[A/N]: Thank you guys so much for 2k followers I literally don't know what I'm doing but I'm appreciative all the same 😭😭😭 I hope everyone is staying healthy and hydrated as always~! Work has been kicking my ass and I'm very sorry for the delay 🙏 I will try to bring out more updates cause I wanna update so bad aghhh

C o l e

"Cole! Cole!" calling out to me after class was none other than Jean who stopped in front of me, not even breaking a sweat after running from across the courtyard.

"Yes...?" I asked wearily as I watched him smile at me.

"I need a really huge favor from you!" Jean said, clasping my hand with his and bringing it up between us as he gave me a pleading look.

"Uh...what is it?" I said.

"So, you know how I'm in the theater department and all?" He started and I gave a nod.

"Mhm"

"So, for our play, our main lead got caught in an injury and his understudy just also happens to be sick and uh, the play is in two weeks" Jean rambled on and I could only wonder why he was telling me this.

"I'm not sure I'm following..." I said and that's when Jean straightened up.

"It's just, you are the exact same size as our lead and your looks even match the parts, no offense to the other guys but you look much better than them anyways!" When hearing those words, I quietly stepped back with a shake of my head.

"Sorry, I don't think I'd be a very good actor" I said as I pulled my hand from his.

Even if I had "acted" as someone else for my whole life, I highly doubt that counts as experience. And being in front of a bunch of people as I struggle to perform well didn't exactly sound like a fun time.

"No, it's okay! We can practice lots and I can help you out! Please Cole, the department is depending on me to find a fill in and I kind of already told them I found one..." Jean pleaded and I frowned.

He had already told them I said yes...

"Don't look at me like that! I panicked! I was under the influence of peer pressure!" Jean sobbed as he clung to my shoulders and I just sighed.

"Fine. Luckily for you, I've finished my smaller upcoming assignments so I do have a bit of free time on my hands. Just don't interfere with my project work days" I said and Jean's face lit up like the sun on the horizon.

"You're the best!!" He cried as he hugged me tightly and all I could do was let him.

"Also, is it okay if we practice at your place? Our house isn't exactly the quietest" Jean said after he finished draining the life out of me.

"Sure, just let me know beforehand" I said as I rubbed my arms a bit.

"Great!! Thank you so much Cole I owe you big time!" Jean cheered before running off to go do whatever it was that Jean does.

With a sigh, I decided to just worry about that matter later. I needed to head to class before I was late so I got a move on.

Once I arrived, I saw Cinder waiting outside the room and I walked up to her with a short wave.

"Hey" I said and she nodded.

"Hey stranger" she said and as I came to a stop in front of her, a particular scent hit me and I looked to the woman.

"You reek of cigarettes" I said and Cinder chuckled.

"Stressful weekend" she said with a shrug.

"Did Jean harass you?" She suddenly asked and I furrowed my brows.

"You knew?" I asked and she nodded.

"For some time, he wouldn't shut up about it. If you hadn't done it then he'd probably ask me to dress like a guy or something" she said and there was this gleam in her eye as she gave me an innocent smile.

"So thanks"

Something tells me that Cinder's involvement in Jean's request is bigger than she's letting on...

"What class do you have after this?" Cinder asked.

"This is my last one for the day. You?" I replied.

"Actually, same. My other class got cancelled cause the professor is sick, thank god" she said as she blew a kiss in the air.

Once the doors were finally opened, the two of us went to our usual seats and the lecture began. The first few minutes of the lecture felt like they were going on for hours as we listened to our professor drone on.

"Why do they even have this guy teaching? This dude is about to clock out of life in a few seconds" Cinder whispered over and I had to hide the smile on my face from her remark.

"Behave" I said and Cinder chuckled quietly.

As the class continued, I listened half intently while Cinder continued to scribble down things in her book. The material we were reviewing was simply that and required very minimal attention on our part.

I could hear the angels singing when the time was finally up and all the students started shuffling to get their bags and stuff together.

Cinder's phone began ringing just as we got out of class and she looked at the caller ID with an annoyed expression.

"Everything okay?" I asked and she nodded.

"Yeah, it's Jean. Lord knows what he wants" she said before stepping to the side to answer the call.

I watched as Cinder's expression changed throughout the duration of the conversation. There was confusion, annoyance, and then at the end she just looked tired and gave a curt goodbye before hanging the phone up. When our eyes made contact, she gave an annoyed frown.

"I was hoping I could stick around with you but something at home has come up" She said.

"It's alright, I hope everything is okay" I said and Cinder rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, it's just our brother having his weekly mid life crisis and is apparently in need of his siblings. I'll see you around" Cinder said before walking towards the exit.

This must be what Jean meant when asking that we practice at my house...I had no idea the two had another sibling.

After Cinder had left, I had just decided that it would be fine for me to walk around a bit. I should also stop by the library and pick up one of the books needed for that project I have with Myles.

I began the short walk to the library, I had some time to spare so I didn't rush once I was there. Looking at my phone, I browsed through the aisles in search of the book but I paused for a moment as a strange feeling washed over me.

I walked a few steps before pausing once more and this time, I pulled a random book out of the shelf just to be inconspicuous.

I pretended to read the blurb on the back of the book before placing it back where I got it and moving down the aisle. It was faint but I could hear the shuffling sound of footsteps that seemed to sometimes mimic my own.

I was being followed.

If it weren't for how quiet this library was, I likely wouldn't have been able to pick it up.

Deciding to ignore it for now, I continued to search for the textbook we needed and once grabbing it, I checked it out and left the library.

As I walked down the streets, I tried looking through mirrors on cars that were parked nearby and even the one glass building I passed but I couldn't see anyone suspicious. And it's not as if the block was empty either...

I wasn't sure of this last minute plan but it was better than leading whoever this is back to the house. It'd be easier for me to lure them to a secluded location and find out who the hell they were.

I spotted a park that was empty, the weather far too frigid for parents to allow their children to play in it so I decided to cut into it and took a seat on one of the benches.

And I waited.

They'd reveal themselves eventually, especially if they thought about how this was the perfect location for something to happen under the radar.

The same footsteps from before grew closer and I looked to my side to see a man walking towards me.

"Who are you?" was all I asked once the man got close enough.

"That's not important. I'm under orders not to harm you so it'd make my job and everyone else's easier for you to come with me quietly" the man said and I gave a dry laugh.

"Orders from who?" I asked and the man stayed quiet. He had the nerve to come all this way and follow me but then decide to keep his mouth shut when it counts?

Shaking my head in irritation, I stood up.

"You wasted your time coming out here" I said and the man raised a brow.

"I don't think so. I also think that you'll want to hear what I have to say before you head off" he said.

"And why do you say that?" I asked.

"Surely you wouldn't want anything to happen to your brother" he said and I narrowed my eyes.

"What the hell are you talking about?" I said as I stepped up to the man, my eyes glaring down into his own.

"Some of my friends have very specific instructions for handling him if you don't come with me" the man said.

I assessed the situation in front of me before making a move.

This man was by himself, there's no way he has any so called friends because if he did, some of them would be here with him. Never have I been in a situation where I was confronted by one person, something about this just isn't right.

I don't quite believe that Noel is in any real danger but I can't make a move based off that assumption.

"What do you want?" I asked.

"It's not about what I want. Someone else has plans for you" the man said and I just sighed.

I'm going to have to play the bad guy here if I want any kind of answers from this dude.

"I don't give a shit about that idiot nor do I give a shit about you. I should snap your neck for wasting my time like this" I said as my hand shot out to grip his neck, not too hard though I wasn't going to harm the man even though I so very badly wished to.

Fear quickly found its way into the man's eyes and I just gave him a cold look.

"So if you don't want that, tell whoever sent you to bring their issue with me to my face. That way, it'll be their neck I'm squeezing and not yours" I said with one final cold look before dropping him.

"Y-You really don't care if Noel dies?!" The man yelled as he glared at me. His eyes began to glisten and it surely couldn't have been from oxygen deprivation.

"No but it seems like you do" I said and the man looked away.

"Everyone was right..." he muttered and I furrowed my brows.

"Right...?" I asked.

"You'd let Noel die just like you murdered his parents in cold blood. The fact that someone like you exists is horrifying" he spat and that's when the dots finally clicked in my head.

This is someone from Noel's side of the family...

"Who are you?" I asked as I crouched down next to him.

"It doesn't matter but just know this" he said as he stood up, conviction now burning in his gaze as he stared at me with hatred.

"You're going to pay for what you did to my aunt and uncle. I'll make sure of it" he said before running off.

Okay...so he really was by himself. The whole 'orders' thing was probably just a cover up to confront me.

So now I have a death threat on my hands, how wonderful.

I just heaved a sigh.

It's always one thing after the other around here...