Perception

Part 49

"What about Sang Baby?" North asks.

I look around the room at the guys and see their smiles melt off their faces, or their bodies freeze in shock. I hate to see the celebration that they so rightly earned and deserve be ruined by me in any way.

"Yeah! We're not fucking leaving Trouble in that school without us!" Gabriel shouts.

"No shit!" Nathan grumbles loudly. Kota raises up his hand to recover a respectful silence.

 I offer up a forced smile, then turn back to North--pulling just far enough away that I don't have to go cross-eyed trying to focus on his face.

"Don't worry, North Star! Everything will be okay. Mr. Blackbourne said he'd figure something out," I widen my eyes and grin, "and has he ever failed?" I squint my eyes and contort my face into a goofy grin. He gives me what passes for a full-fledged North smile, and squeezes me close. I turn to face the room, and see all of the guys looking on with varying expressions.

Luke seems happy but calculating something--I only hope it's fun. Nathan is smiling, but his eyes are serious like the first time we met. Silas' eyes hold a ton of hope, and his mouth is gently smiling. Dr. Sean is looking happy, but unusually proud. Kota just smiles warmly. Victor's fire eyes are burning like hot coals. Meanie's jewel eyes are flashing electrically, but darken into something more personal, and my breath hitches.

I finally turn my full attention to Mr. Blackbourne, and freeze when I see his face is soft, almost tender. He has slightly more than his millimeter smile, and I can't help but revel in the perfection that is his undivided focus. It's one of the few times that I don't feel the automatic urge to adjust my clothing and posture when in his regard. I feel as well as see his unwavering acceptance, and affection. He walks slowly to me on my perch of North's lap, and holds out his hand. I take his cool hand and smile as it warms at my touch. I can see his gray eyes are now a sparkling silver at this distance. He assists me in standing, then places his newly warmed palm on my back to turn us to face the rest of our family.

"Miss Sorenson is correct. I have been working for some time to achieve her release, not only from Ashley Waters, but also from the boarding school her father has attempted to enroll her in. As the funds were not yet transferred, I've succeeded more quickly than anticipated. Mr. Sorenson has recently accepted a mid-term enrollment into a private school of the Academy's making through an all-expense year-round scholarship. This so-called school is to provide room and board, as well as a small stipend for personal expenses. The scholarship also stipulates that Miss Sorenson is to be ready to transfer no later than two weeks from now, which her father agreed to on the condition that the school provides transportation to the location. Of course this is all fabricated in an effort to have you, Miss Sorenson, pulled from Ashley Waters, and cutting any ties to the boarding school of his choosing. Mr. Sorenson will likely return to the home here on Sunnyvale Court before that time to notify his daughter," Mr. Blackbourne intones to the guys and I.

"But what about schooling? I realize I'm nothing more than a number in the pubic school system for the state, but I am on their radar in some way, right?" I ask.

"That will be up to you, Miss Sorenson. There are a couple of ways we can handle this. One is to do homeschooling, and use the educational code that all Academy students use to get credit for their studies. The code is registered to an address, so it appears as though there is a physical school in which we attend. The other option is to enroll in a different school. In that case we would make any registration requirements available, such as a forged birth certificate, social security number, and immunization records. This is something we do not like to do, because it takes our resources beyond the realm of legal interactions within federal institutions," Mr. Blackbourne says but looks at me expectantly, like he expects an answer right now.