June's POV
I woke up in my old room, the one I'd slept in through high school, before I finally moved into my own place. The morning light filtered through the pale blue curtains, casting a soft glow across the space. It felt like a time capsule—everything from the floral quilt draped over the bed to the faded poster of constellations pinned to the ceiling above me.
My bookshelf sat there, still crammed with dog-eared paperbacks and a few childhood mementos, sat in the corner. I could almost hear my mom's voice from years ago, reminding me to turn off the lamp when I'd stay up late reading. The scent of lavender, courtesy of a little sachet my mom kept tucked under my pillow, mingled with the faint aroma of fresh bread wafting up from the bakery downstairs. It was a scent that felt like home, and I missed home. It was one that always brought a sense of comfort and safety.
I sat up, running my hand over the smooth wooden headboard, tracing the little scratches I'd made as a kid. The room had a way of grounding me, making me feel like I could slow down for just a moment before facing everything outside and for a moment, I felt like I could sweep everything under an imaginary rug.
My phone buzzed on the nightstand—one of the few new additions to this room since I left. A text from Samantha flashed across the screen.
Sam: Hey, are you okay? Thinking about you. We should talk.
Her message brought a mix of relief and apprehension. Things had been tense between us since she made the declaration of moving out, and I knew that even though we had talked, things were still tense.
I typed back quickly.
Me: I'm okay. Wondering if you're down for lunch today? There's that place near the school. Let's say 3:00 PM?
It didn't take long for her to respond.
Sam: Sure, I'll see you there.
I slipped out of bed, the cool hardwood floor beneath me made my feet cold. My eyes wandered around the room one last time, taking in the memories that seemed to echo through the walls, before I started getting ready for the day.
*******
I knew Mom was already up, so it came as no surprise to find her pouring coffee and scrolling through her phone in the kitchen.
"Good morning, honey," she greeted me with a warm smile, sliding a cup my way.
"You remember about the security appointment? I'll be calling them today to set something up."
I took a sip of coffee, trying to mask my nervousness. "Yeah, I remember. Thanks for handling all of this, Mom."
She reached out, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. "I know you're worried, June. But we'll find the right people. KC Agencies seemed like they had a good reputation, and I want you to feel safe."
"I know," I said softly, feeling the weight of her concern. "I appreciate it. I just want to get through this."
With one last hug, I grabbed my bag and headed out the door. The familiar drive to school helped calm my nerves. I focused on the road, on the promise of a routine day with the kids, hoping it would keep my mind off everything else that was happening at the moment.
The school day started off normal enough. The kids buzzed with excitement, but today it wasn't about dinosaurs or ice cream. They had a field trip to the local fire station coming up, and the prospect of meeting real firefighters and seeing the big trucks up close had them practically vibrating with energy.
"Miss Skylar, do you think they'll let us use the siren?" one of the boys asked, his face lit with pure excitement.
I laughed, ruffling his hair. "I'm sure they'll give us a little demonstration, but you might have to cover your ears!"
Their enthusiasm was infectious, and for a while, I managed to forget about everything else. The day passed in a blur of activities, with the kids' chatter and laughter filling the classroom. By the time the final bell rang, I felt a small sense of accomplishment. It was a little victory, but I'd take it.
I made my way outside to the café where I'd agreed to meet Samantha. It was a cozy spot with a view of the street, the kind of place where we used to spend hours talking about anything and everything. Today, though, there was an awkwardness in the air when she arrived.
"Hey, June," she greeted, sliding into the seat across from me. Her smile was tentative, but it softened when I returned it. "Sorry about the other day, " she said immediately.
"No, I'm sorry," I replied quickly. "I should've been more understanding about your decision to move in with Brandon. It just... caught me off guard."
She nodded, and for a moment, we sat in silence, each of us searching for the right words. Then, she broke the tension with a chuckle. "You know, I missed this. Us just talking, without all the drama."
I laughed, and it felt like a weight lifted from my chest. "Yeah, me too."
The conversation shifted to lighter topics, the tension gradually easing. But as we finished our drinks, I finally brought up the real reason I'd wanted to meet. "Samantha, I went with my mom to look at security agencies. She's pretty set on me getting protection, especially after... well, everything that's happened."
Samantha's expression turned serious. "That's a good idea, June. I was worried about you. It's scary, you know?"
I nodded, swallowing hard. "Yeah, it is. But hopefully, this will help. We're checking out KC Agencies next. Mom's setting up an appointment."
"Good," she said, reaching out to squeeze my hand. "Just promise me you'll be careful, okay? And call me if you need anything."
"I will," I promised. "Thanks, Sam."
We lingered a bit longer, reminiscing about old times, and by the end of lunch, things felt a little more like they used to. As we hugged goodbye, I felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, things would start to get better.