Page 17 of His Property

The possibility seems unlikely, and I don’t let myself get too hopeful. There’s this part of me, this masochistic, insane part of me, that would be a little disappointed if he did.

He wouldn’t be able to kill me. From what he said, it would be too big of a risk for him to do that. So there wouldn’t be any real, life-threatening danger if he were to take me. Right?

Good God, Mae, cut it out.

I arrive at the high school and take in my surroundings before getting out of my car. Liz, a fellow English teacher and friend, must be here because her blue Civic is in the lot. Normally, I’d go out of my way to catch up with her, but I promised TJ I’d hurry. I’m also not confident in my ability to hide my unease, and Liz could pick up that something’s wrong. It doesn’t help that I called in sick the last two days of school.

I swipe my key card to get into the building then walk to my classroom as discreetly as I can. Liz’s light is on, and her door is open. A pop song plays from her Bluetooth speaker and filters into the hall. I quickly walk past her door and don’t look back until I’m in front of my classroom. I unlock the door, slip inside and quickly grab the term papers from the bin, along with my laptop, before turning to leave.

“Well, well, well,” Liz smirks from my doorway. She flips on the light. “If it isn’t the sly fox, herself.”

I lower the term papers and force a smile onto my face. “Hey, Liz.”

“Don’t ‘hey Liz’ me,” she teases. She walks into the room. “You just tried to pull a James Bond on me, and you know it.”

Liz hops onto my desk to sit.

I sigh. “I’m sorry,” I say, not bothering to lie. “I’m just in a hurry.”

Liz frowns and looks me over. “Who are you hurrying to?” Her eyes light up, and she brushes back the pink streak that stands out in her blonde hair. “Please tell me it’s a man.”

I chuckle. “Not exactly. I’m watching my mom’s friend’s kid and don’t want to leave him alone at my place for too long.”

“You mean TJ?” She frowns. Liz knows a hell of a lot about me, but she doesn’t need me to tell her about TJ. He has a reputation at this school, and Liz had him in her class last year. He spent most of it in the principal’s office.

I nod.

“Yikes.” She makes a face. “Why did you leave him at all?”

Defensiveness flares, but I decide to ignore the judgment for TJ. If I’m honest, I understand it. Most people don’t take the time to get to know the real him, and if he wasn’t my sort-of-brother, I probably wouldn’t either… Of course, I also wouldn’t currently be afraid for my safety.

I hold up the papers. “I want to get these done so I can really start my break.”

“Same girl. I’m about halfway through mine and have little hope for this generation.”

I chuckle. “It can’t be that bad.”

“One of my students thinks Rosa Parks is a national forest. I shit you not.”

Now, I outright laugh, and Liz smiles wide. “Well.” She hops off my desk. “I’d better let you get back to Mr. Pyro before he burns your house down.”

“What happened last year was an accident, Liz.”

TJ threw a cigarette into the bathroom trash can and lit some paper towels on fire.

“If you say so.” She winks at me then starts toward the door, and I follow her.

Liz flips off the light and stands to the side while I walk through the door. “By the way, you missed a hell of a Christmas party.”

“Really?” Normally our staff parties consist of a punch bowl and a tray of crackers in the teachers’ lounge.

“No,” she says, deadpan. “It was insufferable, and I hate you for making me go through that alone. Here.” She lifts my key necklace over my head before locking my classroom door.

“Thanks.” I adjust the items in my full arms. “I’m sorry you had to brave it alone.”

“Yeah, well, at least I wasn’t the one with my head in a toilet bowl. Stay away from the shellfish.”

I told Liz I had food poisoning and that’s why I was sick last week.

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