Cade fell in slow motion like he was in a movie—not in love, but from the rooftop of their school. The stars twinkled as images flickered in his eyes one by one in seven seconds. Death was consuming his mind and he couldn't stop thinking of the things he might leave when he dies: his collection of shoes and watches, his dogs, cars, the mansion, and his luxurious life. 'I can't die like this, from the hands of a female who's in love with a peasant. So pathetic!'
"Theo! Cade fell from the building!" Stan said. "Don't freak out. Cade is going to be fine. He's immortal," Theo replied while dancing nonstop. "I am not kidding. He could die! Are you on drugs?"
"Come on, man. You are no fun. Besides, the cheerleading team is outside, ready to catch him. I assigned them there because someone might fall. Am I not brilliant?" Theo said.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Stan looked at Cade once again. The cheerleading team carried his body. "Because I want to see your reaction. You look horrible." Theo laughed. "Goodness gracious. I wonder why we're friends."
A girl in a verdant green dress touched Theo's chiseled chest. He placed his hand on her waist and swayed with her. "Emily Thomas," he whispered through her ears. "You know my name."
"Yes. I have dementia, but I remember yours."
"If you're trying to be romantic, it's not working." Theo placed her hand on his cheek. He closed his eyes and said, "Wait, let me scan my poetic verses." Emily chuckled. He opened his eyes and said, "You have the eyes of a deity. You smell like royalty. If love is a theory, Emily, you are my reality."
"Shut up and kiss me," she said. Theo moved closer, but the blazing light from the sky caught his attention. "It's too early for fireworks." To their surprise, the lights landed on the floor like cannonballs. "Firecrackers. Run!"
The firecrackers exploded everywhere which lit the decorations on fire. Stan searched for the person responsible for the mess and saw Buck Blair on the first floor with a wide smile. "You will not get away with this."
Theo helped everyone to vacate the area while Stan stayed for damage control. He led the boys to sprinkle some water and stop the fire from spreading. "This is disastrous. I left for a minute and this happened. Tell me who I must bury to satisfy my wrath," Cade said.
"The person awarded with The Best Boyfriend of the Year award. Buck Blair," Stan said.
"The duck. I will burn him alive."
"This tragedy shall not end the party," Theo said.
"Are you not feeling cold?" Stan asked.
"Biologically, I am warm-blooded. If you're jealous, you can show off your muscles too." Stan shook his head. "No. The spotlight is yours."
They ran to the quadrangle and dragged the tables and chairs with them. They continued the festivity as nothing happened. The boys had separate agendum. Theo chased after Emily and impressed her. Stan was on the corner, making sure no one would ruin everything again. Cade was with the circle of wealthy students, discussing how to change the system of the school and planning to take down teachers they hate.
"Where's Cade?" Stan asked Theo. "With the intellectuals." Stan's eyes bulged out. "You left him there?"
"Why? Am I supposed to tail him, officer?" Theo teased as he emphasized the word 'officer.' "He can't get drunk. You've seen how he is."
"I can't listen to them, man. They are either wizards casting some incantation or spies trying to dethrone a monarchy."
"Then we'll suffer from his outlandish speech."
Cade marched to the stage like a zombie, as he kept stumbling around. "There he goes."
"Ladies and gentlemen, people of Westgate High... I, Cade Robertson, swear to carry on with my expedition to eradicate impoverishment in this society. Because I cannot stand the filth of their words. I refuse to associate with their inner demons."
"Woohoo! We don't know you!" Theo cheered. Cade's hand swished and swooshed like a conductor leading an orchestra. "A while ago, Danielle Holmes pushed me from the building. I almost kissed the face of death without the cheerleading team. Her boyfriend, Buck Blair, burned the rooftop and ruined our magnanimous event. Now, tell me, are they worth forgiving?"
"No!"
"That's right. Society doesn't deserve them. Now, what punishment shall we impose?"
"Expulsion!"
"I like that. Outrageous."
The crowd was boisterous. Stan hurried to the stage when Cade lost consciousness. He carried him to the Student Affairs office and rested on the couch. "We are dead. If Uncle Wilfred sees him like this, oh, I don't want to imagine," Stan said while massaging his forehead. "Will you stop acting like a parent for a second? We'll get through this," Theo said.
"His curfew is 9:00 pm and we have 10 minutes left. He can't sober up for a few minutes. Visualize Uncle's response to this." Stan walked back and forth. "He will lay us in a coffin with spikes pointing inwards and getting closer to stab us. If not, he will tie us in a wagon wheel and smash the different parts of our limbs with a hammer. Or worse, he will hang us upside down and saw us in half."
"You always find problems to solutions. Those are medieval torture techniques. It's the 21st century. Uncle can't do that."
"A father can do everything for his son. No one messes with the Robertson."
"Geez. You are exaggerating. His blood also runs within us."
"Who knows? Humans had always been brutal."
Theo laid his back against the wall. "This is sicker than I thought." Stan rubbed his fingers on his chin. "I think I've figured what to do."
They drove to Stan's mansion. Its sophisticated design took them back between 1918 to 1978. The vintage lamp posts turned on as they walked past them. Juliet Rose guided their pathway.
"I wish Medusa could turn me to stone," Theo said. The head of Medusa welcomed them beside the door. Stan's father was an antique collector and an avid fan of Greek Gods and goddesses. He's also obsessed with abstract paintings. His fascination was evident in their house—statues, furniture, and arts.
They placed Cade on Stan's bed. "His skin tone shows it all. We have to conceal the redness," Stan said. Theo gave him some concealer and foundation. "No problem."
"How did you get all these?" Stan held his shoulder. "Tell me. I will not judge you. Everyone suffers from an identity crisis."
"What do you mean?" Theo asked.
"Theo, are you gay?"
Theo shoved his hands. "That's ridiculous! I failed to recall who left these, but I'm certain one of my girls owned them."
Stan covered Cade's face with the concealer. "One of your girls? I thought you're loyal to Emily."
"It's not my fault I'm princely. I can't help but grant their wishes."
"Their wishes or your desire?"
"I don't expect you to understand, Stan. You're a virgin."
Stan dabbed the foundation on Cade's cheeks and ears. "Don't change the topic. You are being defensive. If you are not straight, I can accept that, as long as you don't take an interest in me." Stan plugged the hair blower and directed it to Cade's forehead. "Gross! Are you hearing yourself, man? Never in my wet dreams, so cut the bullshit." Stan used the thermometer, which resulted in 39 degrees Celsius.
"Do you think Uncle Wilfred will believe us?" Theo asked.
"Probably. Old people don't have a clue about this trick."
Cade's phone rang. "Hide somewhere. Uncle Wilfred must not see you. It will arouse suspicion. The three of us together screams trouble," Stan said. Theo hid under the bed.
"Good evening, Uncle." Stan waved at Mr. Robertson on the screen.
"Stan. Where's Cade?"
"He is sick," Stan revealed his friend who was sleeping beside him. "He worked a lot at the party. He enjoys mingling with his people." He showed the thermometer to him. "That's awful. Are you sure he's sick? You did not use a hair blower to tamper the temperature, did you?"
Stan was speechless. "I'm joking! If you were Theo, I wouldn't believe him. But I trust you, Stan. You're the most normal among the three of you. Take care of him."
"Bye, Uncle."
Stan slumped to the bed. "He almost got me." Theo came out and crawled on the bed. "Am I that unfaithful?" he asked.
"I'm so tired. I hate parties," Stan said and placed his left leg on top of Cade. "Stan, are you not feeling any goosebumps in this mansion?"
"Why would I?"
"Your father collects antiques and creepy things. I heard spirits possessed them." Theo covered himself with the blanket up to his neck. "The paintings feel real. Their eyes are following me wherever I go like they're watching me," Stan replied. "And you're okay with that?"
"I think they got used to me. But I heard their spirits follow our guests when they leave sometimes."
"Stan, I'm not your guest, right? We've been friends for too long."
"That's not for me to decide, but for them." The lights turned off. "Stan!" Theo jumped in between Stan and Cade. The lights came back. "What was that?" Theo trembled.
"Good question. I bet you are acting up to get closer to me," Stan said while moving his brows up and down.
"Idiot! Your house is haunted. I can't stay here any longer." Theo ran off, leaving his bag behind. "Be careful! They are coming with you!"
The next morning, Cade was awake on his bed. He had puffy eyes and there were dark circles under them. "Are you okay, Young Master?"
"I look horrible, Antoine. I shouldn't have let alcohol bewitch me. Plus, my peers were heavy drinkers. I needed to catch up."
"Is your father aware of it?"
"I wouldn't be sitting here comfortably if he knows. So keep your nose out of it."
Antoine gave him some medicine for muscle pain and fatigue. "Are you getting better, Young Master?"
"Obviously not. My head is cracking. Ugh, I hate this."
Mr. Robertson came out in formal attire. "Going to a meeting?" Cade asked. "Yes. I'm meeting your principal for the turmoil you created."
"What turmoil? Classes are over."
"You said you were having a party, but you did not tell me it was on the rooftop. How were you able to do that in the first place?"
"I paid the guards. Money talks."
"Because of that, you burned the rooftop."
"I didn't. Buck Blair did it. That indigent asshole." Cade sipped the bowl of hot soup. "Because you beat him."
"Where did you get that news?"
"Danielle Holmes informed me."
"That bitch. Theo beat him, not me."
"Theo wouldn't do it without your command. You are the mastermind."
Cade banged the spoon on the table. "I did it to tame Buck Blair. If I hadn't done that, he would've crushed me. He is a wild animal from the wasteland, clasping his claws towards a rich girl. An average social climber. He must stick to his place under my feet."
Mr. Robertson heaved a deep sigh. "Cade Robertson..." Cade's ears tingled as his father called him with his full name. It's a prelude to dreadful damnation. "You are grounded." Those cryptic words echoed to his neurons.
"What? No, Dad. You can't do that to me."
"Yes, I can, because I'm your father."
"You're trying to kill me."
"I'm trying to discipline you because I love you, son."
"I'm tired of being told I am loved but never made to feel that way."
It was the end of the world for Cade because grounded means no cellphone, Wi-Fi, cars, video games, entertainment, and they'd lock him up inside the mansion for a week.
"I'm no fucking Rapunzel," Cade said and slammed the door of his room. "Stan and Theo have to save me," Cade paused when he remembered something, "oh, great. They are also being Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty right now."
Cade's trouble was also their trouble because when his father grounded him, they were too. When one of them got caught doing some foolishness, the others suffer with him. They could barely survive. But the trio had something in their sleeves to keep their friendship burning amidst all the odds.