Confront | A THIRTY EIGHT

A/N: I dedicate this chapter halo_queen and woahthere_dami. Thank you guys for all the votes you've given to Adler and I hope you're enjoying the story.

I woke up feeling pretty happy that morning. Ecstatic, in fact.

The kiss Shaun gave me on that deserted tennis court was all I needed to assure me this was something worth fighting for- against all of Garren's speculations.

The feel and taste of his lips brushing mine with passion and tenderness was something else entirely. It was beyond what I'd mentally prepared for but not for a moment did I want to stop.

We sadly had to when Shaun was worried of spectators or a teacher catching us. It was easier to hold him off on quitting until our cheeks were flushed, hair and clothes tousled from tentative touches to the extent that any halfwit could know what we were up to.

So, I begrudgingly parted there. The moment had replayed in my mind through the night and I couldn't wait for our movie date.

Then I started hearing music, snapping me out of the daydream. I grabbed the phone from my bedside and froze when I saw Ashton's name.

Why was she calling me?

Maybe one could argue as to why I'd bothered adding her number to my newer phone along with the others, but I could explain that. I'd just done it without thinking. Like putting a shoe on the wrong foot when occupied. Unintentional. I wasn't planning to try to call her or any motive like that.

I wasn't.

The song continued to play out, torturing me with the option of what icon I'd tap. Accept or Ignore. On it played incessantly.

Why was she calling me?

My finger warily hovered over the accept button and I swallowed the lump forming in my throat. I tried weighing the outcomes that were possible and no matter how many my brain rejected as reasonable, my finger still lingered on the bubble to answer.

Then the music stopped.

She hung up.

I let out the breath I was holding prisoner and slouched my shoulders in relief, no longer being put on the spot.

The relief was gone in a blink when confusion and panic barged in. She hung up? What if it had been something important like, life threatening? What if she was in danger and had tried to reach out for help but due to her stubbornness chickened out?

Fear pounding in, I called back. When the line was received, a dozen things whizzed through my mind at the sound of her voice. "Hey..."

What's wrong? Are you in trouble? How are you? Are you disappointed in me? Do you hate me? What's going on? Do you miss me?

"Hey." My voice came out horrifyingly calm despite the jumble my thoughts were in. "You called?"

"Um, yeah. I accidentally sat on my phone dialled your number."

"Oh..."

"Yeah..."

The time and space that passed with us simply hearing each other's breathing wasn't pointed out as if it didn't occur. Or maybe it was my rattled state that made me imagine the stretched silence. I wasn't sure. Sucking in air suddenly needed strenuous concentration.

"Okay, then."

"Sorry."

I forced a chuckle. "No worries, it happens. So um, bye then." Before the tremor that plagued my hands and the mist which fogged my eyes could manifest in the only still pillar that was my voice, I pressed end.

And that was all it took for my good mood to go down. To sink to my bed feeling like a complete and utter moron. "You idiot." I groaned and plunged my face into my pillow, smothering any tear that dare to shed. Or maybe hopefully if I wallowed deep enough, I'd fall into a worm hole to suck me back to two minutes ago.

I didn't.

I resigned from my self pity party when realising I'd be late for school. The only thing willing me to look forward to it was discussing with Garren a plan on how to unravel the spy.

I decided a cup of hot cocoa with giant blueberry muffins would be my ideal breakfast. I started my course to the coffee shop and in walking down the corridor, a mop of auburn hair caught my attention.

I thought it was the fact the boy was wearing nothing underneath to cover his cartoon decorated boxers that made me halt. Then he walked past me and the familiarity in his features stemmed to light.

"Ben?"

The boy stopped. He turned his head my way, hair messy but sea blue eyes bearing that wondrous spark of obliviousness like always. "Oh, hey Stevie! What are you doing here?"

"This is the hotel I stay at."

"Oh, right. Cool." He bobbed his head.

Right as I was on to return the question, the suite door in front of us pried open and a tall Asian girl strolled out. A house robe wrapping her flowery frame and eyes scouring until they landed on us. Or more specifically, the boy beside me. "Ben!" She beamed.

She waved about the pair of jeans she had in her arms, uttering something in Korean I assumed was a reference to the article of clothing he'd misplaced. Ben gladly retrieved it and I watched by the sidelines as he exchanged a few words with the lady in the foreign language. Naturally so. At the end of it she giggled, smooching both his cheeks before disappearing back into her room.

I could only stare in marvel, comprehending the situation I'd stumbled upon was what I would hear Liam phrase as 'The Walk of Shame.'

Contrarily, I saw no shame on Ben as he casually put on his jeans in the middle of the busy hotel corridor. The wrong way round.

**

It was a cause for concern how the lad usually got himself dressed. Once done assisting him to put on his jeans correctly, he accompanied me on my trip for breakfast while his car was on its way.

Ben yawned loudly, spinning on his bar stool as I waited for my order.

"So when did you learn Korean? I was really surprised." I admitted.

"Huh?"

"You know, when you were talking to that girl back at the hotel."

Ben scuffed his feet along the floor, pulling the brakes on his spinning tour. Eyebrows scrunched deeply with a squinted stare. "Oh! That was Korean? Geez, I always get that mixed up with Russian. But that explains a lot..."

I brushed passed the very, muddlesome part of his sentence. "You speak Russian too?"

He nodded. "My dad's job once had him reassigned to Russia for a few years and Anita, my step mum felt bad he'd be all alone so she had me stay with him for a term. But I accidentally got a Korean language teaching." Ben shrugged and it was undeniably the most carefree thing in the world. "By the time I realised, it was almost my flight day so I got people to teach me while I was there."

"Wow, that must've been really hard to adjust to."

"Not really."

"You serious?"

"Yeah, it was fun. I got to do a lot of cool stuff."

"What'd you do?"

"This fit Russian girl." He beamed and performed a swift twirl. "It was my first time."

"Oh, that's nice."

We chat briefly, munching on muffins as he shared with me one or two adventures abroad in Moscow. Along with the tale of losing his virginity even I didn't request to hear it. It was a bittersweet story nonetheless. I was grateful for the run-in with the boy; his spirited nature had cheered me up and I found myself smiling along before I knew it.

Ben was insistent on giving me a ride to school after hearing I walked there. He looked so horrified for reasons he wouldn't explained to me and because I didn't want his bright smile gone, I conceded. We made a detour to his house for him to shower and change which made me begin to regret agreeing when we approached the residence.

The entire estate gave off a very intimidating demeanor, or maybe it was the group of steel faced suited adults at the compound who eyed me as I tailed behind Ben. None of them appeared to be his parents and I was a little too anxious to ask who they were.

The maid, Allison was ten times as nerve wracking. Glower as sharp as needles and thin lips in a disapproving grimace. It disappeared when Ben greeted her, but I didn't feel safe having to stay with her 'company' so I followed him to his room and I swear, her scowl deepened at that.

Ben's bedroom was surprisingly not as big of a mess as I thought. Granted, that could've been due to the cleaning staff. The interior resembled that of a ten year old's playroom with the trampoline, dart game, football table and that was just on the lower floor. There was an upper platform connected by stairs leading to a balcony jam packed with stuff.

It truly seemed like a Wonderland and then my eyes settled on the shelf by the bed stocked with books. A few I recognised as the author to the erotic novels he leant me when I was absent. So I picked one up I didn't have in my collection to read a page or two to pass the time. Then next my attention was caught on the book with a thick spine on astronomy and classic literature pieces. I gaped. From the dog-eared ends and faded covers, he'd had these books for a at least a few years, give or take.

It was the last thing I expected to see here. Truthfully, I had painted a shallow profile on Ben McCoy and didn't think there was more to him than a sex driven scatterbrain.

Not that I hadn't liked it. Frankly, I was growing fond of it.

I'd forgotten he probably had a similar zeal to me to be in Coeus and I wondered if outside Ben's inner circle knew he had a place like this in his heart.

**

"There she is." beamed Will when I arrived at the Aces table at lunch, throwing his arms around me.

"Not that I mind but why am I being hugged?"

"Yeah, I didn't get any hug." Ben pouted.

"Garren told me of how you guys ambushed Bradford and thwarted his minions." explained Will.

I passed the boy in mention who sat with a prideful smile a pointed look. "All I did was spill coffee on him."

"Which is epic- god, I wish I'd been there." sighed Will, tugging me closer. "My hero."

I giggled, gladly welcoming the compliment. "All in a day's work." I settled down in my chair, carving my Shepherd's pie into strips but the blonde was still eager to learn more of my heroic tale.

"So was he like, flipping out or rolling on the floor and stuff?" He asked, excitedly. "Were his screams all girly and high pitched?"

"You could just bone him if you wanna know so badly." said Ben.

Garren disguised his laugh with a cough. I clasped my hand over my mouth but a snort escaped. Will narrowed his eyes at the brunet who merely meant the statement with no snide implication.

"Will just make sure to pipe down before you go blabbing the incident to anyone." advised Garren. "We don't need it getting out."

"Why do you think it'd get out 'cause of me?"

"Don't ask stupid questions. We all know you're the one with loose lips."

Will seemed ready to protest but gave up. "Okay, fine. I'll keep it to myself."

"Is what I did such a big deal?" I'd thought they were simply exaggerating.

"Yes." answered Will. "The reason why Charles acts like such a snob is because of his step-dad."

I swallowed. "Who's his step-dad?"

"Arthur Barrington Bradford. He's an official for the Ministry of Defence and engineered a program used by the biggest IT incorporations across the world. Apparently, he even develops AI compatible enough to infiltrate foreign homeland securities. That's just a rumour though."

"That's still pretty big."

"Uh-huh. Charles' step-dad is one of the most powerful people around-"

There was an abrupt clear of the throat from Garren.

"Next to Garren's parents, of course." Will added. "Everybody at Harvey Julliard knows since the sicko likes to brag about it in order to get treated like royalty."

I began having difficulty chewing the meat and pastry in my mouth. "Charles isn't going to get his dad to do anything to me, will he?"

The three boys exchange glances and there's a painfully suspenseful silence.

"Um, I'm sure he won't," claimed Will. "He's not that petty. He's a Christian, they live under the philosophy to forgive and forget. Plus, he thinks it's an accident right?"

"Yeah." Ben nodded along, patting my tense shoulder. "Nothing to worry about."

"Really?"

"Definitely," piped Garren, "you'll be fine. At least on the school grounds anyway."

"Did you just say at 'least'?" My stomach was starting to knot.

"It'll be fine." insisted Will. "And we've all got your back. Haven't we, Garren?"

I nervously met with the dark haired boy's neutral expression. "Stevie, I'll skin Charles myself if he tries anything on you through his daddy."

"You mean it?"

"I promise." His fingers brushed along my knuckles. "I'll slice each and every layer. Just for you."

I couldn't help the smile that spread. I felt way more reassured with that.

"So, leaving plotting heinous murders aside," began Will. "Where are you guys on the X thing?"

"Ran into a little road bump with the email tracing but I was hoping Garren had some ideas in mind." I stated. "But if not, I've theorised one or two-"

"Yeah, we'll be needing to postpone that."

I paused. "I beg your pardon?"

"He said you'll be need-"

"Yes, thank you Ben I heard that." I lightly patted the boy's shoulder. "Garren what the heck do you mean by postpone?"

"Not that I'm not having fun playing espionage with you, but we have to consider the IAO and I can't let something have a sliver of your focus. I've even had Benny cut off his one night stands for the meantime."

When I strayed my eyes to the supposed 'refrainer' he was inspecting his fork intently. I decided not to out the boy. For now.

"I believe I can manage both efficiently, like we were doing in the first place. Postponing this thing for that long seems unreasonable."

"The IAO is in five days."

"What? Isn't it starting by the end of the month, one week before exams?"

"Announcement was made just yesterday by the executive board that they're holding it earlier this year. Change was brought on by global warming or something." Garren shrugged. "So, we're postponing any other projects for the time being. No exceptions."

"But-"

"No buts, Stevie. I said no exceptions."

"But that's not-"

Garren sucked in a sharp breath, pressing his temple with a groan. "Dear lord, did she just say it again?"

I frowned. "Well, you're not exactly being reasonable."

He shot me this incredulous look as if it was somehow impossible for me to have overheard him. "When I say no exceptions Stevie, it ends there. That's the rule."

"What rule?"

"My rule." He proclaimed. "So shut up about it."

When I opened my mouth to protest further and not appreciating his tone, I felt a hand clutch my arm. It lead me to a pair of anxious boys vigorously shaking their heads. When I reverted, Garren was staring expectantly. Challenging me to dare speak against his 'rule' again.

I didn't need a hint to get the message. I wasn't getting an option and was meant to humbly abide to the orders from the king. "Fine, I understand."

Garren raised his brows. "You sure?"

I nodded. In response, he gave a tame smile. "Good."

"I won't participate in the IAO then."

The smile plummeted. "What?"

"Whoa, whoa Stevie now hold on one second."

I ignored Will's plea, as difficult as that was. I pushed back my chair and collected my lunch, standing to my feet. "I think I'm gonna eat by the garden. It's too stuffy here."

"I-I'll open a window." Ben volunteered, shooting up from his seat. "So don't go. Stay, okay? Stay."

"Thank you Ben but that's fine." I assured him politely. It did nothing to ease the vibrant anxiety in his cool blues. I eyed down the culprit responsible for the jittery pair and my blood boiling.

Garren surprisingly, didn't look pissed. Or perhaps it was my miscalculation to think I was worth getting mad over. "Stevie, sit down. Don't get over emotional like some girl. It's stupid."

Then any doubt to take back my statement was erased instantly. From its absence, I was able to push out a smile purely bred from scorn. "You can just scrap my progress charts since I won't be attending the next few meetings."

"Stevie listen-"

I retreated from his touch when he aimed to hold my hand. I saw something in his gaze sink that I chose not to ponder on. "Best of luck to you, captain." Not wasting a second longer, I departed from the lunch hall.

**

The chemistry teacher, Mr. Vaghknüt who's name none could correctly pronounce, decided to pick today of all days to be late to give Will the opportunity to go at me.

"How could you say you aren't participating? You can't do that, Stevie."

"Actually, I can. If I don't pay the travelling fee then I can't be at the resort. Therefore, no participating. My parents won't be troubled with cut backs just to pay it. Two birds, one stone."

Abiding by the two decade long tradition, the tournament would be held in Amsterdam at a symposium, the Pennant Hall. I knew my parents had been setting money aside to amount to a plane ticket but now there'd be no hassle.

"Then I'll pay for your ticket." Will said. "So there, now you'll have to go."

"Sorry but that wouldn't run so smoothly with my dad. He's stubborn about hand outs."

"Oh, so it runs in the family. I see." He muttered.

"Excuse me?"

"Stevie I get that it made you feel undermined when Garren said to hold on with the X stuff. And it may seem like he doesn't care because he's not personally roped in it but he does. He cares if you care. He just needs to think of the club first."

"No, he's using it as an excuse because he got tired of having to care. That's all it is." My voice failed to cover the sullenness from surfacing and I sighed. "So of course now the IAO is here and there's an opening to be in the spotlight, why bother with helping me?"

"Okay, I won't lie that him being in the spotlight is a factor." Will admitted. "But there's more to it." He pursed his lips. "Look, Garren is nervous."

"Garren who?"

"I'm serious, Stevie. He hides it but I overheard when the headmaster called him in the other day and not so lightly explained what would happen if St. Sinclair doesn't come on top. Garren's trying to fill in Michael's shoes after he got booted."

"Which Garren orchestrated."

"Who's to say the truth about Michael faking wouldn't have gotten out another way?" Will countered. "Shepherd is Garren's own nan but she threw all that pressure on him. Chewed him up too about how the judges and media won't restrain to rip him apart if they don't like his team management skills, even if he's new at it."

At that, I frowned. I had even forgotten it had only been just a month since Garren took over. A Year Eleven in leadership was an unheard thing in St. Sinclair's history. Captaincy was always handed over to seniors since they had fewer classes, meaning fewer load to carry. Stupidly, I'd thought the weight didn't apply to Garren Adler but even he couldn't be invincible.

"Maybe I went over the line..."

"Yes. Yes you did." Will vigorously nodded.

I sighed. "Alright, no need to shove it in."

"Just hoping you get the picture. So," he began tentatively. "You're going to take all that stuff back and apologise to him right?"

"Apologise? He should be the first one apologising for telling me I'm being an 'over emotional girl'."

"You should know by now Garren isn't good with words. You shook him up, so he just said whatever."

"That doesn't excuse it. He's not a baby, he should be mature enough to clear up his own mistakes."

"You're not a baby either."

I frowned. "So that's how it is huh? Well of course you're on his side. He's the one you love."

"Stevie it's not like that." Before Will could go on further with whatever he had to say, our teacher strode in and he was immediately forced to seal it, much to my relief.

That didn't mean he gave up on making me feel like the bad guy in the situation. Sending me the doe eyes whenever I glanced in his lab direction. The goggles only magnified the effect.

When the class ended, I sped out of the area before Will could cast any more of his persuasive spells on me. If only I had a gorgeous sorcerer to be seducing that self-righteous prick Garren to be patching things up. It wasn't fair.

Will's magic had already gotten to me as I found myself scrolling to said self-righteous prick's number on my phone. I wasn't sure how the advance classes' schedule worked compared to regular, but I didn't like the idea of waiting around again.

God, did being the bigger person ever suck more?

Hoping his phone was set to silent, I pulled out the message tab. My thumb hovering over the blank box, completely ambivalent on what I'd type. Well, informing him I wasn't serious about ditching the tournament would be a good opener. Nodding in concurrence to my own idea, I set my finger to the keypad and started when the phone received a new message right in between. I was planning to swipe to dismiss and read later until my eyes scoped the contact credentials. There was no caller ID or digits, it was solely registered as 'Private'.

Quicker than my eyebrows could knit, I was opening the message to read what went on to have me gaping.

Dear Miss Powell,

It appears I've become something of an interest to you judging by your efforts to enlist assistance on tracking my address. While I applaud your striking productive mind, any further operations will be subjugated with my external powers to have you, Mr. Adler and Mr. Bradford and any other accomplices pressed for the unauthorised bypass and network security breaches...

I was already sprinting through the pathway after reading the first line. X. It was X! Claiming to use their 'powers' to have not just me be charged for hacking into Ivanov's email account but any one they knew was involved. From what I'd seen they were capable of, it wasn't an empty threat. Was I actually being threatened right now? Wow.

I quickened my pace, taking one final turn and it would be a straight road to my destination.

Gathering onto the third line, I had a credible hunch this wasn't delegated through the spy again but from the mastermind themselves. That chilling awareness had my legs pedalling to show it to Garren, spite forgotten. Destination was in sight, I scanned over the final words.

Yours sincerely, R.F-

Then I collided into a figure which had so rudely decided to be walking along when they should've considered me racing by. I couldn't be too mad since it initially was partly my fault and the bystander was polite enough to give me a hand.

I was mad however, by the face that greeted me. "Are you o...?"

Hess stopped in his tracks.

When enough seconds had gone by for surprise to simmer and establishing what was happening was really happening, that stupid smile spread on his lips. "Well, hello. And where may I ask are you in such a hurry to get to?"

Currently, it was miles away from him. "None of your business." I snatched my hand free from his hold, wiping it against my skirt.

If the sleaze possessed the trait to be offended by it, he didn't show it and was swift to block me when I tried to make a break for it. "Whoa, hold on. We should at least get you checked at the nurse's office. In case you fell for me too hard." He winked.

"Very funny, but I'm in a hurry so if you'll just excuse me."

Of course, my wish wasn't granted. "It can wait. It must be fate running into you because I really wanted to apologise."

"Apologise?"

"Will told me you were upset about what happened yesterday. I need you to know, I wasn't trying to mess with you or anything like that."

That boy and his damn loose lips. I gave Hess a flat look. "Oh really?"

"Yeah. Look, there was this girl I used to hook up with and she made me agree to date her seriously if I wasn't seeing anyone by the time we entered sixth form. But I really didn't want to do that. Like, no way. But she was getting on my nerves, clinging to me constantly and you have no idea what it's like when someone is all up in your personal space like that."

"Can't imagine." I dryly replied.

"Pure nightmare." He stated. "I was close to the point of hitting her if that wasn't so frowned upon, y'know. And then I saw you. So I figured if I made it clear I had someone else, she'd piss off. Which worked out perfectly so I guess I owe you my freedom."

He stood there, grinning at me as if he was expecting an applause or a hug. Hell would freeze over before I entertained such a thought. "So let me get this straight," I began, "because you didn't want to see through with a promise you made you decided to use me as a prop to savagely break a poor girl's heart? And you want to thank me for that?"

Hess tilted his head. "When you put it like that, Buns I sound like a monster."

I rolled my eyes. "Wouldn't dream of it. Excuse me."

Still, he persisted to be a bloody obstacle to my path. I glared and he merely studied me with obscure delight. "I might've only been at you to get at Shaun but after the party, I swear it's all been genuine. Just let me take you out for coffee or something. Come on."

If I appeared stunned, it was only by the foreign softness in his tone. It made my skin crawl. "No."

"You really love this playing hard to get bullshit, don't you?"

I scoffed and shook my head. "What you don't get Hess is that I'm not playing anything with you. I'm. Not. Interested. And you need to just realise that you can't charm every girl. We're not all Rosita."

His wide smile twitched, brow lifting. "Shaun told you about her?"

"Yes and know this now, whatever tricks you pulled with her isn't working on me."

"There won't be any tricks, Buns. What's standing before you can all be yours with no hidden fees. And with what Shaun told you, he probably missed out the details."

"Like what?"

"I'm guessing he told you about that stupid sculptor. But he probably missed out the part of how his dad still managed to make millions off of it."

I couldn't help but be surprised when feeling something in my stomach dropped. I had no reason to doubt Shaun, but the fact that the prick wasn't even denying what he'd done, sickened me to my core. "You think something like that justifies messing with his dad's career?"

Something shifted in Hess' gaze at my tone, but was hidden behind a nonchalant veil too quick for me to place it. "You clearly don't know Mr. Goy-Smith if you think something like that could pose a threat. But, I could see why Shaun wouldn't be so eager to have anyone getting familiar with his family again. Even his new girlfriend."

Strangely, it sounded more like his words were sincerely apologetic instead of taunting by the heaviness his stare carried.

I quickly shooed away the thought. This was his ploy. I couldn't succumb to the attraction of curiosity I was drawn to. "Whatever. I'm dating Shaun and that's not changing for you."

"Duly noted." He said with this sheer gleam as he swept over me that suddenly had me feeling the walls around us were too confiding and there wasn't enough room separating our bodies.

Before I could shift back, he retreated from my front and continued onwards with a prideful gait.

That creep was the definition of insufferable.

I approached the classroom doors and when I observed that focused look on Garren, it struck me in that moment. I'd been mad at him for arguably justified reasons and now that this X business would be a problem for him, I was glad for it because now he'd definitely take it seriously. A wish come true.

Except, that wasn't right.

As much as it was fun to douse snobs and flee from them, I couldn't go creating distractions when he had other priorities.

'He was just shaken up.' Will's argument rang to mind. Garren Adler shaken? By me of all things?

I was sure that Will was lying or misinterpreted but I partly wanted it to be truthful. If it was, I could sustain myself with that and endure being casted aside for a while. I turned to my phone.

Me- I'll stop so please leave Adler and everybody else out of the charges. I take full responsibility. In return, I would like to make a request and if you agree to it I won't tell Ms. Shepherd about your activities

It wasn't much of a hand to ensure a win, I doubted X would be rattled if I reported their existence to the head but they were sure to definitely feel threatened if she were an opponent. I had no clue how I'd go about convincing her there was somebody in St. Sinclair hired to spy on her, but I would sure as hell try. As sad as it was, the mentally unstable woman was my best chance at any leverage.

When I pressed send and a reply came instantaneously, I nearly jumped. God, could they read fast. I figured the individual would at least take a moment to ponder and give me some time to mentally prepare.

Although, it seemed I was dealing with someone on a whole other level in sense of decisiveness. I held my breath and read the message;

My associate will be in touch with you shortly to see to your request. Take care

R.F.

I couldn't help but find the final words strangely patronising. It might've been the nerves. My hands were actually trembling a bit. From what? I wasn't exactly sure.

I took one last glance at the boy behind the glass of the door who shattered everything I thought I knew about myself. Garren Adler was a paradox; simultaneously breaking me down and building me up.

I erased my draft for the apology message, stashing my phone back in pocket and carried on to my next class.

A/N: What do you think of Stevie's decision and Garren's attitude?