Where Is The Edge

Chapter 9

"Travis, why don't you go and brush your teeth," Marcia said to her son, once we had all finished eating. Before he headed up the steps, he kindly thanked me for breakfast, which I set about preparing on my own to give the brown-haired woman more rest.

"Have I told you how pretty you look today, Miss Clark?" I addressed her, making her blush so adorably that it actually hurt.

"Mmm no, you didn't even kiss me good morning," she replied. I walked over to her and didn't hesitate to press her lips to mine, "how unethical of the babysitter, seducing the boss like that," she joked.

I pretended to be offended as I placed my hand on my chest, and pulled away from her, "you're right, you know what, Miss Clark? I'm going to keep my distance from you from now on," I teased her, and she got up from her seat to grab my waist and pull me towards her.

"And who said I was bothered by that lack of ethics, hmm?"

It was Friday again and it had been a week since I had been fired from my job. I thought that was the end of me, having no other options really if all the people who might hire me were going by the news, and I never thought Marcia would propose me to be her children's babysitter.

"Look, we'll go for coffee and figure this out," she proposed, but I immediately declined.

"You have to work, and I think you'll be late already," I declined. Not only was I ashamed for lying to the people I love, for allowing my best friend quit his job because he did nothing but stand up for me when I didn't "deserve" it to be fired, and it would be the last straw if Marcia was late because of me.

She let out a long breath, trying her best not to show the frustration she felt and somehow waiting for me to propose a solution instead of contradicting what she suggested. I avoided her expectant gaze and turned mine to my best friend, who was crestfallen with a slight frown. He rarely thought before he acted, and what happened recently was proof of that, but this time he was making a peculiar effort to think about what to do next.

"Let's go to your flat, you'll change into comfortable clothes and get some rest. And Miss Clark, if you want, come in after your work hour," Stefan proposed.

"I'll arrive on my lunch hour, after I've dropped my son off at school," she notified, "come on, I'll drop you off."

I sniffed and nodded.

The bus ride was torture, because of course, everyone felt the need to read the newspaper as soon as possible and in the midst of that busy morning routine, the only time they can do it is on the bus. Some of them were luckily discreet, others weren't even paying attention to their surroundings, but there were a considerable number who watched me as if I was the worst person in the world. And the truth is, if only they had invested some of that energy in judging the real villain, none of this would have happened. But then again, I wouldn't have met a wonderful woman either, so it was all worth it.

Stefan and I walked to my apartment, where I could finally breathe a little peace. I say a little, because my heart was still in the middle of my larynx.

The rest of the day was about Stefan hugging me while I cried, another one of many, many times where he had my back but I didn't have his, and unwittingly, I was stabbing his too.

I had fallen asleep, and I woke up when I felt kisses spreading all over my face, especially on my lips, and every now and then I heard little giggles.

"Come with me here," I grabbed her waist and she lost her balance, falling on top of me. That was what I wanted.

"I'm too heavy for you, let me get comfortable," she got up and moved to the other side of the bed, then proceeded to lie down next to me.

I laid my head on her shoulder and intertwined her hand with mine, "I wish I could sleep forever, you know, without having to eat or present some need that requires me to work."