Ryan felt dead.  No Ryan was dead, but that how was he still breathing.  The ground was rough and hard like rocks, hot rocks.  The last thing he recalled was seeing Emily’s relieved looking face before flinging him out the window and than everything was dark.  The sun was starting to set and Ryan’s legs weren’t moving, his eyes wouldn’t open, and ever breathe he took brought him so much pain.  However, Ryan was breathing which was a good thing… right?

Emily grabbed her papers she still needed to grade and headed inside of the apartment. 

“I’m home,” Emily called out as she entered the room.  Taking a look around Emily saw that Mary wasn’t in the living room.  “Where did she go?  Hey Ryan,” Emily called out putting in her ear piece as she looked around.  “Ryan?  Do you know where your mother went?  Ryan?  Hello...” Emily called out not hearing anything from Ryan.  “Where is he… did he go with his mother?”  Emily huffed a little at the lack of communication between everyone.  “They should have sent me a text or something.”  Slightly annoyed that she was left alone, Emily was also kind of happy.  She could now have some quite time to grade and finish the school work.  With Ryan out of the house and with his mom, Emily could relax without worrying about him.  The slight sense of him being gone was kind of like a weight lifted off her chest.  She wouldn’t have to try and keep one eye on him at all times. 

“I guess I could use a drink,” Emily remarked as she grabbed some wine and poured it into a glass as she sat down at the dinner table and laid out all the papers she needed to go over and grade.  As she worked she took a few sips and saw where her student’s were at with their school work, especially her last class.  The new students were roughly in the same spot as her usual students.  It seemed her class was just about a week or so behind Mr Sanford… Rick’s class.  Emily would have to get used to using his first name.

After all the grading was finished, and Emily set up tomorrow’s work, it was getting kind of late.  After finishing another cup of wine, Emily was feeling relaxed and calm.  Heading into the kitchen she looked for something to make for dinner.  Since it was just her, Emily didn’t have to worry about cooking for more than herself or any restraints on what people would enjoy. 

Grabbing some hamburger meat, Emily decided to make some simple chili.  It would be quick and filling.  Between the cooking and preparing, Emily’s mind was nearly turned off and ready for bed.  Her brain wasn’t even working at 50% capacity, she was just going through the motions and eventually completed cooking the pot of chili.  Eating the food took less brain power than making it, and it wouldn’t be long before Emily was finished cooking, eating, and cleaning up her mess.  By the time everything was done, Emily was mentally checked out for the night and was tired.  She was ready to get some sleep and wake up for work the next day.  Emily yawned and didn’t even recognize that Mary and Ryan were not back from whatever they were doing.  Emily brushed her teeth and jumped into bed.

As Emily was drifting off to sleep, she felt like she was forgetting something.  It was a small nagging feeling in her, but she usually always got that before she went to bed.  Usually it was nothing or turned out to be something insignificant like charging her phone, but her phone was plugged in and charging for the night.  So it had to be nothing.  Emily fell into her deep sleep as she started to dream.

Emily was still sleeping when she felt a light slowly beam on her face.  It was the morning sunlight.  Odd, normally the sun wouldn’t be up so early.  Emily stirred as she tried to think why the sun was waking her up and not…

Emily’s eyes shot open as she recalled what she forgot about!

“MY ALARM!”  Emily called out as she grabbed her phone.  Sure enough, she didn’t set the alarm.  She was late.  It wasn’t like “OH DEAR GOD I’M LATE,” It was “Oh shit I have to skip breakfast and my shower,” late.  Jumping out of bed, Emily skipped the small things that she could avoid so she could make it to work on time.  She dashed to her closet and grabbed some clean clothes and tossed them on.  Quickly she nabbed a banana and a bottle of water for a meal in the car and shoved all her papers into her bag as she headed for the door.  She prayed that she didn’t smell too bad from the lack of shower.  Emily hopped into her car and drove off.  Her mind was too preoccupied with short cuts to shave off a few minutes on her trip in order to make it on time, to say goodbye to Ryan.  She didn’t even bother to see if Mary made it back last night.  Emily was too busy mentally kicking herself for not recalling to set her work alarm. 

Starting up the engine of her car, Emily was already driving away trying to eat and drive at the same time.

“Stupid, stupid, stupid, I’m so stupid,” Emily muttered to herself for forgetting about something so important.

Emily arrived just in time.  Pulling into her parking spot, Emily got out of her car and sighed as she was on time.  It was a close one with a lot of close calls with some traffic lights, but she made it. 

“Rough morning,” Emily muttered as she walked toward the front doors like any other day.  Heading inside the school, Emily went to check in.  Signing in, Emily headed to her class room to prepare for her first period.  Opening her door, Emily was about to head in when she heard someone calling out to her.

“Emily,” Rick waved her down as he went to meet up with her.

“Oh, Rick,” Emily called out as he approached.

“So how did my student-”  Rick stopped himself before correcting his question, “sorry YOUR student’s do on that mock test,” Rick smiled.

“Oh they did fine.  Ethan is a sharp one isn’t he,” Emily remarked as the student scored the highest of all the student.

Rick laughed, “He sure is.  So all seven of them behaved the other day?”

Emily nodded before she caught the number, “Seven?  I only had six extra student,” Emily recalled mentally picturing all of the new faces.

Rick in turn frowned at the number, “Really?  You should have had seven.”  Rick went down the list of students that were added to Emily’s class.  Each one she nodded as she recalled the name and face.  Finally Rick said, “And Teddy.”

Emily’s brow furrowed more as she tried to remember the last student, “Teddy?  Which one is Teddy?”

“You know,” Rick said as he held up his fingers and showed a small size.  “The smallest of the kids,” Rick added to get the point across.

It dawned on Emily what Rick was saying, a shrinky.  But she didn’t recall seeing a shrinky in her classroom…

“Huh, haven’t meet Teddy yet,” Emily told Rick.

“You didn’t?  That’s strange,” Rick commented looking perplex, “I thought he came to school yesterday.  I guess I mistaken him for another student,” Rick told Emily before chuckling, “That’s kind of embarrassing.”

Emily smiled at Rick, but didn’t say anything.  As much as she hated to admit it… they did kind of all look the same at a certain distance.  It was a horrible thing to say, but it is hard to make out some features that someone would have.  “Just don’t let anyone hear you say that,” Emily remarked.

Rick shook his head, “Never.  Alright, I should head out, got to get ready for first period.”

“Same,” Emily told him as she opened the door to her class room.

“Lunch?”  Rick asked.

“Uh,” Emily paused.

“I can order something quick, before your lunch starts.  It’ll be here when 6th period is over,” Rick offered.

Emily hesitated as she thought about it.  She didn’t mind having lunch with her coworkers, especially with Rick, but two days in a row seemed a little too much.  A little too friendly for coworkers.  However before she could decline it, her empty stomach protested and reminded Emily that she did rush this morning.  She didn’t have any food for lunch.  “Just a quick lunch,” Emily said.

“Oh absolutely,” Rick smiled.  “A quick lunch, can’t keep you from your work.”

Emily shook her head with a smile, “That’s right.  Oh, and nothing with tomatoes.”

Rick nodded.  “Wouldn’t dream of it.  I’ll see you for lunch,” Rick said as he left Emily.

Emily couldn’t help but feel a slight sense of guilt.  The idea of spending some time with Rick and eating lunch sounded great, but was she looking froward to it more for his company or for the food? “It’s just lunch.  That’s all, just lunch with a coworker.”

Entering the classroom, Emily prepared for her students and the first period.  Heading to the whiteboard she started to prepare the first lesson.  Just as she was finishing up, Emily tossed her purse near her desk and went to greet her students just as the bell rang.  Her students were entering the classroom, the same familiar faces came through the doorway.  The usual faces of tired or cheerful students took their seats and started to get ready for class.

“Okay, class, today-”

The sound of Emily’s phone going off was heard from her desk.  The class turned toward the sound.  Emily was embarrassed by the distraction, “Sorry, one second class.”  Emily hurried to her purse to pick up her phone.  It was Mary.  Why was she calling?  Emily couldn’t think of a reason she would call, so she let it go to voice mail and flipped the do not disturb on the phone.  Emily would call her back after class.  It probably wasn’t anything important, like they ran out of milk or picking something up for dinner.  Turning back to her class, “Sorry.  Where were we… Oh right, today we’re going to continue from where we left off.”  Emily said heading back to the front of the classroom to teacher her students.

It was hard keeping it together through the morning and closer to lunch with just a banana and some water, but Emily did it like a champ.  Her hunger was very distracting and she found it difficult keeping up her positive attitude for the classes but her class didn’t comment or notice it.   Finally it was fifth period and the last one before lunch.  Emily held back a groan at the thought of food right now.  She needed to concentrate.  As Emily wished her class a good day and waited for the next group of students to fill the room, she stood by the door.  There, she saw Mr Holt walking toward her class with Derrick.

“Hello, Mr. Holt.  Hello, Derrick.”  Emily greeted and spotted one extra person in Mr. Holt’s hand.  “Kayla?  Where’s your sister Kristy?”

Mr. Holt responded for Kayla, “She was sick this morning.”

“Oh, I hope she feels better,” Emily sympathized with the girl’s twin being sick.  Emily held out her hand as the two small students walked into her gentle palm.  Emily placed Derrick on her desk before walking Kayla over to her usual desk and set her down “Are you going to be fine here by yourself today?”  Emily asked.

Kayla looked hesitant before nodding and saying something that Emily didn’t catch.  It sounded something like “might need help”. 

“I’ll get someone to help you for today,” Emily told her before heading to the doorway.  As her students came inside she saw just the person she was looking for, “Cathy.”  Emily greeted.

“Hey Ms. B,” Cathy greeted.

“Do you mind helping me out,” Emily asked.

Cathy looked confused but nodded, “Sure, what is it?”

“Kristy is sick today and I was hoping maybe you can help Kayla-”

Cathy’s face lit up, “OH YEAH!  Totally Ms. B, I gotcha.  Just like ask questions for her and like help with her notes right,” Cathy said with a smile on her face.

Emily nodded, “Yeah, just look after her till class is over.”

Cathy’s grin stayed on her face, “You can count on me!”

Emily let out a sigh, “Thanks.”

Kayla shook in fear. 

“No… anyone but her,” Kayla said out loud watching Ms Baker talking to Cathy.  Sure enough, the look on Cathy’s face told Kayla her nightmare was coming true.  With Kristy absent, her tormentor would have full rein over her.  Kayla prayed that Ms. Baker would have gotten another student to help ward off Cathy today, but it backfired on her.  The look on Cathy’s face as she walked over to Kayla’s desk was of pure glee.

“Heeeeey,” Cathy greeted as she loomed over Kayla.  “I’m here to help you today,” Cathy told Kayla as she took a seat in the desk.  Kayla felt a cold shiver rise up her spine from those words.  The tone behind them were the complete opposite of the meaning. 

“Please, just leave me alone,” Kayla shouted up at Cathy who grinned down at her.

“No can do, I promised to keep you company till class is over.  That’s another 45 minutes.  45 minutes of me, and you...” Cathy said point her big finger at Kayla

Kayla gulped as she looked up at the girl.  Kayla didn’t know what she did to provoke the giantess.  Ever since day one she had been out to get her.  Kayla wanted to protest and get Ms. Baker’s attention but she started to teach the class already.  Her attention was on the other 30 students. 

“Should start taking notes,” Cathy said as she pulled out a large sheet of paper and slapped it on the desk.

“Y-yeah,” Kayla said as she pulled out her own version of a small sheet of paper.  Kayla was about to start taking notes when two large fingers grabbed the small sheet out of her hands.  “HEY!”  Kayla shouted as Cathy plucked the paper out of her hands.

“What is this?  Oh my God you actually have your own paper,” Cathy asked amused by the fact.

“Give it back,” Kayla protested looking at the giantess holding her sheet of paper.  Cathy on the other hand didn’t listen as she just dropped it off the side of her desk.

“Ops, guess you can’t take notes,” Cathy remarked with a smirk.

Ms. Baker’s voice was heard, “Is everything ok?”

Cathy and Kayla both turned to look at their teacher.

“She took my paper!”  Kayla screamed. 

No one reacted to her shouts.

Cathy on the other put on a friendly smile, “Oh it’s nothing.  Kayla forgot to bring paper.  I’ll just have to take extra notes for her, isn’t that right,” Cathy said looking down at the helpless girl.

Ms. Baker smiled at the two girls, before heading back to teaching.

Cathy’s eyes locked onto Kayla as she continued to grin that horrifying smile.  “Time to take notes,” Cathy said as she picked up her pencil.  She effortlessly brought it toward Kayla.  Kayla backed up from the tip of the eraser moving in closer.  The rubber tip was jabbed at Kayla forcing her back a few steps.

“Stop it!  HEY!”  Kayla called out.  However all she got was another jab near her shoulder sending her backwards and down on the blank paper underneath her.  Kayla landed on her back.  By the time she opened her eyes she saw the sharp tip of the pencil aiming at her.  “NO NO NO!”  Kayla screamed trying to get away.  It didn’t help, Cathy just smiled as she pushed the tip down and aimed for Cathy’s belly.  “STOP!!!”  Kayla screamed as she held up her hands and tried to fend off the large pencil.  It took all her force to stop the pencil from being pushed into her skin, however it slowly didn’t help as Cathy simply applied more pressure.  The tip inched it’s way closer and closer and closer.  Kayla was crying as she was losing ground.  The tip was so sharp it would pierce her if it was stabbed into her!

Kayla could make out the smirk and enjoyment that Cathy was having as Kayla struggled to keep the skewering tip from making contact.  Just when the black tip was going to collide with Kayla’s skin, the pencil stopped it’s descent. 

“Better hold on,” Cathy remarked as she started to move the pencil like she was writing.  Kayla felt her back rub on the paper as she was dragged with the writing utensil.  Kayla let out a cry of protest as she was flung around as Cathy pretend to take notes with Kayla on the tip of the pencil.  She was being wiggled and dragged around the paper up, down, left, and right.  She was spun around in circles and shapes.  Kayla didn’t know why no one was stopping this, but not even Ms. Baker was aware of this.  Cathy had to be putting on a good show for everyone to not think she was doing anything wrong. 

Kayla’s arms screamed in protest as she knew that the moment she stop resisting the pencil it would stab her in the belly button and straight into her gut.  All her crying and pleading for mercy was unanswered by Cathy who was slowly playing around with her.

Just as Kayla was about to lose the battle, the pencil stop writing.  Cathy eased up and pulled the pencil away from Kayla’s body.  Kayla just laid there looking up with tears in her eyes.  What now?  Was class almost over?  Kayla looked at the clock and saw with horror that it had only been the first 5 minutes.

“Checking the time,” Cathy asked lightly.  “Don’t worry, there’s plenty of fun time,” Cathy remarked as she dug into her bag to find something else.  Kayla watched as Cathy pulled out various writing tools, markers, pens, glue, and highlighters.  “I only have so much time that I can play with you, better make it count,” Cathy said cheerfully.

Kayla shook her head as Cathy popped the top of a glue stick.  Before Kayla could try and run away, Cathy had her flipped on her back and laying down.  She felt the glue stick rub on her back leaving behind a sticky layer of glue before she was flipped over and pinned to the paper by the same glue stick.  Kayla struggled and fought to break free, but the glue stick was too big and heavy from Cathy pinning it to her.  It only took a few moments but the sticky back side of Kayla started to dry and soon, she was stuck and glued to the sheet of paper.

Smiling Cathy began to pull the stick away from Kayla.  “Ok, now that you can’t move… hehe,” Cathy laughed softly.  The sound of a top to something popping off could be heard.

Kayla couldn’t help but scream, “WHAT ARE YOU DOING!”

Cathy ignored her as she brought what looked like a highlighter or marker to Kayla.  Soon the wet tip was jabbed at Kayla’s legs as Cathy started to color over Kayla’s body, till her whole body was bright yellow.

“Mmm, maybe another color?  Yeah, I think blue will look better,” Cathy proceeded to take another highlighter with blue coloring before marking Kayla’s frozen limbs.  Over and over the giantess colored parts of Kayla’s body.

As much as Kayla hated this she couldn’t help but finally have a sense of victory.  She had proof now!  She could prove that Cathy was tormenting her in class!  Ms. Baker would see her color coated body and know that Cathy was her bully, “Enjoy it, cause now Ms. Baker will know about you!”

This didn’t even seem to phase Cathy, “Oh please.  Like I'm that stupid,” Cathy smirked. 

The way she said that made Kayla sick to the stomach.  “What?  What do you mean?”

Cathy didn’t comment as she popped the top of another marker, “Don’t you worry, little thing.  We still have more than 30 minutes of arts and crafts.”

Kayla could only stay there as Cathy did as she pleased with her.  Cathy continued to mark and scrible things on Kayla’s entire body.  Lays of on layers of colorful dye were pressed and rubbed into Kayla’s skin.  All the while Cathy teasing and taunting her struggles to get free.

Emily watched Cathy vigorously take notes.  Swapping between different writing utensils.  Emily had never seen Cathy so involved with her class like this.  She was using highlighters and markers to take notes, it was amazing.  Emily felt so proud of her student, helping her fellow classmate…

Emily frowned, where was Kayla?

Emily couldn’t see from this angle and Cathy’s desk.  Kayla had to be on the other side of Cathy’s arm as she was copying what Emily wrote on the board.  Emily was temped to slow down so Cathy wouldn’t trail behind on note taking, but she did have to get through this lesson.  Emily figured she would see if Cathy or Kayla needed to see her lesson plan after class to finish any notes they may have missed.

Just as the bell was about to ring for the end of class, Emily started to head over to Cathy and Kayla.  Cathy looked up and before Emily could notice the rest of her desk, Cathy’s arm bumped into something.

“OH NO!”  Cathy said jumping up as a bottle of white out splashed all over her paper and spilling on the desk.

Emily watched as the goo spilled and blanketed the desk, paper, and poor little Kayla.

“KAYLA,” Cathy nearly cried out.  “I’m so sorry!”  Cathy cried out as she tried to pull the little shrinky out of the white swamp.  “Ms. B, I’ll take her the nurses office right away,” Cathy told her.

The bell rang and any student that wasn’t getting up to see the mess was now getting up to leave the classroom.  Emily was about to say something when Mr. Holt came into the classroom.

“What’s going on?  What happened,” He asked.

“I spilled some white out on Kayla,” Cathy told everyone as she was in tears.

“It’s alright it was a mistake,” Emily said.  “Come on we need to get Kayla to the nurses to rinse this off her.”

Mr. Holt headed to Emily’s desk and picked up Derrick and all four of them headed to the nurses office.  Emily locked the class room door before turning to Cathy, “I think we can take care of it from here, you should get going to your other class.”

Cathy sniffed, “You sure, Ms. Baker?  I feel so bad about what happened.”

“I’m sure,” Emily nodded.  Cathy nodded before walking off.  “Poor girl must feel so bad right now.  We should get going,” Emily said as the rest of them headed to the office.

Derrick tried to get Mr. Holt or Ms. Baker to hear him as he tried to explain what he witnessed.  He saw the whole torment going on since Cathy sat down with Kayla.  She tormented the small little girl all class.  The white out wasn’t an accident, it was all on purpose.  However as they headed to the office, neither of the larger adult figures were really paying attention to him, just the small white covered Kayla.  Once they got inside the administration office, Mr. Holt set Derrick down on the main welcoming desk. 

The secretary looked up, “What’s going on?”

“A small student got doused in white out,” Mr. Holt told her.

“It was all an accident,” Emily told her.

“Oh the poor dear,” The secretary said getting up and following after the two, “Is she ok?”

Derrick was left on the counter top like desk.  Unable to do anything but stand there, he looked around.  There wasn’t anyone in the office expect one student.  He got up and headed over to Derrick.

“You in Ms. B’s class,” He asked.

Derrick was hesitant to answer.  He had no idea who this was.  Or why he was even here.  Slowly he nodded.

“Yeah me too.  Names Rex, so” He said pointing the direction of where the nurse office was, “What happened?”

Derrick wasn’t sure why but he felt like he had to tell someone the truth.  “She was bullied in class.  I saw the whole thing, Cathy tortured Kayla all through class and than covered her in white out!”

“Oof, that sounds rough,” Rex commented.  “You said you saw all of it?  So, your like an eyewitness?”

Derrick nodded, “Yeah, I just need to tell someone about this.”

“Yeah…” Rex nodded.  “Yeah.  But you haven’t told anyone yet?”

Derrick shook his head, “No.  They didn’t hear me yet.”

“Ah,” Rex said seeing the issue.  “Yeah, that is a problem.  I’m guessing you’re going to tell them as soon as you can?”

Derrick paused at the weird question, “...”

Rex chuckled, “I’ll take that as a yes.  You see, you shrinkies usually have a big mouth for something so small.  My brother likes to tattle a lot.  Or I guess USED to.  Anyway,” Rex’s fingers were on Derrick before he could protest.  “Can’t have you getting someone in trouble.  I mean sounds like she was just having some fun, right?  No point in getting in trouble over just a prank.”

“Wh-what hey!  NO!  Wait!”  Derrick shouted. 

Rex was already holding Derrick in his hand.  “Now… what to do with a rat like you?”

Derrick saw the grin on Rex’s face.  He let out a fierce scream, “SOMEONE HELP!!!!”

Emily made sure that Kayla was okay.  She was shaken up, and couldn’t speak as they had to furiously scrub her to peel off the white paint.  When they were done, her skin was a deep red as they might have scrubbed off the top most layer of dead skin leaving her looking pink.  There were still splotches of white in her hair and some other places they couldn’t reach, but when they were done, she was mostly depainted.

Emily headed out of the office to see Rex there.

“Rex?  What are you doing here?”

“OH, hey Ms B.  I was just here to change my classes for next year.”

Emily nodded, “Oh right, forgot about next year.”  Emily turned toward the reception desk and didn’t see Derrick.  “Did-”

“Oh Derrick?  From your class?  Yeah I thought I would walk him to his class for everyone.  Seemed like you all were in a panic.”

Emily shook her head, “You have no idea.  Some white out landed on a small student.  She was covered in it...”

Rex winced, “Ooo, yeah that sounds bad.  Speaking of… Ms. B,” Rex said pointing down, “Looks like you got some on your shoes.”

Emily looked down and sure enough she had a nice splatter mark on her shoe.  “Oh dang it… I love these shoes too.”

“I mean… I could get them off for you,” Rex offered.

Emily looked puzzled, but a slight ray of hope, “You could?”

“For you, totally, Ms B.  I’ve had my spills of white out before.  I could get them fixed up before next period if you want?”

“Uhhh,” Emily was hesitant.  This was strange to ask her student to do.

“If your worried about shoes,” Rex commented as he pointed to the lost and found.  “I think they might have a spare.  It would just be till last period, I swear on my heart,” Rex said marking a cross on his chest.  “I’ll make it look like it never even happened,” Rex grinned.

“… I couldn’t have my student-”

Rex laughed and winked at her, “Just give me 2 extra bonus points and we call it even.  What do you say.”

Emily couldn’t help but smile and shake her head, “You’re not going to make me regret this are you?”

“No way, Ms. B.”

Emily let out a sigh, “Alright.”

Derrick couldn’t move, literally.  Rex, the asshole, had taken some tape and strapped Derrick down in the heel of some random set of shoes.  Derrick tried to escape but the tape was too strong.  As he lay strapped down in the heel of the shoe, Derrick prayed that someone would find him.  His legs were strapped down, his arms, and his chest too.  The tape was just over his mouth so any cries for help were muffled into the plastic around it. 

There was some talking that Derrick couldn’t make out, but the sound of some stomping toward him could be heard.  Suddenly a pair of fingers dipped around the entrance of the shoe.  Derrick noticed the large fingers gripping the inside of the shoe as they picked it up.  It belong to a woman.  It was Ms. Baker’s fingers!

Derrick let out a squeal of noise that went unheard.  The shoe was lifted up and carried somewhere before they were dropped on the ground.  The sound and vibration of the impact were devastating to Derrick as his entire body shook from the noise and force.  Derrick was forced to look upward as a larger socked foot started to approach.  The panicked sounds coming from Derrick increased as the toes of the sock covered foot slipped inside the shoe. 

The only thing that Derrick could pray for, is the shoe was too small or large for Ms. Baker to wear.  Surely the odds of a random set of shoes being her size in the lost and found were astronomically impossible.  How could Ms. Baker’s feet fit in a random pair of shoes found in the lost and found?

However Derrick watched with horror as Ms. Baker’s sock covered foot started to slide into the shoe.  The width seemed just right as her toes glided past Derrick’s position.  Soon the tip of her foot went forward deeper into the darkness of the shoe.  Derrick let out a muffled scream as the bottom of the foot came closer to his face.  The smell of her feet were strong, as the scent of unwashed feet started to reach Derrick.  It was a harsh and pungent smell.  The sock covered sole of Ms. Baker was just a few inches away from Derrick so the smell became even more intense.  Derrick would have stop sniffing the air, but his mouth was tapped shut and was forced to breath in the strong sweat like smell leaking off of her foot.  Derrick watched as the last of the light was bloated out as Ms. Baker’s heel lined up right above Derrick’s body.  Derrick felt the massive heel start to press down on him as Ms. Baker finished slipping the shoe on. 

Letting out a huff as the soft nylon clothing pressed into his skin and the immense pressure of Ms. Baker’s weight pushed down on his legs, arms, chest, and face.  Derrick couldn’t move as the tape held him still and the crushing pressure of Ms. Baker bore down on him and into the insole of the shoe.  Derrick couldn’t hear what Ms. Baker was saying outside of the shoe.  However she soon started to walk.  The pressure eased up off Derrick as the heel of the shoe was lifted off the ground. 

Than came the horrible weight of Ms. Baker stepping down first with her heel.  Derrick felt his face getting scrunched and squished as the bottom of Ms. Baker’s foot rolled from the back of the heel to the tip of the shoe in a simple walk.  It was like someone had a large rolling pin and started to roll it over his body.  His face felt like it was pushed inward as his arms screamed in pain than down his chest and stomach and finally to the tip of his toes.  All this happened in less than a second.  Enough time for Derrick to muffled out a cry of agony before it all happened again, only it felt worse.  Ms. Baker had to have been speeding up her steps because the pain intensified after each and every step she took.  Derrick felt his body breaking down after the fourth step, but there would be many many more steps to come. 

Emily walked back to her classroom.  The new shoes felt weird.  Not, weird like they didn’t fit, but weird as in they weren’t really her shoes.  Wearing someone else shoes felt kind of gross in some way.  To Emily it was up there with using someone else toothbrush to clean your teeth.

However she couldn’t walk around with no shoes, and Rex said he could clean them by eighth period. 

Emily spotted Rick standing at her classroom door.  It wasn’t till now that she recalled how hungry she was and how grateful she was that Rick was there with two bags of food in his hands.  “Just in time,” Emily said with relief, “I though I was going to starve to death.”

“You’re that hungry?”  Rick asked surprised at Emily’s words.

“I had a rough morning, and afternoon,” Emily told Rick.

Rick nodded, “I’ve had those kinds of days before.”  Rick laughed, “This usually helps,” He told Emily as he held both bags up.

Emily stepped inside her class room and headed to her desk as Rick handed her a bag.

“Do you mind if I join you for lunch,” Rick asked.

Emily wanted to say that she was busy, but he did buy her lunch.  It would be the nice thing to do, “Uh, yeah sure.  Grab a seat,” Emily told him as Rick sat down and joined her.  Emily chatted and talked with Rick as they ate and she started to plan for her next and last class. 

“This was greet, we should do it again tomorrow,” Rick offered.

As fun as it was, Emily felt like that Rick might have gotten the wrong signals from her.  She didn’t want to have him misinterpret her actions the wrong way.“Uh, I’d like to, but-”  The bell rang cutting her off.

Rick laughed, “Time flies when your on lunch.”  Rick started to get up and head for the door, “Talk to you later?”

“Yeah,” Emily said, “We should talk later.”  Rick smiled as he left.  Emily was distracted by trying to recall if Rick knew she had a boyfriend.  Did he know or did she forgot to mention it?   Would it be weird to say it now after having lunch a few times-

“Hey Ms. B,” Rex called out as he came into the class room.  “Got your shoes all clean.”

Rex snapped Emily out of her thoughts, “Oh right.”  Emily lit up seeing her favorite pair of shoes clean and spotless.  “Oh my, you did clean them.”

“Ms. B, that hurts,” Rex said holding hand over his heart pretending to be offended, “Did you think I was lying?”

“No Rex,” Emily said rolling her eyes, “I just didn’t think they would be this clean.”  Emily took the shoes and sat down at her desk.  She slipped her feet out from the lost and found shoes and put on her nice work ones.  It felt better to have her own shoes on.  She wiggled her toes and stood up in the shoes.  “Thank you Rex,” Emily said reaching for the old shoes.

“I got this Ms. B,” Rex said snatching up the shoes and holding onto them, “I’ll take these back.  You don’t have to worry about them.”

Emily was shocked, “You sure?”

“Yup, I’ll be back before the bell rings,” Rex said as he headed off to return the shoes.

“I have the best students,” Emily said amazed at Rex’s action.

Rex smirked as he looked and made sure the shrinky was dead.  The crushed and blooded shrinky was unrecognizable in the shoe.  The tape was coming off but it didn’t matter, the shrinky was nothing more than a stain in the shoe.  The red remains were already mixing with the insole of the shoe.  Unless you knew there was someone in the shoe, one would have mistaken it as part of the shoe itself.  Rex grinned as he peeled and tossed the tape away in a trash can.  Ms. B had some killer feet.

The bell for the end of the school day rang and Emily sighed, “Okay class, I'll see you tomorrow.”

“Bye Ms. B,” Rex called out as he headed out of the room along with the other students.

Emily said bye before heading to her desk.  She picked up her things and than her purse.  Out of habit, Emily picked up her phone and looked at any missed messages-

“What,” Emily muttered as she looked at her phone what had 10 missed calls and over 30 some text.  All from the same person, Mary.  “Why...” Emily pondered why she was getting so many messages.  A small feeling of dread ran through Emily as she unlocked her phone and started to listen and read the messages.  Each one had a hysterical and upset sounding Mary asking if Emily had seen Ryan since yesterday. 

“Yesterday?… YESTERDAY?!”  Emily nearly cried out as it all snapped back to her.  Emily dumbly looked at her desk, as if she would see Ryan standing there from yesterday.  Obviously he wasn’t there.  “R-R-Ryan,” Emily called out feeling her heart starting to hammer in her chest.  “Ryan?”  Emily peeked under her desk praying that she would find him there.  She only saw the tile floor, spotless.  There wasn’t any red marks, so that was a good thing, right?  “Oh God… where is he,” Emily said out loud looking around the classroom for any sign of Ryan.

“Calm down… where was the last place you recall seeing him,” Emily said out loud as she thought.  The only thing she really recalled from the other day was the unknown shrinky in her...shoe?

“OH GOD!”  Emily cried out as she felt tears welling up.  “Ryan?!”  Emily wasn’t 100% that it was Ryan but it would make sense if it was.  Praying that she was wrong, Emily ran out of her empty classroom and toward the parking lot where she hoped that she was wrong. 

As Emily rushed toward the parking lot she passed by Rick, “Emily,” Rick called out as she ran by him.  “What’s wrong?”  Rick asked heading after her.

Emily didn’t have time to tell him.  She needed to find Ryan.  She recalled how bad the shrinky looked yesterday and if that was Ryan… than it might be too late for him.

NO!

Emily wouldn’t accept that.

Rushing past the doors, she headed to the parking spot she parked in yesterday.  Looking around on the dark gravelly asphalt, Emily tried to pick out any form of a person that she tossed out her window… Why did she do that?!  Emily wanted to hit herself right now for being so stupid and heartless.  Looking around she started to get on her knees and search around like she lost her glasses or something as precious, like her boyfriend.

“R-Ryan,” Emily called out, trying to listen to any whisper of his voice. 

“Emily what are you doing,” Rick asked sounding worried from behind her.

“I-I…” Emily sniffed, “Ryan?”  Emily asked as she found what she was looking for.

Ryan heard a voice.  Maybe he was dreaming, or maybe he finally died.  He couldn’t tell.  He just knew that it sounded like Emily.  He slowly opened his eyes to see a heartbroken Emily crying in front of him.

Ryan tried to say her name but nothing came out of his mouth.  He was too tired, exhausted, and hurt to say anything.  He just laid still as he looked at Emily and with Rick standing behind her.

“OH GOD IS HE DEAD?!”  Emily cried looking at Ryan’s body.

I’m not dead, I think?

“Who is that,” Rick asked.

“He’s my b-boyfriend,” Emily said in tears.  She was really in bad shape.  Part of Ryan felt good about her looking so devastated, but the other part was hurt for seeing her cry like this.

“Boyfriend,” Rick asked.

Ryan shuddered as he took a breath.  Emily reached out but couldn’t touch Ryan.  Maybe it was cause she was afraid to hurt him more than he was now?  Or maybe she was worried to find that he might be dead?  Whatever the reason she couldn’t bring herself to inspect Ryan’s body.

“Is… is he dead?”  Emily asked again looking to Rick.

Rick leaned down and inspected Ryan.  “I’m sorry,” Rick said to Emily.

I’m not dead…

Emily looked so deflated at the news.  The horror on her face was clear.  She was devastated at the news.  A wave of tears came down from her eyes as she turned away.  “I did this to him,” She said so quietly.

“No, no you didn’t,” Rick tried to ease her.

“You don’t understand!  I-”

“Shhhhh,” Rick held Emily as he walked her a little further away from Ryan.  Ryan could still just make out their words as he struggled to move.  “Look, you’re hurting right now.  I’m sorry that this happened, but you don't’ seem like you should be alone right now.”

“His mo-mother…” Emily sniffed.

Rick shook his head, “I... I don’t think,” Rick sighed, “Maybe you should come to my place.  Just to till you calm down.”

“Y-your place,” Emily repeated.

“Yeah,” Rick said softly and sympathetic.  “I’ll take you home when you calm down,” Rick said as he walked Emily off and toward his car that was a few parking spots away.

Ryan was hurt and even more betrayed by this action.  She was going to his place?  Why would she do that?

“I’ll take care of the body,” Rick said walking back into Ryan’s view.  The large male gently picked up Ryan and brought him to Rick’s face.  Rick shook his large face as he examined Ryan’s body, “I’m sorry.  You must have been through hell-”

Ryan took a deep breath in to say something.  The action made Rick’s eyes widen in response.

“You’re alive...” Rick asked sounding shock at the struggles Ryan was doing.

“E-EM,” Ryan spoke weakly as those were the only words that came out.

Rick looked at Ryan as he struggled to move and talk.  “Well… this could be an issue,” Rick spoke.  “I’ll have to deal with you later,” Rick said as he slowly looked around. 

Ryan wasn’t sure if he heard that right.  Just when Ryan thought it couldn’t get any worse, Rick slowly lowered Ryan toward the hem of his pants.  Ryan would have protested if he could as Rick pulled the front part of his pants open.  Ryan was slowly slipped inside of Rick’s underwear.  Ryan tumbled and rolled down bouncing of Rick’s crotch and underwear as he was dropped down inside Rick’s clothing.  Ryan’s let out a sound of pain as he finally came to stop.  Ryan’s injuries sparked more pain for him as he lay there.

“Don’t struggle too much,” Rick warned.

Ryan couldn’t do much as he looked up past the dangling meat sacks above him and through the small gap that Rick was holding open for Ryan to see him staring down from above.  Ryan watched as the gap snapped shut sealing Ryan away from the world under a pair of testicles of a man he knew nothing about.  Sadly Ryan had a feeling it would have been better if he was actually dead...