By your side (Chapter 4: X)

(Reece)

     2 days. 2 days of not being able to head back to school. My parents were fuming when they found out. While I on the other hand couldn't care less. It wasn't like the first time I've gotten suspended before. But it was the first that someone had stood up to us. How bold I thought. I got a text from Ellie that said,

    "How are you doing, miss you lots"

    I replied, "Come over. bored out of my mind."

     Five minutes later Ellis and one of her friends Vanessa showed up at my door. She gave me a hug and we went inside.

     "Is Cole home?" Vanessa asks.

     I nodded. "Cole!" I screamed. "Come down here I have some friends over!"

     He didn't reply but then I heard his door open. He slowly made his way downstairs looking as if he just woke up.

     "Cole" Vanessa said excitedly. "How have you been? I never see you at school anymore."

     Cole replied with a simple, "Hey". He sat down next to me. I put my arm around Ellis and stroked her hair.

     "I can't stay for too long." Ellis said. "Someone broke into my dad's restaurant last night and I'm going to help fix things up."

     "aww" I replied.

     She continued, " I might write to X to see if they can help find who did it."

    "Who's X?" I asked.

    Vanessa chimed in, "Some person that does things for a certain amount. You decide though. If X thinks it's a good amount X will do it otherwise your request would probably be ignored."

    "Anything?"

    "Yeah apparently" Ellie said. "This has been going on for a few years how do you not know about this?"

    "So... how would you request them to do something?"

    "You can email them or mail them. Their contact is probably online somewhere." Ellie answered.

    "Hey you know I could find out the culprits for you and knock them out with one fist." I joked.

    Ellie laughed. "Oh sure you could"

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    When I went back to school after my suspension I saw her standing by a tree. The girl that got me suspended. I went up to her and saw that she was looking in the direction of where Charles was.

    I sneered. "So what you're his guardian?" I said.

    No answer.

    "Who are you?"

    Again no answer.

    I stood right in front of her and crouched down to look her straight in the eye.

   "Do you not speak English?" I said.

    Silence.

    I scoffed, "Of well maybe Charles would have some answers." I turned around but before I could get too far she grabbed me by the arm. "Well are you going to talk?" I asked.

     She looked up at me but didn't say anything.

     "What's your name?" I said.

    While looking at the direction of Charles she finally said, "you first."

    I paused. "Ok, I'm Reece"

    "Hello Reece. I Brooke, short for Brooklyn."