Page 43 of A Lesson in Obedience
Even though her face was stained with tears and her mind was muddled with the idea that Marianne was found dead, alone in the woods, I could tell the moment I had her undivided attention. He had her moved, he cleaned all traces of him, he covered his tracks…because he had the power to do it. He treated her like she was nothing.
I looked down at my hands, they burned from a fire only I could produce. “He killed her right in front of me and there wasn’t anything I could do about it.” I closed my hands; more tears trickled onto my knuckles. I watched as my mom let out a small breath, her mouth slightly opened. “He killed her because of me. That’s why I hate him.”
15
Grayson
Ifumbled around my dorm room, trying not to let Riley flood my mind. The look on her face, the way her lip quivered when she tried to speak, the way her eyes didn’t have that flirtatious look to them, and I had noticed all of it in a matter of a minute. It took everything in me not to pull her into my body and start pleading for her to let me back in, let me back into her circle of trust and into her heart.
There was a small moment, like her instinct was to let me hold her, but she’d refrained. When she was gone, I’d let out the breath I’d lodged in my throat and listened while Asher went on about how I could get my stuff from my dorm room. He just so happened to let it slide that Riley may or may not have been the one to tell him that I shouldn’t need a babysitter. If I knew Riley at all, that didn’t mean she was on my side one hundred percent, but it did mean that we could be getting somewhere.
I grabbed the duffle bag from the top shelf of my closet and started transferring my clothes into it. I’d already placed all theschool items I needed into my backpack, so I had one last look around to do before I headed back. My phone rang in my pocket and I plucked it out, reading my mom’s name on the screen. I let out a deep sigh, feeling a twinge of guilt in my chest.
“Hi Mom,” I answered, trying to sound more upbeat than I felt.
I heard what sounded like something being sprayed on the other end and my best guess was that she was cleaning the house. “I’m just checking on you. The last time we spoke you sounded a bit distant.”
The last time I had her on the phone I’d told her that I was going back to the dorms early. IthoughtI’d sounded pretty normal. My parents always pushed when it came to school, especially because I equally pushed myself. If I had decided community college and an associate’s degree were where I saw myself, they would have been right there and cheered me on. My personal life, on the other hand, was something they let me have free of judgement or critique. They both grew up with strict parents themselves and didn’t want me to feel that kind of pressure.
I cleared my throat, putting my phone into the crook of my neck and using my shoulder to keep it to my ear as I zipped up my duffle. “Huwag ka nang mag alala.You being stressed causes me to be stressed and that’s not good when classes are about to start back.”
She hummed. “Right.Di ko gusto kapag na-iistress ka.Besides, you have River and I know he’ll keep you on track.”
I rolled my eyes. “I knew you liked him more than me.”
She laughed and that pulled at my heart to hear the happy noise. “Huy! Tigilan mo yan!” Although, I do like him for you and I think you two would make a very nice couple. “Di kayo bagay!”
“I told you then and I’ll tell you now, we are not a couple.”
I heard some shuffling on the other side of the phone. “I know. He is just much better than that one awful girl you dated your freshman year of high school and then that one boy the summer of sophomore year…”
I smacked the top of my bag. “Yes, I get it. River is the best.” I feltthe smile creep on my face the moment the words left my lips. I was only speaking the truth.
I heard my dad’s voice next. “You can’t blame us for assuming since you two were intimate.”
I nearly tripped over my own feet when I let myself fully take in what he said. I wish I could have turned back time and unheard it. “Anong sinabi mo?”
My dad cackled on the other end. “Sinasabi ko sayo. Invite River and that girlfriend of his over for food. We like her too.”
I rubbed my fingers into my eyes. The mention of Riley mildly dulled the feeling of my parents even remotely being aware that I had a sex life.
“We are not so old that we think you don’t do adult things.” She tsked me over the phone in only the way my mom could.
I groaned. “I am now very embarrassed, so if that was your mission, good job.”
My mom yelled something at my dad about getting some things out of the fridge for lunch before she gave me her attention again. “I am a parent, embarrassing you is what gives me joy.” She giggled, but then her tone turned serious. “I do mean it though, Grayson, you did sound off on the phone.Anong nangyari?”
I readjusted my phone, relaxing my shoulder. I went to grab my backpack, catching myself looking out the window that overlooked the courtyard. “I promise I’m okay, Mom. That meeting kind of shook me, but everything is fine now. Graduation is coming up sooner rather than later and I just want things to go off without a hitch.Pasensya na at pinag alala pa kita”
It was almost like I could tell she was nodding on her end even though I couldn’t see her. “You will do great,syempre anak kita, you always find a way to do good work. Sunday dinner next week?”
I gripped my desk chair, tightening my hold around it until I felt a strain in my hand. I fucking hated this. “I’ll see what I can do. I might have to do some major library time. Who knows what teachers will give us, even if it’s just us being gone for two days.”
“Syempre.I have to go before your dad ruins my kitchen, love you.”
“Love you,” I said back, taking the phone away from my ear and looking down at it. My parents were good people, they didn’t deserve this.
I wanted to pick up my desk chair and chuck it across the room. I groaned loudly, looking down at the floor when wisps of black smoke and a small noise caught my attention. I looked at my window, seeing a tall figure staring back at me.
