“Okay, see you tonight,” she says, heading toward her locker.
Refocusing, I open my locker, and a note attached to a lily falls out, landing at my feet. I would get annoyed that someone once again has been in my locker and that the whole point of the fingerprint scanner is so that no one has access to my shit, but I’d be wasting breath that I’ll need on my deathbed.
I squat down to pick up the note. The front of the card has a skull with a knife through it.
What in the name of voodoo is this shit?
Before I can open it, the flower is snatched from my hand by the dragon-talon nails of Samantha fucking Davenport, ripping it away from the card. Flower petals float haphazardly to the ground.
I told you she has a death kink.
“I swear you can’t make this shit up,” I mumble. Ignoring the attention-starved psycho, I open the card, pulling out an invitation handwritten in calligraphy.
Sam’s hand shoots out, trying to snatch the invite from my hands.
“What the fuck?” I yell, my nostrils flaring as my face gets hot. “What is your damage, Sam? Were you not loved enough as a child?”
She doesn’t seem to hear anything I’m saying because she’s mid-tantrum.
Expecting another onslaught, I look to where she’s standing, but Rowan is holding her in place by the back of her shirt. He starts dragging her away, taking her wailing with him.
Thank fuck.
Now that I can truly take in the card, I read what it says.
Emma Elaine Bishop
The Heirs of Calloway
Request the pleasure of your company at the Calloway Fall Formal
Saturday, the Twenty-Ninth of October
Two Thousand Twenty-Two at seven o’clock in the evening
Calloway Estate
Calloway, Connecticut
Huh, well then. It looks like the first social function of the season is in a month.
Oh joy! I roll my eyes.
I still don’t understand why Sam keeps going ape shit over this stuff. She’s lived in this town forever. I’m sure her upturned nose will be there.
When I fully open my locker, I see an intricately designed crystal vase filled with at least two dozen white lilies. They’re beautiful. They seriously have a thing for lilies here. When I get in the car, I need to try and remember to look up the meaning. You don’t keep giving out one type of flower if they don’t have a meaning. I bet it means purity or some shit. You know how these patriarchal rules work.
I chuckle at that because I might be pure in body, but I’m far from pure in mind. I take one more look at the flowers, grabbing them and the invitation before closing my locker.
I’d say my week ended on a higher note than I expected. The tips of my ears warm, and I know I’m going home to relive that moment with Karl while I shower.
EMMA
“Thanks for turning in your uniform. You were an amazing worker. If you’re ever in need of a job or want to just stop by, you’re always welcome,” Mary says, walking from behind the marble-topped counter. Her famous apple crumble pies and red velvet cakes line the counter by the register.
“Aww, thanks, Mary, I’ll definitely be in to say hi. Jamie loves the French toast and you know how the boys feel about the pie. So we’ll be in to feed our faces, too,” I say as I reach out and hug her. She always gave me mom energy, sending me home with food and making sure I didn’t work too late once school started.
Pulling my shades down over my eyes, I turn, passing the same booth I served the guys the first week of school, and head for the exit.
Mary quickly shouts, “Oh, Emma, I almost forgot,” stopping me in my tracks.
“This came for you,” she says, handing me a small box with Priority Mail printed in the left corner. “It didn’t come by mail, though. I found it in front of the door this morning,” she adds.
Grabbing the package, I smile and say, “Thanks,” then head for the door.
I don’t think I’ve received this many packages in my life. At least it wasn’t in my locker this time.
Stopping outside, I sit down at one of the patio tables. I hold up my index finger, signaling Thomas I need a minute. Might as well see what’s inside before heading home.
The box has my name written in red permanent marker in large block letters. Bringing the box to my ear, I give it a shake and hear something shaking around inside. Whatever it is, it’s not very big, but it’s making light thumps when it hits the box.
Let’s see what Calloway is sending me this time.
Dragging my house keys across the top, unsealing the tape. Inside there’s a smaller box and an envelope.
Seriously? This better not be like one of those Russian Matryoshka dolls that get smaller and smaller every time you open one.
I hear boots hitting the concrete before Thomas’s looming frame blocks the sun’s warm rays.
“Sorry, T, I got this package and just wanted to open it before heading home.”
“No need to apologize, Miss Bishop. I didn’t want to leave you unguarded,” he states, making me crane my neck in his direction.
“Oh yes, T, all these bugs are out to get me,” I joke, returning my attention to the box’s contents.
I hear his light-hearted laughter as he karate chops the air.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.