Burn This Bridge / complete

Burn This Bridge

Burn This Bridge

October seventh.
Three o'clock.
Friday afternoon.
The bell was set to ring in two minutes.
The principal's voice crackled over the speakers, "Your song this week is called Burn by Ellie Goulding."
The lyrics blared from the PA system, startling the entire school from their seats to dance. And it was glorious.

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The teacher locked the door after her students had left, shoving her key in her pocket as she hurried to the main office to sign out. Once she had scribbled the time down in the thick binder, she practically ran for the door. As she reached her car, she clicked the unlock button on the fob. After she had stowed her bags, the young woman sat in the driver's seat and opened up her phone, ripping open some M&M's. Dialing a number, she held the object up to her ear.
Ring.
Ring.
Ring.
"Hello?" A voice asked.
"Hey," she whispered.
"Hi Erin. How was school?"
"Painful." Erin leaned her seat back, shoving M&M's into her mouth and running a hand through her hair.
"Why's that?"
"Why do you think, Renny?" She asked sarcastically.
"Sorry," Renny whined. "But how was it?"
Erin rolled her eyes at his eager question. "Alright, I guess."
"Just alright?"
"Yes, Renny," Erin confirmed. "Just alright."
"When'll you be home?" He asked.
She glanced at her dashboard. "Probably five, why?"
"No reason, just curious."
She cocked an eyebrow. Renny was never curious. Never.
"Anyway, I'll be home at quarter after. So I'll see you then?"
"Yup."
"Bye."
"Bye."
Erin hit end call and set her phone in the center console. She turned the radio on as she pulled out of the parking lot, but inevitably shut it off with a sigh as the song from earlier burst from the speakers.
When Erin arrived home forty five minutes later there was a red pencil on her doorstep. She tipped her head at it, curious.
Slowly, with her heart pounding in her chest, Erin reached for the pencil. Snatching it up, she froze, but nothing happened. Rolling it between her thumbs, she inspected the smooth red surface. On the back side four words were carved sloppily into the chipping paint.
What will you do?
Erin shook her head, shoving the curious pencil in her pocket and unlocking the house, closing the door behind her.
As she prepared dinner for Renny and herself he arrived, setting his briefcase in the hall and kissing Erin on the cheek before they sat down to eat.
After finishing their meal in comfortable silence and taking seats on the comfy leather couch, Renny asked again how school was.
Erin groaned, tipping her head back. "I told you, it was fine."
"So what's with the red pencil?" Renny questioned, turning on the TV.
Erin looked down, surprised when she found the pencil clenched in her hand. She shrugged. "I'm not sure. I found it earlier. On the doorstep."
"Hm." Renny flipped through the channels. "Strange."
"Yeah, weird," Erin muttered, rolling the pencil between her finger again.

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October fourteenth.
Two fifty nine.
Friday afternoon.
Three minutes until the bell was set to ring.
"Mrs. Riley has requested that this week we play Burn This Bridge by Enisa," the principal announced.
As the song began to play, everyone danced, and a familiar teacher with a package of M&M's in her pocket stood, holding a red pencil above her head and snapping it. The students paused before lurching through the door, and she smiled as the building's carefully planned day turned into anarchy just as it was about to end.
And it was beautiful.