"How dare you show your face here after what you did to my brother?", Mario's words had everyone at the table turning to face him almost in synchronized perfection.
His six feet frame was towering over me from where I sat down.
I leaned away from him so I could look up at him from where I sat, "Excuse me". The words seemed to leave my mouth on their own accord and I narrowed my eyes at his rudeness.
Okay Julian turn down the sarcasm this dude knows your secret.
Mario shook his head at me as if I was the actual one at fault here, "Not only did you get my brother suspended but you're trying to get him expelled!".
What?
I could only imagine how ridiculous my face looked like as my expression changed from one of irritation to confusion.
Murmurs erupted at our table and questions were now being thrown at me from all angles.
Mario took another threatening step towards me with fists clenched tightly at his side and Victor who had been serious this entire time stood up and placed his body between Mario and I.
"Why don't you take a step back Mario", Vic glared at him, well I think he was glaring I couldn't exactly see his expression from where I sat.
"What's going on?", Celeste called to me from where she sat.
All I could do was shrug. What was going on?
Before I could respond to Mario's earlier allegations the sound of static from the speakers overhead interrupted the entire room.
"Ferdinand Solace, Ferdinand Solace please report to the principal's office now", a scraggly voice I assumed was the woman at the front desk said.
Those words seemed to douse Mario's temper more and he lunged at me but luckily Victor's unmoving stature was dependable. This time.
"I'll ruin you nerd", Mario spat at me. "I swear to God Solace if my brother gets expelled I'll make sure you never show your face here again".
It was the way that he'd said my name that definitely got my attention.
It was a threat, plain and simple.
My face paled at his words. Was this it? Was he finally going to use my secret against me? Something he'd known and yet kept silent about for months.
His eye were determined and for the first time I was honestly afraid of what Mario would do.
Jason had told me to act normal. To pretend like I don't know he has the means to destroy my entire life here.
So, if It was like before, when I didn't know that he knew my secret, how would I have responded to Mario. I could tell that he wasn't playing. He was serious, but somehow I couldn't let him know that I was already aware of the secret he held over my head.
"Relax Levi", I smirked cockily and I could already tell he wanted to punch me in the face, "I don't know what you're going on about, but I'm not trying to get your brother expelled. He already got what was coming to him. Besides I don't want your psycho brother to try and crack my skull open again".
His eyes narrowed at my words as if wondering whether he should believe me or not.
I looked away from him and I noticed only then that not only were the people at our table completely silent and watching our entire exchange but the entire cafeteria seemed to be focused on us.
Without another word I grabbed my backpack from where I had placed it beside my chair earlier and slung it I've my shoulder then headed for the principal's office. Mere seconds later Victor fell into step with me and we both shared a look.
He was basically telling me that I had a lot of explaining to do.
**********************
It turns out that my dad had called at my school at request that I be sent home with Victor for a family emergency. I didn't see anyone on my way out to the parking lot and I sighed in relief.
It's almost funny how I had wanted to go home quietly int the first place but now I was being sent home after all that fuss. Nevertheless, I couldn't help but to sigh in relief.
"Why is your dad coming here so suddenly", Vic asked the second we entered the foyer at my house.
I couldn't ignore his questions anymore and now that he wasn't behind the wheel of the car he could actually physically detain me long enough to get the answers he needed.
I motioned to the cameras all around us and he must've gotten the message because he started walking towards the office on the second floor and I willingly followed him.
Vic was someone I trusted with my life and the sooner he knows about the latest drama in my life the better this will all be for me.
As soon as we we're inside the office and had privacy I told him everything then we went through the folder Hydel had given me earlier today.
I might've lied a bit and left out the fact that I had left school to meet Hydel. I bent the truth a bit and told Vic that Jason brought me the file at school and met with Hydel on my behalf before relaying the information to me.
"So that's why you've been putting off the interviews to hire a second bodyguard? You've been working with Jason this entire time. But does that mean", he paused and eyes me suspiciously, "do you have all your memories now?".
I guess the gig is up now. There's no need to lie anymore.
So, I nodded and he sighed in exasperation.
That's when I remembered that we left Celeste at school alone without any protection so I asked Victor about it.
"Don't worry about her your dad sent one of the guards from this compound to watch over her".
He held up his phone and showed me a text.
Mr. Descartes: Take my son home immediately, I'll be there soon. I sent someone to watch over Celeste.
Wow! That text was even more vague than the conversation we had earlier.
"What now?", I asked Victor.
He didn't hesitate, "Now we wait until your dad gets here. He'll know what to do. I still can't believe that prick stole your file. Hydel must hate my guys for siding with your dad to fire her. Anyways you should probably call Jason, he needs to be here when your dad comes. And you're the one telling him that you chose to rehire Jason".
Vic didn't wait for me to answer before he walked out of the office and no doubt into the kitchen downstairs.
Taking my phone out I had the intention to call Jason but my phone began ringing in my palm and Ari's name flashed on the screen.
Furrowing my eyebrows, I stared at her name for a moment too long before I finally answered.
"Ari this isn't a good time".
"Solace we need to talk", we both say at the same time.
"I'm not at school Ariadne. I came home because of a family emergency like I said this is not a good time".
"This is important!", she sounded so determined, "it can't wait".
I took in a deep sigh wondering what she could possibly think was more important than my imaginary family emergency.
"It's gonna have to wait unless you want to talk over the phone", I finally answered.
She immediately objected, "No phones, it's not safe".
Vic pushed the office door open that moment and motioned to his phone. My dad's name was on the caller ID.
"Look Ari I have to go", I was about to pull the phone from my ears when her next words froze me.
"Don't you dare hang up Julian", she whisper yelled, "I'm trying to help you".
I was speechless. My mouth opened and closed trying to find words.
She'd done it again. To some extent, I had managed to convince myself that the other night was just some misunderstanding caused by my concussion and she hadn't actually called me by my real name but there was no denying it this time. She had definitely just called me Julian again.
I should've been more upset but somewhere all my shocked brain could manage to process was how right my name sounded rolling off her tongue. Where was my sense of caution when I needed it the most.
Foolishly I wanted to tell her to say it again but she spoke before I could make that mistake.
"I'll meet you at your house after school", then she hung up and I looked up to meet an impatient bodyguard holding out his phone to me.
Taking it I put it to my ear, "Hello dad?".
He gave off a relieved sigh, "Julian listen carefully".
And I did.