What A Tangled Web You Weave

Chapter 5 Email

A/N: Sorry its a bit shorter than my usual chapters! 

Killian

I had only caught the tail end of Blaire's phone conversation but it was enough to understand the gravity of what the situation would have been had I not let her take that call. Liam would never let me forget it if I admitted it, but perhaps he was right. Some cases...required a bit more sensitivity. I didn't know exactly what was going on, but I could tell it was anything but happy.

Blaire turned her teary gray blue eyes onto me and they widened. The vulnerability was written over every inch of her face. She stood up, and brushed herself off.
"That was..a private conversation." She mumbled.
"Aye...I only caught the goodbyes." I said.
"Don't you have a class to teach?" She asked.
"Everyone's reading the chapter for tonight's homework assignment." I said. "I just wanted to check on you."
"I'm fine." Blaire shrugged and wiped the remaining tears from her eyes.
"Look... I don't know the situation, just that it isn't a very good one and thats based off of the staff meeting I barely paid attention to...and I'm not asking you to tell me what's going on by any means because its none of my business, but if you happen to want to talk about anything my classroom is open during lunch..not many students are just dying to tell me their problems so you'd likely be alone." I said and stuffed my fidgeting hands in my pockets.

Blaire blinked at me, and for a moment there was something about the look in her eyes that told me she wanted to talk to me but she blinked again and it was replaced but her usual, soulless stare and I thought maybe I'd offended her."
"Do you offer that to all your students? Or just the ones you almost wipe out of existence with your motorcycle, Jones?" She asked and her left eyebrow danced up.
I honestly didn't know how to respond to that, Something about this girl rattled me, and she clearly picked up on that. Her lips curved into a sassy little smirk and she leaned in, closer than I expected she ever would.
"Honestly? I'm good. Thanks though." She said simply before walking past me and into the classroom leaving me in the hallway, with nothing but the smell of her cotton candy body spray lingering. Oddly sweet scent for her. Deceiving aren't you Nolan? I thought.

I took a deep breath and turned my head watching her make her way to her seat. She turned her head once she sat down and looked at me in the hallway and there was that look again. The look she gave me in the diner, like she knew something and it was unsettling. She looked around the room and then back to me, tilting her head confused as to why I was still standing in the hallway.
I cleared my throat and walked back into the classroom. "Homework assignment is on the board Miss Nolan. You may want to write down my school email below it if you have questions. Get out your textbook please." I said and walked to my desk to sit down. "We'll be discussing what you've read today, and tonight tomorrow afternoon so make sure you are all prepared." I added. I scanned the room to make sure everyone was doing as told, and no one was texting and my eyes found their way back to Blaire, who was reading the assigned chapter, and writing down notes, probably getting a head start on homework, when she'd stop writing she'd tap her chin with the eraser end of the pencil as she focused and when she'd go back to writing the tip of her tongue would poke out in concentration.

I felt my lips curve into a smile. Why was I so focused on her? This was incredibly inappropriate. Blaire slowly turned her head to me and raised her eyebrow. I cleared my throat again and pulled myself closer to my desk so fast I accidentally banged my knee on it. I groaned and bit my lip to stop the words that were about to fly out of my mouth. I looked up at the students all giving me a strange look.
"What are you all gawking at? Read!" I snapped. I looked back to Blaire who was back to reading but had her pencil between her teeth trying to keep herself from laughing.

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Blaire

I'd be lying to myself if I said that my conversation with Mr. Jones in the hallway wasn't on my mind for the rest of the day..or just Mr. Jones in general. It was odd that the guy who literally had a temper tantrum over my shoes and gave me detention invited me to his classroom to talk about my problems, and the smile on his face when I looked up and saw him looking at me..what even was that? More importantly, why was I sitting at the dinner table still borderline obsessing over it?

"Blaire you okay?" Emma asked, stealing me from my thoughts.
"Yeah..just tired I guess." I said. It wasn't exactly a lie. I was still trying to get used to sleeping in this house. It still felt more like a fancy bed and breakfast than home.
"Are you sleeping okay?" Mary-Margaret frowned.
"I'm just trying to get used to sleeping in such a quiet environment..they don't make one of those machines that make rain sounds...but instead it makes the sound of sirens squealing tires and gunshots do they?" I asked. It was a joke...and judging by the looks on David and Mary-Margaret's faces..they didn't quite understand my dry sense of humor. Emma at least smirked.
"Tough crowd." I mumbled and pushed around the spaghetti on my plate with my fork. I hated Spaghetti but I didn't want to be rude by throwing a hot pocket in the microwave after Mary-Margaret cooked.

I stood in the kitchen with David, helping him with dishes after dinner.
"You sure you're okay?" David asked. "You hardly ate anything."
"I'm fine. I don't like Spaghetti much, didn't want to be rude." I replied.
"I'd rather you say something and actually eat Blaire." David said.
"Really I'm fine, If I get hungry later I'll make something." I shrugged and went back to drying dishes.
"So...my dad finally called today." I said after a little bit of silence.
"Oh? How did that go?" David asked. "He say why its been so long?"
"Yeah.. he got into trouble and lost phone privileges.." I said. "It went fine. He didn't talk long since I was in school..I just don't understand how they can keep him there without any proof. You're a cop..they shouldn't be able to keep him right?" I asked.
"Blaire.. I don't know how to say this without upsetting you, but they have to have something on him. They aren't allowed to release details to you but if they have him, they have something."
"But she's still just missing, David. Its not like its a murder case."
"They must suspect foul play." David sighed and looked at me. I looked down at the towel in my hands.
"Be honest.. You don't think my mom is alive do you?" I asked.
"I don't know Blaire." David said and put his hand on my shoulder. I shrugged away from him.
"I..have homework to do." I mumbled and tossed the towel on the counter, and walked out of the kitchen.

I walked up to my room, realizing I'd left my door open. Wilby was in my room tearing up some papers.
"No!" I grumbled and pulled what was left of my Algebra homework away from Wilby. "This is why I'm a cat person." I said and glared at the dog who just licked my hand.
"Go eat Emma's homework." I mumbled and pointed to my door. Wilby padded out of my room and I shut my door. I opened my computer and pulled my list of teacher emails out of my backpack and typed in the first Jones I saw in the to: section.

Mr. J,
My algebra homework has suffered a terrible fate at the hands of my cousin's dog. Honestly, I know it's late, but I don't remember what problems I was supposed to work. Could you please send me a copy of the print out, so I can use the printer here and redo it? Sorry...

Blaire Nolan. (Senior class, first period.)

I sighed and grabbed my binder, to look through my other homework assignments and pulled out science to work on when my computer's notification sound pinged.
That was fast.
I raised my eyebrow and opened the email.

Miss Nolan,

I'm afraid you have the wrong Jones brother. The fact he allows you to call him Mr. J makes me cringe. Also, I'd like to point out that while my brother is nice, he is not naive. Did you honestly pull the dog ate my homework card? You're welcome to try your luck, just replace the K in front of Jones with an L and you'll be set.
Mr. K. Jones ( Not your algebra teacher )

I smirked and shook my head beginning to type out a reply.

Mr. K. Jones,

My deepest apologies for the mix up. I know it's the oldest excuse in the book, but I have evidence. Refer to the attached file in this email. I will be sending it to the correct Jones as well.

Blaire Nolan (An already exhausted high school senior.)

I turned on my webcam and held up the half eaten homework page up and snapped a picture and attached it to the email before sending it. I opened a new email to send to the right teacher and before I even got halfway through it, Mr. Jones had responded to my other email. I figured He would have just ended it there. I was surprised he sent another email..yet excited to read it at the same time? I quickly sent the email to Mr. J before opening the new email from Mr. Jones.

Miss Nolan,

I stand corrected, the dog did eat your homework....unless the Nolan's haven't been feeding you and you ate it yourself. It's the second day of school, if you are exhausted now, I truly fear for you the rest of the year. Get some sleep, AFTER you finish the homework for my class. My brother is a pushover. I'm not.

Unsympathetically,
Mr. Jones.

I laughed. An honest to God laugh for the first time in I don't know how long. How was this guy the same guy who screamed at me over my shoes not being dress code?? He was entirely different after school hours.

Mr. Jones,

Rest assured I finished your homework while in detention..remember the detention that you gave me because you hate my shoes? Anyways, it's finished, and I'll be ready to discuss The Roman republic until I vomit.

Unexpectedly prepared,
Blaire Nolan.

I clicked out of the email and noticed one from the other Mr. Jones.

Blaire,
I've attached a file of the homework assignment. However, as it is getting late don't worry too much about it. You can turn in the finished work any time tomorrow before school ends for a grade. Don't stay up all night working on it, there's no rush. See you tomorrow morning.

Mr. J.

L. Jones and K. Jones were like night and day, That was the only thing I was for sure of at the moment. I downloaded the file, and then closed the email and smiled at the new email from K. Jones. What on earth was happening here? I absolutely never emailed my teachers like this back home.

Miss Nolan,

For the record, I like your shoes just fine. My issue is with your disregard of the dress code.
I would appreciate it if you did not vomit in my classroom. Maybe if you didn't eat your math homework that wouldn't be an issue. Goodnight, Miss Nolan.

Mr. Jones (Your now exhausted history teacher.)

I laughed again and shook my head before shutting my laptop.
"Are you actually laughing.. Or are you dying?" Emma asked from outside my door.
"Both." I replied and carried the rest of my homework over to the bed. I turned on netflix, as background noise so I could finish my homework comfortably before turning in for the night. However I kept glancing back at my desk, wondering if I should just reply to the email just one more time.

Killian

I scrolled back up at the picture Blaire had attached to her email again, and chuckled at the umaumsed look on her face as she held up the tattered homework. However her eyes were a little brighter, in this picture than I'd personally seen and for some reason that made me feel good. It shouldn't have. She was a student and I shouldn't have even continued the emails but.. I also couldn't stop myself.

"Who is that?" Milah asked. I hadn't even noticed her come into my home office. There was something shaky about her tone. I turned and looked at her, she was eyeing my computer screen nervously.
"Just one of my students. Apparently her dog literally ate her math homework. She's new. So she got mine an Liams emails mixed up. She sent proof." I said.
"Oh..I see." Milah said and shook her head pulling her eyes away from Blaires picture and there was something oddly familiar about the look she gave me...it was almost like the look Blaire gave me in the diner last night.
"Whats wrong?" I asked.
"Nothing. Are you coming to bed?" She asked and gave me a half assed smile.
"Aye. Give me a bit." I nodded.
"Fine." Milah said and turned on her heels walking out of the office. What the hell was that all about? I wondered.