Sam

(Present)

I'm bunking again.

I know I've been doing it a lot lately but I'm not as dumb as people think I am. I'll get more than the mandatory attendance if I'm careful enough, which, by the way, I am.

Standing on the rooftop of the dance studio building, I stare out at the main building, students still making their way in. They were supposed to be there fifteen minutes ago so they're probably gonna get scolded for it. I can see some of the students also sneaking around campus. The teachers don't really care about how much you attend the classes. You start to care when the instant fear grips you out of nowhere. About the grades, well, the ranking list makes you care for them.

I grab my bag and walk out, leaving the door to be closed behind me. I make my way to the lowest floor, the woman behind the counter giving me a sharp look before I enter one of the rooms that the first years use for their practice. It's spacious and clean like always but I'm not alone here like I expected to be. A girl – brown skin, dark eyes, dark hair – stands in front of the mirror, her hands extended outwards as she attempts to correct her posture.

She's Zia Ahmed. I've talked to her a total of two times. We were in the same evaluation group with Harley, Remi, Zed and Line. The only person I still talk to without it feeling like it's a chore is Harley. I don't think she is particularly interested in talking to me but then again, she helps me with my homework.

I drop my bag in the corner as quietly as I can but it catches her attention. Her posture relaxes and she turns to me, eyeing me for a minute before flashing a small smile.

I smile back. "Don't mind me, I won't disturb you."

She just nods. Looking away, I open my phone for no particular reason but end up checking my texts. There's a few from Freva, one from Kai, one from Harley and another from Line. I only open Line's text because it's on the top and besides, she's the one who's most probably gotta deal with the teacher when he asks where I am again.

Line: dude, you're bunking again? kenna seems pissed off rn.

Sam: not my problem she's pissed tho

Line: you sure you're not attending any classes today? we only have two anyways. just come on, man.

Sam: no, thanks. i've to practice.

Line: you do realise you're already one of the best in the debut choreo right

Sam: i can always get better

Line: why do i even bother with you

Line: alright see ya

Sam: see ya

I'm closing my phone when someone snatches it away from me. I don't even have to look up to see who it is and when I do, I'm staring at a face with the most crooked and annoying grin ever. Remi Lorenzo would've almost seemed handsome to me if he didn't have a shit personality. We're only a month in and he has successfully dropped to the lower ranks and gained the reputation of the school bully.

"What do you want?" I ask, annoyed.

"Who're you talking to?" he asks, his grin widening. He opens my phone but it's locked. "What's the password to your phone?"

"Ain't no way I'm telling you that." I take a step towards him. "Give it back."

"Or what?" he snaps back. He looks up, looking me dead into my eyes. "You gonna go cry to your brother? Give me your password, man, it's not like I'm gonna find something illegal here."

I look behind him. He's not alone. Loreno Diaz, Carrie Everett, and a bunch of second years stand behind him. The second years are mostly distracted and engaged in a conversation of their own, occasionally throwing a dull look my way. I recognise a few them – and I just know they're all shitheads.

"Well?" Remi raises his eyebrow. "The password?"

I take a step forward, trying to reach for my phone but he simply chuckles, hiding the phone behind his back. The smirk on his face is pissing me off more than ever.

"Remi," I begin. "I might as well break your fucking face this time. Would you like that? We've our debut on friday, dumbfuck, so be careful with whatever the fuck you do." My lips quirk upward even though this is probably the worst time to be smiling. "Unless you want to look more ugly than you are now."

His smile never falters. "I think that applies to you as well, Andrews."

"Give my phone back to me, will you?" I mutter. I'm getting more annoyed second by second. The second years are getting more interested in this conversation as well.

Carrie Everett laughs, shaking her head. I've never really liked her. I wouldn't have liked her even if she wasn't Remi's friend.

"You're a fucking loser, you know that?" she says. "What's on that phone that you like so much?"

Right then, I hear a familiar text notification. Carrie's eyes dart towards the phone and a smirk flashes across her lips. She lunges forward, grabbing the phone from Remi and clicking the power button to see the home screen, where the notification will be.

"You fucking idiots–" I snap but Remi grabs the neck of my t-shirt firmly, holding my still. He forces an eye contact with me and I can read him so fucking clearly in this moment. Something is flashing behind his eyes – the very same thing that flashes behind Nate's.

Both of these assholes – they're fucking enjoying whatever the fuck this is and there is nothing that makes me more mad.

"You touch her, you die," Remi spat. His voice is dangerously low but it does nothing to falter me in any way.

I smile. "You both dating or something?" I break free by simply taking a back. Remi still doesn't move. "I mean, I guess you both deserve each other. Your personalities complement each other."

"Does it, now?"

"It's an unknown number," Carrie sings, a playful smile on her lips as she backs away. "Hey, Sammy. I know we haven't talked in a while but don't you think it's time we finally meet up again?"

Confusion takes over me. Desperation accompanies. Just who could be writing that to me? I have no idea. It sounds like I've gotten a date. I mean, not exactly, but judging by their expressions, I just know that's exactly what they think.

"God, now I just need the password to that phone, man," one of the second years, Jase, says. He strolls towards Carrie, takes the phone, stares at the screen before closing his eyes trying to think of a guess. When nothing comes to him, he turns to the other two guys, who seem like his minions, who just snicker and shrug.

"Right?" Carrie exclaims. Her voice is the screechiest thing ever, hurting my ears. I'd go and straight up take my phone but Remi's here. The last thing I want to do is start a physical fight with these people and face the consequences right before the debut.

Remi leans forward. "Seems like there's some juicy stuff on there, huh?"

"Whatever," Loreno Diaz finally speaks up. Her face holds an annoyed expression. She seems so done with the situation. "We all know you've got porn on your phone as well, Rem. Just give his' back, won't you?"

Carrie rolls her eyes. "Why is she here again?" she pouts. "Fucking ruining the fun all the time."

Loreno sighs but doesn't reply. Jase looks at her, his expression quizzical.

"Since when are you such a spoilsport?" he asks her. "I know for a fact that you were a fun person when you arrived at the academy, that's the only reason you're standing here right now."

"By fun, do you mean a bully?" I snort.

Remi glares at me.

"C'mon, it's only been a month since the school's begun, Jase," says one of his minions. "She can always be kicked out of the group."

"Yeah, well, that's true." Jase looks at Remi. "Let's wrap this up quickly. You wanna get back on the threat he gave you, Rem?"

"'I might as well break your face this time'," Remi mimics. "You want me to do that to you?"

"I—"

"What's going on here?" Park's voice cuts through the tense atmosphere. Everything stops for a split second. My eyes move to the door where he stands, a neutral expression on his face. On his left stands where Zia stands and my heart skips a beat – did she call him here? I don't even know when she left the room. By the looks on the others' faces, I don't think they did, either.

Her eyes meet mine for a second and she quickly looks away, taking a few steps backward and disappearing in the hallway. I can feel Park's gaze on us as he repeats his question, this time asking me directly.

All eyes in the room end up on me. The warning glares, the nonchalant, yet pleading looks they are throwing my way are ridiculous. If this was middle school, I'd have complained and told Andy the truth. But this is Redville. I know better than to do that, thanks to my brother.

So, I shake my head. "No," I say, "nothing's happening."

"You sure?" He raises a brow. Last chance, his expression says, I can't help you if you don't let me. I just nod once and he lets out a sigh. If that's what you want, his face says.

"All of you, out of this room if you're not here to practice. And if you're not a dance student, I'd appreciate it if you get out of this studio now." It was as if Park just knew that Jase was going to talk back that he throws him a warning glance and Jase's shoulders slump. Yeah, he's not saying anything anymore.

Park waits till everyone is out of the room. Remi and Carrie go as well even though they could've stayed. Maybe they prefer bunking over classes and their program. Their ranks are too far down for them to care anyways.

"See you later," Remi says to me with a smile. "Sam."

I flash a smile of my own. I look at Carrie—she had already been looking at me. She rolls her eyes and throws my phone back to me. I catch it with ease and smile at her again.

Once everyone is out, Park sets his eyes on me. His gaze is so intense that I almost shudder. "What?" I shrug. "Did I do something wrong?"

Park sighs, shaking his head. "I can't tell you that." He takes a step backwards. "You better know what you're doing, Samuel. Good luck for Friday."

I don't even have the time to respond to him before he walks away. I let out a sigh, knowing that I wouldn't know what to say to that even if he did wait for me to speak up. I open my phone, remembering the text I'd gotten. There are two more texts from the same number now. I look at it over and over again but have no idea who it belongs to. It doesn't look familiar to me at all.

"Fuck it," I mutter before opening it.

Unknown: Hey, Sammy. I know we haven't talked in a while but don't you think it's time we finally meet up again?

Unknown: It's been years. I can finally see you again.

Unknown: That is, if you let me.

My eyebrows scrunch together in confusion. I type up a reply.

Sam: who's this?

I didn't expect the person to give me an instant reply but the seen shows up, followed by a typing mark. It disappears for a moment before three new messages pop back up and my blood runs cold.

Unknown: Tristan Andrews.

Unknown: Your father.

Unknown: I'm back, and I want to be a father to you. Please give me a second chance.

A second chance?

***

Nate

(Present)

My phone rings the moment I'm leaving my room to leave for the cafeteria. Vera's name flashes across my screen and I just know that she'll kill me if I decline her call. I pick up the call and I'm greeted with silence. I know she's there but I have no idea why she's not saying anything. This isn't like her at all.

I stand in the hallway, waiting for her to speak. She's probably taking her time to say whatever the hell she wants and I can wait for her despite the anxiety that's beginning to build inside of me. Just what could be serious enough to make her nervous? Or scared. Or whatever the hell she is at the moment.

"Listen," she finally says. "I've to talk to you about something important. And no, it can't wait at all. Are you alone right now?"

"Give me a second, alright?"

She hums in response. I make my way to the stairs, going up a floor to the terrace. There's no one here at this hour so it's the perfect place to talk without any background noise and interruptions. I enter the roof, the fresh air making me feel a little better than how I had been the entire day, exhausted from the practice.

"I'm alone now," I tell her.

I hear Vera take in a deep breath and exhale. "I know you didn't want me to talk about him. I know you want nothing to do with him. I know that whatever the hell that happened all those years ago was complicated and I'd never know the whole and true story about it and I also know that me bringing this up is the last thing you'd ever want—" She breaks off and I'm frozen in my place. My head feels heavy suddenly as if I'll fall in a moment. "I'm sorry. But we need to talk about it."

"Why are you bringing this up again?" I whisper because I can't bring myself to process everything and say those words out loud. Vera was the last person I had thought would bring this up with me and here she is, nervous—no, panicked.

"It's been ten years."

The realisation hits me. Ten years. Ten years. Ten years. Ten years. I can feel the panic rise inside of me. Does this mean what I think he means? Is he...?

"Nate." Vera's firm voice snaps me out of my thoughts. "I know you didn't want to know this. I wouldn't have told you this either. But there's been a problem. I don't know how this happened and I don't know why this is happening and I don't know how to fucking fix this."

"What happened?"

"Have you been talking to Sam recently?"

I exhale. "No, I haven't been. Why?" I ask, even though the worst has already come to my mind.

"Sam called me a while ago. Said he's gotten a text from your dad. I have no idea how he got his number. I've confirmed that the number is registered by his name and the timeline matches—he was released last week. It's likely that he is going to contact his children."

"Why didn't he contact you?"

"Because he fucking hates me, Nate. That's why."

I don't understand this. "Tristan...texted Sam," I say. "And what exactly did he say?"

"That..." she hesitates for a moment. "He wants to meet Sam."

My blood runs cold again. I have nothing to say to that and I think Vera senses that because she's rambling again.

"I mean, there's a chance that he's changed and that he's become a better person now but I don't know, alright? All I know is that Sam can't meet Tristan. He doesn't remember anything. He doesn't. That's why all of this is not making him all...panicked. If he did, he'd have thrown his phone across the room or blocked the number or something—"

"Vera," I cut her off. She falls silent. "Listen. Sam can't meet him. You know that, right?"

"I know. But just what the hell are we supposed to say to him? He fucking hates you. He isn't that fond of me either. All because we lied."

"We didn't lie."

She lets out a dry laugh. "Well, we didn't tell him the truth either. We let him assume and make up all the stories in his head that have led to this. If we had actually talked to him for once, told him what he needed to know—"

"He was a kid, Vera!"

"So were you!" she almost shouts back. "So were you. You were both too young to experience that. You were too young to go through what you did so don't give me that crap. We've made a mistake. Now we've got to fix it."

I lean back against the wall. I close my eyes for a second, listening to everything that's going on downstairs. Soft music someone is playing on the ground. People laughing and cussing each other out. Someone trying to play a trumpet and failing. Someone fighting in the cafeteria and yelling so loud that I can hear it despite being on the roof.

"I'll figure something out," Vera finally says. "A restraining order or something. I've got connections that might work but things like this? They require time."

I scoff. "And what am I supposed to do till then?"

"Keep Sam away from him," comes her immediate response. "I don't know how you're gonna do that since the two of you haven't been on good terms for quite a while now but you've got to do that. Because chances are, that shit of a man is after the money. And he'll do literally anything to do that."

***

helloooo ppl how've you been? how are u liking the story so far? there's a lot in store, so stay tuned !!

( also, happy birthday @haidnnds ! )