Chapter 2
Before I leave for work I quickly pack a weekend bag, so all I will have to do after is drive home and pick Beretta up on my way out to Megan’s lake house.
It had been tempting to just take the day off, but being a teacher means I only have a handful of leave days during the school year, so I decided to tough it out and just go to work.
It’s going to be an easy day anyway, and it is Friday, thank goodness.
Walking out the door, I make sure to give Beretta and Indy an extra pet. They keep me sane, and I love them both.
“Be good you two. Beretta get lots of naps in today because we are headed to the lake after work.”
As if she knows what I am talking about, Beretta’s tail thumps against the wall in excitement.
I usually bring Beretta with me when I go out of town.
She is a large dog but is great in the car, and she makes me feel safe.
She’s an excellent guard dog. Plus, Beretta always loves going out to the lake.
In fact, she is excited about any body of water larger than a puddle.
Indy is fine being left home. He has an automated feeder, and he loathes car rides. I had given up bringing him a long time ago.
The one time I left Beretta and Indy both home while I went out of town had been a disaster. I had gotten myneighbor, Mrs. Carden, to watch her and Indy. Somehow the poor woman got knocked over and almost broke her hip.
Needless to say, the woman wasn’t willing to babysit the two monsters ever again.
That woman still glares at me when she sees me checking my mail.
It’s so hard finding good neighbors. In fact, I never did figure out who the culprit was.
I do know that Beretta and Indy are both capable of mischief, especially if they don’t like someone.
Making sure I have everything, I throw my bag in the back of my car and begin my short commute to work.
It only takes about twenty minutes to get there.
I usually try to give myself a ten to fifteen minute buffer, just in case I run into a train or traffic.
Because of everything that happened this morning, I’m leaving later than I want.
Now I’m crossing my fingers that I don’t get stopped and end up being late.
Singing along with the radio, I drive down the winding back roads. This is my favorite part of my day, when the fog is still in the air and everything is quiet. I love it even more when I can be curled up on a couch and enjoying it from inside.
I’m really hoping that today goes smoothly, and I’m really, really hoping that I can avoid my creepy coworker altogether.
I love my job, but the last few months have been uncomfortable thanks to him.
A shudder works up my spine just thinking about it.
Think happy thoughts Kinley. Images of drinking an overly large glass of wine, or two, while enjoying the view of Lake Adger from Megan’s back deck, are the only thing getting me through the next eight hours.
I met Megan in college. We had several classes with each other from the beginning but hadn’t become good friends until our junior year.
That year we had organic chemistry, and we trauma bonded while suffering through our professor’s ruthless torture.
We had barely passed; afterward we were inseparable until graduation.
She moved back home, and I moved to start my current teaching position.
Even though we live a few hours away from each other, we still keep our friendship strong; Megan is family.
We’re a part of each other’s lives; we look out for each other no matter what.
Lately, it’s usually by phone, except for the random weekend when we can get free from life’s commitments.
We just always seem to know what to say to calm down the other, which is exactly why I’m glad that we are getting together this weekend. I need some face to face time with my friend.
Pulling up to my parking spot, I sit for a moment.
Mornings like this, when I’m feeling a little too raw, get me thinking about my life.
Thinking about the things I’m thankful for and the things I want to work on.
I have been pretty lucky the last eight years; even if I’m creeping up on thirty.
My life could have been very different if I hadn’t gone out of state for college, and if I hadn’t met my best friend.
I had even lucked out in finding my job, which allowed me to stay away from that depressing small town in Texas.
I had been seriously stressing about not receiving any potential job offers, and I was about to graduate with my undergraduate degrees in Biology and Education.
I had every possible certification that I could get, but the jobs were slim pickings and the interviews even fewer.
I had almost given up hope, but my prayers were answered mere weeks from when I would have been forced to move back home.
When I got the offer for a position to teach advanced science at a private school just an hour outside Knoxville, Tennessee,I didn’t even hesitate, I accepted it immediately.
The job had just been too good to pass up, and I hadn’t even cared about not having a place to live.
I accepted the job and moved to Tennessee without looking back.
I would have loved to live closer to Megan, but that hadn’t been in the cards.
The money was too good to pass up, and it kept me far away from Texas.
I had also been hoping I would have met “Mr. Right” by now, but my career was going great, and I couldn’t complain too much about how my life was going. Things could be so much worse.
Sighing, I gather my things and start towards the side entrance of Mount Tyler Academy.
It’s going to be a good day.It has to be; it’s Friday, and we have an extended weekend.
I walk out of the parking lot, careful to avoid the oblivious teenage drivers, to the side door I always enter through, and I’m greeted by several of my students waiting outside by the door.
“Hey, Miss Munro.”
“Good morning, guys.”
A chorus of replies answer me as I walk through the door and make my way through the hallways to my classroom.
Even with so much on my mind, I still have a job to do, and it is days like this that I’m really glad I love my job.
Today’s going to be an easy day for me though, not so easy for my students.
It’s test day, their first practical test of the semester actually.
I’m confident in my students; I just hope they are confident in themselves—and actually studied the reviews I gave them.
By midday I’m starving and a little cranky from hearing my students moan about having to take a test four periods in a row.
I’m always so hungry by this time every day no matter how many snacks I have on hand.
I just finish cleaning up and pocket my phone when my doorway gets blocked.
I groan internally as I see who is standing in my door.
It’s the math teacher, Mr. Allen Cracket, whom students liked to call Mr. Crack Head.
To be completely honest, I can understand why they call him that.
He’s one of the most unfortunate men I have ever met.
Allen is tall, lanky, and has dark greasy hair that he attempts to slick back but never seems to get it right.
His nose is hooked and crooked like he broke it and never got it treated, and it’s always red and runny.
He constantly sniffles and blows his nose on his cloth handkerchief.
Just thinking about how disgusting that must be by the end of the day makes me want to gag.
His beady brown eyes always seem to stare at you from behind some of the most outdated glasses frames, and his wardrobe doesn’t do him any favors.
It’s like he shopped in the clearance section of the local thrift store.
If all of that wasn’t bad enough he gives off serious stalker vibes, and I have watched enough serial killer specials to have at least some knowledge of it.
And to my utter dismay, I happen to be his new fixation.
“Oh, hi Allen…did you need something?” I ask, plastering a fake as hell smile on my face. I secretly hope it isn’t something I can’t back out of, the man gives me the creeps.
“Well, actually, I was hoping you would give me the pleasure of accompanying me to dinner tonight.”
Ugh, gag me. I have to try really hard not to laugh, and I school my face to not show the cringe that is threatening to break free.
“Um, Allen I’m actually leaving to go see my friend this weekend, so I can’t.”
“Well, I could come with you.”
Red Flag Alert, Red Flag Alert! What the hell is this guy’s major malfunction?
My control slips from my face, letting my look of disbelief begin to show.
But by the look on his face, I can tell he is being serious, and I have to think fast about how I’m going to get out of this without being a complete bitch.
“Allen, you’re a nice guy, but I don’t know you well enough to even consider bringing you with me to see my friend. I’m sorry, but no, you can’t come with me.”
“Kinley, how will we start dating if we don’t spend time with each other outside of work?”
My mouth drops open at his audacity. I’m utterly speechless and so uncomfortable that I decide the best way to end his delusions is to lie.
“Allen, I’m already seeing someone, who I’m actually going to see this weekend, so I’m sorry, but we can’t date. Now, if you will excuse me, I’m going to get some lunch.”
I quickly shut my classroom door, holding my breath as I skirt around him. He always smells like moth balls and sweat. I walk away quickly before he can come up with some other bullshit about why he should come with me.
God, what a nut job! Why are these weirdos attracted to me?