by Alice Moore
“It’s been two years since my divorce today. I always make steak- that was Owen’s favorite. No one can make a steak like me, girl.” My grin was slick, and the hairs in my nose curled at the smell I was already fantasizing about. That alone was almost enough to distract me from what Kelly had revealed, and I glanced over at her wearily.
“Is that your way of sticking it to him?” Up until recently, I didn’t know much about Kelly; she certainly never gave any indication she’d been married. We were the definition of ‘work friends’, and I kind of wanted to keep it that way. I lived two hours from my friends and family now; I didn’t want to mess up my only potential friend.
“What? No- Owen is the love of my life. We met in middle school, and I’ve never been with another man. But, he woke up one day and went to work… and never came back. In this state, I don’t need him to be around if he’s been missing for more than a month.”
“He’s missing?” Surprise colored my voice, and Kelly nodded firmly. There was no shadow in her eyes, no frown on her face, and I frowned deeply as we reached the bottom step.
“Yes, but he’s not dead. I know he’s not- I can feel it. He’s a cop, so if he was dead, someone would’ve come to tell me even if he was undercover.” I couldn’t say anything back, and I pursed my lips tightly on the way through the foyer on the ground floor. Kelly’s seemingly blind faith that her husband didn’t just ditch her was almost laughable, but I held back. She couldn’t be that naïve, which meant that she believed in Owen’s love for her.
Since when did I become that romantic? The question had no answer, but the notion that there was such a strong bond out there brought a sigh to my lips. Emerging from the newish, expensive building that was my workplace, I blinked at the golden-red sun to let my eyes adjust. Fluorescent lights blocked out the natural light that poured through the windows of my classroom, and I sucked in air through my nose.
“I spent way too long trying to grade those essays…” Shielding my eyes with my hand, I scanned the courtyard with a slight frown. Long, thick shadows spread from every raised surface, and my sigh was loud in the warm, still air. Flowers and bushes had been planted the first day of Spring, and the color hurt my eyes when combined with the rays of sun that bounced off them.
“Yeah. Do you want to follow me?” My heels clicked as the cobblestone gave way to the concrete walkway leading to the parking lot, and I glanced up to him. Kelly’s excitement over tonight shone out of every pore on her face, and she grinned with a bop of her head. “Cool. I’ll wait for you at the exit.”
Slowing my pace, I watched Kelly veer to the right to head for her car before searching for my own. This school paid ridiculously well; I was making ten times what I would my first year in a public school. Bitterness coated my tongue at the knowledge that the academy paid so much because it was such a terrible place to work, and I raked my hand through my hair. Starting for my baby blue two door, I ground my teeth absently and let my mind wander.
Wells Preparatory Academy for Girls- I’d done my research on the place after being accepted here as an instructor. There were glowing reviews and satisfaction ratings, but I should’ve been smarter considering how much they were willing to pay me. A starting salary of 60k a year, including a relocation stipend, was just too good to be true.
But I had to be stupid and take the job. Frowning as I came up on my car, I dug in my purse for my keys as the thought rounded my mind. I’d been brought in to replace a teacher that had died, and I should’ve realized sooner why no one else applied.
This school was rife with favoritism, corruption, and bullying by students. Even my high school hadn’t been so bad.
“Hopefully I can change that. Otherwise I won’t make it five years here.” Hell, I might not even make it two. Dropping my purse in the passenger seat, I slid into the driver’s side with a frown. The interior of my car still smelled like it was brand new, and I took a breath before closing on my side. Turning the engine over, I gripped the wheel tightly at the absence of sputtering.
“New car, new studio apartment, new area… and all I have to do is endure Hell.” Backing out of my space as I mumbled to myself, I shook my head with a soft snort. “Just forget it for now. Think of the steak. Delicious, perfectly cooked and seasoned beef and mashed potatoes… God- that sounds so good.”
My stomach growled loudly, and I weaved my way towards the exit where Kelly already waited in her cute, white sports car. Despite only working here three years longer, she made twice as much as I did. Maybe it was because parents saw the effort she made to help their girls; maybe that was just how it was considering the insane tuition for each of the 850 students.
I wasn’t sure, and I waved through my windshield as I dropped the internal conversation in favor of imagining what dinner would be like.
Ally
“You have a lovely home, Kelly.” Speaking up as I crossed the threshold, I took in the cool colors and impeccable décor with wide eyes. The house was two stories, and it was abundantly clear she’d spent a lot of money suiting her domestic taste. A massive sectional sofa sat ten feet in front of me, covered in coffee-colored leather and overstuffed. In front of the couch was a wall mounted television that was easily 70 inches, if not bigger. There was even a buffet table behind the couch, and I stared at the display under furrowed brows as I slipped out of my heels.
“Thanks. I’m sorry about the living room- I switched out furniture for the Olympics. My family comes up for two and a half weeks. Do you want some wine? I’m just going to go start cooking. I had the steaks marinating all day, so I just need to slap them on the grill top.” Blinking slowly, I nodded dumbly as I tried to wrap my head around the fact that Kelly had two sets of furniture. Following her into the kitchen, surprise rocketed through me at how beautiful the room was.
This was a house meant for a lot of people, not a single, lonely woman.
“Uh- so, the Olympics… it’s a big deal for your family?” Awkwardly speaking up, I leaned on the island as Kelly rifled through the refrigerator. The marble countertops were clean and uncluttered, but she was quick to make an organized mess.
“Yeah. My cousin was in it twenty years ago or something- she won bronze for ice skating. That was the first time I remember watching the Olympics, and we’ve done it ever since. It’s actually a lot of fun.” My brows shot up, and Kelly searched a lower cabinet to hoist a grill-pan onto her eight-burner stove with a smile. “We alternate houses- this is the first time I’m hosting. I wanted to splurge a little.”
“I don’t think I could fit that couch in my apartment at all…” Giggling lightly, I closed my eyes to imagine my bare, one room living space. My apartment wasn’t much more than four walls, a bed, and a kitchenette, but it was more than enough for me. “But I like living small. It makes it easier to save money.”
“Ain’t that the truth. You know, Ally- I don’t actually pay that much. This town isn’t that expensive despite the Academy. This whole state is doing great economically, so smaller towns like this one are doing better.” Nodding quietly, I spent the quiet few seconds still looking around the kitchen while Kelly prepared to cook. Until I went to college, I’d never been in a kitchen with tile on the walls and floors. Everything had been cheap laminate, and just being in this room was a little uncomfortable.
“… You said your husband was a cop? What department was he in?” Broaching the subject carefully, I still couldn’t figure out if Kelly would be triggered. To have her significant other just up and leave must’ve been hard. Across the island she didn’t miss a beat as she grabbed a bag of potatoes, and my brows came together before she spoke over her shoulder.
“Undercover. He’d been transferred from homicide about six months before just for a particular job, and he’d been really excited for it. Owen was always great at impersonations. We were married for five years before he went on his first mission. His old partner comes by every once and a while to tell me there’s no news.” Kelly’s voice was chipper, a
nd her shoulders were relaxed; I could imagine the small smile on her face even though she was turned away from me. My heart stuttered in my chest, and I propped my chin in my hand before speaking up past my dry tongue.
“And you divorced him even though you love him and believe he’ll come back? Why?” I wasn’t sure I could get married; there were too many expectations and stress. People would be perfect together, but the prospect of marriage was heavy enough to break them up.
At least, that was what happened to me, and I frowned deeply at the thought.
“Well- yeah. This way, he’ll have to marry me all over again.” Kelly giggled at her own words, banishing my frown before she turned around to grin. “That’s why I took this job and moved here. Trust me- I used to be like you, Ally. I wanted to work for crap pay at an inner-city school where I could do the most good. But- you know- sometimes you just gotta do what’s best for you. And as long as Owen is out there, I’ll plan our future. I pay pennies for what this property is worth, and it’ll be worth it in the end.”
“I mean, I can’t imagine loving someone so much I’d go through what you are, Kelly. I’d probably think he left me for another woman or something and make a total wreck of myself.” Sputtering a laugh at my confession, Kelly set down her peeler and potato to grab a forgotten bottle of wine on the counter near the refrigerator. Heat suffused my cheeks, but she was quick to shake her head and free hand wildly.
“No- no… you don’t understand, Ally. Owen can’t talk to girls to save his life. He’s too dense and sweet to pick up any hidden meaning or innuendo. I remember this one time- Oh God- this one time… Owen got cornered by this girl that was barely legal. She was one of those types where just looking her way meant she thought you were in love with her. He called his partner to come save him, and when he got home he nearly cried explaining how much he didn’t want anyone but me.” My eyes widened from the shock of Kelly’s story, and she laughed more forcefully as she reached under the island to produce two wine glasses. “Owen can pretend to be a lot of people, and he’s really a great cop, but he’s a big softy. Being undercover will probably change that, but he would never cheat on me.”
“It must be great to have such faith in someone, K…” Stiffening at the sourness in my tone, I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth absently. Kelly shot me a raised brow, and the curiousness in her blue eyes couldn’t be mistaken. “Ah- well, I had a boyfriend throughout high school and into college. We were going to get engaged, but after we decided, we just… kind of fell out, I guess. One day, I got home from school, and he gives me the breakup speech. It didn’t come out of nowhere, but it still sucked.”
“I see. Have you dated anyone since?” Shrugging half-heartedly, I reached for the glass of red wine Kelly offered me to take a big gulp. Discomfort and irritation over the whole situation swirled in my gut, and I took a deep, calming breath before answering.
“I went on a couple first dates before taking this job. There was this one guy I was hopeful about, but it just didn’t seem to work out at the time. He told me he was about to get ridiculously busy with work, and it wasn’t fair to keep me on the wings if he couldn’t make time. That was a year and a half ago, and I haven’t done anything since.” Thinking back on those three or four dates I’d gone on, I couldn’t help but frown again. “As thoughtful and telling as that gesture was, I’m still disappointed about it. I feel like we connected, sort of… if that makes any sense.”
“I get it. Was he like your ex, though?” Instantly shaking my head, I took another sip of my wine as my ex-boyfriend flashed behind one eyelid and my date behind the other.
“Oh God- no. Tommy was a mechanic that’d never worn a suit before in his life- even to prom. I loved him because he was so chill… I didn’t have to worry about him thinking I was going to destroy my life by becoming a teacher. Most people that knew I wanted to go this way told me it was a terrible decision, but not him.” Pausing as I reflected on that staple of my relationship, I shrugged small a second time before continuing. “Roark was the guy’s name that I went on a few dates with- three or four. We went out that, and I felt like I’d known him a lot longer than a few hours. I even offered him to come back to my apartment, but he turned me down. He said, and I quote, ‘I’m not going because I like you, and I don’t want to mess up by sleeping with you on the first date’.”
“Oh- wow. He’s as chivalrous as he sounds, huh, Ally?”
“Mhm…” Humming with a nod, I smiled slightly as I recalled that night. I’d had a bit too much to drink, but I wasn’t inebriated by any means. Even so, Roark said ‘no’, and I couldn’t even express how much I appreciated that the next morning. “Yeah. I’m lucky a guy like him took me out, even if it didn’t amount to much. I felt like he held it high, too. I don’t know what happened after our last text, but I figured- if he wanted to go out again, he would contact me.”
Flickering behind Kelly, I took in her half-prepped dinner before she whirled back around to grab her peeler. Waving it around, she downed half her wine glass to sigh heavily. She must’ve liked bitter wine, but I wasn’t complaining as I took another, stabilizing gulp from my own glass.
“You should text him! Stick yourself out there! Let me tell you- if your ex hasn’t come back yet, he’s not going to. And what if you don’t want to deal with what he brings, Ally? You should take a chance if you think it’ll pay off.” Swiping her hand over the pan on the stove, Kelly squeaked softly and rushed to turn down the heat before snatching a potato from the pile. “You can’t just ignore the male gender because your high school sweetheart didn’t work out. Maybe I can set you up with my cousin’s friend? Even if it’s just one date…”
“I- I mean, probably not? I don’t know. Maybe you’re right.” But there’s no way in Hell I’m going to text Roark. It’s been over a year- he probably forgot about me. The thought caused my throat to tighten slightly, and I took another hard sip of my wine. Watching Kelly through narrowed eyes, I almost wished I hadn’t asked about her husband. We weren’t friends in this way; this was the first time I’ve been to her house. So much for not screwing up a potential friendship.
Ally
“Ms. Mazkov! I demand you give me a better grade! I did the essay- what more do you want?” What a great way to start the day after last night. The sarcasm dripped from my inner voice, and I glanced up from my grading with a blank expression. Cassandra stood over me in all her haughty glory, waving her essay in my face, and I set down my pen to sigh heavily.
“Cassandra, I couldn’t read any of it. You have to make it legible, at the very least.” I nearly cringed remembering all of the time I’d wasted the day before trying to grade the assignments. Gasping dramatically, Cassandra leaned back to crumple up her paper. Watching her throw her little tantrum, I kept my face as neutral as possible even as disgust clung to my ribs.
For a girl with so many resources, it shouldn’t have been so offending to be expected to produce readable material.
“How dare you say that! I’m going to get you fired for discrimination!” My lip twitched, an involuntary need to laugh washing over me, and Cassandra flipped her curly, brown hair with flare. “My mom has a lot of influence here, and if you don’t change my grade, I’ll get her to go to the Headmistress.”
“Go ahead.” 20 pairs of eyes rested on me in the shocked silence that enveloped my classroom, and I carefully pushed myself to my feet. Cassandra was a few inches shorter than me in her school issued heels, and she backed up as a pure what the fuck expression crossed her face. “Call your mother. As a matter of fact- I’ll call your mother for you and let her know that I want a meeting with her regarding your behavior in my classroom.”
Pushing past the 14 year old, I glanced at the clock and prayed the next five minutes would go by quickly until the bell rang. Every student’s attention was on me, and I took this rare moment to address my class. Clearing my throat, I clasped my hands in front of me before opening my mouth.
“I will grad
e you all on what you present to me. If I can’t read it, you’ll get a grade in accordance. I’ve told you all this when you first came into my class. Since Cassandra was so adamant about bringing her mother into this, I’ll be making calls to all of your families to make sure that they understand I’m not failing you for no reason. Anyone have a problem?” Silence met my question, and I nodded firmly before making my way back to my desk. Cassandra still stood, so mad that red bled into her face and her fists shook, and I stared her down until she huffed loudly.
There was a certain safety in working for such a crappy school; it was too hard to hire new instructors, so I didn’t have to worry about my job in jeopardy.
“Please continue with your assignments. Julianne and Charlotte, I would appreciate it if you could both stay after class for a few minutes to discuss some things with me.” Seating myself, I pointedly ignored Cassandra as she continued to hover over my desk like an angry statue. Eventually she stormed off out of my room, and I made a note to mark that in her attendance.
Once the door slammed behind Cassandra, a lightness took over my chest, and I let out a heavy sigh through my nose. Pursing my lips into a thin line, I rested my forehead on my fingers and picked up my pen to continue grading. The class remained silent, but slowly the sounds of pencils scraping against paper began to fill the void. No one spoke, and there was a noticeable tension in the room.
No doubt these girls would try to talk me out of calling their parents. It was honestly pathetic how my students acted when no one was around to rat them out, and their apprehension was thick on my bare arms.
“You wanted to see us, Ms. Mazkov?” The call drew my attention, and I nodded absently as Charlotte twirled one of her corkscrew curls in her finger. Like Julianne, she didn’t do well with any sort of confrontation, and I leaned back in my chair to look at her fully. “Uh- Julie filled me in… I’m going to do marine biology, if that’s okay?”
