Fine Line

21. Sometimes I wish you knew

Billie
*5 years later*

"Alright class, turn in your projects on you way out." I say as everyone stands up.

"What if we aren't finished with it?" One boy asks, Garret his name is.

"You had a week to work on this project. If it doesn't by now, finish it at lunch or in another class that you aren't doing anything in. Then bring it back. If it isn't in before the end of the day, it's going to be counted late." I say and he sighs softly, standing up and walking towards the door.

"I expect all projects be finished by the end of the day." I say as the last few students walk out. I sigh, leaning back in my chair and taking a stack of projects to start grading. It's my free period so I can actually get a little bit of grading done. Thank god it's Friday because I can go home, have a glass of wine and then get ready for the Art exhibition that I'm going to tonight.

The next 30 minutes go by quicker than I wanted it to and my class starts filling with the new class of students. I quickly straighten my desk up and get ready to talk to the next class.

"Today is you last day to work on your projects. If you are not finished by the end of the class period, I will be accepting them up until the end of the day. If it isn't turned in, it will be counted late and have points taken off until I get it back." I say as they all start pulling out their supplies to finish up on the project.

For the rest of the day, I grade more of the projects and put them into the gradebook. Most people who didn't turn their projects in have given them to me right after their last class ended. And now that no one has walked in after a while, I pack up my things and get ready to leave.

I grab the rest of the projects I have to grade over the weekend and then I walk out of my room, shutting off the lights and locking the door. I walk out of the school to my car and get in, sighing in tiredness. I can't wait to get home and decompress from the long week. The drive home goes quick and as soon as I get into my house, I go straight to the kitchen and poor me a glass of wine. I take a few sips as I make my way down the hall to my room.

Putting my glass down on the nightstand, I take off my jacket and lay it on the bed. As I look back to my nightstand to grab my glass, my eyes land on the drawing that's framed on it. I sit down and grab it in my hand, taking a sip as I look down at it. The bright blue eyes of the female pirate stare straight into my soul like I'm looking into a mirror.

I won't lie, this week has been a little hard and filled with memories, especially today. Everything went to shit on this day today. I went from having everything I wanted to having nothing at all but a drawing with a note written on the back of it. This project that the students are finishing up now, was the same one that Dakota drew this one for.

I quickly put the frame back down and shake away the feeling of dread settling in me. I walk over to my closet, opening it up and turning the light on to pick out my clothes for tonight. After a few minutes, I pull out a short sleeve, blue and white striped button up shirt with a baggy pair of blue jeans. I pull out a pair of my Jordans and quickly slip into the clothes.

I open the door wider, looking at my reflection in the mirror. My now black hair has gotten longer since it's been a few months since I last got it trimmed and my body has gotten a little slimmer since I've been working out a lot lately. I close the closet door and walk over to my dresser, pulling out a couple of rings and sliding them onto my fingers.