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Nineteen

Author: Joshua Ataya
last update Last Updated: 2024-10-29 19:42:56

DEVAN

'A Dog on a leash!'

Those very words still found a way to haunt me, even without the presence of its owner. Ellen had found a way to mock me even in her absence.

It was clear that I needed to do something about Blue, before anyone else found out. And maybe find Sam along the way, if I was lucky enough.

I wasn't always lucky anyways. I opened the door to Robb's room, and there he was with reddened eyes that never seemed to close.

"You should be asleep." I noted.

He raised his eyebrow, and chuckled. "You should be asleep, Devan."

I closed the door as quietly as I could, and strolled towards him. "Well, I do need your help."

His eyes widened as he drew closer. "You can't sleep? Don't worry, I've got the best stuffs for you." He promised ransacking his pockets, with a chuckle.

"I didn't come here to talk about your stuffs at this time of the night, Robbie."

His countenance fell immediately. "What do you want then? I've got nothing else to
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  • The New Teacher Next Door   Twenty One

    DEVAN It was the wee hours of the hours of the morning when I stole quietly to the sitting room with nothing but my backpack. I had to leave before Robb or Mum awakened. Mum had vehemently kicked against the idea of me going for the school trip, but I was having none of that. I tiptoed quietly through the sitting room with hopes of not awakening anyone. Mum was seated on the chair, snoring deeply, and a bottle of empty whiskey on her laps. Robb had done that to her. I inserted the key into the keyhole, and turned it in the reverse. I was a few steps away from victory. I turned the door knob, and stepped outside. The cold was biting. I held my arms tightly together, and rubbed them. I should have taken a sweatshirt along, but I hadn't. I could go back inside to get one, but I couldn't risk it. It was too risky, I could be caught. "You need a ride?" Mum quizzed behind me. I froze in shock, and turned around to face her. She was covered with a blanket, and

  • The New Teacher Next Door   Twenty Two

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  • The New Teacher Next Door   Twenty Three

    DEVAN Principal Walter was the Devil himself. Mean, authoritative, and evil to the core, just as I had known all along. A menace he was. My back was sore, and it ached to be relieved of the day's stress. But, sadly Principal Walter hadn't granted me that opportunity yet, as he ordered me around his bed space, while he lingered on the bed with a blanket to his chest, and a newspaper article in his hand. Son of a cursed woman that he was! I looked out of the window, and could see the rest of my mates clearly enjoying themselves, but here I was having the worst experience of my life. "There's a party holding tonight." I announced, as I arranged the last of his clothes into a shelf. Principal Walter barely glanced up at me, as he nodded briefly, and returned to reading his article. "So...?" I began. "So what, Barker?" He questioned, readjusting his glasses to sit perfectly on his nose. "Once I'm done with this, could I leave? I mean everyone has ta

  • The New Teacher Next Door   Twenty Four

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  • The New Teacher Next Door   Twenty Five

    DEVAN Twenty five squats he had said, and then I was to wash the bathrooms. After which, I was to remain indoors until I was told to leave. So much for attending a party! Bloody Old Walter! He was obsessed with the aura that came with possessing power that he didn't care to think things through, anymore. An old bloody fool, he was! I had completed the squats, but there was no bloody way in hell that I was going to wash the bathrooms. I wasn't doing that, and no one could compel me to. The door opened, and Principal Walter strolled in. He barely paid any attention to me, as he shut the door, and began taking off his clothes. I could hear him humming the 'winds of change' under his breath, as he tied a towel around his waist, and got into the bathroom. I was beginning to regret taking that bold step. I shouldn't have defied his order. I should have stayed back here with him, and abandoned the party. Principal Walter had been right, it had been a total

  • The New Teacher Next Door   Twenty Six

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  • The New Teacher Next Door   Eighty Eight

    ELLEN The ceiling fan whirred softly, barely producing enough air to reduce the heat that enveloped the room. I turned around, trying to find a better position that suited me. BJ's snores took a higher tempo, and I could tell that he was fast asleep now. I turned to my side on the bed, again, grunting and grumbling, as the heat refused to subside. Exhaustion took the better part of me, and I forced myself to a sitting position. What had I expected from a motel as this one. This was the cheapest one I had been able to find. In fact, this was the only place I had been able to afford. Suzy wasn't back to the room yet. She had stepped out to take a call about an hour ago, and hadn't returned since then. I wondered what was taking her time. I stretched out on the bed, and stood to my feet, yawning tiredly. I couldn't sleep, and no matter what I tried, the sleep refused to come. "Ellen?" Suzy called, pushing the door opened, as she stepped in. I stood fac

  • The New Teacher Next Door   Eighty Seven

    DEVAN Regrets, and making bad choices went hand in hand. The house hadn't been the same since Mum had realised what she had done. She had suddenly withdrawn into her shell, barely speaking out anymore. I could barely imagine the amount of disappointment she felt at that point, but I wasn't ready to ease her agony so quickly. School was were I buried myself in now, mostly to keep myself busy, and keep the crazy thoughts away. It wasn't going to be the same anymore. Mum sat by the window side, staring blankly through the window, with a steaming hot cup of coffee in her hand. Each time I looked at her, I knew I had to help her, but it was going to be difficult. She always had a hand in everything that went wrong at home. What was a little pain compared to the series of insults that I had been forced to go through in her hands. I held unto the sides of the wheelchair I was seated in, and slowly forced an exhale out. "I see you, Devan." She said, breaking t

  • The New Teacher Next Door   Eighty Six

    ELLEN A loud, startling knock on the door, flung me off the bed in trepidation. I glanced quickly at my feet, and hissed lightly. My shoes were still on, I hadn't taken them off after getting into the room. I sat at the edge of the bed, and began to pull at them, when the knock came again. I took my shoes hastily, and stared blankly at the wall clock. The time read two A.M. However, the time hadn't served as enough deterrent to whoever was banging on my door. Maybe I shouldn't have rented a room at this motel, I should probably have gone for another one. A safer one, perhaps. A thousand and one thoughts ran through my head, as I held my shoe up in my left hand, just in case there was a need for it, and began to move towards the door. Was there a possibility that Devan and Robb had managed to find me so quickly? I couldn't tell, until I opened the damned door. "Who's at the door?" I quizzed, with shaky hands, and a shoe in it. The silence was enough

  • The New Teacher Next Door   Eighty Five

    DEVAN I could almost swear that she had noticed that our gazes were fixed on her, yet, she busied herself about the room, as if she didn't care. My heart ached to ask her all the crazy questions that burned at my heart. Why was she doing this? I heard Dad say something loudly, but we were all too preoccupied to even care at the moment. Mum began humming a song, as she went about her duties. I didn't know what to feel at that moment, anger, or resentment that she had only noticed me, after Matt's death. "Ms Barker, could I please get something to eat? It was a long walk from school." Sam pleaded, as Mum beamed a wide smile at him. "Of course, Sammy Boy. You're always welcome here. What would like me to get you?" She quizzed, scratching at her elbows agitatedly. Sam's fingers flew to his head, for a brief moment, as if trying to come up with something, and then thy dropped to his side again weakly. "Anything is fine, ma'am. I wouldn't want to be so much o

  • The New Teacher Next Door   Eighty Four

    ELLEN My eyes opened as Robb brought the car to a halt. I exhaled deeply, excited all over again. I was finally home, and although I didn't know where my home was yet though,but I was excited. "You look happy." Robb commented, as the engine died down. I nodded, and beamed a smile at him. "Well, I should be. I was away for too long." He chuckled lightly, and stared at me with a confusing gaze. "You think so? Things aren't the same as you left them." "Oh, come on, Robb. Everything's just fine." "No, it isn't!" He snapped, slamming his hands against the steering wheel. I was taken aback by his reaction. I lifted my hand gently, and rested it on his arm, as he sighed. "What's going on, Robb? Tell me." "Ellen..." He began swallowing deeply. "There's something I should have told you before, but I couldn't bring myself to do it." "What are you talking about, Robb? Spill it already." "It's not good, I promise ." I faked a smile, and patted his a

  • The New Teacher Next Door   Eighty Three

    DEVAN Time they say, had a way of doing things to you, changing you, breaking you, or making you. In all of these processes, you were considered as a chief factor, and I was in this one, somehow. Mornings were usually the busiest, school work, and having to endure the taunting and long stares from everyone at school. Not like I cared much though, but driving through the school halls always had a way of reminding me of a life I had once lived, in fear and in the shadows. That life was due for a change. Maybe, it was time I did something really meaningful with my life. I didn't know what it was then, but I was getting there. It was only going to take a short while now. I tapped my hands gently against the wheelchair, as I drove through the halls receiving the usual whispers, and hushed talks from the bunch of students around the hallway. Exhaustion got the better of me, as I shook my head slightly in pity. "You don't look so good, Devan." A voice said behind m

  • The New Teacher Next Door   Eighty Two

    ELLEN Cups of coffee sat on the table between us, and the rising sun behind us. I was clearly exhausted, and how much I ached to free myself from Cullen's piercing eyes. He was quiet, and a little distant than I had known him to be. With eyes fixed on me, watching every move, and every gesture that I made. I didn't know what to do, or think. I mean, after all the time I had spent rehearsing, and coming up with words to say to him, when I finally got the chance to, yet here I was, as mute and silent as a lamb. "What's in your mind?" He quizzed, staring intently into my face. I shook my head slightly, regaining myself. "Nothing," I said hurriedly. "I mean, you're the one who's been withdrawn. You weren't like this the last time I saw you. What's happened to you?" He chuckled softly, and sipped at his coffee. "I'm the same person, Ellen. You just didn't know this part of me." I nodded in pretense. And of course, I didn't understand a word he had uttered.

  • The New Teacher Next Door   Eighty One

    DEVAN Somehow, all of this still seemed pretty new to me. I had my memory back, and honestly, I had never felt as alive, as I did right now. I rode my wheelchair around the house in impatience, I was alone at home. Robb hadn't returned since he left, and now Mum also was taking too much time at the hospital. It had been a long while since I had been at the house, it seemed different from the last time. Probably because I had my legs then? Sad. A car honk blared loudly, and I drove to the window hurriedly. And just as I expected, it was Mum helping Dad out of the car. Matt's death had tightened the cords that held us as a family. Maybe that was what we had ended? A little it of something macabre? I shook my head hastily to clear it of the thoughts that filled it. Mum was at the door now with Dad. I didn't know what to do, I just sat there waiting for the door to be pushed open. In a moment, Mum stepped into the house, and Dad began turning his head around hu

  • The New Teacher Next Door   Eighty

    ELLEN I clearly didn't look forward to the break of day. I knew what Suzy was going to do, but still, I wasn't ready to succumb to her demand. It had been a long night, and as far as I could remember, I had barely blinked an eye. Suzy had barely slept also, as I had felt her toss from side to side on the bed next to me. She wanted to get her life back, and I wanted mine also. And there was no possible way I was going to sacrifice living the very life I had fantasized about living, just because she needed my help. That wasn't fair to me. That morning, I had gone about my regular business just like the previous night, and from what I could tell, Suzy wasn't interested in me, just as I wasn't also. I mean, we were both so different, but yet, there was this kind of connection that I felt like we both shared unknowingly. I was bent over a bag, as I arranged a few stuff I had left into it. Big Joe hadn't even been kind enough to let me come back to the house to

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