Page 21 of Teacher's Pet

“Shit!” I hurry over to the window and try to push the sash up and out of my way, try to get out through the window.

It doesn’t move and I stare at it, transfixed, as the room fills up with smoke, my chest hurting more and more until I slip to the floor, wracked with coughs and straining to suck clean air in through all the smoke filling the room.

I slide my eyes closed and feel my body going limp, my hands falling to my lap.

I wish to heaven that I could see Foster one more time. Just one more time and then I’d go to heaven happily.

Tears slip down my cheeks and I cough and sink all the way to the floor.

I let the darkness wash over me and forget all about the pain around me, the pain waiting for me if I just open my eyes.

It’s better if I just don’t look. Don’t feel.

I hope nobody I know finds me. I don’t want them to be hurt by seeing me like this.

Darkness flies over me and cocoons me in its soft as velvet touch.

FOSTER

Ipick out my new phone and set it on the counter, pulling out my wallet and shoving a card at the man.

“Hang on, sir. Just let me get you set up.” He eyes my flip phone and grimaces. “I think this phone has a lot more perks than your old one.”

He fiddles with some stuff on it and I sigh and cross my arms, leaning back against the counter.

My brows lift when my phone rings. “Hello,” I say.

“Daddy. Miss Carter is in trouble.”

I stand up, my head swimming. “What do you mean she’s in trouble, Harley?”

“Mr. McBride. I saw him at the school. He was doing something weird and then I saw him lock Miss Carter’s door. And then I saw him leave and I smell smoke. I can’t breathe and I hear her pounding on the door but I can’t get to it and now she’s not banging anymore and…”. She gulps and takes a deep breath and I suck in a shallow breath.

“You’re not in the building are you?” I fist my hands, my nails digging into my palms.

“I am,” she sobs. “I can’t get out. There’s fire everywhere.”

I shake my head at the man in front of me. “Call the fire department in Wildwood, please? I can’t get off the phone. It’s my daughter.”

He nods, his eyes wide. I hear him dialing his phone and talking urgently to the dispatcher at the fire house.

“I’ll come back and get the phone.” I tear out of the building, throw myself into my truck, my heart pounding and every fear that I’ve felt since Karen died hits me right in the chest.

I can’t lose my daughter. I can’t.

And Tally. Oh my god, Tally!

“I’m on my way, baby. Stay on the phone. Don’t hang up. I’ll be there in a few minutes.” I wince. It’s gonna take me longer than that. Ten minutes at least. And that’s with speeding.

“Can you get out one of the windows? Is there anywhere that doesn’t have flames?”

“N-no! It’s everywhere.” I want to scream and shout. I want to punch that son of a bitch in the face until he’s a piece of broken bones and skin lying in his own blood. I want him dead. Slowly.

But I don’t have time for that now. “It’s alright. I’m gonna get there.” My phone rings and I see that it’s my call waiting. “Baby, hang on. I’ll be right back. I gotta check something.”

I pick up the other line and groan when I hear Tom on the line. “Are you anywhere near the school?” I holler into the phone.

“Reva’s at the fire. You heard about it already?”

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