by C. L. Stone
Mr. Blackbourne’s eyes drifted to the clock. He sucked in a breath, touched the knot of his tie before facing me again. “Relax, Miss Sorenson. There’s plenty of time. Just remember to trust us. That’s the first rule of the Academy: Trust your family.”
Despite his confidence, I drifted to my things, collecting them with a heavy heart. It was impossible. Kota didn’t want me in the Academy because I’d stop him and the others from ever having any sort of romantic life. Did that also mean he wasn’t interested in a romantic relationship with me, either? If someone he was romantically interested in joined the group, it wouldn’t matter because he wouldn’t have to keep secrets from her. But then the others would have a problem if they ever wanted girlfriends.
I wanted to believe Mr. Blackbourne that there was a chance, but I was already having problems with the guys now trying to keep them happy. But maybe that’s why when I thought Kota or the others wanted to kiss me, they backed away. Or maybe I didn’t know anything at all about relationships and didn’t understand enough.
It still meant joining the Academy could never happen. Part of me was concerned that our friendship probably was an impossibility, too. I couldn’t be part of their family. Never completely. I was always on the outside and I probably always would be.
One day, they would all have to let go of me.
♥♥♥
When Victor collected me outside of music class, I forced a smile, even though I was feeling defeated.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, taking my hand and pulling me toward our next class.
I couldn’t lie. Mr. Blackbourne proved it. Trust meant honesty, though. Maybe I didn’t believe Mr. Blackbourne yet, but I had to start somewhere. “Long story, but Mr. Blackbourne basically said I could never join the Academy.”
Victor’s fire eyes lit up into a blaze. “Did he say never or did he say it would be difficult?”
I twisted my lips. “He said there’s a chance, but I don’t see how.”
The corner of his mouth arched up and the fire in his eyes simmered on low. “Are you saying you don’t believe him? You don’t trust he knows what he’s talking about?”
The déjà vu of the conversation with North earlier struck me between the eyes. I sighed. “I want to believe him.”
“If you figure out that you really want in, and told him so, he’d find a way. Mr. Blackbourne has a thing for impossible challenges. He rarely ever loses.”
As we walked down the hallway to the door that led out to the trailers, someone stepped into our path. We both stopped short. The guy nodded his chin at Victor but looked at me.
“That your boyfriend?” he asked me, a smirk on his lips.
I was about to say no when I remembered what Kota said the day before. “Yes,” I said, trying to sound sure of it. I kept my eyes on the kid, wondering if Victor was going to be shocked that I had done it.
“Excuse us,” Victor said to the guy in our way. “We’re going to class.”
The guy laughed and backed away. “You know she was holding hands with another dude earlier,” he called to us as we walked out the door.
His voice and his face suddenly came back to me. I groaned.
“Did you know him?” Victor asked.
“He ran into us yesterday. Kota was with me and the kid asked if he was my boyfriend. Kota told him yes and said later if anyone else asked, I was to say whoever I was with, that person was my boyfriend.”
“I don’t care what the other students think,” Victor said calmly as we walked quickly toward the trailer in the back.
I readjusted my grip on the violin case in my hand. “Why not?”
“What does it matter?” he asked. He looked up from the ground to my face. “Were you trying to impress him?”
“No.”
“Do you worry about what that person over there is thinking?” he asked me, motioning to a kid who was standing outside of a classroom as he talked on his cell phone.
“No, of course not,” I said. “But ...”
“The only people I care to hear from is us, our group,” he said. “I agree with Kota. If someone else asks you if we’re dating, you can tell them yes. You can tell them you’re dating Silas. You can tell them whoever you want. It’ll probably be safer.”
“Safer how?”
He sighed, half smiling. He tugged at my hand to get me to hurry. “In a year it won’t matter, anyway. They won’t even remember us.”
“They’ll remember me,” I said. “I’ll still be here. You’ll be at the Academy.”
He frowned, pursing his lips and remained quiet the rest of the way to class.
LACKEY
During the rest of the week, Mr. Blackbourne didn’t talk about the Academy. He focused on improving my memory and teaching me how to read faces. I didn’t have to know the meaning of what I saw, but he wanted me to be able to describe tone and any facial tics. He said my impression of what was happening and the details would be helpful.
Then, Thursday, in biology class, I was whispering with Silas, when class was interrupted by a request for my presence in the main office. I glanced at Silas, who inclined his head, frowning. He eventually waved a finger, encouraging silently. The moment I was out of the classroom, I sent a text to Mr. Blackbourne.
Sang: Headed to the front office now.
Blackbourne: I’m here.
It was all he needed to say. That alone gave me the courage to move forward. Trying to prep myself with what I knew was the truth, and knowing Mr. Blackbourne was watching, gave me that confidence.
I took my things with me this time, since I didn’t know how long I would be. When I entered the main office, I was asked to sit down. The lobby was crowded with other students.
I sat in the only empty chair and avoided making eye contact. Most everyone else tapped at cell phones. I was tempted to play with mine so I could blend in, but I didn't download any apps so I didn't know what to do with it. I kind of didn't want to; I wasn't in the mood for a game. The boys were in class so I couldn’t interrupt by texting. I didn’t have much to say yet anyway.
From the hallway, Mr. McCoy popped his head around the corner, staring at a list in his hands. He called out a name, not mine, but he lifted his head, his eyes scanning the room, possibly to see who the name belonged to. He did a double take when he saw me. His eyes narrowed on me.
I froze. Was he the one who called me down?
“You’re next,” Mr. McCoy stared at me as a boy got up to meet with him. He stepped aside so the boy could walk down the hallway and glanced once more my way before following.
I whipped my phone out, ready to text Mr. Blackbourne about what to do. If McCoy came back before I had an answer, I’d march down the opposite hallway and hide out in Mr. Blackbourne’s office.
Before I could finish the text, Mr. Hendricks peeked his head in from the same hallway. He scanned, zeroed in on me and curled his fingers at me.
I hesitated, but stood, slipping the phone into my bra out of habit while he wasn’t looking. I really hoped Mr. Blackbourne was watching. What could he do if Mr. McCoy trapped me in the hallway again after I left the Principal’s office?
Hendricks held the door open for me and I fell into the burnt orange chair dropping my things at my feet. I clasped my hands in my lap, waiting for the questions and trying to look as contrite as possible. I was ready to talk about Nathan.
Mr. Hendricks shut the door. “How are you doing today?” he asked, his tone lighter than I remembered.
“I’m fine.” My tongue started to glue itself to my mouth out of nervousness, but I remembered I was supposed to focus on what Mr. Blackbourne taught me and try to get on Mr. Hendricks’s good side. “How are you, sir?”
He paused in mid-step, evaluating me from across his desk, before completing his progress, sitting down into his chair. “We’re busy,” he commented, “but it has been quiet.”
Probably because the Academy has been policing the hallways. I bit my tongue and summoned a
warm smile, trying to think of Nathan, Victor or Silas, like Mr. Blackbourne told me to do when I needed to appear at ease and more confident.
Hendricks sat back, heaving his shoulders in a sigh. “Have anything interesting to tell me?”
Without a direct question, I wasn’t sure what to say. “Um, what do you want to know? About Nathan being out of school?”
His eyebrow arched. “Okay, let’s hear what Mr. Blackbourne told you to tell me.”
Maybe that was too obvious, but I didn’t have anything else to report and it felt like if I didn’t say anything, I would be in trouble. “Nathan ...Mr. Blackbourne said Nathan was at a first aid and CPR training class that day.”
“Yes, I know.”
How did he know? The only one who talked about it to me was Mr. Blackbourne. That was it. It was all I had. No one else had been out of school. “I’m not sure what else to say. I don’t know what you’re interested in.” Honesty, let’s go with that.
“Nathan told me where he was yesterday.” He dropped his elbows on the armrests, folding his hands over his stomach as he sat back. “What I want to know is everything they’re not telling you to say to me.”
My lips started to glue themselves together. Now what?
“I understand you’re hesitant to talk to me. The Academy probably still sounds like a good opportunity. You don’t want to betray them by revealing their secrets, but I assure you, this is for their good and yours. However, it isn’t useful to me for you to repeat like a mindless parrot what Mr. Blackbourne wants you to tell me. I’m not an idiot. I know he’s told you whatever lie he wanted you to believe.”
“No,” I said quickly.
“Did you actually see Nathan taking a CPR class?”
“No.”
“Then how do you know for sure he was there, or that Mr. Blackbourne or Nathan weren’t lying about where he was?”
I didn’t have an answer. What could I say? “I just don’t really know how I could find out ...”
“Have you been to the Academy yet?”
I shook my head. “I’ve never seen it.”
“Have you heard them talk about it?”
“No. Well, they talk about some things, but not where it’s at.”
“Have they ever told you they were on their way to the Academy?”
I stiffened. They have done this. They do it all the time. I couldn’t lie, so I hesitated before responding. “Yes.”
“At what time?”
I flinched. “What time?”
“When they tell you they are going to the Academy to do something, what time do they usually say this?”
How was this helpful? “All hours,” I said. I thought being vague was good. It was still true. “Morning, late evening, afternoon ... nothing stands out in particular as a specific time.”
“Middle of the night?” he asked. “Two o’clock in the morning?”
I tried to recall this happening. They’d gone out early but not that early that I could remember. “Not that I’ve noticed.”
“Mr. Lee has done it twice this week, during a school week.”
My mouth fell open. He has? He hadn’t spent the night all week, so he could have. Then I remembered a time when I’d been at Nathan’s close to midnight, and getting a call from Kota, who was still doing Academy work. “How would you know?”
“Like I said, I’m not an idiot.” His eyes narrowed on me. “I know they’ve got me trying to chase my tail. Kota left his home yesterday near one in the morning, drove downtown to Mr. Morgan’s home, and stayed for barely ten minutes before he was out the door again to drive home.”
Victor lived at least thirty minutes away. Kota hadn’t appeared tired. Why would he go all that way so late at night? Was Victor in trouble? One thing was clear: Hendricks was better than me in keeping an eye on the boys. Did he hire a private investigator? Or was he watching them himself? He didn’t seem particularly tired, so it must be someone else. He had someone watching Kota’s house? Could he have me watched, too? “I don’t ... I’m sorry, I didn’t see that.”
Mr. Hendricks heaved another sigh, waving a hand in the air. “If you want to do well this semester, you’ll have to do better. But maybe now you know what I’m looking for. You can tell me their lies if you like, but you should also watch what they’re doing.”
If he had a private investigator, why did he want me? Maybe he couldn’t keep an eye on all of them at once. I wanted to test this. “Anyone in particular? If you don’t mind me asking, there’s a few of them, so it’s hard to keep up.”
“Any one of them you’re with, but now you say that, try to get closer to Mr. Blackbourne.”
“Not Kota?” I asked, trying to appear surprised.
“Don’t worry about him.”
Dismissive about Kota. He had him watched. How was he keeping tabs on the others? “I’ll do my best,” I said, ready for this to be over.
Mr. Hendricks tapped his finger on his chair. “One more thing,” he said, but paused, as if weighing whether or not to bring this up. “Where’s your sister?”
Did he expect me to spy on her, too? “In class, I’d guess.”
His eyebrow lifted. “She hasn’t been to school since Monday of last week.”
I couldn’t contain my surprise now. I ran through my head if this was true. She had to be going to school. I saw her the other morning with Nathan and the coffee. I heard her getting up in the morning.
I always left before she did, though. I smothered a groan. Marie was taking advantage of the situation and not showing up to school. I knew school probably wasn’t her favorite thing to do, but didn’t she know they’d come after us?
“I ...” I started, unsure of how to tell him I didn’t know without revealing any more details. “I’ve been leaving before her in the morning and I’ve been so busy. I must not have noticed ...” I was hesitant to suggest she might be sick because that was a lie.
“She’s not involved with the Academy, too, is she?”
“No, sir. She doesn’t like any of them.” When the words slipped from my mouth, I realized my mistake instantly. I just admitted a potential conspirator who would be happy to get passing grades in exchange for anything she could find out about the Academy, not just what I was willing to share.
Mr. Hendricks grinned. “Would you tell her I’d like to see her in my office tomorrow morning? Or should I call your parents?”
“I’ll tell her,” I said quietly.
He nodded. “I’ll talk to you again soon. Our deal is still very much in place.”
He got up, crossing the room. When he opened the door, Mr. Blackbourne was in the hallway with Mr. McCoy.
“This isn’t yours?” Mr. Blackbourne held up a set of keys, letting them dangle from his forefinger in front of Mr. McCoy’s face.
“I said no,” Mr. McCoy grumbled. “I think I know my own keys.”
“Hm,” Mr.Blackbourne’s tone suggested that was obvious. His eyes flitted to Mr. Hendricks and then to me. He narrowed his eyes at me as if disappointed. “Miss Sorenson,” he said, dripping with unhappy surprise.
Mr. McCoy turned to us, locking eyes with me with the tiniest hint of a dour frown before he stiffened and addressed Mr. Hendricks. “A problem?”
“Not at all,” Mr. Hendricks flashed a smile at them. “She stopped by to say hello.” He nudged me forward. “Have a nice day, Miss Sorenson.” He mimicked the tone Mr. Blackbourne used to say my name.
I clutched my things close to my body, stumbling forward as Mr. Hendricks shut his door behind me.
When Hendricks was out of sight, Mr. Blackbourne turned to me. “I believe you were heading to class,” he said. He placed himself with his back toward Mr. McCoy so I wouldn’t have to pass between them, and instead could walk in front of the wall.
I scooted past. McCoy’s watery eyes tracked me.
Mr. Blackbourne tailed me. When we were out in the waiting room, he walked around me, but nudged my arm so I’d follow down the hallway to
his unmarked door.
Inside his office, he shut the door behind us. I dropped my things onto the floor. I pressed my palms to the top of Dr. Green’s desk and leaned against it. My body rattled. The performance was over. I was done. For now.
“You’re fine, Miss Sorenson,” Mr. Blackbourne said in a calm tone behind me.
“He still thought I was lying about Nathan. He thinks you fed me lines,” I started. “He follows Kota. He asked about my sister. She hasn’t been to school. He wants me to ...”
“Slow down,” he said. He touched my arm at the elbow, jolting me into standing up straight and turning around. He moved around me to access Dr. Green’s desk drawer. He located a bottle of water, opened the top, and passed it to me.
I took the bottle, our hands brushing, causing another jolt through me. I was used to the others touching me, but not him. Part of it might have been the brisk change from recoiling from Mr. Hendricks and Mr. McCoy, to wanting to being accepting of his touch. I sipped at the water, regaining some composure.
“Sit,” he motioned to Dr. Green’s desk.
I perched on top of it.
Mr. Blackbourne pushed Dr. Green’s chair back so he could stand in front of me. He glanced down at my face. “Start at the beginning.”
I relayed everything I could think of, from how Hendricks was sitting, to the unspoken suggestion that he’d had the boys followed. “And I messed up,” I said. “I didn’t know my sister was skipping school. He wants to see her. I let it slip she didn’t like any of you. I didn’t think about that. It’s my fault. He might get her to ...”
“Calm down,” he commanded. He stood back, a forefinger pressing the bridge of his glasses, his other hand on his hip. “Nothing is your fault. You did fine.”
“And McCoy? He wanted me to see him. He was outside the door waiting for me?”
“Your orders still stand. Avoid him, even if he commands you to stay or follow. Find me or one of the boys if he tries. If you’re not sure where to go, come to this office and lock yourself in.” He sighed. “But yes, he’s certainly after you. I’ve been watching him all week. He’s curt with other girls, but he’s not touched them. He has a particular interest in you. He must think he can take advantage of you and is abusing that.”
