June's POV
When the morning came, I dragged myself out of bed and got ready for school. I had woken up to a text from Samantha saying she'd be coming over for us to talk.
I paced around the living room, trying to shake off the unease that had settled in my chest after the latest update from the police coupled with Samantha's weird text.
The news about Karen's attack was still fresh in my mind, making everything feel even more uncertain. When the front door swung open and Samantha stepped in, I felt a glimmer of fear surge through me. The look on her face told me that something was up.
"Hey, June," she started, her voice unusually hesitant as she dropped her bag on the couch. She didn't sit down, just stood there with her hands twisting together—something she always did when she was nervous.
"I need to tell you something." I raised an eyebrow, trying to keep the tension from creeping into my voice.
"What's going on?" She took a deep breath, her expression shifting to something more resolute. "I'm moving out, June. I've already paid the rent for the rest of the year, so you don't have to worry about that. But I'm moving in with Tom."
I froze, her words hitting me like a punch. "You're... what?" I managed to get out, my tone sharper than I intended. "You're moving in with him now? When all of this is happening?"
Samantha crossed her arms, looking defensive. "Yeah, June. I am. He's got a bigger place, it's not even about the bigger place and honestly... I just feel safer with him around. I know it's not ideal, but I think it's what's best for me right now."
I shook my head, trying to keep my frustration in check. "Sam, are you sure about this? I mean, now's really not the time to be making big moves like this. What if it doesn't work out? What if… what if you end up regretting it?"
Her jaw tightened, and I knew that I struck a nerve. I could see the irritation flash in her eyes. "I know you're worried, but I'm not making this decision lightly, June. I trust Tom, and I believe it's the right thing for us."
I paused, feeling a pang of fear that had little to do with the situation outside. "I'm just worried, okay?" I admitted, my voice softening. "I don't want to lose you too, Sam. With everything that's happening, it's like... I need to hold on to the things that feel safe."
Her expression softened, and she stepped closer, placing a hand on my shoulder. "You're not going to lose me, June. I'll still be here for you, I promise. And maybe this will be good for both of us. I'll have Tom, and you can focus on figuring out what's best for you without worrying about me."
I let out a shaky breath, trying to push back the mix of relief and sadness I felt. "Okay," I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper. "Just… be careful, alright?"
"I will," she replied, pulling me into a tight hug.
"And you do the same. I'm just a phone call away and I'll still be coming around June, this doesn't mean that I won't come and see you or anything."
As we pulled apart, I forced a small smile, trying to ignore the knot in my chest. Maybe things were changing, but I hoped that didn't mean they'd change for the worse.
After Samantha left, I couldn't shake the heaviness that settled in my chest. But there was no time to dwell on it—life had to go on, even if it felt like everything around me was unraveling. The next morning, I pulled myself together and headed to school, trying to find solace in the familiar routine.
The chatter of kids filled the hallways as I made my way to my classroom, their voices a comforting hum that helped drown out my own thoughts.
By mid-morning, I had just managed to get the class settled with a lesson in proper nouns when my phone vibrated in my pocket. I slipped out into the hallway, glancing at the screen to see my mom's name.
A rush of relief and a bit of anxiety mixed as I picked up.
"Hey, Mom. Everything okay?" I asked, keeping my voice low so the kids wouldn't overhear.
"Hey, sweetie," she replied, a little out of breath like she'd been busy with something. "I've been making some calls this morning, and I found a few security agencies that seem reputable. I spoke to a couple of them, and I think it'd be good if we went to check them out tomorrow."
I leaned against the cool tile wall, absorbing her words. She'd been on it, like she promised, not wasting any time. "Tomorrow?" I asked, trying to keep the surprise out of my voice. "That's… soon."
"Well, I don't want to wait, and I know you don't feel safe. And honestly, I'll feel a lot better once we have something arranged."
Her voice softened, a mother's gentle concern shining through. "Besides, I know this whole situation is eating you up, I want you and Sam to be in safe hands. I just want you girls to have some peace of mind."
I nodded, even though she couldn't see me. "Yeah, you're right. Thanks, Mom. I appreciate you doing this. I'll make time for it tomorrow."
"Good," she replied, sounding more relieved than I'd heard her in days. "I'll pick you up after school, and we can visit the agencies together. We'll find the right one, okay?"
"Okay," I agreed, a small part of me feeling like maybe things were starting to move in the right direction. "See you tomorrow then."
We hung up, and I slipped my phone back into my pocket, taking a deep breath. A small sense of hope began to flicker in my chest—like maybe, just maybe, things might start to get better. But as I glanced back toward the classroom, hearing the laughter and chatter from the kids inside, I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that danger still loomed in the background, waiting for its moment.