Page 12 of Pierced Pages
Morgan shrugged. “She was pretty. Blonde. Kind, as evidenced by not wanting me to sit alone. She’s a teacher. Works at Great Oak High. And she likes… actually, I don’t know what she likes. See? I don’t know anything about her. So this was nothing, like I said.”
Morgan tried desperately not to think about Danielle working right down the road. She was probably in class right now, teaching a bunch of teenagers about the symbolism of something or other. Just a few short blocks away. Walking distance.
Not that it mattered.
“You could have at least gotten her number. In case either of you changed your mind. Or to get to know her better, even as a friend. Or, you know, if you wanted a little fun.”
That number. It had been sitting in her phone, taunting her all of yesterday. She wasn’t going to use it, of course. That was a one-way communication tool only, in case Danielle wanted a piercing. Which Morgan figured she’d never take her up on.
“Actually, I did.”
Jen stared at her, eyes wide. “What?”
“She might want a piercing and is pretty clueless, so I told her to reach out if she wanted. But I don’t think she was really serious.”
“Oh, so now you don’t think someone meant what they said?”
Jen had a point.
Maybe Danielle really had been serious about that.
Morgan grabbed her water bottle from the counter and took a chug before closing it and setting it back down near someone’s half-empty Pepsi.
“You done grilling me? I’ve got a septum out there waiting for me.”
“Already?”
“They were outside before we opened. Nolan let her in to wait.”
“All right. I’ll let you get to them. I’ll just go be bored over there until my one o’clock shows up. Or until I get a walk-in wanting something quick, tiny, and tacky.”
Morgan shook her head again as she walked up front and tried not to think about that number in her phone or the woman who had given it to her.
Chapter 6
Danielle
Five minutes left.
Danielle shifted her attention back to the students sitting in front of her. “That’s enough about the green light today. That gives you a little more time to think about it before class tomorrow. I look forward to having a full discussion next time. Think about who’s looking for the American dream. Who seemingly has it? What does that dream mean to the characters, major or minor?”
Sounds of shifting filled the classroom as her students realized what time it was as well.
“I’m not done yet.” She waited for them to settle before lowering her voice to continue. “While you’re pondering that, I want you to read the last chapter for us to discuss as well. And don’t forget your research paper topics are due Monday, so be thinking about that this week also.”
The last bell of the day chimed from the speaker above her classroom door. Her students gathered their things and hurried outside, with a few of them telling her goodbye.
“Have a good rest of the day! See you all tomorrow!”
Danielle straightened a few skewed desks as she walked to the back of the room. She didn’t touch her papers or her phone.She just sat in her chair, leaned her head back, and closed her eyes.
“That bad a day?”
Danielle opened her eyes to see Melanie walking down an aisle toward her. She wore khaki slacks and a dark green blouse, their school color. Her auburn hair was pulled up into a loose bun, and, as usual, she wore little makeup so only her bright green eyes got attention.
“Just a long one,” she said. “Getting them to have a discussion is like trying to drag an eighteen-wheeler up a hill.”
Melanie shrugged as she reached the desk. “Some days are like that.”
