Page 17 of She Wolf

She still doesn’t say anything, just picks at the lilac gel coating her thumbnail. I don’t think she’s going to tell me any more at this stage.

“Kate, honey. You know my door is always open if anything is worrying you and you need to talk. Your safety and well-being are all I care about. Okay? I promise I’ve heard it all a hundred times.”

She nods and I leave it at that for now, not wanting to push her. All I can do is try and give her the tools to take care of herself emotionally.

“Do you journal?”

“Not really. I’m not the write-your-feelings-down kinda girl.”

“Hmm. If you gave it a go it might help. It can provide an emotional outlet and could help with your overthinking.” She doesn’t look convinced. “Just think about it.”

“Okay thank you, I best head to class.”

“Here let me give you a slip since you missed the second bell.” I write her a note explaining why she is late to class and then she gathers her things up and leaves.

There is definitely something going on with her. I just need her to feel safe enough to tell me.

***

Another five students come to see me before lunch. I check the schedule and am reminded I’m actually on lunch duty.

I don’t need to let the girls know; they will have done the same thing and checked the faculty calendar, so I take the cobb salad I bought from home outside to eat in the low, spring sun.

Having been recently updated, the grounds boast a brand-new sports hall and a

newly built classroom wing. Landscaping and a refurb of the older, main building complement the additions. We’re in a very affluent area and the money that gets pumped into this school is crazy.

The quad is beautiful. Full of shrubs and young trees that are starting to fill out, and there is lots of outdoor seating that the kids who have spilled out from the cafeteria tend to use. It’s noisy and vibrant. Laughter, squeals, and cheers fill the air as I make a slow lap. It’s not too cold, but it’s not super warm either, so I keep myself moving.

I eat my lunch, chat with a few members of staff, and generally hover around, making sure things don’t get too boisterous or out of hand. Before I know it, lunch is over and I’m back in my office again. My phone buzzes,

Gunner Grey:You know I meant every word I said last night, don’t you?

I want you and I’ll wait for as long as it takes.

Putting the phone to my chest I sigh as I reach for my wallet and rifle through the old receipts I really need to throw away until I find my list. There’s not a lot I ask for in life. The lavender note paper is wrinkled and creased and my fingers trace over my cursive writing.

I want Jack to be healthy and happy.

I want my brothers dreams to come true.

I want Gunner Grey.

And I want him so bad, it was starting to hurt something fierce. I want him in every sense of the word. For all of him to be mine.

Forever.

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