Whispers in the Dark

I returned to the gym and noticed Walt with Kacie and Kayla. I approached Walt and asked him to step aside so I could explain what had just transpired.

“Eric, is everything alright?”

“Yeah, Kace, I just need Walt for a moment.”

“Okay, don’t take too long.”

We ended up walking just outside the gym doors.

“What’s going on? Is everything okay? Where have you been? Why are you wet?”

Walt was asking way too many questions at once, and I was already frantic, trying to gather the information he needed.

“Never mind that. I just saw the guy.”

“What guy, Eric? Relax.”

“Jamira’s ‘boyfriend,’ at least that’s who he claimed to be.”

“Wait, she has a boyfriend?”

“Well, yes. I suppose so.”

“And you knew about this?”

“Oh my god, Walt, listen!”

“I am, I’m just having a hard time keeping up.”

“The festival that was here about a month or two ago, she was with a guy. I asked if they were together, and she said yes, so I told her to leave him.”

“Okay, so you found out she has a boyfriend. You told her to leave him. Now he showed up here… I’m assuming for her?”

“Yeah.”

“What does that have to do with you?”

“He knows about me and that we’ve been having sex.”

“And you’re still having sex with her?”

“Oh my god, yes, Walt. It’s incredible.”

Walt stood there, rubbing his beard, trying to process what I had just told him.

“Well, there goes Angie’s chance.”

I rolled my eyes. Is this really what he thought of? Walt always had a way of focusing on the wrong things when there was a task at hand.

“Oh please, she never had a chance.”

“So what now?”

“I need to find out everything about this guy.”

“I mean, I can make some calls and see what they can do, but honestly, have you talked to Jamira about this?”

“I don’t intend to.”

“I think you should, brother.”

“I don’t know, not now.”

What happened next was completely off-putting. I didn’t expect it to be so obvious.

“So, when you were gone all this time, were you having sex with her?”

Was it that obvious that Walt, of all people, could point it out? I turned red at the mention of what had happened in her classroom.

“What, no?”

He didn’t believe it. He looked at me with a wide smile, as if he was processing everything on his face.

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say this is more than just a fling for you. I’d even say you’ve fallen for her.”

He wasn’t lying. I just wasn’t ready to admit those feelings until we figured out what we were doing. I thought keeping things light and safe would keep her around and not make her feel uncomfortable or pressured because I have real feelings for her.

I couldn’t confirm or deny what he was saying as I was forced to face what I already knew. Before I could react, he said something that stuck with me for a while.

“E, I’m not gonna lie, what you’re doing is very dangerous if she’s still involved with this guy. But I get it. She’s hot, and I’d hit that too.”

My eyes snapped up at him as he said that.

“Woah, brother. I only have eyes for Kacie. I’m just saying I get why you care about her so much.”

Just then, I heard the creak of the door. It was Kacie peeking out from behind it.

“If you two meatballs are done, I need one of you to come back and sit with Kayla so I can go to the bathroom.”

I looked at Walt.

“Well, brother, go on.” I put a hand on his shoulder and lightly pushed him towards the door.

“And where do you think you’re going?”

“I’m going to the auditorium. They’re playing Marvel movies there.”

“Ooh, Kayla loves Captain America!”

“Just stay with Walt.”

“Nope, I’ll get her. After I finish in the bathroom, we’ll see you there.”

I put my hands over my face. I was frustrated the moment she said that. I wanted to keep Kayla from seeing me with her teacher so she wouldn’t ask endless questions. Kacie also doesn’t know I’ve been seeing her, nor has she known that she’s already met our parents and Walt.

I try to keep things from Kacie because she’s so nosy and she’ll try to talk to her and get close to her to give her unsolicited advice.

I swallowed all of those feelings down and went to find Jamira.

It didn’t take long for me to spot her. She was in the corner in the back of the room immediately to the left as soon as I walked in the room. She was curled up under her blanket. She looked so innocent and calm. I walked over and picked her up and slid under her and covered us both with her blanket.

She sighed softly against my chest. I rubbed my fingers through her hair and kissed her head. We sat there for a while comfortable and silent.

That was until I looked over and noticed Walt and the gang looking around to see if they seen me.

I slowly sank in my chair trying to make sure they didn’t spot me. Just my luck Kacie did and started pointing in my direction. FUCK!

I turned Jamira to face the wall so Kacie wouldn’t realize it was her. I noticed she hadn’t said anything in a while and realized she was already sleeping. Good. That just made this easier. Walt sat next to me with Kacie next to him and Kayla in her lap.

Walt leaned in and apologized. Still frustrated I tried not to be rude, but let out an impatient sigh.

The warmth of Jamira and her blanket enveloped me and before the movie ended I had given into the sleep that was calling out to me.