Page 101 of Love Takes Home

I screech into the parking lot, taking note that there are no other cars. Of course, there shouldn’t be any cars, everyone’s gone for break. I have a key to a side entrance and prop the door open for Joker.

Ginny: Side door propped open for you. I have to go in.

Joker: Please wait.

I ignore his plea and slowly walk down the hall, my heart beating out of my chest. I can’t have another panic attack right now, damnit. I turn the corner and see my door hanging open. It’s actually crooked, like they tried to pull it off its hinges. Who the fuck has the strength to do this? And why?

I stop at the entrance to my classroom, and Roger was right. It’s completely destroyed. Everything is in pieces. All the instruments, the piano included. All the chairs, the music stands. Even the fucking cabinets against the walls. I pull my phone out and take pictures. I’m not even sure I could find the pieces of my cello in this mess. I see pegs for violins and violas. Bow hair is strewn across the room. Strings still attached to some of the body pieces stick out of the pile like hands trying to claw out of the ground. On the wall, posters have been torn down and shredded and somebody scribbledwhore. Fucking genius, so inventive. I turn the camera on my phone on and take video and pictures. I find a spot near the door that’s clear enough where I won’t touch most of the remnants of my classroom, and I sink down onto my ass, pulling my knees in. Trying to take up as small of a space as possible.

When I hear footsteps in the hallway, I’m positive it’s friend, not foe. “Joker?” I ask, turning my face to the door.

It’s not Joker.

“You did this,” I quietly state to the man standing in the doorway.

Smirking, he shakes his head with mock sympathy. “I did nothing, Virginia.”

“You set those boys up to destroy my classroom.”

“If only you could prove that, Virginia.” The way he says Virginia makes my skin crawl.

“I know you did it.”

He shrugs, like it’s no big deal. “It doesn’t matter what you think you know. It only matters what the people of this town hear.”

“Fuck off,” I tell him, my voice stronger. “Why did you set those boys up to ruin their lives just to get back at me?”

“Because I don’t get my hands dirty.” His calm mask finally slips a little. “And you think this is about you? I’ve been getting prime pussy since our wedding day.”

“I don’t understand. Then why?”

“Well, that would be part of your problem. You’ve always been just a little stupid, haven’t you? Only good enough to spread your legs with a piece of wood and entertain the masses.”

And the Keith I walked away from is back. The mask is completely gone. Belittling me, my passion, my love, my music. All to make himself feel better by making sure I knew I was beneath him at all times. And here we are on uneven ground, me sitting below him while he physically stands over me.

“I don’t think I’m stupid. I think you’re just an asshole. An abusive, manipulative asshole.”

“And you’re nothing but a fucking cunt,” he snarls at me.

“You’re not going to get away with this.”

“I’ve already gotten away with it.”

“How do you figure?”

He leans in closer, and I tilt back as far as I can without falling over. “Because I know how to delete security footage, too.” His smile makes me wonder what he might have seen, but now’s not the time. “And the last two hours? They just didn’t happen.”

As much as I want to tell him he’s wrong, that Roger already has the footage, I hold my tongue.

“How are you going to explain all of this?” I wave my hand around the room.

“That’s easy. And also the fun part.” His eyes shine with excitement. And that terrifies me.

I raise a brow at him to continue, which he’s all too happy to do.

“See, your blood is going to be all over this room.” He smiles a too wide, too toothy grin that makes my skin crawl. “You went crazy and destroyed everything because of the guilt you’ve been feeling, taking your own life in the process.”

“Why am I killing myself?” I ask him, knowing I need to stall so Joker can get here.

---