arms onto my knees and bury my head into them.
I feel Parker’s arms wrap around my shoulders as he slides down next to me. “We’ll figure something out, okay? This asshole isn’t getting away with this.”
“I want to believe you, I really do.” I don’t think I’ve ever sounded so defeated in my whole life.
Giving me a light squeeze and kiss on the top of my head, Parker and I sit there in silence for a moment. “We should probably get back into the office before they send out a search party.”
I look at him with the “really?” face fully present and accounted for.
“Oh, my bad. Probably not the best choice of words right now, huh?”
“You think?” I respond and bury my head back into the cradle of my arms. “It’s okay. That’s actually the least offensive thing someone’s said to me all day. It’s kind of a welcome change.”
“I’m sorry you’re going through all this right now, Dani. I wish there was something I could do to help,” he says close to my ear.
“You’re pretty much doing all you can,” I reply, and give him a heartfelt peck on the cheek.
Parker stands and moves in front of me. He extends his hand and waits for me to grab it. Instead of being my stubborn self, I take his hand and allow him to pull me to my feet.
“We’ll face this together…deal?” he asks, making me smile. I love seeing this side of him.
“Deal,” I reply as he leads me toward the office door.
When we re-enter the room, Mr. Whitman turns to us. “Just in time, you two. We were discussing the Fall Festival tonight and how Jenny’s out sick.” Confusion registers on my face as to what either thing has to do with the other. “Oh, I forgot to tell you. Jenny was going to run the newspaper’s booth at the festival. Since she’s sick, I was curious if you’d do it, Dani.”
Perfect timing indeed, Mr. Whitman. You’re on a roll, sir. I wasn’t even planning on going to the damn festival, but now I get the chance to. Yippee.
Mulling over my options, I reply with the only thing I can. “Sure, why not.”
Usually I’m in a good mood while driving to work since I’m surrounded by two of my favorite things there: books and coffee. But today I’m effin’ ecstatic, if only for the simple fact that I won’t be at school anymore. Talk about an awkward-ass day. The only thing that’s stopping me from being full-on excited is the fact that my job has been compromised by Unknown.
The one visual I’m not expecting to see on my way to work is Mrs. Oliver posting up more flyers about Janice. I slow down and pull up to the curb when I see her taping one to the light post on the street corner a few blocks down from Into the Stacks. I’m not sure what I’m planning to do, exactly, since I’m pretty sure this conversation isn’t going to go very well. But instead of hiding from it, I might as well face the music. She’s bound to find out that I took Janice to the party sooner or later.
“Hi, Mrs. Oliver. Need any help putting those up? I’ve got some time before work,” I offer after rolling down the passenger side window. She doesn’t answer me. It’s like she either didn’t hear me, which I know isn’t the case, or she’s ignoring me. “I’m really sorry for what’s happened to Janice. If I can do anything—”
I stop talking the moment Hattie finishes posting the flyer in her hand. She proceeds to bend down, poking her head through the open window. Her trademark glare is ever-present.
“Heathen,” she yells before she rears back to spit at me.
Surprise and disgust register on my face as I wipe off her saliva. “What the hell is your damage?” I ask. Anger makes my voice tremble. “I was only trying to help.”
“God will judge you and you shall pay for your evil deeds, heathen. That is how you may help me,” she declares, drawing a cross in the air as she speaks.
“Crazy bitch,” I murmur as I drive away, not looking back.
When I get to work, I run to the bathroom to wash off my face. Joan tries to flag me down, but I feel too gross to stop and chat. Besides, I’m at work early.
Emerging from the bathroom, I practically crash into Joan. She’s standing there with her hands on her hips