Stay Strong

Chapter Twenty Two

Putting a Face to Alexander!!

André Klitzke as Alexander Franks
Back to Ender!

I glance around the hallway as I enter the school for the first time since homecoming. I can't say I'm not thrilled to see Achilles today in my classes, but what must be done must be done.

My usual seat in the back of my first study period of the day is taken so I sit towards the back alone. The phone sitting on the top of my desk buzzes and I grin. Flipping it over and turning it on,the phone greets me with a message from Carly.

I convinced my mother to let her stay with us at the house, since the only place she could go is where Alexander could get at her again. Actually, my mother was thrilled to know that I actually have friends. She let me to to Greece and didn't realize I have friends from Battle school.

My father couldn't have cared less that Carly was staying with us, I think he still feels guilty about kicking Peter out of the house. Whenever my parents ask Val about Peter she kind of stalls and avoids the topic.

I know that she's the only one of the family at all relatively close to Peter, they were Locke and Demethones together before I came home. They're alter egos were eventually discovered and both were outed, Valentine used it to her advantage while Peter saw it as an attack on himself and ran away from his writings as Locke.

My parents offered to let Carly stay in Peter's room but I swiftly said that she would stay in my room and I would sleep on the floor. She isn't going back to that house where Alexander could get to her easily and she definitely isn't staying the in the monster's room in case he comes home from wherever the heck he is.

She's been sending me random messages all day, a funny picture here, another one there. I smile to myself, that girl has way to much time to herself now.

I lean back in my seat and close my eyes for a minute. Then I hear a thump of a person onto the desk beside me. I blink open my eyes to see the one person I didn't want to see today.

"Hello Ender."

I push myself up from my chair, "Achilles, speaking my name wrong as always. How can I assist you?" I say in a sincere tone.

Achilles smirks and looks at me lazily, "Oh little Ender, do I have to want something to talk to an old friend?"

I snort, "Achilles, buddy, we we're never friends. You tried to kill one of my few friends, that doesn't constitute the grounds for a healthy friendship."

He tilts his head and raises his eyebrows, "What do you mean tried? From what I've heard, he's about to go the way of the formics."

My breathing hitches as he mentions the Formics and Bean in the same sentence. "You won't lay a finger on him."

"Oh really! If I wanted him dead he would be." Achilles leans in closer to me, "I guess you know a good amount about me. I kill anybody whose seen me weak." He swings his legs around the desk and smirks, "The only reason I was cleared by the fleet is cause I can fool a shrink."