The rest of the week passed without much interactions between Delilah and I. Celeste has been ignoring me ever since we left McDonald's that day and my bodyguards were pretty much back to normal also.
It's Thursday and for once I am actually looking forward to school I really need to get out of this house. I feel so suffocated here but of course that's not the whole truth. I had talked to my dad last night when he called to find out how I was doing. They had kept a funeral for 'me' and apparently a lot of people came out to pay their respects.
It was touching.
Except for the fact that I wasn't dead.
Rajaun deserved better.
I haven't been paying attention to much around me for the past couple of days because I've been thinking about him nonstop. Not only the fact that someone tried to kill me and actually 'succeeded' but the mere fact that someone had actually died for me is not a feeling I think I'll ever get over. I know he was a professional, and I also know that he was aware of just how dangerous acting as my doubleganger would be, I didn't even know Rajaun personally but somehow that still doesn't make it hurt any less.
This whole situation has made me the reality of how truly dangerous my circumstance is all the more daunting. I'm told that now that the world thinks my true identity is dead I can actually live a more relaxed life as Ferdinand Solace. I truly don't know if I can just get back to my normal life so easily, but I also know that I have to try. I can't let myself be swayed; I need to persevere even though it may take me a while.
*******
Today I was a man on a mission, and I had my entire week planned out ahead of me. I needed to move past all that had happened in the last few days. It wasn't going to be easy, but I was willing to try.
After what dad and Esteban had told me back in France, I would've expected to have found more closure. Yet, it only elicited a plethora of new questions. I've reached dead end after dead end each time I try to subtly extract answers from my father. He is intent on keeping whatever else he knows about my mother to himself, and I am inclined on finding out nonetheless.
Jason and I were on our merry way to my locker before the bells rung to begin the first classes for the day. That is, before we notice Nicole standing briskly by my locker with her head tilted up as if on search of someone.
I bet I can guess who that is.
"Solace", a broad smile lightens her features the moment she catches my eyes.
"Hi Nicole", I try to sound a bit cheery, luckily it works, "I haven't seen you in a while".
For some reason she smiles even wider and granted it is a bit distracting, but I decide not to let that bother me today.
"I've been busy with the debate club. Since we're both co-presidents I thought you'd be more active considering that our first debate match is after school today".
Wait what?
"I knew that", I said. But really, I didn't know that.
"Is that what you've been doing since you went AWOL?", She asks next, "were you preparing for the match?".
My eyes widen a bit as I lie, "Totally".
Nicole seems much more confident now and she nods at me in approval, "I guess I'll see you at three this evening for the match?".
I nod and she goes on her way.
"I didn't know you had a debate match today", Jason asks from beside me and for the first time I remember that he is here.
"Me neither", I whisper under my breath before my phone chimes in my pocket.
Hydel: I found what you asked for.
That one text message clears my mind of everything else. Jason who is walking a few steps in front of me seems ignorant to the fact that my entire world just shifted on its axis. Luckily he doesn't notice me, and I begin texting Hydel as we walk to our first class.
Solace: Are you sure.
Hydel: Meet me in an hour. Our spot.
I hadn't even realized I was blindly walking through the classroom door until I feel an abrupt push from behind taking me completely off my balance and the next thing I know I'm falling face first into the classroom. I try to hold onto something but there's nothing there. The next thing I hear is a crack as my head connects roughly with the hard concrete floors.
I don't register the pain at first but instead in one flash of a movement I turn my head to see who it is that pushed me. I don't even notice that the class had gone completely silent as they all stared in the same direction as me. Nor do I notice Jason who is now kneeling by my side checking me for injuries. I think he's shouting something, but I can barely make out what he's saying. All I notice is Lewis, Mario's younger brother standing there.
He had pushed me.
When I reach for my iPhone I see that the screen is completely wrecked and for some reason that's what pisses me off.
"You idiot", I don't recognize my own voice, "you owe me a new iPhone!".
There is a drop of blood that falls into the plain floors. I bring my hand to my head and the second I confirm that it is indeed my blood the pain rolls in tenfold and my vision sways.
The last thing I hear is a scream and Jason's panicked voice before I am pulled into a world of darkness.