Twisted Web of Truths

Chapter Three

Levi takes Mara every morning and drops her off at the bus stop near the inner city and then he'd go off to his work. Both his parents' work is not large in their pays, not enough to buy another car, anyway.

Had he taken Bianca's offered car, they'd have three, which is more than enough.

On the way, Ethan picked up Emilie, watching in amusement as she walks toward them with a frown on her face. He frowns as well.

"You alright?"

Emilie glances at him, smiling softly. She slid into the passenger's seat and puts her hand on his hand. "I should be asking you that. You alright, idiot?"

"Idiot?" Ethan blinks.

Emilie rolls her eyes. "You didn't have to punch Trevor. This wouldn't have happened. I heard, by the way, the Quills wanted you to pay a large sum of money for his hospital bills."

Ethan scoffs, moving the car out of the side of the road. "That bastard had it coming."

"I can handle myself just fine." Cole's head pops up in between them, making Emilie shriek in surprise.

"Besides," Emilie continues, ignoring both boys' words. "With Trevor gone, Bianca is practically vulnerable."

"I bet you ten bucks she's going to throw at least five tantrums till the rest of the day," Cole smirks, leaning back with his arms crossed over his chest.

"I bet you fifteen if she throws ten," Ethan adds.

"Ugh, you boys are pathetic." Emilie throws her heads back, laughing. "I'd bet you both twenty for every single minute of school hours."

"Which is?" Cole turns his head towards his brother.

Ethan rolls his eyes. "Count it yourself."

Then school appears his vision. Already, students crowd the only empty parking lot in front of the school. He sees Kyle and Juan trying to fight off the cameras but to no avail. Almost every eye went towards them, watching as the car slid in its place.

Ethan faces the throng of people, knows that they can see inside just as well as he sees the outside. They could see his face, everything.

"Ready?" Emilie glances at him, a worried smile on her face.

A bittersweet smile formed on his face. "Do I have a choice?"

With that, they stepped out of the car. Immediately, Ethan felt like he is sucked down. The flashes felt like paparazzi and the girl he's holding by hand is his new girlfriend. He felt famous. Or in this case, as a criminal. Someone pushes through the crowd, Ethan stops.

Bianca screeched, arms flailing at him. "You might as well killed my brother!"

Her friends tried to keep her down but nothing stops her. Her manicured nails are within inches of his face and then stops. Behind them, the crowd, almost all the teachers came out but only one is more influential than others.

Principal Hawker.

"Stop." His calm yet firm voice soothes Ethan's fast-paced heart. "Everyone go to their respective classes. I want no talk of this until the school ends!"

Protests are murmured and the crowd moves in a single direction into the building, where they separate into their classes. Ethan knows firsthand just how intimidating Principal Hawker is but he can't say things are much better with him as a principal than a teacher.

The principal glances at them, scanning Ethan from head to toe. Something flashes between his hard, brown eyes. "That includes all of you."

Ethan nods numbly, aware of Emilie pulling him. The rest of the day went like a blur to him. Colors blend in the madness of green, brown and blue. Hands led him to the places he is supposed to be, followed by the quick footsteps of their news club.

Time matters so little in his world. Thoughts of pros and cons circle his mind, eyes flicking in-between scenes of the reality. Cole's face. Emilie's worried eyes. Flashes of students looking into him probingly.

By nighttime, there was no progress from the hospital. Trevor is still lying on his bed, breathing and yet so far away. Restless. That's what he felt.

"Come to my house. Be a goddamn salesman or something."

He heard his father's voice from the office below. Cole is fast asleep across from him, limbs tangled around the blanket.

"Well I don't know!" a pause. "Julian, please. You're the only one who knows."

Dizzy, Ethan shut his eyes, letting his thoughts bury him deep into a deep sleep. A silver of peace slithers inside, winding all over his body. A soothing dead silence in his mind.