Page 13 of Salace

Besides, I’m sure at leastoneof the male teachers at my school has to be single. It would actually be a win-win. She’d find someone that appreciates her, and I could really pull up a grade somewhere.

I wonder if Coach Adams needs some pussy.

It’s not that I’m bad at PE, he just grinds on me harder than anyone else, so it makes my lack of enthusiasm shine like a goddamn supernova exploding in a distant galaxy.

Maybe, Mr. Landon,I think, as I stifle a yawn with my fist. Science has never been my best subject, and I think he’s going through a divorce. They can rebound with each other.

I close my eyes as I turn on my side and curl up into a ball. My stomach growls slightly, but I tell myself that dinner wasn’t all that great anyway.

Everything tasted stale because of Eden and her jealousy bullshit. The world looks stale at this point: grays, whites, and drabs of black. There isn’t color in it anymore. I’m wondering if things would go back to normal if I found a way to break it off without Eden losing her ever-loving shit about it.

I reach up to brush my hair away from my face and begin wondering how my life would be without Eden involved in it.

Granted, Idohave feelings for her; and once upon a time, I thought she was the greatest thing that ever happened to me, but she’s been acting so difficult lately.

I have to answer her texts, calls, and video chats, but she completely ignores mine, and I’m supposed to be okay with that.

I have to make sure that I’m sitting next to her in the cafeteria, but there have been days when she’s decided that her friends are more important, and has gone to gossip with them at a different table, leaving me all by myself.

I’ll just tell her tomorrow that things aren’t working out.

It’s a decision I know I’m going to have to follow through on if I want to feel like myself again anytime soon.

Blowing out my breath, I reach down for my blanket, pull it up over my shoulder, then sit up almost instantly.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

What the hell is that?

I push the blanket off, swing my legs over the side of the bed, then run a hand back through my hair as I make my way over to the window.

Arching an eyebrow, I cautiously pull the curtain aside, then startle when another pebble strikes the glass.

Feeling annoyed that someone is throwing rocks at the window, I slap the curtains all the way open, dig my fingers into the frame and pull up the pane, ready to let all of my frustrations out on whoever the hell it is.

When I lean out and glance at the ground below, I’m taken aback.

I don’t know who I was expecting to see other than some neighborhood delinquents out making mischief, but it definitely wasn’t her.

JULIA

There’s a chill in the air tonight. I’m not exactly dressed appropriately for the weather. My coat hangs to my thighs but beneath it I’m only wearing a lace chemise.Hello, Mrs. Robinson.My toes are cold. They should really mow the lawn. It’s long enough to tickle my feet. Nerves tickle my gut as the curtains fly wide. Kasey yanks the window open, looking irritated. I begin to question myself and why the fuck I thought it was a good idea to come here. But then he smiles at me and all my self-doubt flees.

I give a hesitant wave back as I’m transported to my own youth. Late night antics, crushes, feeling unhindered. The weight of the world—bills, work, raising kids—didn’t exist then and I had been all things wild and free. Careless with no responsibilities.

“Uh, Ms. H?” he whisper-shouts to me.

“Hey,” I say. My voice is overly bright and high-pitched. I wobble a little in place, I had one too many sips of vodka on my drive over, for courage.

“What are you doing here?” Kasey asks.

I hesitate. Clear my throat.What am I doing here?“I couldn’t stop thinking about you,” I say. And that’s the truth. “I saw you after school. I was driving by. You seemed off. I wanted to check in on you but I don’t have your number. So I thought I’d come and see for myself.”

Kasey’s brows furrow and he sucks his bottom lip between his teeth. “I’m fine.”

I cock my head. “Come on. Fine? Really? You definitely don’t seem fine. Why don’t we go for a drive. You can talk to me.” My stomach tightens.Come on Kasey. Just say yes.

He shakes his head. “Can’t. Grounded.”

---