The Secrets We Keep

The Second Chapter

Damien

I've never been a person who fidgets but ever since I sent that email yesterday, my nerves have been a wreck. 

The girl who sits next to me in Biology shoots me an annoyed glance as my bouncing leg knocks into the table again. But try as I might, I just can't calm down. I shouldn't have sent that email. 

My father's words from before I started at Excelsior come back to me as I try and focus on the scribbles on the board in front of me. 

"These kids aren't like you and your sister. They've grown up differently with a different set of rules."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying... keep your head down while you go to school there. I know your mom thinks this school will be a good opportunity for you but those rich folks are a poisonous bunch and I don't want you to get mixed up in their problems."

"Do you know something that I don't?"

"Only that I've been a cop for over twenty years and people like the ones you'll go to school with have parents who know how to sweep all kinds of things under a table. Tell me you understand what I'm saying?"

"I do."

But I didn't. Not really. My father is the captain of the local police force. He's a hero and he didn't become that by minding his business and looking the other way. And when I saw those privileged assholes sauntering out of the chemistry lab like consequences were something to be waved away, it rubbed me up the wrong way. 

But there's something inside me that knows I've done the wrong thing here, even has my conscience detests the cowardice. 

Too soon, the teacher dismisses us from the class and I file out into the hall with all the uniform-wearing kids. As I head to my locker, I try to spot my sister's mane of red hair. Maybe if I told her, and shared my secret, I wouldn't feel so out of place. 

But as I near our lockers, it's not Hayden I see leaning against the metal boxes but Christopher freaking Wallace. One of the privileged jack asses I snitched on. He can't know what I did. Could he?

 I try to keep my face passive as I near him. He's standing next to another person, Nathan I think. He was the guy who showed Hayden and me around the school last week. 

"You're blocking my locker," I bite out and I see Christopher straighten up and step away. 

"My apologies," he says moving to the side. I have to move my head up to look him in the eyes as he starts speaking to me. Both he and Nathan are over six feet. "Nathan was telling me you're a new transfer here. I wanted to introduce myself. Your mother's the history teacher, right?"

"That's right," I say, glancing between him and Nathan as I pop open my locker. "Is there something you need?" 

The two share a look and Christopher runs a hand over his dishevelled brown hair. "Actually, I'm the captain of the fencing team. We're down a few members as of late. Why don't you come by after school and see if that's something you would be interested in doing."

My hands stalled on the book I was reaching for. I thought he... I thought he knew about the email and was coming to talk to me about it... but he's not. "You want to recruit me? For your team?" I say incredulously, the tight ball of anxiety in my stomach steadily unraveling. 

"If you have the time, of course. Think about it. I'm sure the map Nathan gave you when you started will show you the way if you decide to come." 

I still have the map tucked into my homework notebook. I nod and Christopher smiles.