I slowly made my way into the kitchen to get a cup of tea.
Guilt flooded my stomach and I got a sharp pain deep in my gut.
I don't even know why I even read those old emails. Like most things from my old life, it didn't matter anymore. I should have known that they would guilt trip me. They must have decided that it might get me to come home.
The only problem with that plan was I wasn't planning on coming home anytime soon.
But I had to hand it to them, still looking for me after 4 years, that is what I call persistence. Now that doesn't mean I found it anything but deeply annoying.
Don't get me wrong, I still love my old roommates. But for geniuses, you would think that they would have figured out when someone doesn't want to be found by now. Plus, adding on to the aforementioned fact, I am the Chameleon and when the Chameleon doesn't want to be found, she's not. They would know that better than anyone.
I felt a soothing burning sensation sliding down my throat as I took a long sip of my tea.
'What if they find me?' I thought.
That thought was always at the back of my brain. Unanswered, along with many other questions that haunted me. I quickly shook the thought from my head. They couldn't find me. If they found me I couldn't protect them from what was inevitable to avoid.
That's why I couldn't come home.
They didn't understand and still don't understand what I go through to keep them safe.
Obviously, I am not feeling bad for myself like a damsel in distress.
I prefer hero in heels.
I think that title suits me better.
I pondered the subject for a while longer until I finished my tea. I glanced up at the clock on my microwave. It was 12:18am and I had work tomorrow, so I put my mug in the sink, grabbed my computer, and walked to my bedroom. I followed my usual nighttime routine of pajamas, brush teeth, hair, and reading until I fell into a deep sleep.
Waking up every morning is absolute torture, and I am under no circumstances a morning person. So when my alarm clock repeatedly made this annoying sound in attempt to wake me from my peaceful sleep, I growled.
Using all the force I could muster, I slammed my hand down on the snooze button. I lay in bed for another minute thinking.
'What if I just call in sick today?' I procrastinated.
I stood and walked to my shower knowing that I could not miss work today.
Turning the knob on my shower, I felt cold water pelt my skin that was gradually getting warmer.
I undressed and stepped inside as soon as the water felt hot enough.
'Today's going to be fun.' I thought and got ready for my day.
"Good morning Miss Jenkins."
"Good morning Kendall, how was your weekend?" I greeted one of my students.
"Good," She said looking bored.
"Do anything fun?" I asked sipping my latte.
"Yeah, I went to the movies." She said smiling a little back at the memory.
"Very fun," I said just as the tardy bell rang.
I took attendance and handed out a quick 15 question math worksheet.
I was responding to a concerned parents email when the phone rang. I picked up the phone and answered, when I heard a familiar voice on the line.
"Good morning Miss Jenkins." The vice principal, Linda James, said.
"Good morning Linda, how are you?" I asked wondering what I could have done wrong.
"Great, look I'm sorry to inform you so late, but tomorrow you are getting a new student." She said getting to the point.
"Ok who is this student?" I asked getting a pen to write down their name.
"Her name is Grace Lyons."
"Ok, is she here now?" I asked; I had a feeling.
"Yes with her parents, they were wondering if they could meet some of her teachers and you're her homeroom." She said and I could hear some papers shuffling around.
"I'm always here." I said getting a little irritated but not letting it show through my voice.
"I'll send them down now. Thanks Katie." She said and hung up.
I took a breath before standing and getting my students attention.
"Excuse me, everybody I just got informed that there will be a new addition to our sophomore class. Her name is Grace Lyons and she is going to be here any minute. I want you all on your best behavior." I said sternly and sat back down at my desk. I couldn't help but notice how familiar Lyons sounded on my tongue.
Before I could think about it too much, I heard 3 different sets of footsteps approach my door. The door opened and a petite girl with light brown hair and brown eyes came in. She was wearing dark denim jeans and a yellow sweater. A dark haired, hazel eyed, woman in a cream colored pencil skirt and white blouse followed behind her. She stood behind her daughter. The last person to come into the room was a tall man with light brown hair and blue eyes. He was wearing a green and blue flannel and dark wash jeans. Everyone in the group was very attractive and looked like this was purely business, even Grace.
I stood to meet them. I put on my overly perky smile and stuck my hand out to shake their hands. The mother was the first to come forward. She looked vaguely familiar.
"Hi, I'm Charisa Lyons, Graces mother." She said smiling.
I shook the fathers hand next,
"Hello, I'm Jacob Lyons, Graces father." He said not nearly as enthusiastic as his wife.
"Hey, I'm Grace." Grace said with a little wave.
"Nice to meet you all," I said smiling and nodding, "I'm Katie Jenkins. I will be Grace's homeroom teacher."
I talked to Grace's parents about Grace, what I was going to be teaching this year, blah blah blah, blah blah blah. You know the drill. We talked till about 10 minutes before the end of 1st period. I said goodbye to the Lyons family and directed them to Grace's next teacher, Mr. Pearson.
Grace, unlike most of the sophomores here, seemed more observant. More private. She sort of kept to herself.
I was definitely intrigued by this girl and I wanted to know more.
Later on that night, I had hacked into the CIA database just like Liz taught me back in 9th grade. I typed in the name 'Lyons' and a long list of people came up. I scrolled through all 98 pages worth of people that had the first or last name Lyons and found nothing that sounded, or looked familiar to me.
As it was nearing 11:30 I decided it was time to go to bed. I climbed under my covers and thought about the Lyons family, and where I might have heard the name before. As seconds turned into minutes, and minutes turned into an hour, I made a decision that I could worry about it tomorrow instead of racking my brain tonight. I turned off my lamp and fell into unconsciousness.
A/N: Give it a try. You might surprise yourself. Who knows, maybe you might love this story? Leave a review and tell me what you think!