The Lost Boys Academy

Adding and Replacing

Chapter Two

Tristan's POV

After running around campus like a mad man, the team and I sat down in the head office. "You called?" Daisy asked to Mr. Jack. I stared at Mal. She had a smirk on her face. "What's going on?" Trevor asked. Mal used her hands to calm everyone down. "Please, everyone have a seat." She offered. Rori bumped into me on the way in and plopped down on the sofa in between Caleb and Daisy. Trevor sat on the arm of the sofa and slid his arm around Daisy. Violet sat in the single chair on the other side of Mal's desk and Gabe sat in the chair next to Violet.

Mr. Jack crossed his arms and looked around at each of us: Caleb, Rori, Daisy, Trevor, Violet, Gabe, then me. "Tristan, do you want to sit?" Gabe offered. I shook my head and waved my hand. "No, I'm fine with standing. Thank you, though." I said, crossing my arms. "Mal, Mr. Jack. May we ask why you called us here?" Rori asked politely.

"Mr. Jack, would you like to make the announcement?" Mal raised an eyebrow at him. "Yes, of course," Mr. Jack said, clearing his throat, "Zack Matthews has escaped from the FPA correction facility."

We all gave our own little reactions.

"What do you mean he escaped?" Trevor screamed.

And by little I meant, the town drama queen exploded.

"The head security guard found an empty cell. What else would I mean by escaped?" Mr. Jack explained. "When was this?" Rori asked, leaning forward, placing her chin in the palm of her hand. Mr. Jack turned to her. "Two days ago." He announced. Gabe clapped his hands together. "So what's the plan?"

"Well, first off, only so many of you can go on this mission." Mal interjected. Everyone exchanges looks. Who would be willing to stay here is a better statement. "As a deal, we have two tickets to spend one week in Paris, France." Mr. Jack smirked, crossing his arms. "Make it two weeks and Daisy and I will gladly take them off your hands." Trevor bargained. Daisy nodded quickly and agreeingly. Mr. Jack looked him in the face and cracked a smile. "Deal." He said, shaking Trevor's hand.

"Why do they get a vacation?" Violet whined. "Probably first come, first serve." Gabe mumbled, leaning back in his chair. "Is this the only offer you're making?" Violet asked. "Actually, no, but Violet since you voiced up, you get to stay here." Mr. Jack said, sitting on the edge of Mal's desk. "Wha-? But why? What did I do to deserve this?" Violet scoffed.

"We actually need you to stay because we want you to work the control room. Well, the one in San Diego. You can spend a week doing whatever you please, whenever you please. But after that week's up, you head straight to HQ and you work hard. Do you understand?" Mr. Jack warned.

Violet nodded. "I understand." She squealed. He handed her a credit card. "Buy whatever you want with this and I'll take care of the rest." He smirked. "Thank you!" She grinned. "Rori, Gabe, Caleb, Tristan; you four will go on the mission." Mr. Jack announced. We nodded.

"Where are we headed?" Gabe asked. "Japan. You'll arrive at their headquarters and they'll direct you from there." He explained, smirking. Mal shuffled her feet to angle herself into the discussion. "I believe that you seven agents will make the best of these trips." She commented. "Thank you." We said in unison. "All trips begin in less than 24 hours." Mr. Jack smiled. Everyone cheered and began filing out the door.

I began stepping through the door when Mr. Jack called my name. "Tristan, can I speak with you in my office?" He asked. I nodded. I followed him down the hall and watched him unlock the door to his office. "Am I in trouble or something?" I asked, nervously. "No, you're not in trouble." He laughed. I smirked. "What do you want to talk about?" I questioned. "Well, Daisy's been telling me that you've been a little off." He began, walking over to his desk and sitting in his fancy chair.

I gave him a funny look and sat down in the single chair in front of his desk. "I don't understand. I'm not off. I run the obstacle course everyday and continue to beat my record. I work hard in class! I-I" He held his hands up and shook them at me to stop my rambling. "Tristan, Tristan, Tristan. Slow down. She didn't mean off as an agent or a student. She meant off as yourself. What's going on?" Mr. Jack asked, folding his hands on his desk. "I don't know, Mr. Jack." I chuckled, awkwardly glancing about the room.

"Tristan, I'm being serious. Can I take a guess at what I think it is?" He offered. I leaned back in my chair. "Shoot." I said, crossing my legs. I know exactly what he's going to say. "I think you're upset about Nate." He blurted. I shook my head. "No, I'm perfectly fine, Mr. Jack. Honest." I said, seriously. Mr. Jack put his feet up on his desk and laid back in his chair. "Okay, so I'm not going to intrude on something I have no relevance to. But, since Nate isn't with us at the moment, we need another agent in your mission. I'm giving you the opportunity to choose whomever you'd like." Mr. Jack said. I nodded.

"Understood." I commented. "You have to give a name before eleven o'clock tomorrow." He announced. I nodded. "You guys couldn't just click a button and randomly pick someone for me?" I questioned. He opened up his top drawer and pulled out trail mix. "I'm the vice principal. It's about my say so and I say, you get to choose." He said, chomping in between words. He poured some more trail mix in his hand.

"Thanks, Simon," I mocked, "Why don't you also add in my own personal credit card that you can take care of later?" I smiled, batting my eyelashes. Mr. Jack waggled his finger at me. "Uh-uh. Simon didn't say." He smiled. I smirked and rolled my eyes at him. "What time do we actually leave tomorrow?" I ask. He tossed some trail mix in his mouth. "At eleven in the morning." He mumbled. I got out of my chair and stood by the doorway. "Hey, Jack?" I called out. He swiveled his chair back around. "Yeah?"

"Thanks for worrying about me." I smiled. "Anytime."

*****

I walked back outside, heading back to the apartments. I looked ay my watch. "10:50." I muttered. Hopefully, this weekend doesn't fly by like today did. I walked back to my apartment and checked my pockets. "Crap. Forgot my key again." I grumbled, knocking on the door. "Daisy! Rori!" I shouted. I heard clicks from the locks on the door and shoved my hands in my pockets.

Rori opened the door and raised an eyebrow. "What did Mr. Jack want?" She asked as I stepped in. "He just wanted to tell me what time we leave." I smirked, lying a little. I walked into the living room to find clothes everywhere. "What happened? I was only gone five minutes more than both of you!" I exclaimed. I picked up Rori's yellow, flowery blouse. "Seriously?" I blurted, holding it up to my face and giving her a look. Daisy walked in carrying two suitcases.

"Hey Rori, I got two suitcases. Do you think that'll be enough for two weeks?" Daisy asked. I looked at Daisy in complete awe. "Really?" I chuckled. She stared at me and smiled. "Wanna help?" She said, batting her eyelashes. I laughed, grabbing articles of clothing off the furniture. "Sure." I smiled. Rori cheered and reached for the remote. "Why not watch a movie while we sort?" She smiled, turning the TV on. "I gotta get my backpack. I'll be right back." I said, walking back to my room. I walk in and head straight to my closet. I pulled out my galaxy backpack and black suitcase. Man, this brings back memories. I struggled to shuffle my feet as the suitcase continued to bump my shins. I carried it to the other side of my bed. "Hey Daisy, how does 50 First Dates sound?" Rori asked. "Let's watch it!" Daisy cheered.

I threw my suitcase on my bed and began emptying my drawers. "Tristan!" Daisy called out. "What?" I yelled back. "Get in here!" She screamed. I reached into my top drawer and pulled out the blue suede box. I opened it and paused. "I'll be out in a minute!" I shouted back.

I continued to read the engraving on the necklace. I sighed and shut the box, placing it back in my drawer. I turned back to my suitcase and continued to strategically shove clothes inside. I pushed down on the top, zipping it up. I felt the necklace, itching at the back of my thoughts. I opened the drawer, grabbed the box, and put it at the bottom of my backpack. I put the rest of my clothes on top of it and sighed.

I picked up my things and moved them to the living room. "Man, took you an eternity." Rori commented. "Sorry. I had to organize my clothes so I could help you tornadoes." I said, moving my hair behind my ear and setting down my luggage, looking around the cloth-infested room. "Haha. Very funny." Rori mocked. "Thanks, I'm here all week." I smirked, picking up a shirt and moving it so I could sit. Rori smiled and rolled her eyes. "Let's just get packing." She announced as the movie started.