Consider Me

Chapter Thirty-Eight: Lucas

"Did you find him?" 

"No. Cal won't let me see the camera footages of the campus unless I tell him the reason," I say, agitated with my brother and frustrated at myself for letting some asshole pretend to be me in front of Lily. 

I am at my place by the campus, Ryan laid out in the couch with his phone searching the student website of Hawthorne High for someone named Luke. He thinks that there might be a person who's name is actually Luke and it was him that met Lily but judging by what Sabina said that day and my own gut instinct, I highly doubt there is actually a person with a name I made-up in panic.

But this is what I have got right now. My brother is useless to me. I can't search the entire  campus of Hawthorne High neither I can go on a spree and check every student's face to find the duplicate. I didn't see him nor is my plan logical. 

I have been trying to figure out what the fuck is happening around while at the same time managing my basketball practice and finding some time to spend with Lily. We're both busy due to school work but I can't see myself going days without her. I have to see her and also because, I want to be there if this fake Luke makes his appearance again in front of her. 

But until then, if I could, I want to find him first. 

"Then make up a reason. It's not as complicated as you think it is," he suggests without looking from the screen. 

"No. I don't lie to my brothers,"

"I am not telling you to lie. I am telling you to deliver his request. He wanted a reason, give him a reason,"

I mute the television and sat up, "Isn't that lying?"

"Not really," he shifts too and leans his back at the corner of the couch, "If you want to see the footage and the guy who pretended to be you which I am still wondering about, I say go for a easier route. Bend the truth,"

"Like what?" 

"How about- Oh!" he slaps the couch bed, "Use Gloria. Say your investigating her for possible nepotism in last year's dance competition,"

My interest piqued but I was still unsure. Fooling Cal isn't easy. Lying to him is even hard but what Ryan said is true. I can use it for both of those things. I can see the person who acted like Luke and search database regarding the competition. "It sounds good but nepotism isn't illegal you know,"

"Yes but you and I both know Hawthorne High doesn't do favoritism. I mean if they did, you'd be the captain since the start and professors would complain less to your bother," he grins mockingly and I throw a cushion at him. 

"They complaint because most of the time I am right and people don't like to listen hard truths,"

"Eh," he makes a face. 

"What?" I bark. 

"Well, you know how you've been with them. You weren't really a model student bro,"

"I held good grades for three years consecutively,"

"I am not talking about grade sheets you fuckwit. I'm talking about your behavior. You weren't the best." I scowl even though I knew he was right. He laughs at my expression and goes to the kitchen muttering, "Some people can't digest truths right," 

I show him my middle finger that doubled his laughter. While he reheats the cold pizza from afternoon, I message Lily asking her about her day and wondering if I could see her today then I pondered on Ryan's words. 

I really liked the idea he gave to me. Cal knows I am in charge of campus's internal affairs. I have all inside information, from small gossips to big, inside donations, who is in a relationship with who, teacher affairs, bullies if there are any, I have my people spread across the campus who report to me at the end of each week with detailed report.