Lookism: What Am I Even Doing?

Chapter 77

(Daniel's POV)

After what happened at the warehouse with Hostel's First and Second Uncles, everything has been strangely quiet. With everything that's happened for some reason the fact that nothing has occurred only puts me more on edge. The worst of things always happen when none of us are paying attention. Like the fact that I was supposed to be working on a test for the past ten minutes but obviously forgot until Jay tapped me gently on the back of the shoulder.

I gave him a small smile in thanks then looked down at my paper. It's important to get good grades in school and I know that my mom would appreciate it if her son did well in school but there are so many other things that I'm thinking about.

I'm thinking about what happened at the warehouse with Hostel. That weird Masked Man and the people he works for. The flash drive with the video of Ila's death. But more importantly, how did Ila fit into all of this and destroying the Four Major Crews?

A spiraling order of questions that all seem to connect to each other.

But how?

More importantly, how am I supposed to figure this out if I can't even remember what 13 times 13 is from the top of my head. I look down at my test. Wait, is this even math? Why are there so many letters?

By the end of the test when we were finally allowed to collect our phones I opened it to see a bunch of unread messages from Vasco; then another handful from Jace. Both of them asked me to meet them in the Architecture building during lunch. I immediately texted them that I'd be there.

Zack glanced at me from the corner of his eye. He shifted in his seat so he was facing me from the desk in front of me.

"Did the big-eared guy finally find out something?"

"I don't know. He just asked me to meet them in their department during lunch."

Zack groaned, "During lunch? Can't we do it after school? I got shit to do during lunch."

I smiled nervously, "Well he did ask me to go. You don't have to come."

He raised an eyebrow, "Like the fuck I don't. I want to know what the fuck is going on as much as you do. That bitch owes the explanation to Mira for doing something so stupid in the first place."

Can he please not refer to Ila like that? She was just...a complicated person with issues. Whatever her reasons, I know that she was good at heart.

There was a small tap on my shoulder from Jay.

"..."

"You want to come too? Are you sure? You don't have too Jay."

"..."

Him too? Well, I guess I should be happy that they're willing to help me with all of this. Though I'm not really sure what Jay's reasons were. I smiled at him. He really was just a great friend I guess for doing this for me. To be honest, he had the least connection with this than any of us. I really do owe him a lot for what he's done.

Despite Zack's constant complaining, he followed Jay and I to the Architecture department. Apparently what he had to do was share lunch with Mira. Sookie, Ila's friend, had made some type of dessert during class for a test and shared it with her and Zoe. He mentioned something about getting Mira to feed him. I didn't really understand it.

The Architecture Department was light hallways with clean floors that smelled of cleaning products and fresh wood. The scent was nice on the nose, especially with the undertone of occasional leather. At the beginning of the school year the lower rooms, the freshman classes, smelled of cigarette smoke but after they all swore their loyalty to Vasco, that smell was long gone as we climbed up to the second floor.