THOUGH JAY HAD ASKED the question, he seemed utterly shocked by the answer. He was leaning back, watching Clarkson in silence, before speaking up again.

"You don't like the famous ambassador Ryder?" he said," why not?"

"Because of the way he send you here," Clarkson said," because of the way he didn't ask if this was going to be a safe and good space for you, but instead if this was the best place to hide you. So although I normally am not really one for reforming programmes, I said yes to taking you in." He leaned towards Jay, eyes sincere. "You're one of mine now, son, and I'll make sure this is a safe space for you."

No emotion crossed Jay's face for a moment, but when it did it was something so silently grateful, so softly happy that the principal couldn't help but smile.

"How about becoming a teacher here?" he said," I know it sounds like a wild idea, but I think you'd do well."

"Me? A teacher?" Jay laughed. "I'd be awful. Probably would fight with the students all the time."

"You'd be great," Clarkson said," I think you would really care for them."

"Yeah, sure," Jay mused," until they wouldn't listen. What do I do then?"

"Just make sure you make a big entrance," Clarkson smiled.

Jay waved at Clarkson's tracksuit, the color of today purple. "Is that why you insist on wearing those hideous things?"

Clarkson's laugh was booming. "Son, the moment I decided not to care for appearances anymore was more freeing than anything else." He looked at Jay's outfit, his Armani shirt and Gucci pants seeming more like a decoration than anything else. "Perhaps you should do so as well, Jay. I honestly think you'd find it comfortable."

"Me?" Jay said," never."

"I'll give you some time to think about it," Clarkson said," not just the teacher thing, just other things you'd like to do. I don't want to push you, Jay, I'm just here to help you. So decide what you, not your father, what you really want to do."

He turned his attention towards Mateo then. "Well, how about you, son?"

"What?" Mateo said," me becoming a teacher?"

"Not exactly," Clarkson said," though you'd always have a place at this school, I don't think you want that." He glanced at Mateo, eyes without judgement. "What do you want?"

"I don't know," Mateo said sincerely, rubbing his neck," something with my hands, I guess? I'm good at fighting too, not sure if I can do anything with that. A professional martial artist, perhaps?"

"Though you'd do great," he said," you never know for certain if your carreer will take off as a professional fighter. I think something more stable would be better."

"Like?" Mateo said," I really can't imagine doing much. How did you know what you wanted to do, sir? What made you make up your mind?"

"Me?" Clarkson said, looking away then, lost in time," it wasn't a certainty for me either. When I was younger, I probably knew less about what I wanted than you." His eyes went back towards the two of them. "I was from the bad side of town, even then, so I really couldn't afford college. So I did the only thing I could think of - I enrolled in the army at eighteen. They had offered to pay for my education as well if I did, so for me I really couldn't find a better deal."

He became a bit more silent then, his thumb running across the name on his wrist.

"My wife was my childhood sweetheart and she supported my decision. It was the only way I could make money and take care of her, take care of them." A sweet smile graced his face. "She was already pregnant then, after all."

"I served twenty-five years in the army," he continued," I completed my bachelor's degree and after that I did my active service. I even became a respected general."

"Really?" Mateo whistled," damn, sir, that's impressive."

Clarkson smiled. "I suppose. I was training youngsters there and telling them so proudly of my son. My Victor was in university then, you see, with the second highest marks in his entire grade. I did come home in between the missions, so I had seen him grow up in some sort of way, just never the way I should have."

He shook his head then. "That's enough about me, boys, let's talk about you two."

"Sir!" Mateo protested," tell us more. How come you never mentioned you were a respected army general?"

"Oh, but I did once," Clarkson laughed," when I just started out as a teacher. I remember standing at the front of my classroom in a navy blue tracksuit and just telling them this speech."

"What speech?" Jay said.

"I was a trained army general," he said," and I tolerate zero bullshit. So unless you want to get your ass handed to you, I suggest you listen."

A chuckle escaped Mateo's lips and he shook his head amusedly. "And? Did they listen?"

"Of course not," Clarkson smiled," if you say something like that in front of delinquents they just have to make fun of you. And I was happy with that, because even though they laughed about it, they did remember me. They knew who I was and that was the most important thing when they needed someone."

Jay was quiet, watching Clarkson pensively, but Mateo spoke again, his head filled with new thoughts.

"You think I'd do well in the army?" he said.

"I can't decide that for you, son," he said," but I will support you no matter what decision you make." He turned towards Jay then. "You too. So think it through and we'll have our follow-up talk during what was supposed to be Mateo's moment at four."

"Alright," Mateo said.

"Wait," Clarkson said," before you both leave, I just want to ask if you're alright."

Jay immediately hid his hands in his pockets, something which didn't go by unnoticed, but Mateo was too focused on hiding his own pain to look at his friend.

"My wife said she saw you two run from a fight yesterday," he said.

They didn't answer and he sighed, shaking his head. Mateo was ready for punishment, detention, anything, but when Clarkson pushed a paper their way he frowned.

"My number," he said," the next time you're both in need of something at night, call me, alright? We'll roam the streets together if need be."

Mateo and Jay bend forward hesitantly, but then noted the number in their phones. Clarkson was watching them with a thoughtful gaze, as if he was thinking of a solution for something. His eyes lit up then and he leaned back, a grin flashing on his face.

"I have a great idea," he said.

"What is it?" Jay frowned.

"I'll announce it on the intercom," he said," so you'll hear it soon. It's going to be great in getting all your clouded minds clear again and letting you all have some fun, I'm sure of it."

Mateo didn't know whether to be worried or excited.

They were discussing carreer possibilities all the way to the classroom and Mateo made sure to seem as casual as possible when they entered. His gaze locked with Gabriela's and he looked away.

"My lovely students, how have you been?"

Everyone frowned, looking up at the principal's voice resounding through the intercom. Mateo and Jay sat down, both unsure of what would follow.

"I have spoken with most of you already and I have noticed the stress of exams and deciding what you want to do with the future weighs heavy on you. So I've decided to plan something fun for the seniors next week, so you can all enjoy your last year just a bit more."

The confusion in the room was almost palpable.

"Starting Monday you all will be going with me and have some fun in nature. I have a friend who owns some land, so everything will be taken care of. Just get some clothes and the essentials, because we're going camping!"

He stopped talking then and chaos ensued, everyone starting to talk all at once. The noise was overwhelming and the teacher didn't even try to calm them down, looking just as dumbfounded himself.

"Is it... a bootcamp?" Chase said, horrified.

"I have no idea," Mateo said, but when he smiled then, it was the first time his head had been truly clear in days.