Dusk And Dawn (TEGSA)

Chapter 5: Uptown Funk

I realized my mistake but it was already too late. I knew there were two ways to go about my current life- confess and try to regain your trust and love or continue the dark path I started. I'm sure as you're reading this, you already know the way I went.

I didn't feel like there was any need to confess because Alicia, your mom had already left the world, she took half of my humanity with her to wherever she went and you were my other half. I was incomplete and I let that ruin me, I let that ruin our relationship. 

I knew you were now grown up with someone you loved so much. I was jealous. I was jealous you loved someone more than me, you had forgotten but not forgiven me. So I ended your lover and tried to get closer to you by being a principal. 

Little me cried like never before. I knew what she was saying, I understood what she said but I just had to ask her because I was in doubt.

Without meeting my eyes, she profusely nodded with tears streaming down her eyes, "I just got a call. He's up there now."

"I don't believe it!" I sharply interrupted, my voice unintentionally high. If I could remember, this was the first and last time I ever raised my voice at my mom, because she died the next. Arson.

***

I walked cautiously to the rusty iron knob of the principal's previous office, constantly taking a peek to ensure Caleb isn't following.

I opened the door with a loud screech. Mrs. Oliver was sprawled across the floor, surrounded by her tears. 

She looked up, seeing my face, she wiped her tears off, then slowly got to her feet.

She took one look at me before breaking into more tears, "I'm so sorry Karie, he's my dad."

I was slightly surprised but not over the top because I had already guessed it but seeing Mrs Oliver in this situation was bad enough, so I embraced her tightly and cried along with her.

"The guilt is taking over me Karie," she sniffled, "I don't want to be related to such a monster like that. It'd be too much to bear if it gets leaked. I trust you Karie but even telling you this is a risk."

I gently stroked her hair at an attempt to comfort her just like my mom almost did. She didn't reject it, she just dug deeper into my shoulder and closed her eyes.

When she was calm, I asked her how she found out.

She pointed to the main desk of the office, "There was a framed portrait in there and I felt the urge to open it. I was drawn to it." she explained, lifting her head to get a full look of the desk, "The picture was blank but it had a sticker at the back of the frame, the sticker was a red heart which I thought unusual for the kind of person Richardson was." 

I nodded, rising with her as she rose, she picked up the portrait from the desk and showed it to me.

She peeled off the red sticker to show me a keyhole. And I immediately knew why she was drawn to it. Who in their right mind protects a picture with a keyhole? 

I took the book from her hand and traced my hands through the area around the hole. My eyes spoke the question, "How did you open it?"

"I saw the key while going through his other drawers. It was taped to the back of an empty book titled 'confession'." she answered, staring at her feet all through the interaction. I knew she felt guilty, she had said it herself but I was starting to feel guilty that she was feeling guilty for me.

Her eyes had already started to dry, which shows she was getting better. Not wanting to burden her with more questions nor make her feel worse, I stood there in silence, prompting the whole room to be still until the bell rang for second period.

"Fudge." I cursed respectfully. If I was already this late, there'd be no need to attend the other classes because I don't want to answer their questions nor write a lengthy apology essay. Today, for the first time, I would be skipping school.

I turned around, still keeping my mouth shut. I was about to leave the room but Mrs. Oliver apology stopped me, "I'm sorry Karie, its my fault you're late for your class."

I turned around to give her the same wide smile as I did on the official first day of junior high, "No worries Mrs. Oliver, it's not your fault."

She smiled back, making me relieved. She skipped to me and handed me the portrait, "That's me, my mom and the principal, my dad, that day we went to the Uptown Funk amusement Park."

"Uh...thanks I guess, but why do I need this?" I asked, my left side of my face twitching.

"Evidence." she grinned, but you could easily notice the pain in her eyes. Before I could ask, she yelled like a teacher that she was, "Now scurry along!"

"Yes ma'am!" 

She giggled, then walked me out the door before muttering, "you need it because you might never see me again."

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A/N: 'Uptown Funk' was used in this chapter as the name of the amusement park Mrs. Oliver and her parents had gone to on the day that picture was taken.