Updated Apr 8, 2026 • ~2 min read
Chapter 25: The Decision Stands
Jace
Jace finds out when Harper comes home from school crying.
“Everyone’s saying Miss Martinez got FIRED because of YOU!”
His blood runs cold. “What?”
“The kids are saying you and Miss Martinez were dating and she got in trouble and now she’s gone!”
“Harper—”
“Is it TRUE?! Were you dating her?!”
Jace kneels down. “Yes. We were. We are.”
“But she’s my TEACHER!”
“I know. We tried to wait. We really did. But we couldn’t.”
Harper is SOBBING. “Everyone at school is talking about it! They’re saying mean things about her! And about YOU!”
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, sweetheart.”
“Are you in love with her?”
“Yes.”
“Then why is everyone acting like it’s BAD?!”
“Because there are rules. And we broke them.”
Harper wipes her eyes. “Rules are stupid.”
Despite everything, Jace almost laughs.
The next day, he storms into Principal Okafor’s office.
“You can’t fire her!”
“Mr. Blackwell, this doesn’t concern you—”
“It ABSOLUTELY concerns me! I pursued HER! I kept pushing! If anyone should be punished, it’s ME!”
“You’re not an employee of this district.”
“But she is! And she’s the best teacher Harper’s ever had! Don’t punish her for falling in love!”
“Mr. Blackwell, your relationship created a conflict of interest—”
“We waited! We tried! For MONTHS we stayed apart! And then ONE week—”
“Was enough to violate policy.”
“Then change the policy! Or fire me! But don’t take her career!”
“There’s nothing I can do. The decision stands.”
Jace leaves, defeated.
And plots how to fix this.
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