New Identity

Chapter 3

I was excused to go to lunch, so I set out to find Andrew. I couldn't say I was angry with him, a little betrayed but not angry. I understood why he contacted my dad and told Charles.

As I walked down the corridor, I spotted Fallon in her cheerleading uniform getting cozy with a football player. With Fallon as a straight A student, she sure finds enough time to play tonsil hockey. She must have felt my eyes on her because she pulled away from the dumb jock and gave me a death glare.

Ignoring her, I walked into the cafeteria and immediately spotted Andrew at the end of the food line. I raced over to him and linked my arm through his. "I forgive you," I said looking ahead of me.

From the corner of my eye I saw him give me a confused look. "You forgive me?"

I didn't answer but simply nodded.

"Why do you forgive me?" he asked.

"Because you're my hero," I replied looking up at him through my eyelashes. I made sure my voice sounded like a damsel in distress.

I received a hearty laugh which made me smile a true smile. "That was a bad impression," he said as he gave me a side hug. Andrew grabbed a tray and started loading it with food. "How'd your father take it?"

"Before or after he figured out who was hurting his princess?" I responded grabbing a plate of chicken and potatoes.

He looked at me with a raised eyebrow. "After," he said dragging the 'r' out.

I couldn't help but chuckle. "Let's just say there's a hole to add to the principal's decorations."

"Seriously?" The tone of his voice gave off that he was beyond shocked.

We walked to the register and paid for our meals. We took our trays to an empty table at the back by the doors. "That's not the only thing," I said sitting down next to him so I could keep my voice low so people couldn't ease drop. "I told him about mom, Fallon, and about everything that Malik did. Dad and Mr. Moore were pissed." I explained to Andrew about everything that was discussed earlier. He sat there and listened to every detail. He even came up with a few good ideas that might make this more believable. So after lunch was over, Andrew and I went back to the office to talk to my father and Charles.

I probably didn't mention this earlier but Andrew's parents are friends with my father. They are his personal accountants and they are very loyal to my father. I really hoped that when I take over the business that Andrew would become my accountant.

Knocking on the door to Charles' office, I didn't wait for an invitation. My father was still sitting at Charles' desk while Charles was on the phone once again.

Dad looked up from some papers as we walked in. "Hello Andrew, it's good to see you," he said.

"It's good to see you too sir," Andrew said as he sat down in the only empty chair.

Dad rolled his eyes at my best friend, making me laugh. "I have told you over a hundred times to call me Sal." He pushed back from the chair and patted his leg for me to take a seat. Without hesitation, I bounded over to him and sat. I loved feeling like a little kid again. "So what brings you in here, Andrew?"

Before Andrew could get a word out, I spoke up for him. "I filled him in on everything." I was going to keep speaking but the look on my father's face told me he didn't approve of that. I just rolled my eyes. "I tell him everything. Anyways, I filled him in and he came up with a few ideas that might help sell this."

Dad was quiet for a few minutes. His chin rested in his hands as he closed his eyes. The only sound in the medium sized office was Charles who was in his own world arguing with someone on the other end. "Okay, what do you have?" dad finally asked.