Passions flare between an older woman and her summer hire.

Based on a post by dark overlord 6, in 4 parts. Listen to the ► Podcast at Connected.

 

David’s Disrupted Life

Being awoken by his alarm clock was usually bad enough. When his mother got in on the act it was often decidedly worse. On this particular morning, David Cross enjoyed the distinct displeasure of both things happening. The first, because even though he had graduated the night prior, he had forgotten to switch the alarm off and it did its duty by trying to wake him for a non-existent school day. The latter, because he had left his cell phone sitting on the kitchen counter after staggering in from a graduation party at four a.m.

"David! This silly thing has rung at least four times in the last hour. Why don't you try answering it!" snapped his annoyed mother after she burst into his room unannounced.

"Jesus, Mom! What time is it?" he grumbled from beneath the covers.

"11:00 A.M., and high time you got up," she replied, tossing the phone onto his bed and going over to raise his blinds.

"Holy crap!" moaned David, who caught a burst of sunlight even through the sheet covering his eyes.

"David! Language!"

"Sorry; "

His mother moved off, muttering to herself what sounded like a list of grocery items.

David stayed in his bed and slowly lowered the covers. He drew in a breath as his eyes adjusted to the light feeling the urge to continue sleeping drain away. The phone on the bed seemed heavier than usual, as he lifted it in one hand just in time for it to ring loudly, nearly startling him into dropping it. The name flashing on the display said "Christopher Michaels," and David answered the call with a sigh.

"Good news travels fast," said David in a voice still tinged with exhaustion.

"So it's true," came the voice from the other side of the call.

The voice belonged to one of his best friends, and the only one not to attend the party the previous night.

"How are you taking it?" Chris asked.

"How am I taking my girlfriend of almost three years, dumping me on graduation night, for the guy I hate the most on the planet? Gosh, I don't know, Chris, how do you think?"

"I know, that was seriously cold. She could have at least waited until after the party."

David's heart, already seeming like a led weight in his chest, gained a few more ounces, sinking toward his feet.

"Yeah, I had to stand there and pretend like it wasn't bothering me while she and Alex hung all over each other."

His mind drifted back to the festivities he had attended after graduation. Everything had started wonderfully. The party had been thrown at his friend Stacie's house. Her parents had a gigantic, multi-story dwelling just outside the city, and after the usual dull high school graduation ceremony at Randolph High, seemingly everyone he knew had gathered there to celebrate. It should have been the pinnacle of his young life, but within a short time of his arrival, the whole thing had gone down the tubes in a big way.

He had been standing in Stacie's large backyard, talking to her about her plans for the summer, when his girlfriend, Heather Andrews, arrived. She was looking beautiful as always, her curly blond hair falling around a small, round face highlighted by a cute upturned nose, and brilliant blue eyes. They had been dating ever since hooking up for the first time the summer before their sophomore year.

"Excuse me, Stacie." he had said, politely stepping away from her and going over to join Heather on the back porch. Stacie's parents had set up several tables covered with snacks, and Heather stood by the bean dip, looking at him nervously as he approached.

"Hey, Gorgeous. Where have you been all my life?"

This ridiculous come on would ordinarily have rated at least a small giggle from his usually gregarious girlfriend, but tonight she only frowned.

"David; I wanted to talk to you before the party, but you left the graduation so fast."

"Sorry about that. Kevin needed a ride and wanted to stop by his parents so he could change before we came over here," he explained while moving closer, trying to get his arms around his girlfriend's waist even as she slipped back a step, avoiding his move.

"Is there something wrong?" he asked, not understanding her sudden skittishness around him.

"David, I wanted to tell you this in private, before the party. You know; I care a lot about you."