The Echo- White Collar Fanfiction

chapter 8

“You have got to be kidding me,” I laugh in disbelief as I stare at the pile of books. El and Peter aren’t smiling, in fact, El looks dead serious. I search their faces for this being some kind of joke; it doesn’t look like it. I sigh falling back in my chair.

El wraps her hands around her cup of tea as she gives me a weak smile. I don’t smile back. This is not how I pictured my night to go. I had such high expectations and now they have all been crushed by a pile of school textbooks.

“You start tomorrow,” El pushes a slip of paper towards me.

“What is this?”

El glances at Peter. He nods pointing at the crest on the page, “It’s part of the contract you signed with the White Collar division Ashya.”

I lean forward squinting at the page. High school, they want me to go to a hell hole for five days a week. I have better things to do. Hell, I’ve never been to a high school. Why should I start now? I huff pushing the paper away.

“Sorry to disappoint,” I smile, “not happening.”

Peter groans.

“I have a tracking anklet and I am a known criminal. Is it really the best idea to be sending me to high school?” I grab the top textbook. “You want me to learn algebra? You know better than anyone Peter that I won’t ever need it, not even in my line of work.”

“Ashya,” Peter scolds.

“It’s true,” I grab another book, “Shakespeare. Now that, is something I will need.”

 Peter rolls his eyes, reaches over the table and takes the book from me. I grab the next book in the pile turning the cover to face them. I watch them carefully as I scan the blurb. Lovely, law. This one they must not have thought through.

“It’s not negotiable Ashya. If you want to stay out of prison then you have to follow the order.” Peter pries the book from my hands.

I sigh, “Then throw me in prison. I can’t go to high school. Do you have any idea how many people I would become a joke to? I have a reputation to uphold?”

El laughs, “We wouldn’t want that.”

“See,” I wave my hand at El, “she understands the seriousness of this situation.”

Peter grins, “We leave at seven. Get some sleep.”

I nod knowing that I have lost. I sit quietly as Peter and El get up and head off to bed. Its only when I’m sure their asleep that I read through the letter and start looking at the textbooks. Although I don’t want to go doesn’t mean that I’m not interested.

I do not want to get out of the car. Peter has been trying to get me out for the last ten minutes and I am just waiting for him to give up and drive me back home. He has tried everything save from dragging me out of the car.

I lean back into the seat as I watch a group of kids get off the bus. They shove one another as they laugh. Some are even throwing things at one another. I do not belong in a place like this. Peter probably just thinks I’m being difficult but the truth is I’m paralysed with fear.

I don’t know how I even tricked myself into the car this morning. I’m surprised I didn’t try framing sickness. Sure it wouldn’t have worked but at least I wouldn’t have to deal with this. I gulp, scrunching my fingers.

“Well I sure had fun,” I say, my voice cracking, “let’s go home.”

Peter stares at me, his mouth set into a frown. I slump forward onto the dash, my hands covering my head and moan. Peter leans over and rubs my back, “Are you nervous?”