I couldn't help but laugh. What are the odds of seeing the teacher i was so hopelessly crushing on in the middle of the night while i'm high as fuck.

"My god what happened to you?" Her face filled with worry. She must have noticed my bleeding face. I chuckled. The drugs weren't really doing me any favors right now. "I broke up with my boyfriend, how do you like that?"

She sat down next to me. She took off her jacket and gently put it over me. I didn't even realize i was shaking. "My god Rachel, did he do that to you?" She pointed at my face as if i hadn't noticed the wound on my face yet. "Aren't guys the best?" I let my head fall back. Feeling higher than ever.

"Are you okay? Are you drunk? Rachel we need to report this." I giggled. "So many questions Ava, where should i start? I am perfect. Never been better. I'm definitely not drunk, high as shit... that i am. And report what? That my boyfriend, or should i say ex-boyfriend, didn't like that i broke up with him and put a fist to my face? The police doesn't care. Been there, done that."

I could tell she was at lost for words. I can't blame her i would be too. She sat down next to me on the cold, small bench. She put her arms around me and pulled me in tight.

I suddenly didn't find the whole situation funny anymore. The moment she held me i broke down crying. It was an ugly sight. One moment i was crying and seconds later i was laughing again. Ms. Lopez stroke my cheek.

"Sweet, sweet girl. You don't deserve this at all. Do you want to talk about it? What has happened to you?" I laughed again. The drugs were really working against me right now.

Something inside of me got the best of me. I sat up and went into full ranting mode.

"Do you really wanna know what happened to me? What really broke me? Do you really wanna know why i'm such a broken mess? Well let me tell you. I was only 15 years old. I was so young and naive so when this strange man asked me if i knew the way to whatever the fuck, i gladly helped him. Completely unaware of his intentions. Before i knew it i was forced into the nearby park. I thought i was going to get murdered. How funny is that. He forced me to take of my clothes. Before i knew it a stranger had inserted himself into me. Ignoring every cry for help i let out. I cried and i screamed until i just couldn't anymore. No one heard me. No one helped me. I was scared and alone. After he was done he just left and left me for dead. You'd think that kind of trauma would be bad enough on it's own so you can probably imagine how great it was to find out i was pregnant months later. No one around me believed me so i was forced to go to an abortion center on my own." I laughed, fully aware of the fact that there was nothing funny about what i'm telling.

"I was 14, imagine the stares i got going into the clinic all alone. I sat there alone in that awful chair. I was so young and i so desperately wanted to hold someone's hand, but there was no one. After that i've never been the same. With everything that has happened i fell into a deep depression. Been there for years. Can't seem to get out of it. My parents want nothing to do with me. They think i lied about the whole thing. How ironic is that? I always thought parents were supposed to be there for you through everything? I guess i thought wrong. I was just started to do better. I met James, this amazing guy. He was the first person to support me through all of this. But since i can't have good things this obviously didn't last long. The abuse started and everything went downhill from that. Now i turn to drugs as a coping mechanism and i'm afraid to sleep because my nightmares get the best of me. Ain't that fun?" I took a deep breath and turned my gaze back to Ms. Lopez.

"So now you know. Now you know why i sometimes don't show up on time for class or why i fail to complete my homework. Delightful isn't it? I bet you regret offering your help now."

I wiped the tears from my face. I had never said this out loud before to anyone. The drugs allowed me to. I tried to make it as light as possible but it was hard on me. Extremely hard. I instantly regretted opening my mouth.

"Rachel, i-" She gulped. A tear fell down her face. "You're right. I can't help you with this. I don't have enough experience for your situation. But trust me when i say i'm gonna find you help. I'm gonna do everything in my power to help you. I will be right on your side and you can count on me not to leave you. I might just be a teacher to you but i genuinely care for you. I won't leave your side."

I didn't know what to say. Here we were. Sat on a tiny bench in the middle of an empty neighborhood in the middle of the night. I laid my head back on her shoulder. She kept caressing my cheek. We just sat there for a while before i was able to say something back.

"I'm sorry, i'm high. I shouldn't have told you this, please forget about it." I hated myself for opening up like this. I couldn't feel it now but i knew i was gonna cringe at myself once i sober up. I always did shit like this and then people start treating me like i was some wounded bird. I didn't need nor wanted to be treated like some fragile little girl that could break any moment.

"I don't think i can forget about this." She said. I rolled my eyes. "Well at least don't bring it up again." She didn't reply.

Still resting my head on her shoulder, i looked up at her. "You are really pretty do you know that? And you smell really good." She giggled and even in the dark i could see her cheek turn red. "Aren't you charming Rachel." I smiled. "It's true, if you weren't my teacher i would definitely have flirted with you." I covered my mouth with my hand. Only now just fully realizing what i just had said to my teacher. She laughed. "Okay let's get you home silly."

"But i like it so much here outside in the cold. Am i no fun?" I jokingly said with a pouty face. "You're a delight but you need to get some sleep." She stood up and waited for me to do the same. I couldn't bother to move so i just stared at her. Ms. Lopez didn't care. She walked up to me, putting one arm around my legs and the other arm under my shoulders and carried me to her car.

"Literally picking up your students from the street. Sounds illegal." She luckily could laugh at my stupid comment. Without saying anything she gently put my in the seat next to her. I figured out how to get the seat adjusted and laid down in the seat.

She shook her head at the sight of me laying down next to her in the car. She sat down in the drivers seat and turned on the car. "What's your address?" I told her where i lived and we drove off.

"So why exactly did you stop to help me? You couldn't possibly have known it was me sitting there." She looked at me. "I was just driving home when i saw a girl on that bench. She looked troubled and i just wanted to quickly check if she was okay. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if i had just drove past, and i'm glad i did." She stroked my hand with her thumb before putting her hand back on the wheel. I could feel my whole body tingle. Butterflies made it's way inside my belly everytime she touched me.

"You sure would've missed all of this greatness if you hadn't stopped." She laughed. The rest of the drive we both enjoyed the comfortable silence. I turned my head to the window, watching the road as we drove off to my apartment.

Before realizing it we pulled up to my apartment. I got out of the car. I almost tripped over as clumsy as i was. Ms. Lopez walked with me to the door. At this point i was really tired and it took everything in me to stay awake.

Ms. Lopez refused to leave. "I made you a promise and i really want to make sure you're safe and asleep." I was not in any state to fight her on this. She walked with me upstairs to my bedroom. "You can't just sit here and watch me sleep, that's weird." She chuckled. "I'm just making sure you're safe and asleep. You can't blame me for being worried after tonight." She was right about that, so i let her.

I removed my clothes and changed into a comfortable big shirt to sleep in. Ms. Lopez turned around while i was getting undressed. I was gonna make a stupid comment but decided against it. I've said enough stupid things to hate myself over tomorrow.

I got into bed. Ms. Lopez being in my bedroom suddenly felt awfully weird, but i was too tired to care. Ms. Lopez sat down on the side of my bed, stroking my cheek. I looked at her one last time before closing my eyes. Her beautiful face, still filled with worry. I closed my eyes. "Sweet, sweet girl" I heard her quietly say. "Why did this happen to you." She was so quiet that i barely heard her. But it didn't matter. I felt her touch leave as soft footsteps quietly left my room. She had left to go back home, and only seconds later i fell asleep.

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hi guys, this chapter is a bit of a mess, it touches some pretty heavy stuff but i tried to do it in a way that's a little more lighthearted (i tried at least). this chapter is really personal to me so please be nice :)) and as always, thank you for reading! any comment, like and/or view is greatly appreciated!!!