank you for it, so, well, thanks.” You give her a smile.

“Please, Mr. Walker, you know I just presented the facts as they are. Still, I’ve already made it clear than I want to support you on this, so I’ll accept your thanks.” She smiles confidently.

“And you have no idea just how lucky I feel to know I have you on my side. You’re truly an inspiration for me, Ms. Owens. You’re reliable, poised, professional, beautiful… I’ve cursed my luck countless times since coming to Hayes, but I’m thankful that I got to meet you.”

Your teacher is taken aback by you suddenly opening up to her, but she sighs once with eyes closed and collects herself.

“You’re a good student, David. But more importantly, you’re a good, honest person. As your teacher, I shouldn’t be saying this, but I, too, am happy I got to meet you, and I look forward to getting to know you more. Maybe such a friendly relationship between us is not appropriate, but you’re not one to care about that, are you?” She gives you a teasing grin.

Honestly, you’re not exactly feeling very good and honest lately, but you’re nonetheless happy to know Ms. Owens feels that way about you. “I’d be thrilled to be able to call you a friend, Ms. Owens.” You give her a sheepish smile.

“Then start calling me Mia whenever we’re in private. I trust you’ll have no problems doing that.” She chuckles. “Look at us. I just wanted to know how you were doing and it ended up like this. You’re an interesting young man, David.”

“And you’re an interesting woman, Mia.” You return her compliment.

She insists you go to the classroom first and she’ll follow after a minute. You take that time to look at her score, since you haven’t in a while.

-Owens, Mia-
Affection Score: 76.
Love Score: 2

What!? You have a love score now? Sure, it’s only 2, but the fact the feelings are now there means they can grow stronger. You can’t help but fantasize of how great having Mia as a girlfriend would be, and then start believing that maybe you’re not a good and honest person at all.

Classes go by, and at lunch, Emily and Megan find you to talk about the results of their investigation. Thankfully, they understand this isn’t the time to talk about other matters, so they don’t even bring out the topic their little question. You go to the rooftop again to have more privacy, and you hope that isn’t interrupted by those who shall not be named.

“We actually found someone willing to talk on your favor.” Emily brings you the good news. “She’s a girl from the debate club. She’s the captain of the team.”

“Oh, you mean Sophia?” You’re surprised that she was brought up.

“You know her?” Megan asks curiously. You nod and explain how you were invited to the debate club as a judge for a day.

“Sadly, she said she doesn’t know anything about this case in particular, but that she’ll speak for people she knows that have been victims of the hyenas.” The blonde explains. “That should help, right?”

“It should.” You nod. “It won’t clear my name, but it’ll make the headmistress have to doubt the testimony of those girls.”

“We couldn’t really find anyone else, but we did find something… unnerving.” Megan says with a frown. “Is it true you were once caught in the woman’s locker room in high school? Stealing clothes?”

“Or that you joined the ballet club just to stare at the girls’ asses?” Emily adds.

“What!? That NEVER happened! I’ve never gone into a girls’ locker room and my school didn’t even have a ballet club!” You quickly deny. “Where did that even come from?”

“Those are the kind of rumors going around about you. There’s also one that says you’re in this school because you bribed the headmistress to let you in so you could do perverted things to the girls here.” Megan explains.

“What the hell? I never wanted to come here in the first place! It was all my father’s idea! Why are those rumors going around about me and why do they all frame me as a pervert!?”

“Don’t asks us. This is the first we’ve heard about them.” Emily rises her hands in defense.

“Yeah, but it’s not like we stay on the loop of things here…” Megan sighs. “Everyone else we asked seemed to say something new though.”

“Is that why everyone here hates me?” You wonder. Did someone spread rumors about you to make you look bad to everyone?

…

It was Olivia and her friends, weren’t they? If so, it makes sense that everyone would believe you’re a sexual offender. You’re a horny young man, but everything you’ve done so far has been with consent! WITH CONSENT!

“Alright then, I get the picture. Thanks girls, this helps a lot.” You give them an honest smile, making Emily return it with a grin as Megan giggles.