"Yes? Ms. Summers?" Mr. Blanche calls on me from the board since I raised my hand.

"Wouldn't it be more effective if you used iron instead of steel with the melting process? The iron gives it more efficiency and it last longer. It's also a strong substitute for steel because steel is lighter in particles. So the iron would, not only be able to make the experiment last longer, but there's a high chance it will show better quality work because it works better." I explain. The whole class, Mr. Blanche included, looks at me, stunned into silence.

"Um, yes," He stutters. "That's actually a brilliant analysis." He blinks a few times before starting to explain it in more detail to what I had suggested.

After class, he pulls me a side and gives me praise.

"Ms. Summers," He starts but I cut him off.

"Please, it's just Rebecca." I say, ever the professional.

"Rebecca, that was extraordinary. Your thoughts, your thinking, it's so amazing. Rebecca, you can get paid to go to college with a brain like yours." He gushes. I flush at his approval.

"Thanks, that's a really great idea. I'll have to look into that." I smile and after he gives my shoulder a pat, I head out the door.

"Hey, princess." Astor is leaning against the wall beside the door when I walk out.

"Hey, you." I smile and stand on my tip toe to give him a kiss. He automatically snakes his arms around my waist. He lifts me off my feet and I squeal in surprise.

When he sets me down he stares at me with wonder.

"What?" I give him a small shy smile and tuck my hair behind my ear.

"You are so fucking beautiful." He presses a lingering kiss to my forehead before grabbing my hand and pulling me with him.

"Where are we going?" I question as he pulls me to the double doors.

"Away." He chuckles. "I thought that was obvious."

"Astor, I can't be missing more classes!" I gasp as he pulls me further from my next class.

"No. I already talked to some peers in your classes. They will email all the work, undone, to you this afternoon. And then they will email the answered copy tomorrow morning." He grins as he lays out his master plan.

"These 'peers' you speak of better be the smart ones. I don't want to be given the wrong answers." I give him a glare which only makes his grin widen.

"I promise." He stops walking to press a kiss to my cheek. "Can we go now?" He smirks at me.

I try to keep the smile off my face but fail as a huge grin takes over my face.

"Lead the way." I tell him before pecking him on the lips.

We are laughing as we run out to the parking lot and into his car.

A few hours later, I'm laying in bed, thinking about Claire and what happened the other night. To me, it seemed like someone told her they were going to do that to her brother. I need answers. And I need them now.

Getting up from the bed, not worrying about waking Astor up since he left a while ago, I go and get my phone from the charger in the bathroom. I dial her number and she picks up on the third ring.

"Hello?" She says, cautiously.

"Hey, Clariey. It's Rebecca." I respond, hearing her smile in her next words.

"Hey, babe, I was wondering how long it take you to talk to met again." She laughs.

"I need to ask you something." I tell her.

"What's up?"

"What happened with your brother? Were you able to get him back? And you said "he did it" when you saw the picture. Who were you talking about." I rush out.

"Shit... I knew you'd ask me..." She mutters.

She takes a deep breath before continuing.

"Some guy has been harassing Dustin for a long time. And I mean a really long time. He got a text from this guy the other week, saying a lot of bad things. Like he was going to come after him. And make him regret the day he was born. That he was a pawn and he was going to use him to get to someone else. But that he had a major role in the events. So, as Dustin's my younger brother, he came to me about it. I thought it was just some kid from his school bullying him. But I looked more into it and it just didn't feel right. And somehow he got my number, and sent my that picture, the one you saw. He's tried sending oher things but I delete all the messages before I look at them."

"Claire, report this. Either that or we need to get together and search for him. We can find him. I know we will." I tell her, whispering, my voice low.

"B-but what if h-he's dead.." she sobs.

"Listen to me. He is NOT dead. Do you hear me? We WILL find Dustin and we will make this man pay for what he's done to your brother. Got it?" I make my voice strict, something I learned to do during JROTC my freshman year.

"O-ok." She sniffles.

"I have to go. This is between us, no one else. I'll let you know if I find anything." I hang up before she can respond.

What the fuck do I do now?

I know it's short guys but idk what to write right now. So hang in there with me. I now have wifi at home so I can update at night. Let me know what you think.

Happy reading, loves.