Blaise, The Bad Boy, and The Beast [SLOW UPDATES]

29.

This is going to be my last day of school, well hopefully anyway. Our school always offers the option to completely test out of school early and just attend graduation when it's time. Given we pass the senior level test, Lincoln and I will officially be graduates. We decided this on the way to school today after that weird encounter with his sister. I honestly just can't handle the stress of school anymore, not with everything that is going on and well losing my brother. I shudder at the thought. 

Lincoln and I headed into the school doors as everyone stared at me. It didn't take long for word that my brother died to be passed around. I appreciate everyone's sympathy and "thoughts" but every time someone comes up to me and apologizes it's just a reminder I don't need. I wonder if that sounds terrible. Oh well. 

Instead of heading to class we went straight to the counselor's office. The small lady with glasses and wildly curly hair peered up at us and her eyes automatically looked sad when she saw me. Great. She probably thinks I'm here to talk about how I just can't seem to get over my brother's death. 

"We'd like to test out. Today." Lincoln spoke up before she could. She looked almost surprised. 

"Um well, it's not normally protocol to test the day of request. We usually prepare the tests and a time. I mean, we usually schedule it for the next week." She looked a little flustered at how demanding Lincoln had been. 

"I can't stay here any longer, please." I spoke quietly. What is happening to me? I'm retracting into speaking quietly, Lincoln's right. I'm slipping. 

She looked at me with sympathy in her eyes but conflict was there too. I'm sure she could work something out if she really wanted too. I feel as if she's worried about me NOT being in school and that maybe the wait will make us change our mind, but that's not happening. I don't want to be a high school drop out but I will be if they don't allow me this test. 

"Don't you think my girlfriend has been through enough? I'm not making her continue something she doesn't want to and neither will you. I mean no disrespect but we need those tests." Lincoln tried to hide his frustration. I know he doesn't mean to be, he's just so protective especially in my fragile state. 

The woman let out a deep sigh and tapped her pencil on her desk for a moment before nodding. Relief spread through me almost immediately, I could tell she changed her mind. Using the sympathy card wasn't my first choice but at this point if it worked then I'm not above it. Once I don't have to worry about school anymore I can focus on finding the leader of the gang that murdered my brother; the one thing that has been consuming my mind, driving me crazy.

"Alright, considering your situation I will make an exception. Go down the hallway to the empty computer room and I'll get everything set up. With any luck, you won't have to return after today." The woman offers a small smile as she starts to type on her computer. 

"Thank you." Lincoln speaks for me before leading me out of the office and down the hallway. I stayed silent on the way to the computer room, Lincoln understands my silence. He's so good, no matter what others say. 

Three hours later Lincoln and I were done with our tests and on our way home. There's not a doubt in my mind that both of us passed. When we finished the counselor told us it would take about a week for our results to show up in the mail, she also insisted that we choose to participate in graduation. Honestly, that's the last thing on my mind but I told myself I would consider it after she brought up the fact that my family would love to see me walk. We'll see.

We pulled up to our usual spot where we meet with the gang and I'm honestly relieved to get back to work on finding out who did this to my family. As soon as we walked in we were greeted by a couple of the guys before we all took our seats. They all started in on the debate on who this guy could be and how to find them. I listened closely, trying to brainstorm instead of spacing out. 

"I just don't see why we can't find this guy, we've never had this much trouble before." Lincoln sighed as he ran his hand through his perfect hair. How could someone be so perfect? No matter how stressed he is, his looks never faltered. I hate how stressed he is over this, I know he blames himself for even getting me involved with any of this in the first place. He shouldn't.

"There has got to be something that we are missing here..." One of the guys spoke before taking a drag off of his cigarette. And that's when I had the idea that could change everything. 

"Wait, what if it's not a man we're looking for?" I finally spoke up and everyone looked at me like the dead had risen and spoke again. Lincoln furrowed his brows and took my hand. 

"What do you mean?"

Honestly, I could be wrong, way wrong. But it makes so much sense to me that this is the reason we haven't made any progress. This whole time we've been looking for the wrong type of person, we've been thinking wrong. No, I'm not wrong. This has to be it.

"What if we haven't made any progress because this whole time we've been looking for a man? Thinking like a man. When in reality, we should be thinking like a woman.." I know I probably sounded crazy because all of the known leaders in the areas have been men, but I just have a feeling about this. Everyone just stared at me like they didn't understand what I was saying. Men, I swear. 

"Don't you get it? We've been going about this all wrong. Their leader isn't a man, it's a women." My words cut through the thick smoke in the air and I swear I heard Lincoln choke as realization hit every one.