17

╔══ ≪ °❈° ≫ ══╗

Warnings: mild cursing.

╚══ ≪ °❈° ≫ ══╝

Caleb Chartier

I gulped and looked at Franchis.

Slowly, I nodded. "I promise."

I didn't know exactly was I was promising to, but I knew it was big enough of a promise to make them help me. I didn't care what could or would inevitably happen, I just wanted to find out who Glint was. I wanted to track him down and report him to someone.

As soon as I answered, the atmosphere in the room immediately changed. Everyone wasn't very tense and looked oddly.. relieved? Why would they be relieved about me coming back? After everything they've said to me— the times they ignored me? I wasn't going to fall into their little sob trap. Sure, we may be related by blood but I wasn't going to turn out like any of them.

"..so what file?" Alia asked, gently putting her hand over mine. She was probably trying to comfort me after my outburst.

I slowly breathed in. "I need all the private school records." I said.

"Our school? DaVinci Academy?" Franchis spoke up, her voice catching everyone's attention.

I nodded, "yeah."

"What is this for?" Franchis asked.

"I need to find someone." I didn't want to say anymore than that but I let my tone tell them that it was important and that I really needed this.

"So you just need the files? That's it? Do you want records, information, or data?"

"Records and information. If you guys could try and find people who got transferred out, that'll make things easier." I said.

Franchis and everyone else nodded. "We can probably get Quinton and Jia to hack into the system. Alex will connect them to our own network and VPN."

"How long will it take?"

"Only a couple of hours— if everything goes well of course." Franchis paused for a moment. "And if.. and if we do this, will you really talk to us now?" she asked, hesitant and quiet. I gave her a strange look.

"I don't get it.. I thought you guys didn't want me around. Is this some sort of prank?" I asked, scoffing.

Franchis was quick to defend herself and everyone. "No! We— it's just.. you don't understand Caleb. We do want you around, but it's hard. I realized that everything we've said to you since middle school is complete shit and nonsense. We were in the wrong but you can't blame us.. it's like— it's like you became a totally different person."

This time, Harry, one of my brothers chimed in. His eyes bore into mine. "She's right. It was too difficult to talk to you and you only ever paid attention to us when you were angry. So, we prodded at you. And when that didn't work, we got angry. And you just completely shut us out. You didn't come down with us anymore, your grades fell and then you suddenly mention how you like boys."

I whipped my head at him. "Is liking boys a problem?"

Harry angrily huffed. "That's not what I'm saying! Come on Caleb, you know it! You know that you're the only one in the family who just doesn't care. Father talks down on you and you've become the failure and laughing stalk of the family. You used to be at the very top, and now look where you are."

"If you really wanted for me to apparently "come back" then why did you insult me? Slurs, little shoves and giving me nasty looks?! Why did you all have to be such dicks?!" I shouted. Feeling my breath pick up and my fists itching to get my hands on somebody.

The room went quiet. "Well-" Alex started.

"Don't even try, Alex. You're the worst out of everyone." I interrupted him before walking away. I paused at the door and looked back. "Come get me after you're done."

I slammed the door shut.

—

It had only been a couple of minutes and I was already fuming over that little argument. How could you blame me? My siblings for angry I wasn't paying any attention to them. That was basically everything they said. Honestly, it should be the other way around. They never accepted me, never spared me a glance, never did anything but destroy my life.

I kept scrolling through Instagram on my phone. I didn't even bother to look at what I was scrolling past, I just knew that it was helping me calm down.

A notification popped up on my screen.

Kane Villaflor

did u do the spanish hw?

Read

You

Yeah.

Don't you dare ask me for the answers.

Delivered

Kane Villaflor

please?

Read

You

No.

Never.

Delivered

Kane Villaflor

PLEASEEE CALEBB

I NEED HELP!

Read

You

What's your grade in spanish?

Delivered

Kane Villaflor

A+

Read

You

Then why the fuck do you need my answers?

Delivered

Kane Villaflor

if I get a single question wrong, my grade will drop

pls calebb I won't bother u

Read

You

Fine. Call me.

Delivered

Immediately after my phone started ringing, I answered Kane.

"So? What answers do you need?" I asked.

"A, F, H, and E." Kane responded. His voice sounded deeper on the phone than in real life.

"So half the worksheet? You must be an idiot." I scoffed, trying not to get flustered by his voice.

"Shut up and help me."

I laughed and took out my worksheet. "I got..." I rambled on and told him the answers. I had to explain every little thing to him. I thought he had an A?! Couldn't he do simple Español?

After a couple minutes, our conversation started to sway away from our homework. "Isn't this the first time we've called?" I asked, only just realizing it.

"Yeah. Your voice is even higher than it is when we're face to face."

"Shut up! I don't want to hear that from you. Your voice sounds like it went 10x deeper!"

"Oh?"

"Do you have to be so annoying?"

"Yes, yes I do."

It was only until a couple hours later did I realize I forgot about the DaVinci files.

╔══ ≪ °❈° ≫ ══╗

Sorry I've been uploading every 2 days instead of 1 day. I just am kind of busy (especially because the end of the school year is approaching!) but I will try to upload as many chapters as I can. Since the weekend is coming, I'll probably upload more chapters while I'm at it.

I started this on 4/26/24 and it's now 5/10/24! I didn't know it took me this long t just to get to chapter 17! Honestly, this is an accomplishment. 🫣

Anyway, we get to learn more about Caleb's siblings! I hate them, but at the same time, I don't. Maybe it's just me! Or.. maybe not?

QUESTION: Who's your favorite sibling (Alia, Alex, Franchis, Jia, Quinton, or Harry)?

Also have I asked this question before? It seems eerily familiar..

Words: 1151