Page 59 of Ivy's Venom

“Hey, hey.” Aunt Adri strides into math class. Right... downside? Principal Greene has taken over teaching this class until a substitute is found.

She starts with attendance and then assigns us a chapter to review for an upcoming test.

“Do you find it strange that Mr. O’Connor has just disappeared?” A girl to my left asks a guy sitting beside her.

“Who cares? The guy was beyond creepy and all you females were heated for him.”

He’s not wrong.

The final bell rings and everyone stands to pack away their things.

“Have a good evening everyone.” Aunt Adri calls out as students fly out of the classroom.

I slowly make my way to the front, waiting for the kids to all leave, and stand in front of the desk.

“Aunt Adri?”

“Yes, Ivy?” Her deep brown eyes look up at me. Aunt Adri is classically beautiful with dark features and olive skin, she rarely wears makeup.

“What happened with Mr. O’Connor?”

“He’s on vacation with his partner Mr. Pratt.” Her eyes never wander from mine but I can sense a lie, she’s just gotten good at covering them up. “Why? Do you have anything to tell me about them?”

“No.” I shake my head, “but Mr. O’Connor didn’t mention a vacation.”

“Must have been impromptu.” She shrugs. “Are you worried about my teaching skills?” Her grin is wide and I find myself giving her one back.

“No.”

“Alright, I’ll see you tomorrow.” She chuckles and goes back to grading.

“Goodnight.” I call as I leave the classroom.

I get to my locker and Carmelo has Cam in a headlock.

“Heathens,” I kick Carmelo in his ass as I walk by them.

They break apart, laughing and swatting at each other, as I open my locker.

“Your teacher buddy is gone.” Carmelo says as he leans against a locker, trying to catch his breath.

“So is his boyfriend.” Cam chirps from my other side.

“And?” I ask them.

“Did you get him fired?” Carmelo asks and I shut my locker door.

“I didn’t. Why? What have you heard?” I look at Cam because he’s always been the eyes and ears.

“Alright,” he stands up straight, “here’s the thing, my friend Andrew lives two houses down from Mr. Pratt, okay? Andrew says Mr. Pratt is a little strange and that girl scouts don’t knock on his door.”

“What the fuck does that have to do with a vacation?” I huff.

“Hear me out.” He raises his hands, “so, he watches his house because Andrew is a fucking loser and only has me as a friend.”

“Also a loser.” Carmelo laughs when Cam gives him the finger.

“Andrew says Mr. Pratt’s car didn’t come home last night. Not weird, right? He could’ve been at Mr. O’Connor’s place having his ass rammed… I digress.”

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