The Monster Within

CHAPTER NINE

I RAN through all the possibilities in my head. The office had assigned me to the wrong locker. Some guy left the necklace for his girlfriend, but he mixed up the locker number. No, he wouldn’t have known the combination if the locker number was wrong.

“There must be a mistake. That locker must belong to someone else.” But it had been empty. That seemed odd, but it was possible whoever owned the locker wasn’t big on studying. No, the locker would be filled with books if that were the case. Nothing was adding up.

“Maybe you have a secret admirer.” Ethan looked around as if he was going to spot some guy staring at me.

“I doubt it. So far, I’ve only made enemies.” And a corpse. I shook the thought from my mind. “The only guy who’s been nice to me is a teacher, and I’m sure the necklace isn’t from Mr. Ryan.”

“Did I hear you say Mr. Ryan?” the girl across from me asked. “Hi, I’m Beth. I have Mr. Ryan for English lit last period. He’s a major hottie.” Her cheeks flushed, which didn’t really help my case.

Ethan eyed me.

“It’s not from him,” I assured him. “I just met him, and he has no idea where my locker is.”

Ethan went back to eating, but I could almost see his mind working, trying to make sense of the situation. “Are you going to keep it on?”

I hadn’t thought about it. I really did love the necklace, but if it was meant for someone else, I had to return it. Only how did I return something if I had no idea where it came from?

“I’ll ask around, you know, with the girls who have lockers near mine, and see if any of them know who it belongs to or who it was meant for.”

“But in the meantime, you’re going to wear it?” He hated the idea. That was clear.

Still, I didn’t want to take the necklace off. It felt so warm against my skin, and it was my birthstone. “I think I should keep it on. That way, people will see it, and if the person who left it in my locker sees it, they’ll let me know it’s theirs and that leaving it in my locker was a mistake.”

Ethan gave me a look that said he didn’t quite believe me, but he didn’t push the subject. Instead, he passed me his water bottle. “You forgot to get yourself a drink.”

“Thanks.” I ate my lunch, trying to avoid Ethan’s gaze, which was fixated on my necklace. I didn’t see how he could be jealous. So someone messed up and left it in the wrong locker. It obviously wasn’t meant for me.

At the end of lunch, the PA system came on again. “All students are dismissed for the day. Please proceed to your assigned buses. Students who drive to school should leave campus immediately.”

“What’s that about?” Ethan asked.

“Didn’t you hear?” Beth leaned across the table. “Someone tried to break into the school. That’s what the lockdown was about. The only reason they didn’t dismiss us sooner was because they had to wait for the buses. There was a big accident that closed the road to the school. I guess the police checked the building and deemed it safe, so they sent us to lunch in the meantime.”

“How do you know all this?” Everyone had been in the classrooms. How could she know about the break-in—or what I’d tried to make look like a break-in?

Beth shrugged. “The alarm. Only the emergency exits make that sound. So, either someone tried to break out or someone tried to break in. If a student was running out of the building, the principal wouldn’t have ordered a lockdown. That has to mean someone tried to get into the school today.”

It had been a while since I’d been in an actual school, so my knowledge of lockdown drills was rusty at best. But to everyone else, it was probably obvious. That was what I wanted, but I wasn’t ready to face all of this yet. Not that I ever would be ready.

Ethan put his arm around my shoulder as we walked out to his car. “Bad first day?”

“You could say that.”

“Want to tell me about it?”

I got in the car and leaned my head back on the seat. “Not really. Let’s just go to work. I’m sure Gloria will let us pick up the extra hours.”

I was right. Gloria was happy to see us. The lunch crowd hadn’t died down yet, so I threw on an apron and got right to work.

“You’re a peach.” Gloria slumped down on a stool at the counter. “I need a minute to rest my legs.”

“No problem. I’ve got it covered.” Work was the distraction I needed. I could forget about school. Forget about the mystery necklace. Forget about…my Hyde side and what it was capable of.

I placed orders as fast as Gloria’s husband Jackson could cook. Actually faster.

“Samantha, if you don’t slow down out there, Gloria’s going to have a fit. The customers will expect the service to always be this speedy, and her legs can’t handle it. Not to mention I can’t cook this quickly.”

Gloria and Jackson seemed like the cutest couple ever. They bickered, but everyone knew it was all in good fun. Yesterday, the customers had loved it. I swore Gloria and Jackson staged arguments just to get the customers to stay longer and spend more money. I could picture them at home each night scripting the arguments for the next day.

“I’ll slow down, Jackson. I’m just working off some pent-up energy from today.”

“Come sling some burgers for me then. That’ll work off the energy.”

I laughed and grabbed the order for table seven. “I could, but that would mean Gloria would be back to serving tables by herself. Do you want me to tell her you’re recruiting me?” I smiled at him, already knowing the answer.

Jackson rolled his eyes. “The last thing I need right now is that woman’s wrath. Off with you.” He shooed me out of the kitchen, and for a brief moment, I felt normal. This place had that effect on me. Or rather, Jackson and Gloria did.

“Did that man have you doing work for him in there?” Gloria asked the second I came out of the kitchen.

I shook my head. “He told me I was working too fast. The orders are piling up on him.”

Gloria sighed. “Ethan, honey.”

Ethan put the tub of dirty dishes down on the cart by the kitchen door. “Yeah?”

“Why don’t you go see if you can help Jackson in the kitchen?” It wasn’t a question, more like an order. “Samantha and I can bus our own tables for a while.”

“Sure.” He gave my elbow a quick squeeze before he left.

I headed back to the counter, which was filled with new customers. Most of them were younger, and I realized that school closing early had a lot to do with the sudden rush. I guess no one else ate the school’s meatloaf either.

Most of the students didn’t even look at me. To them, I was just another employee to wait on them. I filled soda after soda and put in six more burger orders. I wiped a spot clean at the end of the counter and pocketed my one-dollar tip. Immediately, the seat filled up again.

“Seriously?” I mumbled.

“Is this seat taken?”

I looked up to see the girl from yesterday. The one who’d caught me freaking out in the bathroom after I’d seen a glimpse of what Herman’s future would’ve been if…

“Huh? Oh, no. Have a seat.”

She raised an eyebrow at me. She was already sitting.

“What can I get you to drink?” I placed a menu in front of her.

“Coffee.”

“Black, right?”

“Only way to drink it.”

I poured her some coffee and set it in front of her. “I’ll be back to take your order in a minute. I have to go check on another table.”

“I’m not eating.”

“Oh, okay.” Great. She was taking up counter space and not ordering a meal. More tips down the drain.

I rushed around and, in another hour, things calmed down. Ethan stayed in the kitchen. Last time I got an order, he said he was having a blast with Jackson. Gloria said he could continue working in the kitchen and just help with cleanup at the end of the night. You would’ve thought she was offering him a two-week paid vacation. He was overjoyed.

I refilled the coffee girl’s cup seven times. Seven! She was a bottomless caffeine junkie.

“Can I get you anything else?” I asked, trying to drop the hint that she was abusing the free-refill policy.

“Nope.”

“Fine.” I noticed the saltshaker was empty, so I unscrewed the cap and got the big container of salt to refill it.

“What are you doing?” The girl sounded horrified, as if I was maiming a puppy right in front of her.

“My job.” I couldn’t keep the annoyance out of my voice.

“Do you have to do that where I’m sitting? You might get salt in my coffee. I paid for this, you know.”

I slammed the salt shaker down and glared at her. “No, you didn’t. You haven’t gotten your bill yet. And that cup is free, just like the six other free refills you’ve gotten.”

Gloria came out of the kitchen and gave me a look. I waved her off, letting her know I was fine. I knew this girl was a customer, and I was supposed to treat her nicely, but I was wiped, and she was getting on my nerves.

“Listen, it’s been a long day, and I’m tired. If it bothers you that much, I’ll go refill the salt at the other end of the counter.”

She glared at me for a second, and then her eyes fell on my necklace. “Where did you get that?”

I touched the necklace, feeling its warmth on my hand. I’d forgotten I was still wearing it. I’d tucked it under my shirt to keep it safe while I worked, but it must have slipped out at some point.

“I found it in my locker at school today. I don’t think it was meant for me, though.” I shrugged. “The funny thing is, it’s my birthstone, and it matches a ring my boyfriend gave me.”

“A ring?”

Why was I telling her all this? I didn’t even like her. “Never mind.” I took the salt and moved to the other end of the counter.

She got up and followed me, sitting down in the seat in front of me.

“What gives? I thought you didn’t want me refilling the salt and getting it in your coffee? I moved away from you, so why did you follow me?”

“Forget the salt.” She moved back a little. Apparently she really disliked salt. “Tell me about the necklace and the ring.”

“Why?”

“Because I like jewelry.”

I looked her over. She wasn’t wearing any jewelry. None. She was in a simple green dress, like the other day. How many green dresses did she own?

“Why aren’t you wearing any then?”

“Huh?”

“Jewelry. If you love it so much, why aren’t you wearing any?”

She looked down, avoiding my eyes. “None of it goes with green.”

That was the lamest excuse I’d ever heard. “Whatever.” I finished refilling the salt and went to check on the coffee pot.

“I’ll take another cup,” the girl said.

“Really?” I whipped my head around to look at her. “How do you not have to pee by now?”

She laughed. “I drink this much coffee all the time. I’m used to it.”

It was odd to hear her laugh, but at the same time, it was nice.

“What’s your name?” I asked.

“Why do you want to know?”

“I served you eight cups of coffee—no, make that nine.” I poured her another. “I think that deserves a name.”

“What’s yours?”

Was she always this much of a control freak? “Sam.”

“Nora.”

“Is that a family name? You don’t hear of many Noras these days.”

“Says the with girl with a guy’s name, Sam.” She emphasized my name, making it sound more masculine than I could’ve imagined.

“I was never a big fan of Samantha.”

“My grandmother’s name was Lenora Prudence.” She rolled her eyes, and I didn’t need to ask what her full name was.

I nodded, wishing she’d finish her coffee and leave. I’d had my fill of her for the day. Maybe two days.

“So, about that necklace.” She pointed to it.

“I already told you. I found it in my locker. I thought my boyfriend put it there, but he didn’t. Can I get you your check?”

“Who gave it to you then?”

“I don’t know. I don’t think it was meant for me. It was a mistake or something. Was that a yes for the check?”

“But you said it’s your birthstone, so why would you think it was a mistake?” She ignored my question again.

“Because I don’t know anyone else at school. I just moved here.” I tore her bill from my pad and slammed it on the counter.

“I’d like another cup,” Nora said.

“Don’t you think you’re taking advantage now?”

“What do you mean?”

“The people who run this place are really nice, and you’re drinking all their coffee for a measly $1.75. That’s pretty crappy.”

“Okay, I’ll tell you what. I’ll pay my bill if you take off that necklace.”

I wrinkled my brow. What a weird thing to say. “Why do you care if I’m wearing this necklace?”

“What’s the big deal? You said it wasn’t meant for you, so take it off.”

“No.” I suddenly felt very defensive.

“Fine,” she said. “I need to use the restroom.”

“Fine.” I matched her tone. “Then you can settle your bill,” I called after her.

I took her cup of coffee and dumped it into the tub of dirty dishes. I was cutting her off. I wanted her gone. I started cleaning the counter, trying to wipe away any trace of Nora and her strangeness.

After a while, she still hadn’t come out of the bathroom. I stormed in there, ready to demand she pay up and leave.

“That’s enough, Nora. You owe me money.” I flung the bathroom door open.

The bathroom was empty.