44. Have you seen Elli?

Joel

''How is the best mother in the world?'' I say as I enter the living room. My mom is sitting on the couch staring at the TV. Her head snaps at my direction as soon as she hears my voice.

''Oh honey.'' she places a hand on my cheek and kisses me on the forehead.

''What are you doing?" I sit beside her on the couch.

''Just nothing.'' she says.

My mom is a lonely woman. She acts like she's happy and like she's fine, but she's not. She's fairly the opposite of it. I see it on her eyes, the shallow green one that look like a ghost is hunting them. She let go of her dream to be a model jus to be with my father. And now, her life is turned into a nightmare. Now, she's just a housewife, my father's doll.

She doesn't do anything for herself, she only obeys my father's words. She walks around the house like a ghost. It scares me sometimes when I see her like that. She's not herself, not been for quite a while.

I remember my mom being very joyful. I remember her cooking for us and dancing with us on the kitchen. But that's just a poor vision, just a slight memory from the past. Now she's completely lost. I have no idea what caused it.

''Mom, why don't we go out together?" I ask with a glint of hope, ''Just us, mother son.''

She stopped leaving the house years ago when I was six or seven. Each time my father urged her to step beyond the gate, she would break down in tears and scream uncontrollably. Her cries still echo in my ears and hunt me wherever I go. Now, my mother only steps out to visit the garden, which my father created just for her. We always had the garden, but it wasn't as expansive until my mother stopped going out. It resembles a garden fit for royalty, with grand trees, pathways, a variety of flowers, water fountains, lights, and other ornaments. She spends most of her days there, planting flowers, lost in her own world.

''Oh...well I'm not sure. It would be better if we stayed at home.'' she says looking at her fingers, ''But maybe next time.''

''Okay mom.'' I kiss her head. I know that there won't be a next time.

''You're not upset, are you?" she looks at me in concern.

''Of course not mom.''  I smile.

''I love you mom.'' I say and her eyes water.

''I love you to hon.'' she says and hugs me.

I lean my head on her shoulder and smell her scent. At least her scent is still like a mother's.

I go up to my room and open my computer. I have to find out who is behind that RAN account.

But how? I hacked it once, but it blocked me out. That person is very dangerous and knows a lot about technology, even I don't know how to block out a hacker immediately. It takes a couple of minutes to do that, and he did it in seconds.

Rotating around on my chair, I start thinking on how to track its location.

Ip address.

Fuck, how didn't I think of that before?

Instagram doesn't reveal the IP address, so I have to track it first using another dark app. After a couple of minutes, I grin to myself as the Ip is revealed. Now, I have to find the location. I download another app which may or may not be illegal and put the IP address on the searching box. It says that I have to wait a minute.

I shift on my seat as the app starts showing the address.

Faring Road, South, Los Angeles, California.

I frown as it continues with the coordinations.

''Motherfucker!'' I curse realizing that it's the exact location of our school.

I rub my forehead and close my laptop.

The fucker must have created the account on our school.

With whom are we dealing with

☯☯☯☯

''Morning princess.'' I say and sit beside her on the cafeteria.

''Morning.'' she smiles up at me. I will never get used to this, her smiling at me I mean.

I acknowledge Lucy with a nod, and she gives me a polite smile.

''The fuck?" Andy says, ''What the hell are you doing on our side? Get up.''

I close my eyes in annoyance. Wasn't this idiot in France? I look at him not bothered and he narrows his eyes.

''You are at my seat Cullen.'' he says.

''So what? There are three other couches here, go sit on one of them.'' I say.

''Excusez moi? You go sit on one of them.'' he says, and I look at him in challenge.

''The seat beside Olivia is mine.'' he points at himself.

''Not anymore.'' I hop an arm around Olivia's shoulder.

''The fuck?'' he curses, ''Liv, say something.''

''Are you really fighting for a seat now?" she asks looking at us.

''Well yeah, cuz that seat is mine.'' he crosses his arms like a child.

''And I'm taking it.'' I say.

''Listen here, you Cullen.'' he points a finger at me, ''You can't steal my since birth best friend just because you said to her that you like her and blah blah blah. She was my friend before you came to the picture, don't you even think of coming between us.''

''Watch me.'' I smirk.

''Joel.'' Olivia warns me, ''Andy just let him sit here for now. Please.''

I smirk at Andy, and he shakes his head.

''I brought you that chocolate from France and this is how you repay me?'' he says and sits on the couch on the right, ''Not good, Liv, not good.''

''Come on don't be sad. I love you.'' she says, and he sticks her his tongue.

How can this person be eighteen years old? I roll me eyes at him.

''Fait chier connard.'' he looks at me and I flip him the middle finger.

''Good morning.'' Avril and Luke say at the same time sitting down on the couch.

''You traitor.'' Avril hits me with her phone case.

''What the hell?'' I catch the red case that landed on my chest, ''What do you want, witch?"

''Why are you sitting on the enemy's side?'' she asks.

''He stole my seat.'' Andy says sipping his coffee.

''Because I want to sit here.'' I say ignoring Andy's remark.

''You're on the enemy's territory, you idiot.'' she says.

''If I'm allowed to intervein your conversation, I'll say that we're not enemies anymore since we're working together.'' Luke speaks.

''What the fuck?" Andy spills his coffee. ''I went to France for three days and we're not enemies anymore?!"

''Yeah, Andy you got a lot to catch up.'' Olivia says.

''Oh, mon Dieu!'' he sighs, ''First tell me this no enemy thing.''

Olivia starts explaining everything to a puzzled Andy.

''So, you're telling me that someone died?" he asks.

''We don't know for sure.'' Olivia says.

''Is my family involved in this?" he asks.

''It could be.'' Luke says.

"Did you ask your grandma for the photo?" I ask Olivia. They mentioned they would ask their grandma if there was a close friendship with any family besides Andy's.

"Yes, we did," Olivia replies, "she said there's no other family except the Astors. We have friendships and partnerships with other families, but none as close."

''I think we should find those families we have friendship with and see if we find anything.'' Lucy speaks.

''Good idea.'' Luke says and she smiles at him.

''Did you do something for the RAN account?" Oliva asks.

"Yeah, I did," I sigh. "I located it through the Instagram IP."

"Really?" Her eyes widen in surprise.

''It's the school.'' I say and her features turn in disappointment.

''The location showed Royal Academy school?" Lucy asks and I nod.

''Reminds me of something.'' Olivia says looking at me.

I give her a proud look smirking, and she rolls her eyes.

Reminds her of the time when I hacked her father's email and the hacker's location showed on Royal academy school.

I'm a genius, aren't I?

''Olivia.'' a voice calls and my head snaps at its direction.

''Oh Elli.'' she tries to get up, but I grab her by the waist and pull her back down. She gives me a narrowed look.

''You said that you'll help me around the school?" he says in a question way, and I glare at him

''Yes, let's go now.'' she smiles.

I tighten my grip on her waist when she tries to get up.

''Joel.''

''Yes princess?" I look innocently at her.

''Let me go.'' she tries to take my hand away and I grab her hand, muffing our fingers together.

''Joel, I have to go.'' she says.

''No, you don't.'' I look at her.

I'd rather die than let her spend time alone with the fuck face.

She rolls her eyes and leans closer to me. Her eyes shift down to my lips and leans forward to kiss me. At the moment our lips were going to touch she slip away from my hold.

''Fuck.'' I curse under my breath.

She smirks and walks away with a fucking Elliot.

Andy starts laughing and I glare at him.

''You're such an idiot bro.'' he laughs.

''Shut the fuck up or I'll drown you with that coffee.'' I say and he leans his head backward laughing more.

I hope he suffocates in his laughter.

''We need to do something about RAN.'' Avril says and I nod.

The fuck face is out in the garden with my Olivia, and I don't like the way he's looking at her. She's talking and smiling at him and he's looking at her in a dreamy way. I'm standing near the window on the school's second floor with my fist clenched and narrowed eyes.

He leans in, gently tucking her hair behind her ear. She offers him a half smile and walks back slightly. I can't help but smirk at that. Suddenly, he takes her hand and begins to speak, his expression vulnerable, almost as if pleading her for something.

Olivia gazes at him, confusion etched across her furrowed brow as she listens to his words. From where I stand, it appears he's confessing his love for her. He leans nearer, and I squint, hoping she'll reject him with a slap or a push him away.

She places her hand on his chest and steps back slightly, offering an apologetic smile.

I let out a breath of relief and walk away from the window, down the hall.

It's time to give Elliot Harper a fucking lesson.

"Elliot Harper harassed Olivia," I say as I approach Andy, who is practicing on the soccer field.

"Quoi?" he shouts, dropping the ball. He didn't technically harass her, but there's no need for Andy to know that.

"What do you mean he harassed Olivia?" he asks, walking toward me.

"She was giving him a tour of the school, and he touched her inappropriately and attempted to kiss her," I explain, which is partly true; he did try to kiss her.

''What the fuck? I'm going to kill that bastard.'' he walks ahead, and I put a hand on his shoulder.

''I have a better idea.'' I smirk and he raises an eyebrow.

"Where's Olivia now?" he asks after I explain the plan to him.

"In class, we have English," I reply. "Elliot is also in class. I'll text him to meet us on the basketball court," I add, and he nods in agreement.

☯☯☯☯

"Have you seen Elli?" Olivia asks, and I glance at Andy. The bell just rang and we're sitting in the cafeteria, waiting for the others. "Why are you looking for him, chérie?" Andy asks, and I turn to her.

"He said he wanted to tell me something during lunch break, but now he's nowhere to be found," she explains.

''How bad.'' I say and Olivia's gaze shifts at me.

''Joel.''

''Yes princess?"

''Did you do something to him?" she asks in a tight voice.

''No.'' I lie with a straight face, ''I have no reason to.''

''Are you sure?" she questions.

''Yes.'' I nod.

"Why would Joel do something to him? You're being ridiculous, chérie," Andy says.

"Exactly," I agree.

She looks between us, eyes narrowed. "What's going on with you two?"

"Nothing," Andy and I respond in unison.

"Nothing?" she questions, one eyebrow raised.

''Yeah, why?" I ask.

''Well, maybe because you two were fighting for the seat this morning and now you're agreeing with each other?" she says, throwing her hands up in the air.

Andy and I exchange glances and then shrug, remaining silent.

"Also, where were you during this period?" she asks, turning to me.

"Uh..." I struggle to come up with a lie, "I was... looking for clues to discover who is behind RAN." "And did you find any?" she asks, crossing her arms.

"Nope," I say, without looking at her.

I feel like a child getting scolded.

"Have you seen Elli?" Olivia asks Lucy as soon as she approaches us.

"No," she replies, sitting down on the couch.

"He said he wanted to say something, and now I'm too curious, but he seems to have disappeared from Earth," she says, and I try my best to suppress a smirk.

"Maybe he left school?" Lucy suggests and Olivia shrugs casting a suspicious glance my way.

"I have to meet Samantha this afternoon," Luke sighs as we walk towards our cars in the parking lot. I freeze at his words, realizing I had forgotten about his marriage.

''Shit, Luke I'm so sorry man. I was so busy focusing on the Meyers and RAN that I forgot your marriage issue.'' I apologize.

''It's okay, you have enough on your plate.'' he shows me an understanding look.

''Still, we have to do something.'' I say.

''I have something on my mind.'' he says.

"Which is?" I ask.

"To ask Samantha to stop the marriage," he replies.

"And if she says no?" I pause in my tracks.

"Then there's no other way except marrying her," he says, unlocking his car.

Princess: You've done something to Elliot, haven't you?

I smile as I see her text.

Me: Of course not princess.

Princess: You did it because you heard his confession to me, right?

So I was right. He did confess to her.

But why is she this worried about him? Does she like him too?

Me: You seem pretty worried about him. Do you feel the same about him too?

Princess: No. I don't feel the same about him.

I smile in relief.

Me: Good.

Princess: *Eye roll emoji*

Princess: Have a nice night asshole.

I smile.

Me: You too, princess.

'"Why are you grinning at your phone like an idiot?" Avril asks, offering me an energy drink.

"I'm texting Olivia," I reply, taking a sip from the drink.

"Hm?" she raises an eyebrow, "So, are things moving forward with you two?"

''No clue about that." I sigh and sit on the edge of the pool.

Our relationship is unclear to me. We remain close, engage in conversations, she offers me smiles, we hold hands, and I can kiss her. We're not enemies with each other anymore.

But I'm too afraid to ask her to be my girlfriend. The thought of rejection settles an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach.

''Luke hasn't come home yet?" I ask Avril.

''Nope.'' she sits beside me.

''Do you think Samantha will stop the marriage?" I ask.

''I hope so.'' she sighs.

"Hi," Luke says as he walks in.

"Oh, you're here," Avril says, standing up to hug him.

"How did it go?" I ask.

"She agreed," he replies.

"Really?" I ask, surprised.

"Yeah," he sighs, "she took it hard. Started crying but agreed to tell her father to stop the marriage," he adds.

"Wow," Avril says, taken aback, "I didn't expect her to do that."

"She's a good person," Luke remarks.

''So you're free from the marriage?" I ask.

''I think so.'' he shrugs.

Our father won't be pleased with that news.

I remember our conversation weeks ago; he told me if this marriage is over, he'll blame it on me and marry me. Will he do that?

☯☯☯

''Joel, you're really forgetting about me those days.'' Alexa sits on my desk. She puts a hand on my arm, and I raise an eyebrow at her.

''Have you stopped liking me?" she leans closer.

''Alexa, I never liked you in the first place.'' I shove her away from me.

She gasps looking at me, hurt traced in her eyes.

''Your big fat ass is all over my chair Alexa, care to move it?" Olivia says glaring at her.

''Why are you letting her talk to me like that?" Alexa turns at me and Olivia laughs humorlessly.

"She can say whatever she likes," I state. "Now please, get up from my desk."

Alexa looks at me in disbelief before getting up from my desk walking away.

''Go cry about it.'' Olivia speaks and then turns her attention to me.

''I'm going to murder her and make you watch the process if you let her get close to you again, do you understand?" she points at me.

I gaze at her, surprised, and swallow.

''You're really hot when you get jealous.'' I lean closer.

''You won't think the same when I make my words true.'' she threatens, and I laugh. Oh, I love it when she's angry.

''I want to kiss you so bad right now.'' I say and her gaze softens.

''If you allow Alexa to come close to you, I will never let you come near me again.'' she threatens again. Damn she hates Alexa.

''Okay.'' I raise my hands in surrender, ''I won't go near her or let her come near me. I promise.''

She nods and sits on her chair.

''I never wanted her anyway; I just used her to make you jealous.'' I say and she turns at me, disbelief in her features.

''Well, it certainly worked.'' I add with a playful tone, and she rolls her eyes at me.

''I still want that kiss by the way.'' I say my gaze shifting at her lips.

''I'm not kissing you in the middle of the classroom, Joel.'' she says.

''Why, don't you want to make Alexa jealous?"

''That's very tempting, but I don't want trouble with RAN.''

''You're right.'' I nod, ''I have to wait for this period to end then.''

''Will you give me a kiss when this class is over?" I ask her.

''Yes.'' she says.

''You promise?"

''I promise.''

"Hello class," our history teacher announces as he enters the classroom, and Olivia turns ahead.

I groan letting my head fall on the desk. I have to wait forty-five minutes for this class to be over.

Avril, Andy, and I are seated at our spot in the cafeteria. Olivia is nowhere to be seen. She mentioned she had something to tell her sister and vanished without giving me the kiss she promised.

I'm sitting here waiting for her to come.

''Okay is it me or there is actually a guy tied up in our school's basement?" Luke says and my eyes widen.

''What?" Avril gasps shocked.

"And it's not just any guy, but Elliot Harper!" he says. Andy and I exchange a glance, filled with concern.

''What the hell were you doing in the school's basement, you freak?" Andy asks.

Worry flashes on Luke's features only to vanish as quickly as it appeared.

''That's not the question here. Did you two do it?"

''Mais non, why would we do that?"

"Yes, we did it.'' I say at the same time as Andy speaks.

''You idiot, why aren't you denying it?" he shouts at me.

''Woah, woah, hold up.'' Avril raises her hands up in the air, ''You kidnapped Elliot Harper?"

''Let's not say kidnapped, we just tied him in the basement and left him there.'' Andy shots.

''That's basically the same thing!'' Luke says in anger.

''For how long is he there?" Avril asks.

''Since yesterday.'' Andy and I say at the same time.

''Yesterday?!'' Avril and Luke shout in unison.

''Oui.'' Andy blinks innocently.

''Why would you do such an unserious thing? What if the teachers found him? What if something happened to him?" Luke speaks and I roll my eyes.

''Did you get him out?" I ask.

''No.'' he answers.

''Why did you guys lock him in there?" Avril asks.

"Because he harassed Olivia," Andy replies.

''And we had to do something.'' I add.

''Since when are you two working together?" Luke glances between us.

''Since we got the same enemy.'' I answer.

''And he tried to kiss Olivia too.'' Andy says with a scoff.

The unpleasant memory comes in my mind and my blood boils.

''Okay, let me go kill him real quick, I'll be right back.'' I say getting up.

Luke puts a hand on my shoulder and pushes me back down.

''No, you're not killing him.'' he says.

''Why not?" I ask.

''What do you mean why not?" he looks at me in disbelief, ''You're not a murder Joel.'' he adds, and I roll my eyes.

''Dear brothers.'' Avril says looking at us, ''We need to get him out or he'll die from dehydration and starvation.''

''Oh, come on, we're so at peace without him.'' I say and receive a death glare from both my siblings.

''Come on, we're getting Elliot Harper out of the basement.'' Luke says and I get up with a groan.

Why do we need to get that bastard out? He completely deserved it.

''You too Andy.'' my brother says while walking ahead.

''Yes sir.'' Andy follows us.