Song for the start of the chapter! Happy Monday!

Gray POV

I woke up to the sound of rain hitting the roof above me. It was constant and calming, almost lulling me back to sleep, I would have let it if I didn't have things to do today. For a moment I laid there, soaking up the peace until my alarm rang, showing that I had to wake up and do my jobs. With a stretch, I got up from my bed, then slipped a shirt on.

I checked my phone for the date, making sure it was the actual day I thought it was. The screen lit up with the correct date and it caused a smile to appear on my face. I hadn't been so excited for a weekend in a long time, but Stella's question about homecoming made me excited. After she asked if I would join her, I thought about it for days, but her persistence made me feel like she actually wanted me to join her and eventually, I agreed. Now with the morning of homecoming, even though I had a list of things I had to do, all I wanted to think about was tonight. Connecting with someone on a personal level was something that I wanted to so badly, which hadn't happened in so long.

The thought caused me to wake up even more as I looked at the suit in my closet that I borrowed from the local vintage store. It hung in the closet as a reminder that I actually was going. With a yawn, I shuffled my feet out of my small bedroom and into the kitchen to see Else sitting at the table drinking tea and writing notes on some paper. I didn't have to say anything for her to look up at me with a smile.

For some reason, she always knew when I went into a room. I wasn't sure if it was because she couldn't trust me or she could sense my presence somehow. "Morning," I said causally as I rummaged through the counters to find something to eat.

"The rain is supposed to change to snow. You should bundle up," mom said as she brushed some of her straight hair behind her ear showing her fine jewels, which hinted that she had somewhere important to be today that was besides this small house.

She had been gone a lot since that Darkling attacked me in the field almost two weeks ago. Since that time, we had not seen another one in this realm which put me at ease but the silence and calm were not permanent. There was something brewing beneath Else's eyes that told me she was worried about so much more than I knew. "Thanks."

"Sure," she sighed as she looked at some notes on her folder she held in her hands and put it down as if not wanting to look at them any longer. "Listen, I'm getting some push back about you attending classes at the Churchwell Academy."

Her words caused me to frown, but deep down, I saw this coming. They didn't want me in the school in fears that my father's characteristics would come out in me too much. They didn't want another monster to destroy what they just recently rebuilt. But didn't they see I was nothing like my father? I was here working tirelessly for them in Jackson, dealing with a gate in a realm that hated me, but it didn't matter. They were too worried about shutting my father's actions away, even if that meant giving me little change to defend myself. "Ok."

"Gray, don't give me that face," she frowned as she cupped my cheek as if her hands were tied in the matter. They probably were, but it didn't stop me from thinking for a second that this was her fault and she could do something about it.

"Ok."

"Listen, I'm going to meet with the royal family today, then the dean of the Churchwell school. I'm going to get the last-minute details and push for you. You deserve to learn more about Churchwell, you are from Churchwell but you don't even know much about it. That's not fair for you. But I think for you to show your face before next week is important. People haven't seen you on the grounds since you were a small child. What do you think about taking a tour of the school tomorrow?"

A smile came to my face as I thought about going back to the school grounds. It's been years since I was there. When I was young, I practically lived on that campus, that was until my father snapped and I had to leave. Before that happened though, I had such fantastic memories there of the teachers, students, and events I took part in. The thought of being back on the grounds, even if it was just for a few hours, excited me. This was the step in the right direction to make up for my father's actions as well as properly know how to defend myself and the gate. "Thank you. I would like that."

Else smiled at me, causing her eyes to glisten. "Of course. Gray, I am on your side, remember that. I am always pushing for you."

I nodded. I knew that, that was why she was here, being the only patent figure in my life. No one else wanted the role to watch me, but she had done it for so long with no push back. She watched out for me in her odd way and her actions showed that. "So you are meeting with the royal family today?"

She frowned as her smile disappeared. The light conversation suddenly had a heaviness around it like a weight crushing down on her. "There are more Darklings in Churchwell than we thought. We are talking about how to stop them."

"You are talking about going to war?" I asked as I remembered stories of the last time this happened. My father led the war with them following him. The war was terrible, lost of life was extreme. Churchwell had never experienced something like that before and we were told that something like that would never happen again, me and everyone else in Churchwell hoped for this.

She nodded. "I am afraid we're on the brink of war with them."

"But who is leading the Darklings? They wouldn't be doing this if they didn't have someone calling the shots," I asked, knowing that Darklings often traveled alone.

She frowned as she looked at her notes for a second, as if she would find her answers there. "I don't know. But once we find the leader, we are one step from ending this."

"Is there anything I can do?"

She shook her head as she stood up from her chair. "Just watch the gate. What you're doing is enough for now."

I didn't like this simple task, but I knew now wasn't the time to protest it. She knew the power that ran through my veins, I was just as strong as my father. She knew what I was capable of if I knew how to use my skills, but I think that was what everyone else was afraid of. One Gray already turned, so the chances of the other Gray turning were high. At least Else didn't see that. But she moved for change slower than I wanted.

"Gray, you know what you're doing here, with the gate, you have more power than so many know. You hold the keys that only you know how to use. Don't think you are useless here."

Her words held little to comfort because we both knew that they gave me this job to be far from Churchwell and the people there. After what my father did, they wanted me far from that place. Here, I was far enough to monitor but far enough that most people could forget about me and what my father did towards the end of his life.

"Well, I am heading out. I probably won't be back until tomorrow to pick you up for that tour."

I nodded as I couldn't help but feel slightly excited, she would be gone for so long. At least she wouldn't ask me questions about tonight and why I was dressing up. That wasn't like me, and she would know it was for something or someone, then she would ruin everything. The chance of being friends with Stella would be blown completely to bits, and I didn't want that. "Sounds good. I'm going to be gone tonight, so if you need anything just call me on the cell."

She stopped what she was doing to look at me. I tried to mention it so casually, but I could see that she was thinking about it, questioning it. "Where are you going?"

I thought about the school dance with Stella and frowned. If Else really knew what I was doing, she would make me stay here. So instead, a lie would just have to do. "Just some stupid school thing. It's for extra credit."

She smiled, taking the lie as a truth. "Good. I'm glad you are taking school seriously now."

I nodded. "Me too." I still didn't care about school, but Stella made me want to care at least a little. She made the world of a difference, and I don't think she even realized it.

"Ok, well, try to have fun tonight. I will see you tomorrow," she said and with that, walked out the back door to get to the closest gate.

With a sigh, I looked at my to-do list she left for me at the table. The list was small, but it was long enough that it would take me a few hours to finish it. Not allowing myself any time to goof off, I stuffed the note in my pocket and pulled a coat on, ready to leave for the day.

Before long, I was crossing off my last task and heading home for the evening. I was dirty, tired, and wet, but none of that mattered because I was not done with all of my tasks tonight. One still stayed on my list.... Homecoming.

As I walked into the empty house, I went straight to my bedroom and pulled out the suit that still smelt vintage, no matter how many air fresheners I placed on it. It was the cheapest suit I could find, and it made me suddenly worry that it wasn't a smart move to do that. It looked old and smelt old and it would make me stand out even more. But with only an hour until I picked up Stella, I knew I had no choice. It was too late, and I just had to deal with what I got.

I had to remind myself that the school already hated me so they would probably not even notice this terrible suit. They would be too focused on staying away from me to think of anything else. But the suit caused me to wonder what Stella would wear. Did she give more thought to her outfit than I did? Quickly I pushed such stupid thoughts from my head, then walked into the bathroom to get ready for tonight, which was just another means to an end.

After I showered, I put the suit on and looked at myself in the mirror, feeling uncomfortable. I don't remember ever looking so dressed up in my life besides for my father's funeral. My appearance made me feel out of place and not like myself. I was not a fancy guy; I wasn't into what money could buy. I like my comforts and that was enough for me. As I tugged on the suit that was slightly loose on me, I couldn't help that for a second all of this was stupid, that I shouldn't even be trying. Why was I even giving this a shot when I knew I would never come back after school. But the thought of Stella smiling at me caused me to grab the keys to the car and walk out the door, ready to try something new, even if it was suicide.