Principal Jackson's office was filled with cabinets of files from top to bottom. There was a musty smell of old books in the air. Books that seemed to be there since many years. He went and sat at his chair while we all stood in a circle around his table. Tapping his fingers together, he started speaking, " Adonis Moraitis, Andrews Smith, Derick Rogers, Carter Morris...." That's when I remembered. The envelope. My bag. Holy shit!!! I had forgotten it near Jake. Hoping that no one would take it, I tried to concentrate on what Jackson was saying. "... tomorrow with your parents. Moraitis, you will have to bring someone older than 20 since you have enrolled on your own. Leave now but visit Sally if you ought to but you don't have permission to step anywhere else unless your guardians meet me tomorrow." Mumbling an agreement, I was the first to leave his office.
I had to go see Jake. I had to find my backpack. My chest was hurting because of Andrews hitting me. I had to get that checked or else going to the Underground would become difficult. With this in mind, I started walking towards the Nurse's when I heard my name being called. I turned around to see all the boys huddled together.Derick started speaking, "Moraitis eh? Greek huh? Well, we're not done with you yet." I smirked, showed them the finger and stormed off. They were not worth my time when I had more important matters to attend to.
When I reached the nurse's room, all was quiet. I peeped in to see Nurse Sally sitting at her desk, prepping her nails. I knocked on the door to let her know about my arrival. She looked up and motioned with her fingers to let me know that I could enter. I walked in to find all the beds empty except one. Jake looked terrible. I walked over to him to find him lying down with his eyes closed. The left part of his forehead was completely bruised. His eyes looked like they were punched. His entire skin had a blueish tint to it. I decided to check whether he was sleeping or just lying down. I went and sat on the little white space at the edge of his bed. The bed creaked with my weight and before I could get up, Jake opened his eyes. "Hey", he said. I smiled at him and took his hand in my own. "Thanks", he continued, "I honestly don't think I would have been here now if it weren't for you Max." "Hey, hey...it's okay. Don't thank me. Just get better soon", I consoled him.
He smiled at me, pressed my hand and slightly smiled. I left his hand, got up, ruffled his hair and was just about to walk away when Jake called out, "Max, your bag!!!" I turned around to see Jake pointing his finger at the foot of his bed. My bag was there. "When the professors and the nurse took me, I managed to tell them to take the bag. I had to tell them that it was mine though. Also, I was told that my guardians should come tomorrow and meet Jackson", he explained. " He told me that since I enrolled on my own, I had to bring someone who was 20 plus in order to meet him and I don't know who I should. I mean I am on my own in this town, got no relatives. Guess I'll ask the burger joint owner or the Barista at the bar to come wimme tomorrow", I told him. His lips formed a perfect "O" and I grinned at him.
"By the way", I continued. "Were they telling the truth? Is that book yours and are you...?"I trailed off. I didn't know if I actually wanted to ask him that; not when he was in such a situation. I think he recognized my uncertainty, as he started laughing and said, "Don't worry. It's not a sensitive topic. What they accused me of is true. I did sneak in and yes, this is the third time they've caught me and this time it became such an issue because I pushed Derick's brother's girlfriend and she fell to the ground. Obviously I didn't mean for it to happen, but she tugged at my bag so I didn't actually pay attention to how much force I used. So, despite it being my fault, because I acted so unfazed, they did this. Your second question's answer is Yes. It's my book and my actual name is Luca Valantino. Jacob Wilson is just for school purpose. Now, for your third question. I believe you received an envelope from Penelope which I was supposed to give you. I wanted to give it you personally but I couldn't make it. I'm sorry about that. Go home tonight, sit peacefully and read it. Don't think. Read it twice and go to bed. Wake up in the morning and come to school. Go now."
I was stunned. Jake was not actually Jake. He did own the book and he actually did sneak in to the girls' washroom. I nodded, took my bag and was about to leave when he called out again, "And yeah.. Don't go asking a random burger joint owner or a barista to come tomorrow. I'll tell my guardian to speak on behalf of you as well. Tut tut now."
His guardian speak on behalf of me? Nothing was making sense to me. His confidence seemed foreign to me. I needed to smoke a joint. I wanted to fly. I nodded and left the nurse's room planning to smoke my box of cigarettes on the way home.
To get home and get wasted.