Strength And Stability

It's All In What You Know

Desi POV

I looked at the clock. 2:39am. My mind lurched back and forth, trying to come up with a solution to this whole scenario with Ky. When she got into our car last night, she reeked of smoke and.... Versace? Kendall noticed too.

I didn't say anything to her immediately but it was clear to me she was smoking and trying to cover it up with perfume... And that was what was currently urking my soul at nearly 3am.

I exhaled a huge breath, pondering the outcomes. If I let her keep doing this for much longer, she's going to be 50 cigarettes in to damaging her health, and someone is going to tell on her.

If I tell her I know and threaten to tell on her myself, she'll hate me. But if I just tell on her secretly she'll never know it was me. I can't handle being scared for her health

My head ached. "I need a glass of water." I muttered to myself, swinging my legs over the edge of my disheveled bed.

Going down to the kitchen, I jumped about 3 feet in the air when I saw my dad standing there with the same idea I had: to get a nice cold cup of water out of the fridge. He turned to me, taking a sip.

"Whatcha up to?"

I sighed heavily. "I have a headache..." I trailed off. He noticed my hesitation to expound on my statement.

"And?" He prompted, eyebrows raised.

I filled a glass of water. "Promise you won't get mad."

He tilted his head. "I can't promise that I won't get mad at whoever did what but I'll probably be happy you told me. How's that for a compromise?"

I leaned against the counter, chewing my lip. "So... You know when Kyler came over?"

He stared at me. "Yes, I know when Kyler came over."

"....and.. We had dinner?"

"Desiree! Get to the point please."

I chewed my fingernail. "She smelled like Versace."

He looked me in the eye. "Don't tell me you wasted my time at 3am telling me what perfume your friend decided to wear."

I completely chickened out and failed to say what I should have. "Well I want some." I said quickly.

"Get your ass in bed." He turned around, going up the stairs. I followed him, gaining my courage back.

"And cigarettes." I mumbled. He spun around midway up the stairs. "What did you just say?"

"Kyler smelled like cigarettes." I blurted out clearly.

His face hardened and he rubbed his temples. "I need you to be perfectly sure about this."

"I am. Kendall said so too."

Disappointment was written across his tired face.

"Okay. Honey? You did the right thing telling me, and I'm proud of you." He hugged me tightly and went off to bed.

I fell asleep pretty quickly, knowing my hands were washed of the situation.

*******

*Next morning*

Axel pov

School was going by at a steady pace. In between my 9 and 10th grade class, my phone rattled on its holder. The principal greeted me.

"Bond, would you mind coming down to the office?"

"No problem." I exited my office, locked my door and hurried down to the main desk. Passing Olivia's incessant cheesy smiles and waves, I walked back to Shepard's office and knocked.