Updated Apr 8, 2026 • ~6 min read
Chapter 6: Room 12
Jace
Wednesday afternoon, Jace is in the middle of a client call when his phone buzzes with a calendar reminder.
**PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCE: Thursday, 6:30 PM, Oakwood Elementary**
Shit.
He forgot.
Harper’s school sent the email two weeks ago—conference week, sign up for a slot, meet Ms. Martinez to discuss your child’s progress. He signed up for Thursday because it was the only evening that worked with his schedule.
Thursday.
The same Thursday he’s supposed to have dinner with Sienna.
He finishes the call, then immediately texts her.
**Jace:** Bad news. I have to reschedule Thursday. Harper’s school thing came up and I can’t miss it.
Three dots appear almost immediately.
**Sienna:** What school thing?
**Jace:** Parent-teacher conference. I completely forgot it was this week.
**Sienna:** Oh.
There’s a pause. Longer than usual.
**Sienna:** Which school does Harper go to?
**Jace:** Oakwood Elementary. It’s over on Maple Street. Do you know it?
The dots appear. Disappear. Appear again. Disappear.
Jace frowns at his phone. That’s weird.
Finally:
**Sienna:** Yes. I know it.
**Jace:** Small world. Anyway, I’m really sorry about Thursday. Can we do Friday instead?
Another long pause.
**Sienna:** Friday works.
**Jace:** You sure? You seem quiet.
**Sienna:** I’m fine! Just busy. Friday is great.
**Jace:** Okay. I’ll make it worth the wait. Promise.
**Sienna:** Looking forward to it.
**Jace:** Miss you.
**Sienna:** Miss you too.
Jace stares at the exchange. Something feels OFF. She’s usually more talkative—paragraphs and rambling and questions about his day.
This was… short. Distant.
But maybe she really is just busy. Middle of the school day, kids everywhere, probably no time to text properly.
He pockets his phone and tries to shake the uneasy feeling.
🔥
That evening, Harper bounces into the kitchen while Jace is making dinner.
“Dad, guess what!”
“What?”
“Ms. Martinez said conferences are this week and she’s excited to meet all the parents!”
Jace stirs the pasta sauce. “That’s nice, Harp.”
“She’s really great, Dad. Like, the BEST teacher I’ve ever had.”
“You say that every year.”
“I mean it this time! She makes everything fun. And she’s NICE. Like, really nice. And she’s funny. And she actually LISTENS when we talk.”
Jace smiles at Harper’s enthusiasm. It’s good to see her this excited about school. Last year’s teacher was… fine. But clearly Ms. Martinez is something special.
“Well, I’m looking forward to meeting her,” he says.
“You’re gonna love her. Everyone does.”
Harper grabs a juice box from the fridge and heads to her room to do homework. Jace finishes making dinner, and his phone buzzes.
**Sienna:** Can I ask you something?
**Jace:** Always.
**Sienna:** When’s your conference? Tomorrow?
**Jace:** 6:30. Why?
**Sienna:** Just curious. What’s Harper’s teacher’s name?
Odd question. But okay.
**Jace:** Ms. Martinez. Harper loves her. Won’t stop talking about her.
The dots appear and stay there for a LONG time.
**Sienna:** That’s great. I’m glad Harper has a good teacher.
**Jace:** Me too. Is everything okay? You’re acting weird.
**Sienna:** I’m fine! Just tired. Long day.
**Jace:** Okay. Get some rest. I’ll talk to you tomorrow?
**Sienna:** Sounds good. Night, Jace.
**Jace:** Night, Sienna.
He sets his phone down, frowning.
Definitely weird.
🔥
Thursday evening, Jace walks into Oakwood Elementary with Harper at his side.
The hallways are covered in student artwork and motivational posters. It smells like dry-erase markers and floor cleaner. Harper leads him confidently to her classroom—she knows these halls like the back of her hand now.
“Room 12,” she announces, pointing to the door. “That’s Ms. Martinez’s room.”
There’s a note taped to the door:
**PARENT CONFERENCES TODAY WILL BE CONDUCTED BY MS. CHEN (STUDENT TEACHER). MS. MARTINEZ HAD A FAMILY EMERGENCY. APOLOGIES FOR THE INCONVENIENCE.**
“Oh,” Harper says, reading the note. “That’s weird. Ms. Martinez didn’t say anything about missing conferences.”
Jace feels an odd twist in his gut. Family emergency. He hopes everything’s okay.
They go inside. A young woman in her early twenties—MS. CHEN, according to her name tag—greets them with an apologetic smile.
“Mr. Blackwell? I’m so sorry Ms. Martinez couldn’t be here. She had something urgent come up this morning.”
“Is she alright?” Jace asks.
“I think so. She didn’t give details, just said it was a family matter. But don’t worry—I’ve been working with Harper all semester, so I can give you a full update on her progress.”
The conference goes fine. Ms. Chen is enthusiastic and clearly knows Harper well. She shows him Harper’s work, discusses her strengths and areas for improvement, answers his questions.
But the whole time, Jace can’t shake the feeling that something’s WRONG.
Sienna was acting weird yesterday. Now Harper’s teacher has a sudden family emergency.
It’s probably nothing. Just coincidence.
But still.
🔥
After the conference, Jace texts Sienna.
**Jace:** Hey. Hope you’re having a good day. Still on for tomorrow night?
An hour passes. No response.
Two hours. Nothing.
By the time he puts Harper to bed, he’s starting to worry.
Finally, at 10 PM, his phone buzzes.
**Sienna:** I’m so sorry. I had a really rough day and I’ve been dealing with family stuff. Can we push Friday to next week? I promise I’ll explain everything then.
Relief washes over him. She’s okay. Just dealing with something.
**Jace:** Of course. Take all the time you need. Is everything okay?
**Sienna:** It will be. I just need to figure some things out.
**Jace:** If you want to talk, I’m here.
**Sienna:** I know. Thank you. That means a lot.
**Jace:** Anytime.
**Sienna:** I really like you, Jace. I need you to know that.
The message makes his chest tighten. Why does it sound like she’s saying goodbye?
**Jace:** I really like you too. We’ll figure out whatever this is. Together.
**Sienna:** I hope so.
**Jace:** Goodnight, Sienna.
**Sienna:** Goodnight.
Jace lies in bed, staring at the ceiling.
Something’s wrong. He can feel it.
But he doesn’t know what.
And he has no idea that Sienna is lying in HER bed right now, crying into her pillow, because she’s fallen in love with a man she can never have.
Because she’s his daughter’s teacher.
And she has no idea how to tell him.
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