Page 61 of Tank’s Weakness

She leaves the lounge, heading back to her classroom. I do the same, taking a seat at my desk as I pull out my phone.

Tank

Miss you already. I’m wearing the thing you told me to wear.

I smirk at the message. He sent it at eight this morning. I haven’t had a chance to look at it since. I wonder if I should mess with him. Is he busy?

Opening the app on my phone, I decide it would be a waste not to.

I press the on icon and wait about ten seconds before I flip it off. I wait for the text message, but it doesn’t come.

Looking up at the clock, I see that I have ten minutes before the recess attendant brings my class back.

He wants to ignore me? I’ll show him.

I press on again and up the intensity by two. Then I set my phone down and start to grade papers, keeping an eye on my phone.

“Delaney, I wanted to have a chat with you before class started,” the assistant principal, Mrs. Lynch, says from the door.

I turn my phone screen off as my heart starts to race. “Of course, come on in. I was just grading homework. Hard not to give them all perfect scores when they draw little pictures like this.”

I hold up the artwork of one of my students.

“They are so creative at that age. I wanted to check in. How is everything going with your personal life?”

My phone buzzes, but I ignore it. I don’t need the principal to see the app I had open. That would lead to questions. Questions I don’t want to answer.

I swallow hard. “Did something else happen? The police said to report anything suspicious.”

She shakes her head. “No. I’m sorry I made you worry. I only wanted to check in because of the situation. The resource officer has been keeping an eye out and hasn’t seen Blaine. We also haven’t gotten any other reports about you. I only wanted to know if you were doing well.”

Another buzz. I’m itching to check the phone, but I remain focused on her.

“Ah. That’s kind of you to check in. I’m doing good. Blaine hasn’t been bothering me since I went to the police. I’m hoping it made him see the light, and he’s finally moved on.”

“Good. I know it’s none of my business, but I do worry about my employees. Especially when it’s a situation like that. I’m happy to hear it seems to be going well. Are you still dating that new guy?”

A third, then a fourth buzz. I glance at my phone, then back to her.

“Yeah. He’s pretty great. I’m glad I met him.”

I mean every word of it too. He has helped me grow into a better person.

“You deserve it. You do look much happier. Well, I’ll let you get back to it. Enjoy the rest of your day. My office door is always open.”

A fifth buzz. I need her out of here ASAP.

“Thank you,” I tell her, waiting until she clears the door to grab my phone.

I open it up and immediately turn the app off. I have five messages from Tank.

Tank

Fuck, Laney. You’re killing me.

Tank

I had to run to the bathroom. Everyone thinks I shit myself.