Serena

20-The call

"It was you, wasn't it?" A familiar voice stopped me in my tracks.

After the officers took Peter away, classes resumed as usual, but the atmosphere was tense. The students couldn't whispering about the shocking event in the cafeteria.

Despite the teachers' attempts to bring the focus back to lessons, the memory of Peter's arrest lingered in every hallway conversation and hushed exchange.

I was at home, heading to my room, when Cade's voice caught me off guard. He stood in the hallway, eyes serious, and asked me that question.

I paused, confused by the sudden confrontation. "What?" I replied, not sure I had heard him correctly.

"You got Peter arrested." He said with so much conviction that it was clear he truly believed it. His eyes bore into mine, unwavering, as if searching for confirmation. The intensity in his voice and the certainty in his gaze left no room for doubt about his accusation.

"I don't know what you're talking about." I said dismissively, trying to keep my voice steady. "I was just as surprised as everyone else when they arrested him."

"Really?" He challenged, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. "Because I watched you the whole time, and you didn't look surprised at all."

I felt a knot tighten in my stomach. "What do you mean? Of course I was surprised. We all were."

He took a step closer, his gaze unwavering. "No, I don't think so. While everyone else was shocked and confused, you just stood there, almost like you were expecting it."

I struggled to find the right words. "That's not true, Cade. I...I didn't know what was happening. I was just trying to process it like everyone else."

"You're lying." He said flatly. "I can see it in your eyes. You knew something was going down. Maybe you even planned it."

I looked at him, debating whether to tell the truth. If I did, he would have more questions, possibly about Lucas. My brothers were unaware of his existence. I met Lucas around the time my relationship with them began to fall apart.

I released a heavy sigh, the weariness evident in my voice as I conceded. "You're right." The idea of lying to him felt like an additional burden I couldn't bear. I was simply drained, both mentally and emotionally.

He looked taken aback by my openness, his expression momentarily faltering with surprise. Perhaps he had anticipated a tougher time prying the truth from me.

Then, slowly but unmistakably, a smirk crept onto his face, transforming into a look of satisfaction and pride that settled in like a shadow.

"How did you mange to pull that off?" Cade's voice held a mix of curiosity and suspicion as he eyed me closely. I had been expecting this question.

"You didn't leave the house yesterday, so it's clear someone must have helped you." He remarked, his tone probing for any hint of avoidance in my response.

"True." I stated.

He looked at me for a moment too long, his eyes searching my face for any hint of deception, before finally responding. "Mind telling me who this person is?"

I hesitated, the weight of the truth pressing down on me. Revealing Lucas's involvement would complicate things further, but I could see no other way to satisfy Cade's relentless curiosity.

"His name is Lucas." I finally said, watching Cade's reaction closely.

Cade's eyes widened slightly, his interest piqued. "Lucas? Who is he, and why would he help you?"

"He's...someone I met a while back." I replied carefully. "We became friends, and he's been helping me ever since."

"You must be very close friends for him to help you with something like this." Cade remarked, his tone laced with a mix of curiosity and scepticism. "Most people wouldn't go to such lengths for someone unless there was a strong bond between them."

"If you're implying that I have a romantic relationship with him, get those thoughts out of your head." I stated firmly, meeting Cade's eyes directly.

"He's like a brother to me, and that's all there is to it." I added, my tone confident, ensuring there was no room for misunderstanding or further speculation.

Something flickered in his eyes, but as quickly as it appeared, it was gone. "Like a brother, huh." He murmured.

"Alright, I'm going to my room now." He said, his tone turning nonchalant as if the intense conversation we just had was nothing more than a casual chat.

He raised his hand in acknowledgment, and disappeared into his room, leaving me standing alone in the hallway with my thoughts swirling.

***
It was Saturday, so I allowed myself the luxury of sleeping in, waking up later than usual. The house was unusually quiet, which was my first clue that my younger brothers were already out with their friends, likely annoying the shit out of each other.

As for the oldest two, I had no idea where they were. They hadn't been home when I finally dragged myself out of bed, and there were no notes or messages to indicate their whereabouts.

It was just another typical weekend morning, everyone scattered to their own activities, while I had the house to myself.

My phone rang, and I saw Gemma's name flash on the screen. I tapped the green icon and brought the phone to my ear. "Hey, Gemma." I said, curious about what she had to say.

"I need a favour." She said, her voice tinged with urgency. It was clear from her tone that this wasn't a casual request.

I could hear the faint sounds of traffic in the background, suggesting she was calling from somewhere outside.

"What's going on?" I asked, sitting up straighter and feeling a twinge of concern.

"It's Jax." She admitted, her voice slightly strained. "He is in a worse condition than before, and our uncle isn't here to help him. I didn't know who else to call. Please, I need your help."

My heart sank at Gemma's words, the weight of her worry palpable even through the phone. "Of course." I replied without hesitation, my mind already racing with concern for Jax.

"I'm headed to your house right now." She said gratefully. "Thank you." Her voice carried genuine relief, a stark contrast to the urgency of her initial call.

I just hope Jax is okay.