What A Tangled Web You Weave

Chapter 7 Lonely Eyes

Blaire

I was confused at first, by the message request. I didn't know a Killian Jones and I usually just ignored messages from people I didn't know after a bad experience with a cyber stalker a couple years ago, but something pulled me to open this message. I clicked the message and looked up at the little circle shaped picture at the top of the conversation.
No. Fucking. Way.
Killian Jones was Mr. Jones. I sprayed rootbeer all over my phone screen.
"Shit!" I exclaimed. My poor phone had been through the ringer since moving here the last thing it needed was to be fried with rootbeer. I quickly used my shirt to wipe the screen.
"Is something wrong?" David asked with concern heavy in his tone.
"Oh.. Uh no, my friend Kass from Oregon just sent me a picture. Thats all." I lied.
"What kind of picture?" David asked raising an eyebrow and tilting his head towards my phone screen. I quickly hid the screen.
"You don't want to see it. It's a nude she meant to send to some guy." I said and quickly stood up. "I..uh.. I have to go to the bathroom." I said and hurried away to the bathroom. I locked the door and sat up on the sink counter looking at my phone.

Killian:
Helloo

I stared at the message for what felt like eternity wondering if I should respond. Using the school email was one thing. But Did Mr. Jones actually look me up on facebook to send me a message And why?? I also wondered if maybe something was wrong because he or whoever sent the message put an extra o in hello. Without further hesitation I sent a quick message back.

Me:
Uh.. Hi?

I set my phone down beside me and chewed at my fingernails anxiously. What the actual fuck was going on right now? My messenger pinged and I stared at my phone for a few seconds before picking it up.

Killian:
Wyd?

I blinked a couple times. There was no way this was actually Mr. Jones. I didn't see him being the type to use text talk.

Me:
Mr. Jones?
Killian:
At your service.

Me:
Prove it.

I waited a couple minutes before Mr. Jones sent me a semi blurry selfie from the bar at Granny's. His cheeks were flushed and he looked wasted.
Blaire. Your History teacher is drunk texting you. Whatthefuckingfuck!

I set the phone back down. I didn't want to get anyone in trouble, and this was definitely something that could get Mr. Jones fired. My messenger ring tone started going off.
Blaire.. Whatever you do do not answer that....but what if he's too fucked up to drive home? He could get killed... Nope he can call an uber..but what if he tries to drive? Fuck!
I sighed and picked up my phone. My heart felt like it was leaping into my throat as I answered the messenger call.
"Hello?" I whispered.
"Hello." Mr. Jones whispered back and then laughed. "Why are you whispering?" He slurred.
"Because my uncle is in the house! Why are you messaging me and calling me??" I hissed.
"I don't know." Mr. Jones said. "I just wanted to talk to someone."
"And you thought Hey.. I'll just message Blaire, she totally looks like she loves talking to people."
Mr. Jones chuckled.
"Yup." He said.
"You should probably stop drinking." I sighed. "And go home."
"I was about to head that way.." He said and I heard him jingling his keys.
"No!" I said a little too loud. "No.. you should get an uber. Or..something. Don't drive."
"I left my card at home and only brought cash..which I used." Mr. Jones said.
"Clearly." I snorted. I didn't have money to buy the man an uber either but I just did not want him driving.
"Mr. Jones.. Please don't drive. I'm going to come and get you." I said. "Just..give me a few minutes."
"Aye. I'll be here." He slurred and hung up.

Fuck fuck fuck!

I pulled up my contacts and dialed Emma. I knew that she and Mary-Margaret were in the same vehicle and her bug was in the driveway.
"Hey Blaire." Emma said.
"Hey.. Would you mind if I borrowed your car real quick?"
"Why?" Emma asked suspiciously.
"I need to run to the store real quick..and its something I'd rather not do with your dad there." I said trying to drop a hint that I knew she'd likely pick up.
"Oh! Okay, say no more. I get it. He makes it awkward." She laughed. "Sure, the keys are on the hook at the door...wait you do have a license right?"
"Yes... I just wasn't allowed to drive my car from Oregon to here so it's still there." I sighed. "Thank you."
"No prob. My bank card is on my dresser if you need it. You okay? You sound panicky."
"I'm fine Emma.. thank you." I said and hung up.

I walked out of the bathroom and was met by David at the door.
"I was getting worried about you, I heard you shout no." He said.
"Oh.. Uh.. I started my period." I lied. "I just called Emma to ask if I could use her car to go get tampons."
"Oh I can drive you." David said.
"No.. No it's okay. Honestly.. I'd rather go by myself for this." I replied.
"Okay. I understand. David nodded. "Just drive safe. Okay?"
"Okay. Be back in a bit." I said and grabbed Emma's keys from the hook by the door and stepped outside.

Am I really going to pick up my drunk teacher and drive him home?
I looked at the bug in the driveway and back at the front door. I had time to just back out before putting myself and him in this awkward situation. But I just couldn't do it. I couldn't chance that he wouldn't be stupid and try to drive. I lost a good friend of mine a couple years ago, because I was pissed off at him and let him drive away from a party while intoxicated. I barely knew Mr. Jones but I just couldn't leave something like this to chance. I walked down the walkway and got into Emma's car and started it and cringed at the radio station she had playing.
"Gross." I sighed and turned down the radio and pulled out of the driveway.

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I parked outside of Granny's and went to go in, but noticed Ruby inside waiting tables. That was not going to work. I cursed under my breath and plucked my phone from my back pocket and pressed the call button on the message between him and I.
"Helloo Sunshine." Mr. Jones said and chuckled.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph..
"I'm Here. Yellow bug. Can't miss it."
"Be right out sweetheart." He said. I felt my heart palpitate in my chest. Normally anyone who called me sweetheart like that would get a broken nose, but.. It sounded so much different coming from him.
"O..Okay." I stammered and hung up the phone. I watched as Mr. Jones walked out the door. He walked..okayish there was a little stagger and wobble to his step but nothing too horrible. He walked over to the yellow bug and opened the passengers side door and poked his head in and grinned at me.
"Get in the car before someone sees you!" I hissed.
"So pushy." He sighed and got in the car and shut the door before fumbling with the seatbelt.
"Christ." I muttered and leaned over and helped buckle him in. "You're an actual toddler.." I snarked. "And you smell like a pirate." Though somehow like everything else he pulled that off too, the smell of spiced rum and leather seemed to suit him.
"I am anything but a toddler." he smirked and winked at me. I blinked at him.
"Keep it up and you'll lose that eye." I said and pulled out of the parking lot trying to shake the way that wink truly made me feel. "This is Emma's car so please do not vomit." I added.
"Noted." Mr. Jones said.
"I need your address." I sighed.
"363 Mifflin." He said and scowled at a text message on his phone. I pulled out my phone at the stop sign and plugged in his address into the gps on my phone to let it play.
"Is your wife home?" I asked and looked over at him.
"How do you know about my wife?" He asked.
Fuck. Think Blaire.
"Your ring." I said quickly. "And.. you have a picture on your desk." I added. "Is she home?"
"Nope." He said and popped the P. "She never is." He muttered and looked down at his ring and sniffled.
Oh.. God. Please don't do this.
I glanced over at him as tears were spilling out of his eyes now.
"Uh.. you.. Okay over there?" I asked.
"We were happy once. And now.. Everything is just falling apart." He weeped. "Everytime I try to save whats left of my marriage.. I wonder if there is any point at all. She's gone out with her friends all the time."

I wanted so badly to tell him I knew for a fact his wife was cheating on him and not out with friends but he likely wouldn't even remember and if he did.. I really didn't want to open up that can of worms on top of the one that had already been opened tonight.
"You.. want some ice cream?" I asked.
Mr. Jones looked at me and scoffed.
"I'm not a 17 year old girl, my problems can't be solved with netflix and haagen-dazs"
"Ouch." I said and looked back at the road.
"I'm sorry. You were being nice. I'm not used to it." Mr. Jones sighed.
"Neither am I actually. Then again.. I never thought I'd have to drive my drunk history teacher home.." I muttered.

The rest of the drive was fairly quiet save for the radio I had to turn back on to break said silence. I parked out in front of his house and looked up at it. It was a very nice modern victorian style house, I had no idea what his wife did for work but I didn't quiet think this was something that could be done on a teachers salary alone, between the house, the Harley Davidson I figured was in the garage, and the Chevelle SS that was currently parked in front of Granny's Diner Mr. Jones was a man with money. Not that it mattered, I thought he had quite good taste either way.
Mr. Jones got out of the car.
"Thank you Blaire." He said and started stumbling up his walkway.
I took a deep breath and got out of the bug and went to help him to the door.
"I got you all the way here, I'm not going to watch your bust your ass falling off your porch." I sighed.
"Probably for the best." He said and fished his keys out of his pocket and fumbled with the lock on the door.
"Bloody hell I should have turned on the damn porch light." He sighed and kicked at the door. I jumped when I heard a loud bark on the other side.
"Hush Captain its me." Mr. Jones grumbled. He went from loveable, goofy drunk to irritable drunk in three seconds flat the second he got home, which told me..this was not a happy place for him and honestly, it made me sad. Home should be a safe haven.. Not somewhere you hated to go back too.

"Here.. let me." I said and put my hand over his trying to reach for his keys. He looked at me and the pain in his eyes was hard to see, but it seemed to soften the longer his eyes were on mine. I cleared my throat and looked away as he handed me the house keys.
"The dog isn't going to try and kill me when I open this door is he?" I asked.
"Are you afraid of dogs?" Mr. Jones mused. "You don't seem like a girl who would be afraid of a dog."
"You'd be afraid too if you were chased two blocks by a demonic chihuahua." I mumbled. "Will he bite me or not?"
"He'd likely lick you to death. Captain wouldn't harm a fly." Mr. Jones said.

I twisted the key in the lock and opened the door and as soon as I did a large black lab jumped up putting his paws on Mr. Jones chest licking his face.
"Yes, I missed you too. Down boy!" He said and stumbled into the house.
I stood in the doorway not quite sure what to do from here. I looked around the living room, it was cozy, the furniture was a dark, victorian style that matched the exterior of the house and there were beautiful paintings hung up everywhere. There was a fireplace, and a large TV mounted to the wall above it.
"You can come in." Mr. Jones said breaking my concentration.
"Are you sure?" I asked.
"Aye." He nodded clearly still intoxicated because any sober teacher would not let a student into their house.
I swallowed thickly and stepped inside and closed the door. Captain bolted for me excitedly and Mr. Jones held him back.
"Easy boy...Gentle." He instructed.
"Sorry, he can be a moose. He loves new people."
"Its...okay." I said and put my hand out. Captain smelled my hand and licked it and Killian let him go.
"Gentle, Captain." Mr. Jones reminded him and Captain nudged his head against my hand. I scratched behind his ears and smiled.
"You want something to drink?" Mr. Jones asked
I looked up and blinked at him.
"Honestly, this is the quietest I've ever seen you." He chuckled. "Don't worry I'm not offering you liquor. I think I drank enough for both of us."
I shook my head.
"No.. I'm fine." I said and watched him plop down on his sofa. Captain hurried over and jumped up next to him.
"Aye get it in boy before Milah gets home and yells at you for being on the furniture." He smirked.
"Are... you going to be okay here if I go?" I asked. Mr. Jones looked at me with lonely eyes. This was killing me. The man just wanted some company.
"You don't have to leave so soon."
"Mr. Jones..this just isn't a good idea for me to be here. I'm your student."
"It's 10:30pm. No one from the school knows you're here and if you're worried about my wife she likely won't drag herself home until early morning."
I sighed "I just..I can't stay." I shook my head. "You're not in the right mind...if you were I wouldn't be here.."

Mr. Jones nodded and gave me a sad smile.
"I understand love." He said.
Love...I felt my face heat up.
"You promise you're okay?" I asked.
"Aye. I'm fine. I'll probably turn in soon." He nodded.
"Okay.." I said and backed away towards the front door. "See you Monday then."
"Aye. See you Monday love." He said. Even Captain was giving me the sad puppy eyes now.
"Bye." I said quickly and walked outside and closed the door. I stood against the door for a moment, my chest was heaving as my heart pounded away.
Fuck...what have you done Blaire?

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Thankfully there was at least one store that sold Tampons still open so I was able to come home with the one thing I said I was going to get, as well as some air freshener to hopefully get the lingering smell of rum out of Emma's car. I pulled into the driveway, and Mary-Margaret and Emma were home now. I got out of the car and walked inside. David was sitting on the couch still watching the Nightmare on Elm Street movie marathon.
"Sorry it took me so long, I'm still getting used to the streets, I got turned around and then I had to find the only store that was open this late." I said.
"Its fine, you should have called, I could have given you directions." David smiled.
"I didn't want to bother you." I shrugged.
"You could call me anytime..about anything and its not going to bother me Blaire." David frowned. "I hope you realize you're not a burden on anyone here."
"I do." I shrugged.
"Are you okay? You seem..frazzled about something."
"I'm fine. Really.. I'm just tired." I said. "I'm going to go to bed I think."
"Alright. Goodnight. I'm making waffles tomorrow morning if you want to help."
"Sure." I nodded. "Goodnight." I said and hurried up the stairs and tossed the tampons that I didn't need on my dresser and shed my clothes, changing into some sleep shorts and a tank top. I grabbed my cell phone and plugged it into the charger beside my bed and climbed under my covers. I laid awake for the longest time trying to calm my mind down to go to sleep but I just couldn't I picked up my phone and clicked on the conversation between Mr. Jones and I and started typing.

Me:
Just checking in..

I put the phone on my chest and waited for what felt like eternity before I got a message back. I looked at my phone at the picture of him laid back on the couch with Captain curled up next to him and a thumbs up. I smiled and bit my lip.

Killian:
Go to bed.

Me:
Trying...

Killian:
What's keeping you up?

I tried to type something back that didn't sound completely ridiculous, but how was I supposed to tell him that I couldn't sleep because I couldn't stop thinking about him and his lonely eyes before I left? I sighed and without replying I put the phone back on the nightstand and rolled back over staring at the ceiling until morning came.