The following morning when I came downstairs, Joseph was in the kitchen getting his things ready for the day. He was having his coffee when he caught sight of me and put his hands on the keys on the counter before I could grab them.
“Where do you think you’re going?” he asked.
“To school. What does it look like?” Pulling out a pair of keys from the side pocket of my pants, I flashed him a smile. This was a trick he had taught me.
“Always be on your toes,” I said.
“Hey.” Joseph called after me as I walked out before he could say anything else.
There really wasn’t anything he could do. I was working, performing my role like I had been instructed. Sure, I was still a bit angry by what he had said to Dr. Nicholson, but it was expected.
He rushed out, just as I climbed into the car and pulled out of the driveway.
“Shouldn’t you be getting to school, too, Principal Müller?” I said through the open window of the car. I accelerated and sped out.
Within fifteen minutes I was at Claudia’s house, parking the car on the side street. I jumped out and hurried to the door. It was strange, but I was nervous. This was going to be the day I asked her guardian for his blessing. I moved the dial of the watch up so Claudia would not be able to sense me. At least, not until I wanted her to.
When I knocked it was Michael who answered the door. He wore a look of surprise on the creases of his old face.
“Sir,” I said standing bashfully at the steps of his door.
“John?” he seemed confused to see me so early in the morning.
“I didn’t know you were planning on picking up Claudia today. She didn’t mention it to me. She’s upstairs getting ready. I can go get her?”
“Actually, we hadn’t planned on it, sir, but if you don’t mind, I wanted to discuss something with you first.”
“Me?” His nose wrinkled slightly, as a fold on his brow creased curiously over. “Sure come in.”
Michael pulled open the door and allowed me to come in. After closing the door behind us, he led me to the kitchen. There was a cup of coffee on the counter waiting for him when he entered. At one end of the kitchen was a nice little nook to my right. The kitchen was big but old-fashioned.
“Would you like some coffee?” he asked, reaching to open the cabinet.
I knew we were pressed for time since we both had to be at school.
“I’m fine,” I declined.
He nodded and came over, motioning me to take a seat at the breakfast nook.
“So, what’s on your mind, John?”
“It’s about prom,” I came straight out and said.
“Ah, yes.”
“I’m planning on taking Claudia, I don’t know if she’s mentioned it.”
“Well, we might have talked about it,” he said, but I could tell he had no idea it was finalized. Especially after she had run off during dinner. I didn’t think she had mentioned we had made up.
“So, you two are going together?”
“Yes, sir. I just wanted to let you know. You, after all, are her guardian. I wanted to assure you she’s in safe hands.”
He took a moment, but his face seemed to soften. The concern I had noticed at the beginning was soon eased and replaced with a glow. The crease on his brow now was erased. “John, I don’t think in all my years as an administrator working in a high school, I’ve ever met a young man such as you.” He grinned.
“Thank you, sir that’s very kind of you.” I continued. “That leads me to my next point. I’ve asked Claudia to be my girlfriend.”
He accidentally spilled his coffee on the table. He took a moment. “Excuse me. I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s okay.” There was no doubt this was quite a surprise to him.
“Let me get something to clean this mess.” Michael rose grabbing a paper towel from the counter and handed it to me. I cleaned the mess.
“I’m sorry did I say something wrong, sir?” I said wiping away the coffee. I set aside the mug.
“No, no, I’m sorry John. It’s just that, well, it’s happening so fast,” Michael admitted.
Those words seemed to have strike him hard. Claudia was growing up too quickly. And he was realizing this now. It seemed like Michael was the kind of person who felt deep connections to those close to him.
“What’s that, sir?” I glanced over, requesting clarification.
“All this. She came into my life, and now, she’s graduating, and prom is coming up. And now, she has you.” He motioned towards me. “I just wish Neil was here to see it. This was supposed to be his moment. He was supposed to have this conversation with you, but he’s gone.” The past saddened him, but he regained his composure quickly. “Forgive me.”
“No don’t apologize, sir. You’re here now. And you’ll live those moments for him.”
With a single smile he nodded. “I guess you’re right.”
“I hope it’s okay for her to be with me. I mean if you disapprove, sir, I’ll understand. But I care about Claudia a lot. That’s why it’s important to me I have your approval.”
There was a warm glow on his face. He looked touched. I could see Michael was a man who took these sorts of things to heart. “Then, you have it.”
I was relieved. I rose from my seat, grabbing a hold of his hand and shaking it awkwardly.
Claudia entered the kitchen. “Michael, have you seen my—John?”
She probably didn’t understand why she hadn’t sensed me, but the smile on her face told me she was more than happy I was there.
I waved. A scarlet color flushed on her cheeks, along with glowing smile.
“Ah, Claudia,” Michael said as he came from around the table. He looked delighted and happier than I had ever seen him. Our conversation might have had something to do with it. The normalcy that we both had longed for had finally come.
“John tells me you’re going to prom with him,” Michael said. The color returned to her face. “I think that’s wonderful.”
“I asked Michael if I could take you to school this morning,” I said answer the linger question in her eyes. My reasons for being here. Of course, I didn’t want to further embarrass her, but I couldn’t resist walking over and kissing her. Now that I had been given the all-clear by Michael, I felt far more comfortable.
She bashfully backed away bumping onto the counter, her eyes slightly lower and whispered, “John, not in front of Michael.”
I grinned. Michael picked up the backpack off the counter and handled it to her, but I took it before she could and swung it over my shoulder.
“Ready?” I asked taking a hold of her hand.
Michael walked us to the door, grabbing his things then locked up behind us.
“I’ll see you both at school,” he said and walked over to his car in the driveway.
Claudia waved as I held her close to me.
“What’s wrong?” I asked her, knowing something was bothering her. She was shying away from me, and I didn’t like it when she did that.
“Nothing. I didn’t expect to see you until school. You didn’t mention you planned to pick me up?”
At first, I didn’t answer. I had to think over her words, contemplate her tone. After a minute, I said, “Aren’t you happy to see me?”
“Of course.” She fidgeted in place, pushing a lock of her hair back as she turned a lovely shade of red.
I gave her a crooked smile.
“What were you two talking about?” she asked, wrinkling her nose at me as we made our way to the car.
“I wanted to make sure he knew about us. I wanted to do the right thing and introduce myself to him,” I softly responded.
“But he already knows you,” she said foolishly.
I smiled, chuckling softly. “Of course, but I wanted to assure him you were safe in my hands, so he wouldn’t worry. I also told him I asked you to be my girlfriend.”
Her mouth dropped and her eyes widen. “How did he take it?” she asked nervously.
I gave a slight grin.
“Quite well, in fact. I told him I wouldn’t feel right if I didn’t have his approval first of.”
Her eyes blinked back, her mouth still in a gap. I think she thought the same as Michael. Who would have guessed I’d leave an impression on both of them? Yes, I was well-behaved. I had to be. It was drilled into me from birth.
“What if he hadn’t approved of us?” she challenged. “What if he said you couldn’t go out with me?” Claudia grinned, examining the glint in my eyes.
It seemed she wanted to see how determined I was. Smiling warmly over at her, I leaned forward and kissed her cheek. She waited for my response with eagerness.
“Then, I would have done whatever I could to make him see things differently.”
She furrowed her brow as I pulled her to me. Her intense brown eyes begged me to elaborate.
“I think he would have seen things my way, Miss Belle.” I neared but didn’t kiss her, just took in a scent of her. Her perfume got caught in my nose. There was a hint of vanilla and citrus, jasmine, and even a bit of lavender.
Opening the car door, I helped Claudia inside.
We arrived at the school quickly. The parking lot was still slightly empty with the creepy hole at the far corner mocking the both of us. I couldn’t help staring over at it and recalling the events of that evening it had created, and the creatures that wanted her just as Dr. Nicholson wanted her.
Why did they want her so much? I had never asked that. Now, I questioned the purpose and importance of the source.
We parked, got out, and walked into the building, I grabbed her backpack, “Let me take that,” I said.
It seemed like she would object but didn’t verbalize her objections.
“I have to stop by the office,” I confessed. “You don’t have to come in.”
Claudia took a hold of my hand. My heart flutter as her fingers curled around my palm and send an explosion of emotion into my body.
Hand and hand, we walked down the still mostly empty hall.
We finally reached the main office entrance. Inside, we found the office quite a different picture of the silent hallways.
Mrs. Wallace was at her desk, her phone ringing off the hook. It seemed that once she was done with one call, another one rang to life.
Michael was already there when we came in. Claudia was surprised to find Mrs. Wallace and Michael working to bring some order. Michael glanced over, catching me alongside Claudia.
“What’s going on this morning?” I asked, looking over at Joseph’s office. The door was open.
“Looks like an overnight sinkhole has everyone off their rockers this morning,” Mrs. Wallace answered as she took a seat behind her desk and started typing.
“Any word of evacuating?” I asked.
“No need to. The hole isn’t as bad as first predicted. I’m just getting the word out to the teachers and parents to ease concerns. Still, until it’s filled, it’s alarming for parents,” Michael said. He continued sending out messages on his phone, never missing a beat.
“It’s not a sinkhole,” Joseph said through the open door.
I stepped over to the entrance of his office.
“Where have you been?” He furrowed his brow, the tone in his voice gave all the indications he was pissed about being left on his own to do the hard work of keeping up with this desk job.
Claudia came to the entrance to stand alongside me.
“Ah.” That’s why you’re not here, you’re with her, he didn’t need to speak the words, the look in his eyes said it all.
From across the room, he rose coming around his desk and walked over to the entrance of the office, nearly running into us. “Mrs. Wallace, did you send out the phone recordings regarding the hole in the parking lot?” he glanced back at me then Claudia.
Mrs. Wallace looked up. “Yes, sir.”
“Please make sure the news is also posted on the school website. We need to make sure parents are aware. This is ridiculous.” Joseph came back into his office and over to his desk. “A little hole and people go insane,” Joseph muttered.
I came further into the office. I felt bad for being absent, but I knew he was mad for other reasons. Is he jealous? Nah, I don’t believe that.
“Can I help?”
Joseph looked up. “Why are you still here, you need to head to class. Get some work done for a change. You remember what your father said?” His tone was stern.
I nodded. There was no sense in trying to reason with him when he was in a bad mood.
Claudia wandered alongside me, longing to escape the office and Joseph’s uneasy gaze. As she neared, I could smell her shampoo, or perhaps, it was the lotion radiating from her body. It had a sweet, flowery scent.
“Why don’t you two head to class? This place is starting to get crowded,” Joseph rudely said.
Michael stepped over to the door.
“Michael, I appreciate the help, but I think I can handle it from here,” Joseph said. “It’s those teacher evaluations I’d rather you complete, if you don’t mind.”
Michael nodded.
“Mrs. Wallace, where are those letters?” Joseph sounded arrogant just like Dr. Nicholson.
What is his problem today?
Michael moved to leave but stopped by the main entrance where a man blocked his path. He stepped aside. The man-made his way to Joseph’s office.
“What now?” Joseph groaned.
The man’s eyes widened. He looked shocked and dazed as he stared over at Claudia. He walked forward, and I immediately blocked him from coming within inches of her. I didn’t know why, but something about him had set my instincts off. He seemed surprised by my actions and overwhelmed by my size. He was shorter than both Michael and Joseph.
Joseph rose from his desk. My movements had alerted him, and he would be ready if I needed backup. Mad or not, he was my guardian.
“Can I help you?” Joseph asked, making himself visible and challenging the stranger, his concerns were over me.
The man kept looking over at Claudia. Until he realized we were both looking in his direction. “Where are my manners?” he politely asked. “I’m sorry, but when I saw her, oh my god, she’s grown so much. I can’t believe it’s been so long.”
Both Joseph and I were suspicious already.
Claudia’s brow creased. It seemed she had no earthly clue who this man was, and it was starting to make me uneasy as well, not to mention jealous. I wanted an explanation.
“You’re C-C-Claudia?” he stuttered. “Oh my. Look at you.” He was very aware he was being observed by two unconvinced men.
Joseph seemed to have taken an immediate interest. Sure, he didn’t want me with Claudia, but suddenly, he had turned into a concerned adult. After all, she was a beautiful, attractive, teenage girl. And this man was acting very strangely.
“And you are?” Joseph asked as he stepped out from around his desk.
Michael watched with the same concern in his eyes. He seemed just as surprised as I was by Joseph’s sudden interest.
The man was a short man with black hair and brown, beady eyes, dressed in a blue suit. “I’m her uncle,” he said, very matter-of-factly.
My jaw dropped.
“My uncle?” Claudia whispered from behind me.
I didn’t move, continuing to shield her from him. I didn’t trust him, or anything he said.
“You, sir, are a liar,” I firmly stated. “Claudia doesn’t have any living relatives.”
Claudia had come into a very large inheritance, and now it seemed it had attracted all sorts of crazies.
From behind Claudia came forward and stared at the man. He extended his hand out to her, with an overzealous smile on his face, like she was a delicate jewel he wanted to touch. Her eyes were concentrating and focused completely on him. Immediately I knew what she was doing, she was trying to read him. He came forward, and I put my hand out to stop him; successfully blocking him from coming any closer.
“Hey, stay back. We don’t know you.”
Joseph came right over and confronted him as well. Who would have believed Joseph to be so protective, but he was. This is what he did, this was part of his role. He was always the protective guardian, not that I needed one.
The stranger put his hands up backing away.
“I’m sorry. I know what it must seem like. I just wanted to come see her. Mr. West warned me it wasn’t a good idea, but I couldn’t help myself. I’ve been looking for you all my life,” he said, directing his words to Claudia.
Again, her eyes were curiously and completely focused on him, she seemed more confused than anything, like she wasn’t quite sure what to believe.
“You know Mr. West? How do you know him?” Michael firmly asked.
I was asking myself the same question. Wasn’t this client and attorney privileged information?
“I didn’t. I heard about the accident only after I saw the story about Dr. Edwards, and then I saw the picture. I guess I have a lot of explaining to do,” he said, smiling.
I didn’t return the gesture. The smile on his own face soon faded. I didn’t like him nor did I trust him. Now there was no doubt he knew it.
“Yes, you do,” Joseph firmly said.
He wasn’t interested in hearing more of his phony story either. We were experts in that field. We both became a pair of human walls, barricading him from approaching Claudia.
“Look, I’m sorry … I’ll see myself out. I didn’t mean to frighten you,” he spoke to Claudia. “It was nice seeing you.”
The stranger stepped toward the entrance, looking back once. My arm wrapped around her shoulder as I stared hard over at him. Joseph tower from the other end as well, looking just as intimidating. Whether or not he was doing it to protect me, it didn’t matter if he had my girl’s back.
“You look so much like your mother,” he said and then walked out the door.
Claudia pulled away from me, but the man was gone. Quickly she glanced back at Michael, there was an obvious look of confusion on her face. Sure, there was doubt in her eyes, however there was also hope that he was who he claimed to be.
“That was weird,” Joseph said, breaking the silence in hopes of getting back to what we were doing before the intrusion. As if he expected no more of the situation, he moved back over to his desk.
“Michael, what if he’s telling the truth?” Claudia’s voice broke the unsettling silence.
It caught me by surprised, but it shouldn’t have. On the other hand, Joseph stopped halfway to his desk and spun back around. There was a look of disbelief on his bronze face.
“Miss Belle, you’re not seriously believing that he’s your uncle? It’s obvious what that was all about. It’s no secret to anyone out there that you’ve inherited a large fortune, and creeps like that are after it.” Joseph was the first to say. It caught me off guard and seriously he beat me to it. “Are you that gullible?”
Claudia looked shocked by his words, but not surprised by his tone. That was Joseph in all his glory and honesty.
She shook her head. He could be an asshole, but he wasn’t all bad. He knew when someone was being a con.
I glanced over at him. My only issue with his methods, was why did he have to be so harsh with someone outside our reality?
“I’m not trying to be rude, but seriously, that guy is only after one thing.” He made the universal sign for money, rubbing his thumb against his pointer and middle fingers, and grinned. “I’ve seen weirdos like that go after far less.”
Claudia lowered her eyes. She wanted to believe it.
“I think what my uncle is trying to say, Claudia, is how do we know he’s not just some creep after your inheritance? And he’s right.”
She looked up. I wanted to console her.
“But what if he’s not some creep? What if he’s really my uncle? You could ask Mr. West. He would know. Wouldn’t he?” she asked.
“Claudia,” Michael said. “I know you want to believe he is who he claims to be, but it’s not true.”
“You don’t know that,” she snapped at him.
“Okay, let’s say just for argument’s sake—” Joseph neared walking from the back of the office— “that he is who he claims he is. Why did it take so long for him to come forward?”
“Joseph makes a good point,” I said.
“Thank you, nephew.”
“He said he had been searching for me. And he didn’t know where I was until my grandfather’s death,” she said, justifying his actions.
Joseph and I knew better, but as he gave me that looked, I’d hope he would be kind in his approach to help her see the truth. She was so trusting and naïve. In the wrong hands she was an easy target. I had seen that innocence in myself a long time ago.
“Claudia,” Michael said. “We have to be more realistic.”
He tried to reason with her, but there was no negotiating with her. The stranger had laid the idea deep in her head, and she was bent on knowing the truth.
“Michael, please,” she said.
I didn’t like seeing her in distress, and I knew we both would give in to her request. I interrupted Michael, as he was about to speak again, possibly to disagree with her demand.
“I suppose there’s no harm in checking him out, Michael?” I suggested, and they both turned to look at me.
Joseph huffed walking back to his desk. He had that look of someone who had given up. I didn’t have to be a mindbender to know he thought I was just as gullible as the young woman I had taken under my wing.
Claudia rewarded me with that beautiful smile and it was then I realize that I meant what I said about not leaving.
“I would investigate this guy, Michael. Not only to confirm this stranger’s claims, but also to see whether or not Mr. West gave up important attorney-client information,” Joseph said from the other end of the office.
It seemed Michael hadn’t even considered that option himself. Joseph’s quick recommendations had impressed him.
“You might want to call him as soon as possible,” Joseph urged.
Michael nodded then turned, walking over to the door. “If you don’t mind. I’m going to head to my office.” He stopped by the entrance and glanced down at his watch. “It’s time I get to work anyway. I’ll make the call there.”
“Not a problem,” Joseph softly said, knowing Michael wanted his privacy to speak to Mr. West.
“Claudia,” Michael called.
She looked up and smiled. “You better head to class, don’t be late,”
“Will you let me know what you discover?” she asked.
“Of course, dear.” Michael nodded and walked out.
My heart beat rapidly as she turned her dark eyes towards me, and I came alongside her and held her.
“Don’t worry we’ll figure it out,” I assured her.
“Guys?” Joseph called out.
We spun our heads back.
“It’s time you two headed to class as well. I have a lot of work to do. John, Miss Belle.” He waved us off, settling into his seat.
He seemed different. A lot nicer than he had been. I wasn’t sure if he was doing it because he felt bad about reporting me to Dr. Nicholson, or simply because he was Joseph, my partner, my guardian for life. Regardless, I wanted to thank him.
In the end, it was Claudia who stepped up to him, walking over, she stopped in front of the desk and stood to face him. “Thank you,” she softly said.
Joseph looked surprised to see she was speaking to him. “For what?” he asked, wary of her. Joseph was untrusting with others, suspicious of everyone no matter what.
It was drilled into us.
“For convincing Michael to check him out,” she said with a beautiful smile.
He looked taken back. I grinned from behind her over at him, arching my eyebrow up. He cleared his throat, was he getting soft on me?
“You’re welcome.” He took a moment before releasing a breath.
“If you like, I can check him out for you. Make sure he’s on the up-and-up. You know, make sure he’s not some nut after your money. Me and John, of course,” he strangely said. His lips slightly curved, but it looked like he was having a difficult time smiling. He looked ridiculous. “I’ll get John to do most of the hard work, of course.” He laughed.
Surprised by his offer she turned and looked over at me questionably. Is he seriously offering to help her? My jaw dropped.
“You would do that?” she asked softly. He shrugged as she lowered her eyes bashfully at him.
“Yeah, why not? I used to do that back when I was dating …” Wait what?
Dating? Claudia looked puzzled, and I was curious to know what he was going to say about that.
“Back when I was suspicious of women wanting to date me only for my money. I got so good at it. I think I can handle a suspicious guy like that one.”
That was something I’d never heard before.
“Um …Thank you,” she said. “I better go.”
She stepped alongside me, and I lean over. “I’ll walk you to class. Wait outside for me. I need to talk to my uncle.”
With a timid nod she moved over to the door and stood near the entrance, before walking out she waved back at Joseph. He waved back, which was odd to see him do. Then, she left.
I closed the door, blocking out the sounds of Mrs. Wallace typing at the keyboard as she made calls. I came over and dropped onto the seat facing his desk.
He took to his work ignoring me. I knew what was coming long before he said it.
“I’m sorry,” he admitted.
“I know,” I answered. “Thanks for saying that to Claudia, by the way.”
“I meant it, just in case you think I didn’t. I can find out what Jason has on him.”
Jason was a hidden contact we used whenever we wanted to know more than the Company gave. He was our inside man. Joseph taught me that we always had to have someone on the inside. Trust was earned. Jason was someone Joseph had trusted, except sometimes the guy talked too much.
“Can I be there when you talk to him?”
“Sure,” he said falling back in his seat. “But I’m sure it’s not me he wants to talk to.” He winked. “You really like her, don’t you?” he finally asked.
“Yeah, I do.”
He shook his head running a hand through his hair. He was scrutinizing me again. I knew what was coming.
“Just be careful, okay?” he said.
I didn’t know what to make of that. I expected a lecture, instead, I got more of a friendly warning.
“What do you mean?”
He huffed. “You know what I mean. You know we don’t get to stay, kid. We leave and she can’t come with us. You know that.”
“Yeah, I know,” I said foolishly.
“Good. I just want to make sure you haven’t forgotten.” He took another breath. “I just want you to be honest with me, John.”
I froze.
“She’s not a distraction.” For a moment, I didn’t say anything. “I love her,” I finally admitted.
“Tell me she’s not a distraction, John.” He repeated firmly.
He had done a lot, his eyes told me, to convince Dr. Nicholson and anyone who questioned it that she wasn’t a distraction. All he wanted now was to hear me say it.
“Why? What if she is? Are you going to tell Dr. Nicholson?”
He rose. “That’s not what I wanted to hear. You know what protocol is, John. You know what my job entitles and requires I do.” He blinked as if that could change the words that had escaped my lips before asking again, “I’ll ask you once more, is she a distraction?”
I didn’t answer. What could I say? He wanted the truth, but he also wanted the right answer. I couldn’t give him both.
“The devices we talked about on the second floor. You didn’t perform the required assessments, did you?”
He already knew. It wasn’t a question.
“You failed on that. I covered for you when Dr. Nicholson asked about the devices being activated before you got to the office the day of his visit. What happened Friday? Where were you really? Were you checking the devices or were you with her? Dr. Nicholson was also interested in where you were the night of the incident.”
“You know where I was,” I said. “I was working. I didn’t see anything.”
He immediately came around the desk to stand in front of me. “The least you could do is be honest with me. But you have the audacity to lie to my face.”
“Excuse me?”
“John, you weren’t working,” he said bluntly.
I blinked up at him trying to control the shock on my face, only countering with. “Neither were you. Do I have to remind you about your date with Ms. Stephens?”
“I canceled my date with Karen after school and followed you to Miss Belle’s house. You never checked the devices. You never went to the school like I asked you.”
I closed the distance separating us “Are you spying on me? I don’t take orders from you, or have you forgotten your place, Joseph?”
He clenched his jaw. “No, I’m here to protect you, John. I’m here to make sure you get everything you need to do your job. However, you lied to me. I’m your guardian. We’re supposed to have each other’s backs. Instead, you lied and went to her house. I was at the school doing your fucking job, I replaced the devices. If I hadn’t, we wouldn’t even have the camera coverage. The surge, or whatever the fuck that was, disturbed the devices and they had to be replaced. That’s why I sent you to check them again. You would have known that if you were doing what you were supposed to be doing. But you weren’t even there, were you?”
I was speechless.
“That’s your job, Joseph, to protect me and cover my ass.”
“Yeah, to protect you, but not to lie for you when Dr. Nicholson asks about your performance. That’s on me because I trained you. You’re my responsibility.”
My teeth ground.
“But you didn’t know that, because you were way too busy chasing that nice piece of ass.”
I swung at him, decking him right in the jaw. His face tilted slightly to one side when it made contact with my fist. Rubbing the side of his face his eyes were glaring back. He looked more annoyed than pissed.
“Feeling better?” he asked.
I moved away toward the window to compose myself. “I don’t like it when you disrespect her, Joseph,” I warned with my back to him.
“I’m trying to protect your ass, John. You’re my responsibility. It’s my duty to make sure you’re safe. Do you know what the position of guardian entitles? Do you know what happens if I fail at my task? If I fail, you?”
I didn’t. The titles were security detail, guardianship, and bodyguard. There were rumors, the disgraceful comments that were passed around. I didn’t know one guardian or security officer who was around who could say, ‘Yeah, I failed, and this is what happened.’ One didn’t exist, and I wondered why.
There were only two options. One, they didn’t fail or two, those who did were no longer around to tell the tale.
“Guardian is the greatest reward one could receive, John. Along with bodyguard, of course. We’re assigned to one person all our employment.”
Joseph had been a security detail for a long time before he came into his guardianship with me. That much I knew. Still, he was very much a mystery to me.
One day Joseph would reach a higher level. I guess you could’ve said I was his first partnership. His title might’ve been guardian now, but he was all these things when the job required it. Security, guardian, and bodyguard, all meant the same thing.
“I didn’t mean to disrespect you, sir,” he said to me. “I just want you to be safe. One of my main priorities is to make sure your performance is never in question by your superiors. I want you to be aware that I am not the only one observing, though.”
I knew that, even if I had failed to see it before. Joseph had saved my ass a lot more times than I had given him credit for. He had covered for me from Dr. Nicholson. He had tried to keep me on the path even when I had fallen repeatedly. He was trying to tell me to watch my step.
“I’m sorry I hit you, Joseph.” I turned to face him. “You always have my back and I’ve neglected to see that. I guess things haven’t been as clear …I guess she has been a slight distraction,” I admitted.
Joseph lay a hand on my shoulder. It was something I expected from him, but it was my reaction that neither he nor I expected.
Leaning forward, I hugged him. It wasn’t like me, and he was surprised. He stiffened for a moment, but then, relaxed.
I pulled away embarrassed, but it seemed to be the contact he needed to feel we were on the same team once more. Guardians, like bodyguards, were always close to their assigned potential. I would’ve bet even Dr. Nicholson and his bodyguard were tight. He might’ve been an asshole, but I didn’t doubt there was some kind of affection between the pair.
I wondered if Joseph knew Jonas. Do all Guardians and bodyguards hang in the same place, talk …
“Sorry about being a jerk,” I said.
He patted my shoulder as his way of saying we were cool. Joseph was a man’s man, he was tough. I hardly saw him get soft, but when he did, it honestly didn’t surprise me. Guardians and bodyguards were supposed to be tough by nature, so it was something he had to stick with. A mold he had to follow.
“I love her,” I reiterated. He needed to know that wasn’t going to change just because I understood more clearly what predicament we were in.
“I know.” If Joseph knew, then so did Dr. Nicholson. Was I that stupid pretending to think no one else knew the obvious?
“You told her about us, didn’t you?” Joseph suddenly asked, it completely surprised me. Yet it shouldn’t have. He huffed slightly, the disappointment evident in his voice. It wasn’t a question, but more a statement of verification. He knew already.
The look on my face was only the confirmation he needed.
“How did you know?” I asked.
“I’m the guardian, John. It’s my job to know these things.”
I didn’t know what to say. He knew me better than I knew myself.
“Kid, this has never been to protect us as much as it has been to protect her,” he promised. “You understand that, don’t you?”
I nodded, but I wasn’t entirely sure what he meant. He moved back to the desk.
“I’ll take care of it,” he said.
I squinted my eyes at him. He dropped on his seat. He was thinking.
“She won’t say anything,” I said, trying to reassure him as I moved toward the door.
“I know, but that doesn’t matter. Tell me, kid, what happens after all this ends? What then? You’re not planning on leaving this behind, are you? Do you think you could?” he asked.
“I haven’t thought that far ahead,” I said. But he knew I was lying.
“If you don’t want to hurt her, I’d tell you to let her go,” he said. “But I know you won’t. Shit, I wouldn’t. She seems like a nice girl, to be honest. I never wanted to be an asshole with her, but I had a job to do for you and my superiors.”
I wasn’t surprised by his words, only happy he was being honest. We were in the moment of sharing.
“If you like, when it’s time to leave, I can make it like you died …”
The look of confusion on my face made him smile. But I understood what he meant. He was serious, of course. I’d heard of it being done before but it was rare.
“Joseph, you would do that for me?”
“Kid, there is nothing I wouldn’t do for you … it’s my job. There is still a lot you don’t know about guardianship and bodyguards. Saying we go above and beyond is an understatement.”
I laughed.
“So, should I put you down for one of those? I’ll make you look brave, give you a good death.”
Again, I laughed. I knew he wasn’t joking, but what else could I do? “No, Joseph, as much as I appreciate your devotion, I can’t do that to her, and I won’t. She’s too important to me.”
And it won’t work, I thought, she would know it wasn’t true. We were connected in ways he didn’t know or understand.
“Okay. I just thought I’d make it easier on you. I’m still planning to help her if you’re wondering. She’s sort of grown on me. You damn kids …” He uttered the rest of his sentence unintelligibly. Was he getting emotional on me? To think she disliked him in the beginning.
“Have you asked her to prom?” he asked.
“Excuse me?” I said.
He narrowed his eyes. “Please, tell me you’ve asked her.”
“Yes,” I said immediately, but wondered what he was getting at by asking.
“Good, no sense in wasting a good year in school. Enjoy it. Make the best of this one.”
Is he actually saying this to me? Not that I needed permission from him, but it was nice to have.
“You deserve it, sir,” he said.
His words surprised me. He never referred to me as sir if we were on a mission. Yet not only that, but he had suddenly welcomed the idea of me being in real love with a girl while on an assignment.
“Don’t worry. I got your back,” he said again. Those words took me by surprise.
“I’m thinking of letting school out early after all. Maybe you and Miss Belle can go dress shopping,” he suggested winking back. He was doing this for me.
Again, I was speechless and gave him a curious glance. Who is this person?
“Thanks, Joseph.”
He gave me a tiny smile. I didn’t want to get emotional, and I could see he didn’t either.
“Go on then. She’s waiting,” he uttered and then returned to the work in front of him.
I nodded, unable to speak still. After all that, I felt more connected to him.
Walking out of the office, I nearly ran into the secretary. She was apologetic as I moved away. I stopped only when I noticed Claudia’s backpack on the side of Mrs. Wallace’s desk. She had forgotten it. Grabbing it, I swung it over my shoulder, and took it with me as I headed into the hall to find her.
She was standing outside waiting when I came into the hall. I immediately wrapped my arms around her. She turned, and I kissed her passionately.
Immediately an electrical wave connected us, I felt a warmth racing up my body. My eyes were bouncing in her glow.
“Is everything okay?” she asked staring into my eyes, when our lips parted.
“Yeah, everything is perfect,” I said. “You want to head to Michael’s class?” Knowing of course, that she was curious about what Michael had discovered, if anything.
She nodded. “You mind meeting me there?” she asked. “I’m gonna go to the lady’s restroom, if you don’t mind.”
“You want me to wait?” I asked.
“John, really, you’re starting to sound like Michael. I’ll be fine.”
I chuckled. Since when did Michael do that? Am I becoming that overprotective? Perhaps, I was guilty.
“I can’t help it, Miss Belle. I hate being one second without you.” I pulled her close. “Hurry back.”
She reached out and stroked my cheek. Her touch left me unable to move for a moment as the current raced into my body. She slowly pulled away and walked down the hall without me. I ached to be near her. The glitter speckles of her path faded as she moved further from me.
The uneasiness returned. How would I ever explain to her Joseph knew that she knew. Smart guy had figured it out. Am I that predictable? So clear to him now that he could so easily tell what I had done? He didn’t seem concerned, nothing of what I expected him to be. I was a little relieved for the first time. Things seemed to be falling into place.
I walked to Michael’s office on the second floor. Above, the school intercom speaker came to life, echoing throughout the walls and raddling lockers in the old building as I came to stopped in the middle of the hallway. For a moment I just listen to the familiar voice that was now coming through the speakers loud and clear.
“Attention students and faculty, as some of you may be aware, we have a small sinkhole in the parking lot.” It was Joseph making the announcement. True to his word, he was closing the school early. The announcement continued. “Although there is no cost for alarm and no immediate concerns of anything serious happening. Still in order to clear out the damage and allow the crew of workers access to the area. I’ve decided to let school out early.”
Cheering came from the classes and halls.
“Letters have been sent to each homeroom teacher to take home to your parents regarding this incident. Classes will resume tomorrow as usual. Please discuss this with your parents. If there are any questions, or if they wish to contact me for any reason, they are welcome to do so. I will be happy to answer any further questions they may have. To the staff, if you have questions, I have prepared a separate letter with instructions to be placed in your pigeonholes. As always, you are welcome, to come see me. I will be allowing school out at half-past ten. Thank you.”
I came to the front of Michael’s office. The door was ajar. As soon as I stopped students poured from inside the surrounding classes into the hall around me.
I glanced at my watch. Is it that time already? Once the students had cleared out, I looked inside. Michael was seated at his desk going through a few documents in front of him, consumed by something besides work. He was alone. The bell rang again, and I walked in, standing a few steps inside until he glanced over.