Unraveling the Threads of Fate

by Alice Winters

Some people are born lucky. Then there’s me. Destined to be loved and murdered by the same man. The one who knows my darkest secret and who I’d hoped to never see again.

I’m far enough away from the others that as long as my little pests will keep their mouths shut, no one will know—

Falling in love with Bishop King might be even worse than being killed by him.

“Yeah, well I served in the military, and I didn’t let out a peep when I was shot right through the leg.” “Wow, that’s… impressive.” He preens a little. “Thank you.”

“You’re going to apologize to Mr. King and sit with him for lunch to assure him that our school is not disgraceful,” Principal Newell says. “Anything but that,” I beg. “You can be gently let go?” he suggests. I grimace at him because while I’m aware he can’t fire me for simply accidentally saying “fuck” in front of sophomores, he can make my life miserable. “I would absolutely love to sit with Mr. King and tell him all about our wonderful school.”

I glance around,

hoping someone is breaking their neck to take it from me, but everyone seems quite content where they’re at.

“I’m only sitting because my boss is forcing me to,” I say with a smile. If Principal Newell looked at us now, he’d see us beaming at each other like a couple of weirdos. “Really? You didn’t miss me?” he asks, voice almost toying, like he wants to get something more out of me. “Nooooo, not at all. Did you miss m...

When the final bell rings, I watch the students rush for the door, thrilled for the weekend. Hopefully by Monday, they’ll have forgotten I said the word “fuck.” Honestly, it’s the little things in life that seem to amuse them.

“Don’t do that, I’d have to drag your carcass out of the house… at least do it before I clean for a party,” I say. She narrows her eyes at me. “Ha. Ha. You’re so funny.”

I hesitate because I really didn’t think he would swing that way. Does he? Well… I mean if we’re destined to be together, he must be bi—nooooo, nope. Not thinking about that at all.

Clearly, I don’t need to worry because his car is still sitting in the driveway, and he currently looks like he’s becoming one with his steering wheel.

“Do you usually run around without shoes on?” he asks as he trails after me. “It’s a new fad. You’d only get it if you were rich.” “Ah, makes sense. Us poor people generally don’t like stepping on sharp shit,” Alex says with a hint of a grin.

“You are now letting it back in,” she says. “And you’re supposed to be cleaning,” I remind her.

She ignores me as she keeps staring because while her job title might be housekeeper, her self-appointed job is being nosy.

“I’m so packed full of adrenaline right now that I feel like I could run at least twenty-five laps around this place, and while I’d probably die by lap two, I’m still prepared to try,” he says, lips quirking. “Feel free. I’ll wait here while you do it,” I say.

“Do you have to breathe so loudly?” he asks. I roll my eyes. “I’m sorry, I’ll just stop breathing.” “Thanks.”

“You want me to put you to sleep?” I ask. “Don’t make it sound like I’m a dog you’re offing,” he grumbles. I give him a shrug while trying not to grin. “Want me to off you or no?” He gets a strange look on his face that makes me hesitate. “I was clearly joking,” I say. “I don’t know what you rich people do for sport,” Alex says with a look of amusement.

Alex is lying facedown, so I nudge him with my foot which just gets a grunt. “Alex?” I ask again. “Hmmmm.” “You wanted my help. Are you on drugs?” I ask, realizing this is what it feels like when I invade someone’s mind that’s on something. “Nope.” “You are. Come on,” I say as I drag him up to his feet and give his face a little smack to get his attention. It’s like trying to keep a noodle standing. “You were so naked when I came in,” he says, then lets out a giggle. A literal giggle. “Are you high?” I ask. “Nooooo.” “You’re high.” “I am, in fact, not high. I tried to drown out the world by taking some anti-anxiety

meds. Made my gift poof, go away,” he says, smiling like he’s proud of himself. “How am I supposed to help you if your gift is gone?” I ask. He stares at me for an extremely long time. “Fuck.”

Ohhhh how tempting it’d be to smack him awake after all of this bullshit.

“You have your fated soulmate, then?” I ask. He closes his hand. “Yep, she’s like ninety-two and calls me Sugartits. It’s a little weird but the threads don’t lie,” he says with a shrug.

“How hard did you have to kiss your dad’s ass for this place?” Alex asks as he looks around the large room. “Pretty hard. It was a little awkward.” “I bet. My dad gave me a cardboard box one time and he like fitted it with another cardboard box so it was like a double-decker

cardboard box. It was really cool. I think you’d have liked it.” “I bet,” I say.

“So am I getting paid here or are you?” He points at a gaudy vase that had arrived after my mom hired decorators to make the house seem “homey.” He eyes it. “I kind of like this. It looks like what happens after my cat hacks up hairballs. Same colors.” “You can have it. It’s really good quality too. No matter how many times I knock it off, it just won’t break.” “Nice. Might be able to pawn it for something or at the very least use it to defend myself when your dad comes after me again,” he jokes.

He lets out a laugh before stilling his features. “Wait… seriously? I mean… nice to meet you!” I narrow my eyes at him. “Do you not know who I am?” “No…?” “My father owns half this city.” “My dad owns like mortar shell or whatever it’s called, but I bet you didn’t know that.” “Is that even legal?”

“I brought donuts,” I announce. “They look extremely healthy.” “Fantastic. I’ll feast on the donuts, and you can nibble on a celery stick like a rabbit,” I say as I look for a surface to put them

on that’s not laden down with some type of fancy vase or trinket. “I like your… statue in the shape of a vagina. It’s very progressive.” “It’s a flower.” “Oh. Clearly, I haven’t seen too many.” “Flowers?” he asks with a grin. “Yeah.”

“My thread senses are telling me you’re destined to devour that donut,” I say. His eyes lock on to one. “I guess one won’t hurt. It’ll just be like… a reward for dealing with you.” “If people get rewards for dealing with me, I should get the whole box because I have to deal with myself every day,” I say. “Now where do you want me?”

The position sounds weird, but I lie down and set my head on his lap in what has to be the most awkward position to ever eat a donut. “I feel like I should have finished my donut first. Like you can’t even put me to sleep while I’m still eating, but it’s too late. Do I sit back up? Do I just gaze awkwardly up into your eyes while eating?”

“What’s jabbing me in the ear?” “My phone.” “Oh.” “Disappointed?” “Momentarily.”

“Want me to sing you to sleep?” “That is the absolute last thing I want you to do to me right now.” “Last? Interesting…” he says before setting a pillow on my face. “Sleep.”

“What are you doing?” “It’s called soul gazing.” “Really? I thought it was called ‘Awkwardly stare at someone until you intimidate them into leaving you alone,’” I say.

I like how you came in through the window after not seeing me for thirteen years like it’s a normal thing to do.”

“Yeah, that’s how us poor folk do it. We don’t have doors. I like how your house is so massive that there are probably bodies somewhere in it and I’d never know.” “Well, you will know when I add you to the collection,” he says.

“Splendid. I like that your face doesn’t make me want to cringe.” “Oh… um… thanks? But it was my turn.” “You’re welcome,” I say. He knows he’s gorgeous; he definitely...

Bishop nods while clearly trying to think of something to like about me. “I like the way your head connects to your neck.” “That’s… extremely kind of you,” I say. “You’re welcome.” “Do you think we’ve connected to each other enough now?” “I’m going to go out on a limb and say ...

What the hell kind of article is he reading? “Well, that doesn’t sound awkward at all, so let’s do it,” I say, assuming he’ll back out of it. “I can’t wait,” he says, proving me wrong by not backing out… of course.

“Good, I’m glad. I’ve always been amazing at finding the best solution to things. You forgot to mention that when you told me my face only barely made you sick,” Bishop says.

“No, I said it doesn’t make me feel sick. Now we just move forward until our foreheads become one, right?”

“Yep, just like that. Merge them together,” he says as he presses ...

“What are you two doing?” Edward King says as he rushes over to us. It’s something I would actually also like to know. “Connecting our souls, clearly,” Bishop says. “Dad, can you not knock?”

Until I remember something awful. “I forgot the donuts,” I realize. Bishop looks oddly confused. “Leave the donuts.” “But they’re really good donuts.” “I’ll get you new donuts. Just go. I can’t prove my point if I go back for the donuts.” “You’d actually look extra badass going back in for the donuts,” I say with my best charming smile.

He stares at me for a long moment before turning around and going back into battle only to return with my box of donuts.

“What’s a name for the order?” the lady asks. “Your majesty, please,” Alex says. “Oh?” she says, clearly amused. I glare at Alex while wondering why I’m putting up with him, but I’m just sticking around because I promised to help him. That’s all it is. Once we have our drinks with “Your Majesty” scribbled across them, we head to an empty table.

“So if I like… tossed your donuts out into the parking lot, I wouldn’t have to apologize,” I say. “Okay, now that goes beyond apologizing. You’ll be lucky to still be walking if that

happens,” Alex decides. “You never, and I repeat never, fuck with a man’s donuts, you hear me?” “I hear ya,” I say with a grin. Why is it so easy to succumb to this guy’s charms again?

“Hellllo,” Alex says. “Alex… so… I’ve been thinking, and I believe it’d be best for us to continue our… bonding so we can get this over with quickly, and then I don’t ever have to see you again,” I announce. “Is this Bishop?” he asks, even though he can clearly see me standing on my porch holding my phone. “Obviously.” “Oh. My. God. Did… no… did your papa lock you out of your own house?” he asks, sounding borderline gleeful. “I swear to god, the amount of glee in your voice right now makes me never want to see your face again,” I decide. “Too bad because I’m getting closer to see your face. I want to know what rejection looks like. I mean… imagine being thirty and your papa locked you out of your own house for hanging out with a bad boy,” he says as I see him inching closer and closer.

I grab the door handle just as he backs up a little bit. I swear to god. If he didn’t look so goddamn proud of himself, which makes me feel oddly amused… I might have gone and groveled before my father. But instead, I walk back to the door, and this time, he actually unlocks it.

Cali doesn’t look ready to agree to that as she arches an eyebrow. “Eh. I already have boys asking me out left and right, and a few girls. And then here comes Mr. Coleman, breathing down their necks.” “It’s not my fault I breathe loudly,” Alex says.