Chapter Five

As I wait by the open front door, Abe comes to talk to me while Reid goes to get the SUV. He stands beside me as we look out the door. I wait for him to speak.

"If you can't bear it today, let Selena know and a car will come and pick you up." He tells me.

I nod. "Okay."

I think that's all he wanted to say to me but I know there's something else he's going to say as he lingers beside. He lifts his arm and places his hand on my shoulder, hesitantly. As if he's not sure whether he should touch me or not.

"I love you, Millian and there's nothing I wouldn't do for you or Lily."

I look at him with the same color eyes I inherited from him. "I know, Dad. You don't have to tell me."

He nods. "Have a good day at school."

He's walking away when I turn in his direction. I have to ask him. Maybe he will tell me if I only ask. There's only one way to find out. I call out for him before he gets too far away.

"Dad?"

He stops and glances back at me. "Yes, sweetheart."

I chew on my lower lip as I try to think of a way to ask him without causing suspension.

"Why did Guardian Cipriano go to Europe?" I ask.

"He has his own personal reasons for going."

I frown. "You didn't send him there for a mission?"

He shakes his head. "No. I wouldn't give him an new assignment with everything that's been going on. He wanted to go and I allowed it because it seemed important for him."

"So you don't know why he's there?"

"No, I don't. I didn't ask because he's one guardian I trust and is loyalty runs deep." He raises an eyebrow. "He didn't tell you? I figured you of all would've known."

Hayes lied to me and now I want to know why. Nothing else matters to me except finding out why he didn't tell me the truth.

"He left in such a rush, he didn't have a chance to." I lie.

Abe nods. "Well, I'm sure he'll tell you once he gets back."

I smile. "He will." I agree.

He doesn't have a choice anymore.

Lily walks down the hallway and Abe says his goodbyes to us. We head out the door and toward the car, Reid's waiting for us in. We both get in the back and Reid puts the car in drive. On the way to the school, Lily listens to her favorite boy band as I think about Hayes.

I should've known he was lying to me when he told me Abe put him under an oath. Why was I so quick to believe him? Oh that's right! I'm trying to be more trusting. Look how's the working out for me.

If I can figure out why I have this feeling I know something about Europe, then I can know why he went there in the first place. I would ask Reid, since that's Hayes' best friend, but if he didn't tell me why would he tell Reid?

Thirty minutes later, we are at the school. Reid goes to the front and we get there as the bell is ringing. Through the window, I can see James waiting for me by the entrance.

I step out and Reid tells us to go to Mrs. Kovok's office with James while he goes park the car. We walk inside the building and head for the headmaster's office. She's typing on her computer when we enter but she stops as soon as she notices us.

"Have a seat." She tells us. "Firstly, I want to apologize for what happened a little over two weeks ago. I'm sorry that happened and I guarantee you both, it will not happen again."

Reid walks in when she's speaking and closes the door behind him. He goes to stand beside James.

"The guardians are more alert and attentive than before. The gate is stronger than it once was. Yesterday, I spoke to the entire school and let them know, they are not allowed to discussed what happened to anyone and I find out they are speaking about that topic, consequences will be handed out."

I'm glad they aren't allowed to speak about us because I don't think I could handle it. I wouldn't be able to handle, everyone wondering what happened and why it happened. They would want answers and I don't think I'm ready for everyone to know what happened. It's better for them just to know half the story than the whole story. Whatever happened in the court room, is to stay there. No one outside of the room, will know my story.

"Did our dad tell you about his order?" Lily asks before Mrs. Kovok can get on with her talk.

She nods. "Yes, he did. I spoke with your teachers about it and they made arrangements in their classroom. We're all covered there." She assures us. "Moving on, Princess Millian, your father feels it'll be best if you speak to a therapist once a week."

"Why?" I ask. "I don't want to talk about what happened?"

I did it once and it was hard enough speaking out about that night. Now, Abe wants me to talk about it again and I don't want to. I don't need to. I promised myself, I wouldn't go back into my numb state again and I don't know if I can fulfill that promise, if I have to speak to a stranger about what happened. How will that help me?

"She is going to monitoring your state of mind and note if anything changes." Mrs. Kovok says.

She says all that she needs to before sending us to our class. We walk to Mrs. Garner's and step into the room. All eyes looks up from their paper and looks at us.

"Princess Millian. Princess Lillian." Mrs. Garner greets us, standing up. "Your seats are over here."

She takes us to the back, away from the others. Lily smiles at Lucas as she sits down. Abe trusts Lucas but even he isn't allow near us. It wouldn't be fair as Abe puts it.

"Instead if giving everyone the same topic to write about, I made up different ones and put the papers in box. Whatever they drew out is what they have to write about." Mrs. Garner explains when she brought the box over to us. "It's going to be a sonnet."

Lily goes first and I follow behind her. I unfold the paper and look at the word I picked out.

"What did you get?" Lily asks, looking over at me.

"Moon.What about you?"

She smiles. "The sun."

"This should be easy for us." I say, grinning.

I begin to jot down what I can use in my sonnet and cross out the things I don't want. Soon, I have a pretty good idea what I'm going to write. I write about how bright the moon is and how it has its phases, disappearing when a new moon occurred. I write how it's my saving grace and I end it with the tides it creates.

The first day back is going well, except the distance we have to keep away from our friends. If it wasn't for what happened to me, I don't think Abe would've made the order up and I feel terrible for Lily. She's getting punished for something she didn't do and so is Lucas. Maybe I can talk Abe into removing the strict order, at least for Lily.

Before, I go into the cafeteria, I head into the restroom. Lily tells me she'll find us a table to sit at since we can't still at our usual spot anymore. Well at least for the month.

I walk in and before I turn the corner, I hear hushed voices. I would've kept walking in but I stop because I hear my name and Kyle's in the same sentence. Selena said earlier no one was allowed to talked about what happened but even she can't be around everyone every single moment. People will want to talk about what happened and try to figure out why it happened.

"Are you sure?" One girl asks. "I know Kyle. He wouldn't do that to Millie."

"That's what I was told." The other girl says. "He raped and abused her."

"No. I don't believe that. She made that up. Why would they want to kidnap them and then rape Millie? It doesn't make any sense."

My heart drops when I hear what she says. She called me a lair. Why would I lie about something like that? I can feel the tears building up but I will then back.

"I don't know. It's just what I was told. It doesn't matter, we aren't supposed to be talking about it anyway."

I slowly back away from the corner and exit the bathroom. If one person knows what happened at the trial, then everyone will know soon. If they don't already know. They don't believe me. They don't believe Kyle did what he did. It's my words against his and even if he did admit to it, they still don't believe me.

James looks at me when I return and I keep my head down as we walk to the cafeteria. Lily is sitting near the front. I grab my lunch and take a seat across from her. Immediately, she knows something is wrong.

"Are you okay?" She asks.

"They know." I tell her, looking down before glancing up at her.

She frowns. "They know what?"

"I overheard a conversation in the bathroom and they were talking about the trial. They don't believe Kyle's capable of doing what he did."

Lily scans the cafeteria and her eyes lands on Lucas' table. He's sitting with Laura and Danielle and a couple of others. He makes eye contact with Lily and he raises an eyebrow.

Lily holds up one finger, signaling to give her a moment. She digs in her bag and pulls out a pen and a sheet of paper. She writes on it and folds it in half, concealing the written words.

"Reid." She says.

He looks at her and she gives him the paper. He stares at the paper he's given.

"What am I supposed to do with this?" He asks.

"Give it to Lucas." She orders.

"Why?"

"Just give it to him." She replies, irritated.

Reid doesn't say anything else and walks across the room and hands Lucas the paper. Lucas unfolds it and reads it. He frowns, slightly at whatever is written. He looks up as he folds the paper back up and nods his head at Lily.

"What did you tell him?" I ask.

"I explained to him what happened and asked him to keep his ears open if anything else is said."

They aren't going to say anything in front of Lily and I but they don't know Lucas knows exactly what happens. They don't know Lucas was there beside Lily the whole time during that night. If someone happens to bring the topic up, he could act completely clueless and see what they knew. I think that's what Lily's going for.

I sigh.

If two girls, don't believe me, why will the others? I don't know what I will do if the whole school's against me. Sophie never got in trouble at school. She was the good student and go along with everyone. That's how everyone saw her. They didn't see the side Lily and I had seen. To them, Sophie is the sweet, innocent girl. She has them completely fooled and wrapped around her finger.

Kyle had a bad boy reputation but everyone saw him stand up for me. They saw us as a happy and adorable couple. I can see why they are having trouble believing me but it did happen and they have to believe me. People like them, do exist and they are the ones you will least expect.

Time goes by quicker than I thought it would. I'm in my last class for the day, sitting in the back, away from the rest of the students. Mr. Dean walks onto the stage and all eyes on are him as he speaks.

"It's been awhile since I've last seen you guys. I hope you enjoyed the break but we're back for the last semester for most of you in here. Today, I'm going to take each of you in one of the studio, individually, to sing a song and then we will start to prepare for the annual musical play."

While Mr. Dean calls the first person back, I call Lucas' name. He's sitting two rows in front of me, an empty row separates me from them.

"What's the annual play?" I ask.

"Is a play we put on for the royalty and the council. Last year, we did a romance play. The main characters found their happily ever after." He rolls his eyes. "It was just like anything else you probably seen before. Very predictable."

I nod. "So, we're in charge of everything?"

"Yeah. Once we figure out what genre we would to do, the musicians will start working on the music and after that we will work on the lyrics and the dancers will work on the choreography." He replies.

"Everyone has to be apart of it?"

He shake his head. "It's not required. Anyone is forced to do it. It's all volunteer but it's fun to be apart of it. You should do it."

I think about what Sophie said at the trial. Even though it wasn't the real reason why she did what she did, her lie may have some truth in it. What if I did take all the attention away from everyone else? As I think about it, I was in the spotlight more than the others. I did the Halloween Bash and that was Ava's thing. I took that away from her. During choir, I had the most verses to sing than the other girls. What if they think, I'm taking it all away from them.

And it doesn't help when Mr. Dean tells them almost everyday to be more like me. What if they hated me for that? They can't compete with me because I'm the siren. I have an advantage they never will have. If I wasn't the siren, I wouldn't have this incredible voice I have now. I'm taking it all for granted and it's time for the rest to have their moment in the spotlight.

I shake my head. "I don't think I will."

"Is it because-"

"It has nothing to do with him." I interrupt Lucas. "I just don't want to be in the spotlight anymore. I'll still help write the lyrics and whatever else that needed. I'll work the background."

"Mr. Dean isn't gonna be happy about your decision but he'll understand."

Mr. Dean calls for Lucas, he stands up and heads for the studio room. I sit, quietly, watching everyone else speak. I see a few people glance back at me, quickly, before looking away. Are they talking about me? There's a very high chance they are and I can't do anything about it.

I look down at my hands for a few minutes before I look behind when I hear my name being called. Lucas is heading back to his seat as I'm standing up and heading to where Mr. Dean is. He greets me with a full bright smile when I walk inside. He shuts the door as I go over to the music stand.

"Do I just sing whatever's on the sheet?" I ask, looking at the paper on the stand.

"Yes. If you don't know it, you can go to the next sheet." He tells me.

I put the headphones on and I wait for the music to start. As soon as it starts, the lyrics does as well. I open my mouth to sing.

Hold
Hold on
Hold on to me
Cause I'm a little unsteady
A little unsteady

Once I repeat it again and the soft music is playing, I can't do it anymore. I think about everything that happened the past two weeks and how unsteady I truly am. Especially since Hayes isn't here to keep me somewhat steady. I don't sing. Instead, I start crying. I wrap my arms around myself as the music continues to play in the background.

Mr. Dean comes over to me and takes the headphones off my head. He places his hands on my shoulders and turns my body so I'm facing him.

"What's wrong?" He asks. "Is it the song? We can do another, if you want."

I shake my head. "No. I can't do it. I can't sing anymore. Everything that happened, it came back to me and I just can't escape from it." I say. "Singing makes it worse."

He nods, understanding. "Okay. Okay. You don't have to sing anymore." He assures me. "Not until you're ready."

I wipe my tears away with the sleeves of my school uniform. I feel so stupid for crying but I can't help it. I stay in the studio until I'm sure, I look like I haven't been crying and then I leave. The next person goes in and I take a seat. I can feel Lucas' eyes on me, he probably can tell something is wrong but I refuse to glance up at him.

Not soon enough, class is over and James is walking me to my dorm room. James knows I cried and he probably will tell Hayes about it and I don't want him to know.

"James, don't tell him." I say. "He has his own mission to focus on. I don't want him to worry about me, okay?"

He nods. "Okay, Princess."

I arrive at my room and James walks in first to check it before I can go in. He tells me, it's okay to enter and I do. Right before he leaves, he tells me he will be here to get me for dinner and if I need anything before then to call for him and he will come.

I sit on my bed and take my backpack off. I unzip it to get the phone Hayes left me before he left. I turn it on and I see the missed calls and texts I have from him. I click on the last text message.

Call me when you get the chance to.

I go to his names and press the call button. It rings a few times before he answers.

"Hey, Boo. How's your first day?"

Should I tell him that the school knows about what happened at trial and they don't believe me? Or the fact, I couldn't even sing a song without crying even though I told James not to say anything? No, I shouldn't tell him. He has to focus on his mission he lied to me about.

"It was fine." I lie. "Everyone was kind."

"I'm glad to hear that."

There's a noise on the other side of the phone. It sounded like something fell on the ground. I frown.

"What was that?"

"I'll call you tonight." He says, ignoring my question.

Before I can say a word, he hangs up on me. I take the phone away from my ear and stare at it confused. What happened? I know he won't answers if I call him so I go with the next best option. I sent him a text telling him, him better call me if he doesn't want to deal with the angry side of me.

A couple of hours later, James comes to get me for dinner and I still haven't heard from Hayes. I ask James if he spoke to Hayes and tells me he did earlier. I hope he's alright and not in any danger.

After dinner, I go back to my room and check my phone for any miss calls but there isn't any. I sigh, heavily. I have to trust whatever Hayes is doing, isn't anything reckless and dangerous. I take a shower and lay on my bed, looking at the ceiling, waiting for the phone to ring.

But it never does.