Phrontistery Of Monster Kind - Six Feet Deep

Chapter 42

I was staring at my new flowers on my kitchen table as I finished up my call with Penelope. Her number was immensely easy to get from administration, but I couldn't tell if it was because they thought it was for work or the faerie had left a note to give it to me upon request. Mayor had been passing when I went and gave me a proud smile that never felt earned.

"Yes, I'll be in town for the summer. I might book at the hotel," I said. "No, I am not going to stay at your school, even if it's just you I don't want to impose-" Imposing was the least of my concerns about staying there. The short of it was I wasn't ready for that yet; we were barely getting along. "I will not stay at mine either. Yes, I am sure he would allow me, but- I might as well check out what they did to the Adalbert house."

We didn't speak about much and it was for the best. She told me about the rest of the school year there, glossing over any details that bring forth unwanted thoughts for either of us, and I did the same courtesy back. Nothing about Abigail came up, and I didn't ask.

"I might not be able to speak to you this week, with the exams."

"Try your best."

I promised I would.

I hung up not long after, shoving my phone into my skirt's pocket. In my empty quarters, I sat at a table meant for three, a reminder of the company I never had. I had chosen the most uncomfortable chair to sit in, one pressed up against the wall for my bedroom.

Two weeks left, that's all I had for the school year.

***

Mors had tried to speak to me at the beginning before the exam block. I told him I was too busy helping the students catch up on what Mr Galloway forgot to teach them. It was mostly true; I was in my classroom, sometimes without leaving until bedtime. Small groups were the best, often friends who wanted help but also wished to mess around. Rosemary stopped by even after the older students' exams to fill me in on her dating life and even asked me my opinion on her dress options for the dance. She was torn between a gold dress, as she was a white stag with gold antlers, but I told her it would clash with her hooves and unless she was using hoof polish, to avoid the colour for more than accents.

"Are you going, Ms?"

"I'm not sure."

I wasn't. Since I stopped talking to Mors, I haven't thought about it. I said I'd go with him. Was I still obligated to? It would be selfish to not go even after we fought about what happened years ago.

The choice weighed heavy on my heart.

In the days since my beloved sister had officially died, all I could think about was being reunited with her.

Though my responsibilities and newfound friends encouraged me to keep going on, the idea of spending eternity by my sister's side seemed more appealing than life without her. He kept me from this fate, time and time again, saving me in the lake and then with Muriel, I- He couldn't have warned me about her fading? He was as clueless as I was, but a heads up that there is an expiration date would have been nice. I wouldn't have dawdled or played around with Harro's stupid games of matchmaking. There was no love when it came to this and what he did. I couldn't stand the thought of the man, didn't want to see his polished off-white skull in the morning when he was drinking his coffee in the cafeteria. No, I didn't need that.

I had no one to speak to who would understand. No one stood on the middle ground. Harro wouldn't comprehend the full picture and Walton would use this as an opportunity to complain about the skeleton while he was in my bad books.

I had to face the fact I would have to pick my poison.

I had copies of all Mors' CD's... that CD. I could gift it to him; it wasn't the same as the original, but if it was one step closer to being okay again, it was worth it. He was a good friend before anything else.