JAKEI’ve never seen a father have so much disregard for his own daughter. The strained relationship, if it could be called that, between her and her father is very much evident. The awkward silence that had befallen us after his statement didn’t do much to help the already tense air around us. “Thank you for your understanding,” I say after clearing my throat. A part of me feels bad for putting Jess in this situation and wants to take a bit of responsibility for her. But at the same time, my heart cannot resist caring for another, not when it beats for only one woman in the entire world. Mr. Adams offer is so obviously an intriguing one, it makes me want to drop every other thing and accept it. But that would be a disrespectful to Jess and the vows we had said in front of the altar. “If you’ll excuse me,” Mr. Adams says and stands up. “I’ll be leaving first.” As expected he calls to me to the side once we’re out by the parking lot. “What is there to think about? Take the offer

OLIVIA I’m a bit hesitant when Mac pushes the door open for me. I wait a few seconds behind until he comes back and pushes me along. The place is mostly empty, and from my guess it hasn’t been open in a few days, or say a week tops. There are tiny sheets of dust on the tables but it’s nothing a good swipe won’t fix. Luckily I’m good in cleaning as well. “Let’s take this upstairs to the apartment, mum should be waiting there already.” He carries the bags his holding through the backdoor while I struggle with trying to take in everything at the same time. The cream walls compliment the light red furniture and decorations, it almost gives it this Christmas feeling. It hasn’t been open in a while but I can still smell the faint scent of bread and pastries in the air. Even the smell of coffee will take a while if it were to completely leave the space. There is enough space between the tables to move around, making it very spacious and well ventilated unlike the local cafes that were al

JAKEMy leg bounces as I wait for her to bring up the topic of her father again. I’d rather deal with her outburst than the silent treatment she’s currently giving me. I fiddle with the radio just so there’s something to do. There’s a soft country song playing when I finally leave the poor radio alone. With one hand on the wheel I open the first button on my shirt, I was beginning to feel suffocated, choked up, and it was all because of the woman beside me. “You’re really not going to ask me anything?” I say to her when I stop at a red light. She shifts in her seat but doesn’t say anything. “If you’re going to be this way then I’ll just…”“Why did you defend me?”My head whips to her, “What?” And here I was thinking she was angry that I discussed something with her father and kept it from her. “When he spoke to me like I was some kid who had no idea what she was saying, why didn’t you defend me.” Her voice is quiet and at this moment she looks like a little girl who just needed s

When I heard we were going to have new neighbors, I was excited. The man was Father’s closest friend, so Mother said.I was even more elated when I heard he had two kids around my age, this meant I could have actual friends and people to talk to.It was weeks before I finally saw the moving van in front of the yard. There were boxes everywhere, the entire lawn was a disaster. With my face pressed to my window, the only sight I was awarded with was a mop of curly blonde hair. It was impossible to see the face of the boy sitting just a few feet from my doorstep.My first thought was to fly down the stairs and go introduce myself. But, Mother locked me in. And I wasn’t allowed to come out until it was dinner time.Cassie, on the other hand, was out in the park down the street playing with Mother. While I was here, alone and suffocating in this tiny room. I fell back on my bed and counted down to the minutes when my door would be unlocked. I was done with my assignment and already clean

For the time the noise in the classroom doesn’t faze him, only because he’s thinking of something else, of someone else. Bryan watched the phone on his desk sit there in silence, mocking him for its lack of ringing.He had contemplated so many times about along Alexis and knowing if she was back at the office. He also wanted to know if his dickhead of a boyfriend made a fuss after he left. A strong tap on the shoulder has him looking up. “Hello Ms. Tessie,” he mutters with a smile even though she’s the last person he wants to see.Red lips spread into a wide smile blink back at him. “How are you doing today honey? Didn’t know you were back from recess.”He wished he could hide under his desk just to get away from her.Don’t get him wrong, Tessie was a beauty. The blonde curls and light blue eyes did a very good job. Only problem was, she wanted him but he wanted another. “I’ve been here for a while, have a couple things to take care of before I get back to the staff room.” “Everyo