Runaway - A DEVIL'S NIGHT FANFICTION (PTBR + ENG)

Chapter 23 - Ivar

Four years ago...

"Have you organized your presentation yet?" Nini asks, sitting on the wooden bridge next to Mads.

No matter how many times we've insisted and asked, she never gets into the river with me or Tavi, remaining by Mads' side the whole time we're there. It's almost summer, but the two of them still come to school in full uniform, and even in the heat, they just take off their blazers or ties and keep their clothes on, while Tavi and I carry bathing suits in our backpacks every day.

"No," I say with a chuckle. – "And I have no idea what I'm going to present."

"Ivarsen!" she scolds me. – "The presentation is on Monday and it's worth half the grade!"

I swim over to her and put my elbows on the wood.

"Don't worry, I bet it'll be easy to find someone to help me and that my presentation will be better than yours" I scoff, knowing that she's been worrying about this all week, needing her mother's help to get what she needs.

Nini rolls her eyes and runs her hand through my hair, brushing the strands off my forehead, but I decide to irritate her a little more and start shaking my head to get it wet, which causes her to push me back, throwing me back into the river.

"You don't have to worry about me," I say, putting Tavi on the platform so that she can jump into the water again. – "Mads, however, will be the joy of the party, as always."

She turns to Mads, who explains:

"I've chosen my mother to talk about the social work she does with Aunt Alex and Aunt Rika."

"And of course there's nothing better than spending fifteen minutes talking about social issues with two politicians and an activist" I joke, just as Tavi jumps straight into my arms, making a splash in the water.

Unlike Mads, Nini doesn't mind the splashes, but I'm sure her reason for not getting in the water is quite different from his.

When I get home, I decide to finally start thinking about what to do about the presentation that asshole has asked for and is forcing us to attend, as it's part of his assessment process. We have to choose a relative to show what they do for a living and give a presentation on the school playground, in the middle of a Monday morning, to demonstrate what we've learned from our chosen relative.

To make matters worse, that wretch had managed to make this presentation count not only for the subject he was teaching but also for others, since the teachers liked the idea.

"Dad?" I call out to him as I enter the workshop.

The lights are on, so I know that either he's already home or Gunnar is up to something and either way, I know I'll get someone to help me with what I need.

"Here" I hear my father's voice and follow it to find him sitting on the floor, disguising the cigarette he's just smoked. – "You're early."

I nod and sit down next to him. Now that I was finally out of detention, I had gotten over how terrible the days were when I had no freedom and resented my parents. For this reason, I approached, leaning my back against the wall and opening my backpack because I was running out of time and needed to start planning.

"I have a job to do and I need you to help me," I explain. – "I have to choose one of my parents to talk about what they do for a living and I think I want to talk about the things you build."

"Okay, how can I help?" he asks, hugging me from the side.

"I don't know, but I need to present something physical about your work," I admit, scratching my head.