You Again (Completed) ✔️

22.

The table is set for dinner, with the four pizzas in the middle. I take a seat next to Veronica, and on the other side of me is Cole.

He reaches across the table and grabs the same slice of pizza I was going for. "You can have it."

I shake my head. "I don't want to eat anything your hands have been all over. I'll get another slice." I move my hand to a different slice of the same pizza and put it on my plate. I also grab two slices of garlic bread and put them on my plate.

Mom looks around the table at us. "What's everyone's plans for tomorrow?"

Liam and Antwon say at the same time. "Work,"

A smile spreads across Cole's face. "I'm working on a Mustang and a BMW."

Liam turns towards him. "Really? I need to check out the classic car."

Cole shakes his head. "The Mustang will be getting worked on after the shop closes. The owner doesn't want people to see it. He trusts me to work on it only."

"That sucks," Antwon says. "So, how do you know the owner of the car?"

"He was friends with my parents before they died. When I was growing up, he showed me all I needed to know about an engine, and from that encounter, I wanted to be a mechanic." He turns his head towards me and says. "I love to get down and dirty."

Of course, he does.

Mom looks across the table at me. "What about you, Julia?"

"I have no plans."

I have a cheque burning a hole in my bag, which I should cash.

My phone goes off, alerting me to an email. I pull it out of my pocket and put it on the table.

"We have a strict no-phone rule at the kitchen table, Julia. You'll need to put it away," Mom says.

Looking around the table, I see everyone's phone untouched in front of them. "You all have your phones out. It seems I'm not part of this family with how you all act. Maybe I should stay somewhere else."

Dad looks at me, and guilt flashes in his eyes. "Sweetheart, we can bend the rules for Julia. She hasn't been here in a while, and we need to include her again." He reaches across the table and touches my hand. "I don't want to lose my little girl again."

Mom sighs. "It's hard to get used to Julia being back again after she's been gone for so long."

I don't think she likes me being back.

Pushing my plate away, I say, "I'll be in my room." I stand up and walk to my bedroom. When I enter, I pull the blinds across and climb into bed. Pulling the covers over my body, I fall asleep.

In the middle of the night, I wake up gasping from another nightmare about being in the tsunami, and I start coughing.

Sweat beading my face, I climb gingerly out of bed. Heading over to the bathroom, I look in the mirror and see bags under my eyes. I grab a handful of water and throw it on my face.

I need to get out of the house.

I walk out of the bathroom and put on a pair of jeans and a shirt. Looking at the clock on the wall, I see it's 3 a.m.

Walking down the stairs, I find a pair of keys on the table and grab them. I exit the house and press the button on the keys. The alarm turns off, and I climb into Dad's blue BMW. I pull the car out of the driveway. Looking back at the house, I see a silhouette in the window of Mom and Dad's room.

I drive through the city until I reach the beach, where I park the car. I climb out and start walking along it.

A man is lying on the bench, fast asleep, his jacket covering his body.

I'll get him something to eat when I return to the car.

I continue to walk along the boardwalk until I reach a cafe that is open 24 hours a day.

The guy behind the counter looks up and smiles. "Hey, Miss. What can I get you?"

"A coffee, please. I need to stay awake."

"Sure," he says as he starts making my drink. "How do you have it?"

"White, no sugar, please." Looking in the display window, I see a doughnut. "And a chocolate doughnut."

I'm hungry now since I didn't have time to finish dinner.

Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I opened the email I received over dinner and looked at it. Opening it, I saw it was for a position at a local Elementary school.

It's just the type of job I want.

From: khydeheadmaster@gmail.com
To: jharris123@gmail.com
Date: 17th September 2018
Subject: Teaching Position

Dear Miss Harris,
My name is Kylie Hyde, and I'm the headmaster at Dayton Elementary School. I heard that you were back in town and looking for ongoing work. I have a position vacant at the school. I would like you to interview for the job on Monday. Please call me tomorrow if you're interested.

I am most definitely interested in a teaching job.

Regards

Kylie.

At the bottom of the page is a phone number for me to call. I'll do that around 8am. The principal should be at the school by then.

The coffee and doughnut is placed in front of me. "Thanks," I wrap my hands around the coffee and watch the waves crash onto the beach.

Just before sunrise, I stand up and walk outside. I walk along the beach, taking photos of the sunrise.

Once the sun rises, I walk back along the boardwalk and stop at a cafe to grab breakfast. I order two bacon and egg rolls and two coffees.

Five minutes later, somebody placed my order on the counter, and I grabbed it. As I walk towards my car I see the guy sitting up in the chair. He rubs his eyes.

"Good morning." He looks at me and grunts. "I got you something to eat and drink, Sir." I give him the food and drink.

"Thank you." He whispers.

I nod my head before walking back to the car. Opening the car door, I step inside and put the key into the ignition.

My phone goes off, and I look at it. There's a text from Dad, and I open it.

Dad: Are you on your way home?

Me: Yes.

Dad: Okay, see you soon.

I put my phone in my purse and started the car. It takes half an hour to get home and when I do Dad's standing outside.

He kisses my cheek. "I'm glad you're home safe."

"Are you going to ask why I was out?"

Dad shakes his head. "I don't want to pressure you into revealing too much to me. You will do that in your own time. I wish your mother would leave you be, but she's too nosy for her good."

Isn't that the truth?