My Ten-Year Crush by Olivia Spring
Chapter Thirty-Seven
‘I’ve got to go.’ I kissed Dad on the cheek and rushed out of the living room.
Mum was in the hallway, eavesdropping on our conversation.
‘Where are you going, sweetheart?’
‘I’m going to fight, Mum. I’m going to try and catch Mike before he leaves.’
‘Ooooh! Just like in the movies!’ She squealed. ‘That’s my girl! Go get him, darling!’
I ran out the door and down the road whilst glancing at my watch. It was just gone five past two. I should be fine, as long as the train came quickly.
I rushed onto the high street and ran for a bus that was approaching. It would be quicker to jump on that to the station rather than walking. Even though it shouldn’t take me more than an hour to get to the school, there was no time to lose. I had to tell Mike I wanted to come with him.
As I raced down to the platform, a train pulled away. Dammit. If I’d been thirty seconds earlier, I could’ve caught it.
I glanced up at the departures board. The next one wasn’t for another twenty minutes. It was at times like these that I wished Streatham had a tube station. Tubes came a lot more frequently than trains.
Whilst I waited, I messaged Melody to let her know I was on my way. I tried calling Mike too, just in case, but it went to voicemail. Stood to reason. He always had his phone switched off during lesson time. Still, it wouldn’t hurt to send a text just in case.
Me
I’m coming to see you right now! Please don’t leave until we’ve spoken!
Next, I quickly emailed Dad. If he said he needed my resignation in writing, I’d give it to him. I wrote a quick message, asking him to confirm the earliest possible leaving date, then clicked send. That was good enough for now. If he really was going to insist on doing things formally or needed a letter, I’d deal with that tomorrow. Right now, I had more pressing priorities.
After what felt like more than twenty hours rather than twenty minutes, the train finally pulled in. I sat down and started to think about what I would say to Mike. Maybe it was something I couldn’t plan. I’d just have to see how the words came out. Even if I messed it up, it didn’t matter. I was just so excited to tell him I was coming to Vietnam!
Once I got out of the station, I practically ran all the way to the school. Sprinting in the sunshine was not a good idea, because by the time I’d arrived at 3.20 p.m., I was dripping with sweat.
I entered the building. I’d just realised I’d forgotten my pass. Even though the course was over, they still gave us a few weeks’ grace in case we needed access to the library. Without it, there was no way for me to get to the classrooms. Bummer.
I went to reception and there was no one there. I could wait for Mike to come out at four or I could jump the barriers. But I’d already done enough risk-taking for one day. Could you imagine if security carted me off somewhere and that was the reason I didn’t get to say goodbye?
No. There was usually always someone here. Maybe they’d nipped to the loo. I just had to be patient.
Five minutes later, Kalpna returned to the desk. Thank God. It was someone I knew.
‘Hey!’
‘Hi, Bella, how are you?’
‘I’m okay, but I could be better. A whole lot better. Could you do me a favour, please, and let me through? I’ve forgotten my pass.’
‘Sure!’ She buzzed me in.
‘Thanks!’ I raced up the stairs and along the corridor to the classroom. I peeked through the door, but it was empty.
Shit.
I ran along the corridor, checking every room. Mike always taught on this floor, but maybe he was somewhere else? I climbed up the stairs to the floor above and checked there, but there was no sign.
I was wasting time. It was already almost quarter to four. I had fifteen minutes to find him.
I returned to reception, my heart now racing.
‘Kalpna, sorry, I need another favour. I need to find Mike, urgently, but he’s not in his classroom.’
‘Mike? He’s gone. Today was his last day here. Think he’s going to Argentina or Vietnam, somewhere like that. Can’t remember where he said.’
‘Yeah, I know. He’s going to Vietnam. But he was supposed to be teaching until four and it’s only 3.45.’
‘Oh, right. Erm… oh yeah! He’s teaching an extra class over at our other site.’
‘Where’s that?’
‘It’s near Leicester Square. I should have a map here somewhere…’ She started rooting through her drawers.
I looked at my watch. It was almost ten to four. I could either run out now and try and find it by myself or stand here idly, waiting.
‘Is it far?’ I asked, praying that it wasn’t.
‘Um, maybe about five or ten minutes’ walk. It’s down a little side road. A lot of people say it’s hard to find, but it really isn’t once you know how.’
Exactly what I didn’t need to hear.
‘I’m sorry, I can’t seem to find the map, but if you—’
‘Don’t worry.’ I rushed through the doors. ‘I’ll figure it out.’
I ran back outside, heading towards Leicester Square. There was a black cab on the corner of the road waiting at the traffic lights, so I asked him for directions. I contemplated jumping in the cab, but from the look of the traffic, rush hour had already started, so it’d be much faster on foot.
After getting directions from the cabbie and then three other people, I finally found the school, which, like Kalpna had said, was tucked away down a narrow road. I burst through the doors and found a security guard at the desk.
‘Hi there.’ I pulled a tissue from my bag to wipe my forehead. ‘I’m a student at your Covent Garden site and I urgently need to get through to one of the classes, but I’ve left my pass at home. Please can you let me in?’
‘Sorry, luv. No can do. If I had a pound for everyone who tried that line, I’d be a millionaire by now.’
‘It’s not a line! It’s true!’ I protested, wondering if it was really possible that a lot of people tried to get access to the school when they weren’t really students here.
‘Well, of course you’d say that, wouldn’t you? We get all sorts trying to get in and steal books or computer equipment. And then there’s the safety of our students to think about.’
‘I get it. I understand. I’m also a teacher, so—’
‘So a minute ago you were a student, and now you’re a teacher…? Hmmm…’ He rested his finger on his chin. ‘Sounds like someone’s telling porkies.’
‘I am! Not the telling porkies bit. I mean, I am a teacher, but I also studied the PEFLITC course here.’ He must be new. It wasn’t unusual for teachers to also be students. ‘Look. It’s really, really important that I get to a classroom by four, before the lesson ends.’
‘Well, you’re out of luck, luv, because it’s already ten past.’
I glanced at my watch and my eyes widened. Crap. He was right. Melody had said Mike was leaving straight after his lesson for the airport, so he was probably already on his way.
Even though I’d raced here and arrived as quickly as I could, it hadn’t mattered.
Mike was gone.
I was too late.