after they met her

twentynine

i v a n a

Ray was still hospitalized after the incident and, since he wasn't ready to watch over me at school, Gray had no choice but to send me without a in-class-bodyguard.

I am pretty excited, I have to admit. Though he would have rather made me stay home for the whole week.

Asher was on my side this time.

"Asher, this is ridiculous," Gray said, pacing back and forth in the living room. "It's not safe for her to go to school without a proper bodyguard."

"Gray, I get it," Asher replied. "But keeping her at home isn't the answer. It's her last year, and she needs to be at school. How is she supposed to take her final exams if you make her stay home?"

Gray stopped pacing and turned to face Asher. "I'm just trying to protect her."

"And I respect that. And I respect you.," Asher said, "but you can't take away her education because of it. She needs to go to school."

Gray sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "What if something happens? I can't be there all the time."

"We'll increase security around the school," Asher suggested. "My men, the whole nine yards. They'll patrol the area, keep an eye on her. But let her go to school, Gray. She needs this."

Gray looked at Asher for a long moment before finally nodding. "Alright. But if anything happens..."

"Nothing will happen," Asher assured him. "I will make sure of it."

Back at school, the entire campus was patrolled by men in black suits and black cars. They were everywhere, nodding at me whenever they saw me. They weren't even trying to have a low profile.

My friends gave me curious looks, whispering among themselves as we entered the school building.

"Are those guys outside here for you?" Lily asked, raising an eyebrow.

I nodded, feeling my cheeks flush. "Yeah, my brothers went a bit overboard."

"A bit?" Joshua snorted. "More like a lot."

"Hey, at least you're safe, from whatever?," Ethan chimed in. "Better safe than sorry, I guess?"

In school, my classes were actually interesting today, though it felt a bit lonely. During the time between classes, Ray would usually walk up to me and chat, but now I was fully alone. I couldn't wait for lunch to see my friends again.

Suddenly, a note was slipped onto my desk by one of the student teachers. I unfolded it and read the instructions:

"Ivana, please go to the administrative office to collect your new textbooks. It's urgent."

I looked at her confused. I thought they gave me everything already?

She just smiled at me.

I decided to follow the instructions.

"Excuse me, where do you think you're going?" the teacher asked, eyebrows raised.

Before I could answer, the student teacher quickly interjected, laughing nervously. "Oh, it's okay. She needs to pick up some new textbooks." She whispered something in the teacher's ear, which seemed to ease the teacher's confusion.

"Alright then, hurry back," the teacher said, still looking slightly puzzled but no longer questioning me.

I nodded and made my way out. The hallway was eerily empty, with everyone supposed to be in class. My footsteps echoed softly as I walked toward the administrative office.