𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍
"The secrets within."
🝮

As Kali opened her eyes and glanced around, she realized that Mr. Anderson wasn't lying beside her in bed. Confused and slightly disoriented, she sat up and looked around the room, trying to figure out his whereabouts.

Why does he always do this.

Kali got distracted by the alluring scent of bacon and grabbed one of Mr. Anderson's shirts, which was much larger on her. The oversized shirt swallowed her tall frame, but the familiarity of his scent brought a sense of comfort.

I made my way downstairs, following the irresistible aroma of sizzling bacon. Once I reached the kitchen, I called out, "Mr. Anderson?" Only to be met with a different voice responding.

"Wrong." Miranda's voice echoed through the room, interrupting my search for Mr. Anderson.

I turned towards her, my gaze taking in her appearance – a floral dress that hugged her figure a bit too closely and dainty black slides. My attention immediately shifted to the absence of Mr. Anderson.

"Where's Mr. Anderson?" I questioned, looking around the room for any sign of his presence.

"Mr Anderson this, Mr. Anderson that, shut up already." She blabbered on and on.

As Miranda approached me, brandishing a steel fork in her hand and waving it close to my face, I couldn't help but squint at her in confusion. Her anger was palpable, and her actions only added to the growing sense of bewilderment in the room.

"Listen here brat, I don't want you living here in my home, you're ruining my life and giving my husband a bad reputation, he should not be hanging around with any of  his students!"  She spat

"First the all, get that shit out of my face." I replied

"You're not good enough for him! He will never love you like he loves me!" She continue to rant

Miranda finally moved the steel fork away from my face, stepping back towards the stove to continue cooking. Her voice dragged out, extending the word "but,"

"He told me to be nice and cook breakfast for you, and I'm only listening because I don't want to sleep in the fucking master bedroom alone tonight." She yelled the last sentence out loud.

Miranda carried my plate of bacon, eggs, and strawberries to the table, forcefully placing it down. Her tone was sharp and commanding as she spoke, "Eat up." The air between us was charged with tension, and her sudden aggression left me feeling confused and on edge.

My eyes still squinted at her as I cautiously took a seat at the table across from her. Sitting down silently, I couldn't help but examine my breakfast warily before taking a bite.

"Thanks?" I said awkwardly

I picked up my fork, continuing to glance between my food and Miranda. There was something about her behavior that made me feel uneasy.

"What do you want to drink?"

"You bitch—
I said out loud dropping my fork down on the table.

My attention turned to my eggs, and I noticed something strange – a white powder sprinkled over them. Realization dawned on me.

Was she trying to drug me?!

"What is this?"

"I made you breakfast and now you're complaining!" Miranda yelled annoyingly

"Oh shut up, you hate me that much that you want to drug me!?"

"Drug you!?—It's salt!" Miranda said

"Bullshit!" 

"Where did you get this from!?" I asked angrily.

"I.. bought it from someone.."

"Bought it from Who!?"

"I can't—

"You can't what?"

"Tell you."

I couldn't help scoffing and laughing in disbelief at the audacity of her actions. With a mix of disbelief and determination, I walked closer to her, my expression now serious.

"Who— gave you this!"

The sudden ringing of the doorbell startled Miranda, breaking the tense mood in the room. I couldn't help but comment, "This better be him," as I made my way towards the door, my footsteps purposeful.

I opened the door to find Jae standing there, her face hidden beneath a black hood. And the familiar sight of her van parked behind her.

"Oh hey Kali." Jae said

"..Hey Jae, I wasn't expecting to see you here."

"I know right." She placed her hands into her pockets.

"So Where were you?" She asked

"What do you mean?"

"I texted you a party invite, you said you were going to go but never showed up." she glared

The memory suddenly came back to me – the day when Mr. Anderson had informed me that I wouldn't be going to the party.

The realization hit me.

"Oh yeah! I'm sorry— some things came up—

"Like what?" She interrupted me.

"Uh..I realized that I was on my period." I lied

"Hm,"

"So Who's home?" She asked

"Just his wife."

"Oh really?—Where's the teacher?"

"I don't know, she didn't get the chance to tell me."

"So—where's Dylan?"

"Hiding."

"Hiding?! For what?" I questioned

"People are getting too suspicious, some think he has done it alone, he doesn't want to take the risk of being caught— you know?" She whispered, her eyes not leaving mines.

A sense of unease washed over me as I responded, my voice faltering slightly. "Y-yeah, of course." The words came out uncertain, reflecting my own inner turmoil and the unexpected twist of events.

Jae called out my name in a strange manner, her voice tinted with a hint of something I couldn't quite decipher. "Kali," she said, the sound of my name in her mouth sending a pang of uncertainty through me.

"Yes?"

"You haven't told anyone.. correct?"

"Of course not." I replied in an awkward chuckle.

"Good and next time you lie to me about not wanting to go, it will make me upset Kali— so please don't lie to me again." Jae said, her eyes not leaving mines.

"Anyways are you coming to school tomorrow!?" Her mood changes into a cheerful tone.

"Yes, I have no choice."

"I'll see you tomorrow then."

"Yeah, I'll see you too." I closed the door.

🝮

I stood in the shower, lathering my body with the loofah, the suds gliding over my skin. My focus shifted to my hair – my curls now soapy as I diligently scrubbed them, the water rinsing away the shampoo.

I stood in Mr. Anderson's bathroom, the sound of steady running water filling the room. I splashed the water onto my face multiple times, feeling its cleansing effect as it cascaded down my cheeks and neck.

But then My ears picked up the sound of a door opening outside the bathroom. It seemed to come from the direction of the bedroom. The noise caught me off guard, and my curiosity piqued, wondering who had entered the room.

I turned off the shower water and wrapped a towel around my damp body, the fabric snugly enveloping my curves. I stepped out of the bathroom door to see a tall figure standing in the room, a presence who was absent earlier. 

"Where were you?"

The man turned around, his eyes widening at the sight of me, and he hastened to cover his eyes politely. It was clear he hadn't expected to see me exiting the bathroom in just a towel.

"Torres." He said

"Don't Torres me, answer my question."

Mr. Anderson couldn't help but chuckle lightly under his breath, perhaps amused by my unapologetic attitude.

I took a moment to observe him from head to toe – he looked sharp and dapper in a black suit, the contrast to my own towel-clad state striking. I watched as he adjusted the sleeve of his suit, my gaze focused on his every move.

Not only did I notice his suit, but I also spotted something on his shirt. Intrigued, I moved closer to him, his gaze now fixed on me. There was an intensity in his eyes that made me feel exposed.

"Is this— blood?" I questioned the male.

Mr. Anderson walked past me, ignoring my question. "Kali get dress, we don't want you catching a cold— now do we?"

I couldn't help feeling irritated and deceived – was he keeping something from me? Was there something he wasn't sharing? The nagging uncertainty made me want to confront him, to demand answers.

I strode towards him, my voice firm and demanding. "I said Where were you?"

"At the school, doing some work."

"What type of work?"

"Teacher work Kali." He told

My gaze fixated on the pockets of his suit, noticing they were full. I stepped forward until I was in close proximity to him, my eyes never leaving his. With a determined gesture, I reached into his pocket and retrieved the object, which turned out to be a gun.

"A gun?!"

He reached out to take it back from me, but I held onto it firmly; the towel I had been wrapped in slipped from my body, revealing me to him.

"Fuck Torres." He said frustrated.