Page 47 of The Other Side
“Do you really think I’m capable of hurting anyone?” I was disgusted at the thought. I’d sacrificed so much to keep the people I cared about happy, and he had no idea. He didn’t know a single thing about me.
“Of course not. It’s just that you were the only new teacher last year. I was looking for variables. And on paper—listen, it was stupid and I realized right away that it couldn’t have been you. You’re right, you wouldn’t harm a student. Besides, you’re tiny—even if you wanted to, there isn’t much you could do.”
I audibly growled at the insult. He wasn’t wrong, but I stillhatedwhen people assumed my size meant I was weaker or less than.
“Violet—”
“The photos in the bathroom are recent.” I spoke aloud as the gears in my brain were working simultaneously. “If you stopped suspecting me right away, why did you keep taking pictures of me?”
Chance’s face blushed crimson in embarrassment.
“Why are there recent pictures of me, Chance?” I ground out, refusing to let it go.
“You wouldn’t give me the time of day; I needed to firmly rule you out as a suspect,” he offered, but there was still something behind his words.
There was more, I was sure of it.
“Chance,” I snarled.
“I told you it would happen that first night.” He drew in a deep breath, preparing himself for the truth that remained. “You kind of became my muse.”
I scoffed at the thought.
“I didn’t mean to be creepy. I never followed you. But if you were around, and I had the opportunity to take some shots—”
“That doesn’t make it better.” I shook my head. I didn’t know how to take his admission. Because I knew I should be absolutely repulsed, but there was a part of me that was flattered.
What the fuck is wrong with me?
“It’s the best work I’ve ever done,” he confessed quietly, more to himself than to me.
“No more pictures,” I told him firmly.
“Okay…” He frowned.
“And I want you to let me leave.”
Chance sighed, but motioned to the door. “I won’t stop you.”
Without hesitation, I flung open the door, not bothering to close it behind me, and sprinted down the hall to my room, struggling only for a moment with the keys before I was able to lock everything behind me.
I pulled my phone out of my pocket. I had a dozen missed calls from Jolene.
“He snuck out! I’m sorry!” she wailed upon picking up the phone.
“I’m okay,” I told her, my voice sounding far calmer than my mind.
“Did he find you? What happened?” She sounded distraught.
“We worked it out,” I half-lied. “Everything is fine.”
“You left your bag by my desk.” She sniffled.
“If you don’t mind tucking it under, I’ll come by tomorrow and grab it,” I told her. She didn’t work over the weekend, but the faculty had access to the main part of the admin offices during off-hours.
“You’re sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah, I’ll see you on Monday,” I told her before hanging up.
