Chapter 28 #2
No, Mia replied. I wonder if he was taken.
Skye had pulled me completely into her mind for a moment, and I blinked several times as I tried to follow her train of thought.
She went back through everything Shafer had told us, then wondered what Earl’s affinities were, then wondered who’d be able to tell her.
She made a mental note to ask Rafe about Earl, and then I was cut off.
“Alright. So, some stupid shit happened at the end of last term,” Coach said. Professor Randall, who somehow was even more tan than before break, made a disapproving sound from beside him, but Coach went on. “Headmaster Earl is missing. Whether he was taken or ran is not known.”
“Holy shit,” Willow whispered.
A small trickle of anxiety made its way down my spine. I squeezed Skye’s shoulder again, and she offered me a tight smile.
“You’ve all heard about the missing students,” Coach went on. “And we all know there’s four dead. It’s fucked up. It’s wrong. And there’s going to be some changes around here for now.”
That sounded…a little ominous. But Coach being in charge of the student body wouldn’t be a bad thing.
He was more in tune with the students than the other professors, and he had more respect.
That was especially evident when people started murmuring and whispering, and Professor Randall tried and failed to shush everyone.
“Listen up!” Coach bellowed. “The president of the WAA is here to talk to you all, so shut it and pay attention!”
A cold chill went down my spine too quickly for Skye to hide it. I squeezed her closer as Willow turned to give Skye a wide-eyed look.
I pulled out my phone while Alexander Sombra made his way front and center. There were only a few weak claps around the gym, and a few people whispered and stifled laughter.
Just as I began to type a message out in the newly formed Link group chat, Alexander began to speak.
“Everyone, thank you for being here today. I know a lot of you have things to do as we get ready to start the new term.”
Skye was jumpy on my lap, which would have turned me on again if it weren’t because she was freaked out. I didn’t like Rafe’s dad anymore than she did, in fact, I may have disliked him more.
“I’m happy to announce that I’ll be serving as acting headmaster while Earl is indisposed.” Alexander said, and a roar of protest came from the students.
How was this legal? The president of the WAA was not qualified to serve as acting headmaster. This was something I would have petulantly brought to my mother’s attention if she hadn’t just tried to kill me.
So I decided to petulantly bring it to the attention of the next best thing.
Me
Rafe, your dad is here in the gym during our assembly
He says he’s acting headmaster now
Earl is in the wind
Shadow Dick
Well fuck
Wyatt?
Regular Dick
What am I supposed to do about it?
Shadow Dick
God you’re so annoying
Aiden how is my darling?
Me
She’s a little freaked
Shadow Dick
Understandable
Has she seen the room yet?
Me
No, not yet
Why?
Rafe didn’t answer, and I decided to leave his nickname in my phone as was. I’d almost felt bad about it for a second, but whatever. They were both dicks. I was only speaking to them because it would benefit Skye.
Alexander went on, speaking about how he’d be around, he’d be visiting professors, he’d be meeting with some students individually.
“Morbidly, I am also announcing several new students have joined us. As you all know, there was a waiting list last term, and given the loss of recent life, we now have room.”
Skye made a disgusted noise, and several students were on their phones, already alerting their parents. It wouldn’t do anything, of course, but I was glad to see we weren’t the only group who were pissed.
“Willow,” I said lowly. She turned, her blue eyes flashing at me. “Can your dad do anything about this?”
“I’m not speaking with him currently,” was all she said before turning back around, whipping Skye’s knee with her curls.
Huh, I said to Skye.
Agreed, she replied. Also, how awkward for new guy. He’s only here because someone fucking died.
We left the assembly a while later, when Alexander realized no one was really listening to him. Coach had gained everyone’s attention back to tell us all not to be little shits and to get back to our business.
New guy was gone the moment we were dismissed, so at least I didn’t need to worry about that dick right now.
“Is that…Lana?”
I followed Skye’s horrified expression, and my eyebrows shot up when I saw her.
It was her. Lana Iykos looked like shit.
She wasn’t an ugly girl on a regular day, she just…didn’t really do it for me. But her little-girl bangs and school uniform look could’ve been cute for the right guy, I supposed.
But those bangs were rumpled. There were deep purple bags under her reddened eyes, and her pale green gaze wasn’t focused on anything.
Makeup was smudged around her eyes, and it wasn’t intentional.
It looked like when Skye went to bed without washing her makeup off first, she’d wake up with raccoon eyes.
“Holy shit, she looks bad.” Willow said a little loudly. Mia shushed her. “What?! What is she doing here? Her brother just died!”
Skye was frozen, staring at Lana, her chest rising and falling faster and faster. A deep pit of agony opened up in my stomach, and I grabbed Skye just as she took a step in Lana’s direction.
Her silver eyes darted toward me. “I have to say something to her.”
“Baby,” I said gently. “I love you, and I love how big your heart is, but I don’t think talking to Lana is a good idea.”
Skye’s lips twisted.
“Babe, she’s nuts,” Willow said gently. “She’s had an actual psychotic episode before, and now her brother is dead? It’s not good.”
“What are you going to do? Tell her you’re sorry for killing her brother?” Mia added, so quiet we almost didn’t hear.
Skye flinched hard.
“You’re right,” she said softly. “I just…he wanted me to tell her he was sorry.”
We all went quiet at that.
I hadn’t known that detail. Then again, I hadn’t asked. Skye woke up so often from a nightmare, I didn’t want to be contributing to it by asking questions.
“I just…I know I’d be broken if I lost Zephyr.”
“Lana and Landon aren’t you and Zephyr,” I said softly. “Lana and Landon had…issues.”
Skye shrugged, but dropped it.
We filed past Lana, who stared as if she wasn’t seeing anything at all. Skye watched her for a long time, then finally turned back forward as we made our way into the dining hall.