Karma

Chapter 15

The college semester started, and Dylan hit the ground running. Junior year was a lot more demanding than the previous 2 years. Dylans workload was extensive. She rarely saw anyone from her circle of friends. The most socialising she did was via the group chats.
Dylan had to do lesson plans and teach them. Then, afterwards, she had to do a full write-up and evaluate how she thought she did and how the children reacted to the content. Dylan was sent to a different school placement along with Taylor and Annabel. It was also 4 days a week. College work could be done remotely. So Dylan would hole herself up in her study and do everything then. The weekends, she mainly slept and did chores.
Brendon was in Europe now on the PFTW tour. The time differences were getting a little easier the further west the tour progressed.
Saturday morning and Dylan was doing chores. She had some music on as she cleaned the kitchen. Her phone rang out to the ringtone of Emperors new clothes, so she knew it was Brendon. They chatted, and Dylan hung up. Her mother called to say that she could officially foster. Katy came to live with Nico and Carol.
The strange texts that Dylan had been receiving had stopped. She felt like her life was finally coming together. She could look at a future, teaching and being with Brendon. Marriage and children? The thought had crossed her mind. She was in love with Brendon, and he felt the same way.

Several thousand miles away, across the globe, Brendon was hanging out with the band. He really missed Dylan. His arms were aching to hold her. Brendon spoke to Nicole in private about the way he was feeling. Nicole reassured him that it wouldn't be forever. They were going to South Africa soon. Cape Town. Brendons' mental health was really taking a blow. This tour was extensive, and he was away from home. He missed it. He missed the United States and his parents. As for Dylan, he closed his eyes, and she was always there. Brendons anxiety was always bubbling near the surface.
He thought that because he was away for so long, Dylan would find someone else. His brain would go into overdrive, and he would spiral. Mike or Dan would calm Brendon and take him outside for a blunt.
Brendon felt worse after they had a phone call or facetime. He knew that Dylan would never cheat, but his brain sometimes wouldn't listen. Brendon sighed and tried to put his feelings into lyrics and melodies.

Strange things were happening around Dylan and Brendons home. At first, Dylan thought that she was imagining things, so she gaslit herself into believing that narrative.
Things would be moved around the house. Dylans study. She had a computer in there, and she had it exactly how she wanted it. So it worked and flowed for her.
One Friday morning, Dylan entered the room, and immediately, she knew that something was off. Her mouse had been moved, as had the keyboard and monitor. Some of the office supplies seemed to be missing, too. Paperclips and the stapler. Dylan felt creeped out, but nothing indicated that somebody was breaking into the house. The only person that came in, apart from Dylan, was the maid. She came once a week and had a key.
Dylan did her college work and then went out. She went to buy a security camera for the house. They already had a ring doorbell, which Dylan had looked through, and found nothing. Dylan called Patrick and asked him to come over to help her install it at the back of the house.
"Hi, Dyl." Patrick said, and they hugged. He put his toolbox down.
"Why do you need the camera installing?"
Dylan explained the strange goings on. Patrick had his hands on his hips.
"That is strange." His brow furrowed.
"I know,right?" Dylan said. "At first, I put it down to my tiredness, but things have been moved, Trick. I came home one day, and the bed had clean sheets on it. It wasn't the maids day to come either. It gives me the ick that somebody changed the bedding. "
"Yea, I imagine it does." Patrick agreed. "Look, I know you got the one for the back. Why don't you get another one for downstairs. In particular, the kitchen and living room. I can go get some for you now."
"Ok." Dylan agreed, and Patrick left again. As Dylan paced and worried, her phone buzzed. She picked it up. Brendon. Dylan grinned and answered.
"Hi, baby." Dylan said into the phone. She walked through the house and up to their bedroom. Their phone sex was phenomenal as always, but not the same as physical intimacy. The couple finished just as Patrick came back. Dylan ended the phone call and went downstairs to see what Patrick had bought.