Byron's Secret (Slenderman Romance)

Chapter 29. Old Foes

Three days later . . .
Monday, 9:30AM

I stared out the window, nervousness lingering. Here I sat at the same table at the diner where Byron and I had a little study meeting－or should I say－debate. I can't even begin to understand why he believes in Slenderman, he gives the impression of being rational so it really doesn't make sense to me.

It's Monday again. Today is the day I start teaching at the Devonshire College. I had about an hour left before my class and I decided to relax until then, I was getting really antsy, I keep worrying. I may have taught at a high school, but this is different. It's pressuring me.

I finished teaching at the high school just before. Rachel personally gave me the updated schedule last Saturday which reminds me of our conversation,

。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。

I laid on my couch, staring at the ceiling. Nothing good is on the TV, I wasn't in the mood to read, or to do anything in particular, I didn't even have work to do. I'm bored out of my mind.

Suddenly, there's a knock on the door.

I lazily stood and walked towards it without even fixing myself up. I opened it to see Rachel, rummaging through her bag, "Hey." she absentmindedly greeted with a cheery voice.

"What's up?" I asked, waking up completely, it's the first time she came here.

"Here," she handed me a piece of paper, "It's the new schedule, I couldn't give it to you yesterday because you left so early." A vicious smile crawled up her face as she entered my house without permission, "But I totally understand. Martha explained." She added as she sat on the couch.

My eyes widen in alarm. Knowing Rachel, she's bound to jump into conclusions, especially when it comes to Byron and I, "Haha, whatever you're thinking, you're wro－"

"Are you two dating now?" She blurted, crossing her arms with a grin.

Not having the energy to freak out like I usually do, I calmly spoke, "Wrong." I said as I placed the schedule on the table and went to the kitchen counter to prepare two cups of coffee, "It was nothing, we pretty much just argued about Slendy."

"Slenderman?" She turned serious.

"Yeah." I deadpanned, "He keeps saying he's real, but I don't think so."

"Well, he is."

"Oh, no." I shook my head, not wanting to deal with the same conversation again, "Why do you think that? There's no proof he's real."

"There are sightings." She took her phone from her bag and occupied her mind.

"Photoshop." I groaned.

"I meant real sightings, not photos." Rachel glanced at me, "I've seen him."

"What does he look like?" I inattentively asked.

"Tall, no face－" She stopped, "I didn't come here to talk about this." She nervously said.

"Fine, fine, I'll stop." I grabbed the cups of coffee and handed her the other, "But that's what really happened at the diner, we talked, then left." I changed the subject, knowing Rachel feels uncomfortable talking about the disappearances.

"How'd you even make him go in the first place?" She furrowed her brows in confusion, "Magic?"

"He's actually a nerd when it comes to the disappearances." I plainly said, "I told him I want to know about it－and I actually do－then he agreed to help me." I said as I drank from my cup.