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I loathe myself for thinking I could come down the hallway on the first floor to swing by to get my mail before I headed back up.
No, I can’t be that lucky.
“Angelica.” Her voice grows more impatient and annoying as she marches over to me. I haven’t even bothered to turn around to respond to her, but I can hear her, and Ireallydon’t want to talk to her right now.
I do it anyway because the polite side of me and the professionalism I try to keep when I’m at work takes over, even with my worst enemy.
“Yes, Cera?” There I got a little kick in there in pronouncing her name how it’s spelled. I slather my voice with the same sickeningly sweet voice she uses on her co-workers and students alike. She doesn’t even acknowledge I said her name differently from what she wants.
When I finally meet her head-on, I take in her extremely pissed-off expression. It’s her usual look whenever she’s around someone she doesn’t like. Mean girl or resting bitch face is stunning compared to this pursed look she thinks still makes her look beautiful.
I spent just a year being tormented by this woman, and it was enough. The years that separated us in college didn’t change the fact she doesn’t like me for whatever reason.
I didn’t understand why she chose to target me out of all the girls we went to school with. Our town and the surrounding area don’t boost an overwhelming population of students each year, but she could have focused on plenty others instead of me.
“Do you think it’s wise to sleep with a student’s uncle?” I bristle at her accusation. I won’t let her see me stiffen on the outside where I remain cool and calm with a smile on my face, but on the inside, I’m starting to boil with rage.
How the hell does she even know that?
She doesn’t live anywhere near me. There’s no way she wouldlowerherself to live in an apartment complex. I want to shake her down to get the answer, but I won’t do that. There are cameras in the hallway. I don’t need what I really want to do to her caught on film.
Instead, I tilt my head to the side and regard her. “I don’t see how anything in my personal life is any of your business.” It’s difficult to keep my tone neutral and even.
“When it bleeds into yourprofessionallife, I think as a peer, I should tell you you’re going to destroy your career and life by associating yourself with a student’s family member.” She’s trying her best to sound all high and mighty, but the truth is in her tone. She’s jealous.
“It’s still none of your business,” I retort. “I don’t recall you ever caring about me in any setting prior to now, so I don’t see why you would care now.”
She makes that sound with a released breath put off by teenage girls. You would think she would have outgrown that by now. “I’mjusttrying to be nice.”
“Well, thank you, but I can handle my personal life and keep it there.” When I turn around, I’m careful my heels don’t cause me to topple over, but she can’t help getting the last word in.
“He was great in bed, but he’ll never be trueboyfriendmaterial.”
Did she really say that in an open hallway?
What if students were roaming or other teachers came around one of the corners or out of a classroom?
“When he’s done with you, he’ll cast you away.”
“Like he did with you?” I throw over my shoulder. I don’t bother to even look at her. I let my question linger in the air before I speak again at the foot of the stairs. “High school ended a long time ago, Cera. People grow up and change. Maybe you should look into giving that a try.”
I walk away, possibly leaving her slacked-jawed and at a loss for words. I don’t really care. How often did she leave me in a hallway like this one on the verge of tears?
Confidently, I walk back up to my room. I’m not going to let anything she spews get to me. I learned to deal with her comments a long time ago. I just let it roll off.
I want to give Chase the benefit of the doubt with this whole relationshipthing. It’s hard because he sees it as a second chance, and I don’t. It’s his third, and I’m terrified he’ll destroy it as well as me.
If only he could remember me, then maybe he could put my insecurities at ease.
I pull papers out to prepare for tomorrow’s classes and lose myself in the tasks. It isn’t until I’m ready to leave that I notice the text message waiting for me.
Chase: It’s fall. You know what that means?
I laugh, willing to play along.
Me: The smell of dead leaves and other dying things fills the air?
It doesn’t take him long to write me back.
