Chapter 23

Faye

The morning light filtered softly through the curtains, warming my face as I stretched awake.

It was Thursday, a day without Yoko's class. My heart sank just a little, knowing I wouldn't get the chance to see her today, to steal those fleeting moments between lessons.

Yet, as much as my thoughts would inevitably drift to her, I was still somewhat relieved for the break from her constant teasing.

Yoko loved to challenge me, even when she knew she'd lose. And somehow, just thinking about her made my day a little brighter. No one had ever had such an effect on me before, not even – her.

The thought of her made me pause. I quickly shook my head, dismissing the notion.

What was I even thinking? Why let the past creep in now?

Letting out a soft chuckle at my own mind, I shrugged it off and got out of bed. Time to start the day.

Classes today would be long. Afterward, all staff had to stay behind for a meeting. There'd been rumors that the new principal would be a woman, but it didn't concern me much. I focused on my work—always on my work. Whoever she was, I'd win her over with my skills and professionalism as I always did.

Today's outfit was simple but stylish. I slipped into my favorite oversized black button-up shirt, comfortable yet effortlessly cool, paired with a white tee and light-washed jeans that hugged my figure just right. The belt gave the outfit structure, and my trusty watch was there, as always. My hair was styled with just the right amount of care, soft and flowing. I felt good, ready for whatever the day threw at me.

As I reached the school, I walked with purpose, making my way to the classroom. But then, just as I approached the door, I saw it—her silhouette, unmistakably familiar. For a brief moment, everything froze.

It couldn't be.

I stopped in my tracks, my mind reeling. Was it really her? No, that was ridiculous. Why would she be here?

I shook the thought out of my head and laughed softly to myself. Just my imagination running wild. I moved forward, entering the classroom, and tried to push the thought aside. It wasn't worth dwelling on.

The day passed in a blur, as they always did, and soon the classroom was empty, students rushing out to their lives, their chatter a stark contrast to my own quiet, restless thoughts. I stayed behind—more work, more waiting.

And then, just as I'd started sinking into my usual routine, Yoko walked in. My heart lifted. She was like a burst of sunlight in my otherwise grey day.

"Hey, you," I greeted her with a smile, the warmth spreading across my face.

"Hey, long day?" she asked, already moving toward me, her presence filling the space.

I nodded, stretching lazily. "Yeah, I've got a meeting later. A new principal, apparently."

"That sucks," she said, leaning over me, her hands pressing down on the armrests of my chair as she closed the distance between us.

I smiled up at her, feeling that familiar heat rush through me. "It does, but... Seeing you makes my day better."

Her smile widened, her eyes softening as she leaned closer, her lips almost brushing mine. There was an electric charge between us, just as there had been yesterday. I reached for her waist, pulling her closer, my heart racing as our kiss deepened just a little.

A soft moan escaped her lips, and for a moment, everything else faded away.

She pulled back just enough to rest her forehead against mine, her eyes filled with something sweet and soft. "I'll see you tomorrow, then..." she whispered, pressing one last kiss to my lips before turning away.

I watched her leave, the empty space left behind heavy in its silence. It was just me now. I'd let myself want more, but I couldn't have more. Not yet. Not until she graduated.

Still, I couldn't help but think, maybe it was worth the wait. Yoko had already become the best thing that had happened to me in years. She was the one who made my world brighter—more colourful.

No one had ever come close to having this kind of effect on me. Not even – her.

I shook the thought away again. No need to complicate things.

I grabbed my red pen and started grading the assignments in front of me, trying to focus. But just as I was marking through the papers, my mind couldn't help but wander back to the moment earlier. The silhouette outside the school. The strange feeling creeping into my chest.

I couldn't shake the sense that something was off. No, it couldn't be her. But why did it feel like something was missing? Something unresolved.

Quickly settling beside Ms. Catherine in the staff meeting room, I felt a pang of unease. Something wasn't right. My gut twisted, an instinctive dread crawling up my spine, like the calm before a storm. I couldn't shake the feeling. Something bad was about to happen.

I glanced around at the other teachers, all of them just here for the formality. Just like me, they were all waiting for the meeting to end so they could get back to their lives. A few quiet exchanges hummed between departments, but the noise quickly faded when the door opened.

And then it hit me. Hard. My heart thudded, hammering against my ribs, as if trying to escape my chest.

It was her.

I couldn't breathe.

She walked in—no, she wasn't walking. She was gliding, as if the room parted for her. Her voice, that nasally tone that used to crawl under my skin, filled the space.

"Afternoon, everyone," she said, her apology oozing with false sweetness. "Sorry for keeping you later than usual."

"I'm your new principal, Allison."

The words hung in the air like a punch to my gut. Allison. The name that haunted my past, the name that I thought I had buried. There was no way this could be happening.

What kind of twisted coincidence was this? The universe couldn't be this cruel. Could it?

I blinked a few times, hoping I was just imagining it. But the longer I stared at her, the clearer it became. This was real. She was standing right there. In front of me.

"I really look forward to working alongside all of you," Allison continued, her voice as calm as ever, the same mask she wore before. That friendly demeanor, the one that had fooled me so many years ago, made me feel special—important. But now, it only made me sick.

It was all a façade. Beneath that smooth exterior was a manipulator—a cold, heartless one.

I had to get out of there.

As soon as the meeting ended, I bolted from my seat, practically running out of the room. I couldn't stay there. Not with her, not now. My pulse raced, and every inch of my body screamed at me to keep moving, to escape the suffocating air in that room.

But, of course, fate had other plans.

"Faye."

Her voice sliced through the hallway, smooth and familiar. A few heads turned, but the chatter quickly died. My feet froze, like I was being held in place by some invisible force. I couldn't move. I wouldn't move. I refused to turn around.

I could hear her heels clicking closer—closer, until the sound of her steps was all I could focus on. My breath caught in my throat.

"Let's talk."

Her voice was different now. The friendly mask was gone, replaced with something sharp, something colder. No more pleasantries. No more pretending. This wasn't a request—it was an order.

I forced myself to turn, my face hardening into a mask of stone. I couldn't let her see how much she still affected me.

"What do you want, Allison?" I spat, every syllable laced with venom.

She stood there, hands stuffed in her pockets, her posture so damn casual—too casual. Like she didn't care at all.

"Hey, look..." Her voice trailed off as if unsure of how to begin, but I didn't let her continue.

"Don't you dare try to explain yourself," I cut in, my voice rising. "Are you really going to stand there and pretend that this is just some coincidence? That you didn't know I was here?"

Her expression shifted, a flicker of something I couldn't quite read. Worry? Guilt? Whatever it was, it only made the blood in my veins run colder.

"I didn't know," she said, voice soft, almost pleading. "Faye, I swear, I didn't—"

"Stop it!" I shouted, my voice echoing off the walls. The words came rushing out like a flood.

"You took everything from me, Allison. You destroyed me. I begged you. I begged you, and you—" My throat tightened, and I fought to keep the tears at bay. "You left me. You turned your back on me when I needed you most."

She didn't speak. Her silence was like a slap in the face. And it hurt more than anything she could've said.

The tension between us was thick, suffocating, and I could feel my chest tightening with the weight of all the years of pain she had caused.

"You have no idea," I whispered, barely able to keep my voice steady. "Do you know how long it took me to walk away from everything we had? How many times did I have to rebuild myself, piece by piece? I thought I was over it. I thought I was past you. But here you are. Right in front of me. Like nothing ever happened."

My voice cracked, but I wasn't going to let her see it. Not again. I wasn't going to let her break me, not this time.

"I'm sorry, Faye," she said, her voice laced with regret, but the apology felt hollow. Empty. "I really do regret everything. I never meant to hurt you."

I let out a bitter laugh, running a hand through my hair. "Regret? You regret it now, huh? After everything? After you walked away from me without a second thought?"

"I was scared," she admitted, and for a brief moment, her eyes softened. But I was too far gone to care.

"Save it," I snapped, shaking my head. "You weren't there when I needed you. You left me—alone. And now, you expect me to believe you? To just let it all go because you regret it?"

"Faye," she began again, her voice soft, desperate. "I promise I won't interfere with your life. I won't come near you. I just want us to focus on our work, nothing more. I swear."

I shook my head in disbelief. "You think I'm going to trust you? After everything you've done?" My tone dropped, low and dangerous. "Prove it."

I took a step forward, closing the gap between us, asserting my dominance. I had the power now, not her. I was stronger. I was the one in control.

"What do you want me to do, Faye?" she asked, the desperation creeping into her voice.

"Leave," I said, my voice firm. "Leave this school. Go anywhere else. I don't care. Just leave."

Her brow furrowed in confusion, but she didn't back down. "I can't just do that. It would look bad."

"Oh, talking about looking bad now, are we?" I laughed bitterly, sarcasm dripping from my words. "Didn't seem to matter to you when it was me, did it?"

"Faye," she said, her voice quiet, but I could hear the edge in it now. "I swear, I won't bother you. You have my word."

"You better pray your actions follow through with your words," I shot back, my voice a low growl.

Without another word, I turned on my heel and walked away, leaving her standing there, still trying to redeem herself, but I didn't care anymore. I couldn't. Not after everything.

She was nothing but a ghost from my past. And ghosts should stay dead.