As Jack sat down, a sense of relief washed over him. For once, it seemed like things were falling into place. But unease lingered. Bullying? Was the original owner of this body really the type to bully kids? The thought gnawed at him, leaving an uncomfortable weight in his chest.
Before he could dwell on it, the door slammed open.
A blonde boy stormed in, his expression twisted with anger and something darker—contempt. His eyes locked on Jack, narrowing dangerously.
"So, you're back," the boy sneered, his voice sharp. "Forgot about the beating I gave you three weeks ago?"
Jack froze. His memories weren't his own, but the familiarity of the accusation unsettled him.
"Big brother and Dad told me they made you understand. But here you are, sitting in my class." The boy's fists clenched, his knuckles white. "You still dare to show your face, you twerp?"
Jack's heart pounded, his mind scrambling for answers. This wasn't his fight—at least, not originally. The memories of the bullying and violence were like ghostly echoes, but the weight of them pressed down on him now.
The boy took a threatening step closer. "You thought I'd forget? You'll pay for this."
The pieces clicked into place. This was Riley—someone who had been relentless in tormenting Jack's predecessor. Riley and his family, with their ties to Vought International, had made life unbearable for him. And when Jack—or rather, the boy who had been Jack before him—had finally snapped, Riley had acted the victim, twisting the narrative to avoid blame.
Now, the storm was breaking again, and Jack had to figure out how to weather it without losing himself entirely.
Jack sat in his seat, his unease growing as Riley loomed nearby, leaning on his desk with a sinister grin.
"So, you think you can just waltz back in here like nothing happened?" Riley whispered, his voice low and venomous. His breath was hot against Jack's ear, sending a chill down his spine. "You really don't know your place, do you? You're lucky I don't knock you out here and now."
Jack swallowed hard, gripping the edge of his desk to steady himself. The memories of this body were fragmented, but he didn't need them to understand that Riley wasn't bluffing. The boy's aura screamed danger.
"You've got no one to back you up now," Riley continued, his tone cold and mocking. "Your parents don't care, do they? They've given up on you. Everyone has. And me? I'll make sure you remember that every single day."
Jack's mind raced, the weight of Riley's words settling heavily. He fought to keep his expression neutral, but inside, a storm of anger and fear brewed. Why did it have to be like this?
Just then, the classroom door creaked open, and the teacher walked in. Riley straightened up instantly, his face morphing into a mask of innocence.
"Good morning, Mr. Connor," Riley greeted cheerfully, his tone dripping with exaggerated politeness. "I was just helping Jack here catch up. He's been gone for so long. We're all really worried about him, you know?"
Jack's jaw tightened as he clenched his fists under the desk. Riley's ability to switch faces so effortlessly made him feel sick. The teacher nodded absentmindedly, too preoccupied with settling the class to notice the tension in the air.
As the lesson began, Jack felt a vibration in his pocket. He discreetly pulled out his phone, shielding the screen from view. It was a text message from an unknown number, the same one that had contacted him before.
Unknown:
How's school?
Jack:
Not great. There's this kid, Riley. He's making it impossible to focus. I don't know what to do. He's… dangerous.
There was a long pause before the reply came through.
Unknown:
The principal is aware of the situation. He'll ensure you're taken care of. For now, focus on class and let the adults handle the rest. You deserve normalcy, Jack. Don't let him control you.
The words were cryptic but oddly comforting. Whoever this person was, they seemed to know more than they let on. But the mention of the principal gave Jack some hope. He tucked his phone away, glancing up at Riley, who shot him a glare from across the room.
Jack took a deep breath and focused on the teacher's words. For now, he would do what he was told: focus on school. Normalcy might be a distant dream, but it was a start.
Jack stared at the phone, his thumbs hesitating over the screen before typing another question.
Jack:
Who are you? Why are you helping me?
The response was almost immediate.
Unknown:
A colleague of your mother's. Let's just say I'm a well-wisher.
Jack's heart skipped a beat. A well-wisher? He had no recollection of this person, but they seemed to know far more about his situation than they should. He was about to ask another question when—
"Jack!"
The sharp voice of Mr. Connor jolted him out of his thoughts. The entire class turned to stare, Riley smirking smugly in the corner.
"Bring that phone here!" Mr. Connor snapped. "And since you seem so eager to avoid class, you can explain yourself to the principal."
Jack groaned inwardly as he stood, pocketing his phone before trudging to the front of the room. The teacher's glare followed him as they left the classroom together, the silence in the hallway punctuated by the sound of their footsteps.
The principal's office was large and imposing, the smell of polished wood and leather filling the air. The principal, a stern but composed man in his late 40s, looked up from his desk as Jack and Mr. Connor entered.
"Jack, is it?" the principal said, his voice measured. "Take a seat."
Mr. Connor briefly explained the situation before leaving, closing the door behind him.
The principal steepled his fingers, his piercing gaze fixed on Jack. "I've been made aware of some... incidents regarding your return. You've had a tough time 'adjusting', haven't you?"
Jack nodded silently, unsure where this was going.
"I'm willing to help you, Jack," the principal continued. "There's a new policy that allows for exceptional students to be double-promoted. If you can prove yourself by improving your grades and behavior, I can recommend you for it."
Jack blinked. "Double-promoted? You mean... skip a grade?"
"Exactly. Away from 'certain individuals', who might be causing issues for you. But it won't be easy. You'll need to work hard and stay out of trouble. Do we have an understanding?"
Jack hesitated, then nodded. "Yes, sir. I'll do my best."
The principal smiled faintly. "Good. Now, you'll serve detention after school today. Use the time to reflect and start planning how you'll improve."