Chapter 220: Cheering Up
Vivian’s POV
As happy as she was that she in Ryan would no longer be moving back and forth between her apartment and his penthouse in order to see each other, Vivian was now really beginning to feel the full weight of her decision to move in with him.
Was she really going through with this? She was the one who had made the decision, and yet she was having trouble actually believing that the move would be happening.
Her apartment had been her home for years. Now it would not be that anymore. It would be just a place that she thought of sometimes. A place that someone else would be living in. Someone who would be taking over the place that she had inhabited for years and making it their own. Completely erasing all traces of her.
That was jarring.
Sure, on paper she would still be its owner. But the realization that all of the little secrets spots that the apartment had would now be known by someone else as well made her feel like she was losing something really important.
Her sudden onslaught of sadness did not go unnoticed. Her kids, ever perceptive picked up on it.
"Why are you sad?" One of her kids asked, the others staring in a way that made her realize that the little boy was speaking for all of them. Looking at their worried little faces, Vivian could not bring herself to lie to them.
"I have found a new place to live, and while it is great it is nothing like my old place so I am a bit sad to be leaving," After sharing her truth Vivian expected the kids to not really get it.
But little Sue at the back suddenly spoke up. "That’s okay Miss Rose. My grandpa says when you are moving to a new place you shouldn’t miss your old place too much because wherever you’re going you’re going to meet new people and have lots of fun," The child beamed and Vivian found herself smiling back at her. The expression not even fake. Little Sue was right. She was moving to be with her Ryan and that made leaving behind her apartment completely worth it. After Sue’s insight the others joined in as well.
"My auntie moved to a new country, she says home is wherever her favorite people are," That one really made Vivian feel loads better.
"Don’t be sad to go, look forward to what is coming, and always wear rain boots," She could not help but laugh at that, and as the kids continued to speak. The less daunting the idea of the move became.
With the words of wisdom from her kids helping to give her a much needed boost. Vivian floated throughout the rest of the day. Allowing herself to lean into the excitement and joy that she felt for the adventure ahead. Instead of focusing too much on what she would be leaving behind. After waving the last of her students off, Vivian returned to her classroom and began setting things in order as she waited for Ryan to arrive.
By the time that the classroom was looking presentable again, he still had not arrived and when she went to recover her phone she discovered why.
Ever thoughtful, Ryan had sent her a message shortly before school had ended. She was only seeing it at that moment because she had not switched her phone on immediately after her last student had gone home. [I am so sorry sweetheart. It seems I am going to be late. The meeting is taking way longer than anticipated. But as soon as I am done I’ll be heading right to you]. A little disappointed, but glad that he had at least thought to inform her that he would be late. Vivian sent out a quick reply.
[It is alright, I understand]. Her text sent, she took a seat and passed the time by playing games on her phone. Half an hour later she began to feel antsy. Getting to her feet she looked outside the window. As expected there was no one there, but Vivian could not shake the feeling that she was being watched.
Rolling her eyes at how silly she was being. She tried not to dwell on it too much, but she just could not stop herself. As the minutes ticked by, the school steadily got spookier and spookier.
She knew that it was all in her head, that there was not really anyone out there watching...waiting. But Vivian had watched way too many horror movies involving empty school buildings to feel safe. So giving into her fears she sent a quick text to Ryan.
[Do not bother trying to come and get me at the school. Just meet me at the apartment, okay]. After hitting send she grabbed her handbag and made her way out of the classroom. The spookiness of the now mostly abandoned school did not ease once Vivian left her class. If anything it got worse, the shadows felt longer, darker and every time she stopped and looked at one for too long it felt as though something was about to jump out from there and attack her.
There were only two cars left in the parking lot. One belonged to the school director and the other to one of her fellow teachers. For a moment Vivian thought of sticking around until they came out. But then she decided to stop being a chicken and just go. She had already told Ryan that he would find her at the apartment. If she kept on stalling she might just be the one to find him there. She did not want to have him waiting around for her, so she picked up her pace and left the school behind.
Her eyes straying to a car parked just outside the school, Vivian’s mind instantly went to countless movie scenes where villains stalked their victims before killing them. Realizing that she was scaring herself for no reason, she began deliberately thinking of nothing but happy thoughts. She had far too much to look forward to, to ruin her mood by recalling all of the school based horror movies that she had ever watched.