Chapter 2 The Third Threat

"What do you think will happen if I start telling everyone your deepest, darkest secrets?"

I crumple the paper in my hands as a familiar black shroud covered me. My diary from 2013. It's been two years and I still haven't found it. Instead, I get this. A clear threat. The third one I've gotten this week. Whoever has my diary really has it in for me. I need to figure out who this person is and stop them before they can start doing so. Ugh. Just thinking about it makes my head ache. And it's the start of Senior Year, too, when it's the busiest time for us in the Student Council.

"Do you think I can do photography?" A deep, cheerful voice calls behind me. I close my eyes, taking a deep breath. Happy thoughts. Happy thoughts. I desperately schooled my features into something bright before turning to Cal.

He's wearing a dark gray sweater and black pants today, his curly brown hair wild on his head. Calvin Park. Music and art enthusiast. And the baby of our group of friends.

"I believe you can do anything you want, Cal," I tell him with a smile. I'm not just saying that lightly. I truly believe he can pull it off. He breathes and lives the life for it. His family owns several art museums in the country and dominates the music industry with its several successful labels. And just most recently, they established a school for music and the arts. He has been surrounded by that all his life, it's basically his identity.

"I don't know. It's really hard. It might take years for me to get the hang of it, and my schedule's already packed...." Cal starts to blather, as usual. It's his crutch, whenever something bothers him or if his game console is not around. It can be annoying at times. But the fidgeting and fussiness are his ADHD and autism diagnoses, and it's not Cal.

"You'll be fine. I can help you plan your schedule if you want." I say to him.

Cal's face brightened, "Really? You're the best Ari." Cal replied.

"Boo!" a voice creeps up behind us.

I startle, almost dropping the books that I've dug up from my locker. "Brad, I swear to God..." I turn to the guy with kohl-lined eyes, ready to smack the back of his head. But Cal has already beaten me to it.

"Ow! Dude! How many times do I have to tell you that you're not allowed to do that? That's Ari's job." Brad whined, rubbing the back of his neck. My eyes narrow at the gigantic bracelet he's wearing, one clearly meant for a girl. But I don't comment. Whatever new fashion statement their company is coming up with these days, it's getting more preposterous by the second.

I scoff, "Because I have small hands and won't make much damage?"

"Exactly, " Brad says, then grabs my arm, "Now, come with me."

"Hey! I saw and talked to her first," Cal protests, indignant. His hand circles my other wrist, and now I'm stuck in a tug-of-war between the two of them.

I don't resist, used to it by now, although my arms strain from almost being pulled in two. People have started to stare at us, too, but that happens on a daily basis even without the boys doing stupid things. Besides, I see Seb heading towards us. He'll put an end to this.

"Seb--" I start to say, but something in his expression stops me. It's like he didn't even notice what is happening around him. Brad picked up on it, too, releasing me. In the process, Cal falls backward.

"Aagh! What was that?!" Cal whimpers on the floor. I lose my balance sideways and trip over him. I close my eyes waiting for the fall. But Seb snaps out of whatever haze he's in just enough to reach out toward me, stopping my fall. His grip on my arms is warm and steady.

"Wh-What are you--?' I stammer, suddenly unable to meet his hooded eyes. I stare at his chest, my heart pounding, "Is everything okay?"

"Are you done with class? We need to talk," he tells me quietly.

"Uh-uh. No! I found Ari first." Cal complains from the floor, still unable to pick up what's going on. "Mine's an emergency so whatever's going on with you, man. It's just going to have to wait."

"How about I'll help you instead?" Brad tells Cal, glancing at me meaningfully. "Now tell me all about it, okay?" He assists Cal from the floor. The latter continues to grumble but Brad grabs his head and makes him follow. I watch them leave, frowning.

"Let's go," Seb tells me.

"Oh, okay...." I answer hesitantly, my smile awkward. "Though I wouldn't mind you telling me what this is all about too, you know. Just so I can prepare?"

"Dad wants to talk to us," Seb says.

"Oh," I mutter, immediately falling silent as I walk beside him. Now that makes sense. Only Lucien can get this kind of reaction from Seb. It's been constant friction between them. Seb not wanting to follow in his father's footsteps as a doctor. But Seb has been handling it well lately, taking it in stride. This is something different.

Not for the first time, I lament the fact that even though my intuition is spot-on with everyone else. Just one look at them, and I can pretty much guess what they're thinking. But I can never do it with Seb.

"He's waiting for us outside. He also told me to tell you..." Seb takes a deep breath before finishing, "...that you'll be moving in with us as soon as possible."

I stop walking, "What? Why?" I ask. It isn't that I have a problem moving in with them. Lucien used to be my stepfather, after all. And Seb, my stepbrother, for that matter. They've asked me and I considered it when I moved back here during Freshman year, but felt too ashamed to do so. I don't understand why they're asking again now, and why it seems like I have no choice in the matter.

"Seb. Seriously, what is going on?" I ask him, but he still gives me no answer and just keeps on walking, "Sebastian Laurent!"

The world stops and everyone stares at me s if I'd gone mad. Normally, I'd have felt more embarrassed, but Seb's just being too much.

My scream must've worked though because he stops and turns back to me, hands in his pocket. My heart catches in my throat. In that stance, he looks like someone else we know. Our best friend Dave. The one who I am hopelessly, irrevocably in love with, despite his relationship with another friend of mine, Dina.

Seb inclines his head at me and for a second I fear that he's somehow read my mind. So, I clear my throat, "Sorry. I just--you're just being weird and it's giving me anxiety."

He blinked, "I know. I'm sorry. I just didn't want to be the one to tell you."

"Tell me what?" I ask him.

Seb is silent for a while, then he says, "Your mother has died, Ari. I'm sorry."