I planted the bugs my father gave me in Mr. Yellow’s room at school. Going through the motions, I kept my suspicion as low as possible. The real test was bugging the list of addresses my father wrote down. As soon as school let out though, Tesha waited for me at the front gate.

“You look ready to run, Nwier,” Tesha pointed out, “Are you scared of something?”

Well, she was correct, but I couldn’t admit that. Especially since the “something” I feared was her.

“I’m just…excited to visit the track and field,” I lied blatantly, “I’m tired of being locked up in school for so long.”

“Really? Is that why you’re shrinking away from me and protecting your pockets?” Tesha teased, “You don’t have to be so scared of me. I saved your life, yeah?”

“Yet every second cooped up with you only felt like I was in more danger,” I quipped.

As soon as I finished my sentence, I immediately wished my mouth had a backspace button. I clamped my mouth shut and eyed Tesha, fearing the worst, a murderous demon out for my throat for saying the wrong thing.

But, instead of that, Tesha smiled. She smiled as if I had just shared a light joke or complimented her hair. I was safe.

She tapped my arm with her fist and winked, “Maybe you were.”

Then, Tesha’s fist slipped past my arm, and she latches on to it. Like a rabbit in a snake’s vice, I was trapped. “Um?” I squeaked. My heart thumped hard, trying to leap out of my chest.

“So whatchu doing now?” Tesha questioned, “How about a date. You and me, sounds nice, yeah?”

Tesha has a boyfriend.

“T-Tesha, I thought you said you’re protecting me,” I stammered, “what are you, what-- this will literally get me killed, by Gerald, your boyfriend.”

“Aw, what, you scared?” Tesha teased, easing her grip on my arm. “Scared of a little date with little old me?”

“Yes. I’m scared. I’m very scared.” Please let go. Please let go.

“Fine,” Tesha released me, “but just know my lonely day today is going to be all because of you.”

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

“Is- is Gerald not that fun to be with?”

“…With how you always squeak his name out, it honestly sounds like you’re more scared of him than me.” Tesha commented, “Well, I guess that’s to be expected. I saved your life! Haha!”

Tesha slapped my shoulder in her laughing fit, then stopped, suddenly. Her eyes narrowed. Her face straightened. She’s not laughing anymore.

“Don’t try to understand us.”

I couldn’t speak. I only wanted to wriggle away. Tesha’s eyes pierced through me sharper than her shiv ever could. I wanted to skulk away and crawl back to my books.

“Anyway, if you don’t want to hang out that bad, then bye,” Tesha waved as she turned away, “Try not to trip and die on your way back home.”

Without Tesha on my back, I was able to escape the school premises and infiltrate the addresses my father gave me. Sticking wiretaps in various spots in empty went smoothly. My dad and I could finally bring justice to the six killers.

On my way home, I stopped. Tesha’s face popped into my mind. She’s going to go to jail for what she did. When I first met her, I feared her. I never stopped being afraid of her, but…something about never seeing her again tugged at my heart.

What’s wrong with me, this girl, this murderer, she killed my mom. I can’t stop here. I can’t stop myself just because Tesha went a little easy on me.

I clenched my fists.

Nothing in my life is how I want it to be.

Just at the front of my door, I remembered Harry. He gave me a letter to deliver to his friend Hera. Realizing I didn’t make good on my promise, I paused. How long does the Consultation Club run?

The sun had yet to set, and my school was within walking distance. Making up my mind, I ran back to the school. My house behind me disappeared from view, and I sped through the doors and halls of the Taireah Public High School.

At the door to the Consultation Club, I tugged only to find it locked. Figures, out of breath and out of time. I sank to the floor. Everything seemed far away from me at that moment. Tesha, my mother, my father, Harry…Everything I did today revolved around them. Nothing is how I want it to be.

I looked up at the door. If everything went my way, what would I be doing now?

“Oh, did you need something?” asked a girl. “I didn’t notice you, were you going to visit us?”

Is that…Hera?

She wore the same style uniform as me, but light blue. She’s a third-year student, one year above me.

“I’m sorry, I just locked up,” she apologized, “but if you needed to talk with someone, I’m here. You don’t need to hold back.”

She joined me on the floor, sitting cross-legged across from me in front of the door. Looking me in the eye with full attention. Suddenly, I felt the urge to spill my heart out for her, share all my woes, my worries, and stories, but I stopped myself, jumping up from the floor.

“I-I’m not here for a consultation or anything, I just, I have a letter,” I corrected her, “from Harry.”

“Harry?” Hera questioned, standing back up slowly with me.

“Yes,” I answered, and offered the letter to her with both hands, “sorry for taking your time!”

“Oh…it’s okay, thank you,” Hera smiled, “You look kind of ragged, though, are you sure you have anything else you needed me for?”

“No,” I replied, “I’m…I’m fine.”

I hurried away before Hera pried any further. Today was full of errands, I just wanted to go home.