Saturday, November 11
No more hiding.
Today, we are officially allowed to go back to East Raven Academy campus. Classes don’t start back officially until Wednesday, but we still head back early.
When I first came to East Raven Academy, I didn’t want to even be here. All I wanted was for my life to go back to ‘normal.’ I wanted to go back to California and go back to my normal school with Charlie. But now... I wouldn’t want to leave all my friends behind.
If they’re still my friends.
I’m worried, because everybody now knows the truth. Will Teagan and Emma still want to be friends with me, now that they know who I am? Will everybody be mad that I am the reason somebody set off a bomb at homecoming dance? That I was the reason school was shut down?
When we get back to campus, I find out that Sander is going to continue staying in the cabin so he can work. He’s not going to be going to school, since he technically has graduated already, but I do get the option to stay with him so I can train, which I decide is for the best. I want to focus as much on training as I can. Plus, I want to be in the cabin with Sander.
I’m also excited because I’ll finally be able to join the soccer team. I have missed playing. And I probably won’t get to play much in games, but maybe they’ll at least let me come to practice and train so I can play during senior year, next year.
After getting back on campus, Sander, Charlie and I go to the dorms. I want to see Teagan and Emma. I want to know if they’re mad at me. I want to get all of those conversations out of the way so we can, hopefully, move on.
I’m pleasantly surprised when I find them waiting for me in the common room. I guess Charlie texted them and told them we were coming. They both run over to me as soon as I walk through the door, giving me a hug.
“We missed you,” Teagan says.
“Seriously. We tried calling you and texting you,” Emma says.
“I finally texted Charlie and he said you didn’t have your phone,” Teagan says.
“I can’t even imagine not having my phone,” Emma says. “That must’ve been torture.”
“But we heard about New York,” Teagan says. “It sounds like you had fun.”
“I’m not sure if fun is the right word,” I say.
“We saw your car chase on the news,” Teagan says.
“It was awesome. Scary, you know, ’cause somebody was shooting at you,” Emma says. “But it was like something straight out of a movie.”
Teagan looks behind me, at Sander, then looks back at me. “Wait, so he’s just your bodyguard, right? And not your boyfriend?”
“He was just my bodyguard,” I say. “But he’s my boyfriend now. It was complicated. Not now, though.”
I have a lot to catch them up on.
“Right,” Teagan says.
“We can talk about it later,” I say.
“Wait, so you’re not an actual student here, right?” Emma asks, looking at Sander.
“No. I already graduated,” he says, then looks at me. “I’m going to wait outside so you can hang out with your friends.”
I nod.
Now that he doesn’t have to be my bodyguard anymore, I can actually hang out with my friends without him. It’s kind of weird, but also kind of nice. I do have a lot to catch them up on.
“What a hunk,” Teagan says, watching him leave.
I laugh.
“How old is he?” Emma asks.
“Eighteen,” I answer.
“Right,” Teagan says. “And he’s your boyfriend for real?”
“Yes. He’s going to stay on campus, but he doesn’t have to be with me all the time now,” I say.
“And you guys have been... what? Traveling the country together?” Emma asks.
“Yeah.”
“All those nights in a hotel room,” Teagan says.
I grin. “Shut up.”
Emma and Teagan both bust out laughing.
“The look on your face is the only answer we need,” Teagan says.
I decide to change the subject from Sander and me because I honestly don’t want to talk about that right now.
“I got the surprise of my life while I was gone,” I say.
“What do you mean?” Emma asks.
“Sander took me to see somebody I thought was dead. He was actually just in hiding,” I say.
“Oh, my gosh,” Teagan says, covering her mouth with her hand. “Brooks is alive?”
“Yeah,” I answer.
“I went to his funeral,” Emma says. “That’s...”
“Crazy,” I say. “I almost didn’t believe it when I saw it. But I suppose he will be going back to school now, too.”
Teagan, Emma, and I talk for a while longer. I’m still in shock that they’re not mad at me. I end up telling them the whole story about everything that happened—even about getting kidnapped. Twice. It feels good that they know the truth about me.
No more hiding.