88Keys: Thank you for the review. That short chapter was merely just a short teaser for the rest of the story. And Z just happens to be my favorite character with Lucas a close second.
RayElaineFan: Farah, thanks for reviewing my other jump into another fandom.
Here's the second chapter to my story. I hope people do enjoy it.
"Is he okay?"
"He's just sitting there, Josie. What do you think?" The red head gave the young man in glasses next to her a look. The two of them were watching Professor Zachary through the partially open door of his office. He sat at his desk with an odd expression on his face.
"Maybe we should see what the problem is," Josie suggested. "He helps us out with ours so often."
"I hope Durst hasn't fired him."
"Don't even say that, Lucas. I think we've snowed her and Pearson over enough to convince them Professor Z needs to stay. Besides he hasn't done anything wrong except for cover for us."
"Yeah, but he's been doing that since he arrived," Lucas replied. "Someone could have gotten tired of hearing the excuses."
"I still think we should talk to him," Josie responded. "Especially after that little incident in class. He really embarrassed himself and I don't think he even realized it."
"Okay, but he starts going schizoid on us I'm outta there," Lucas said. The two students headed into their teacher's office. He didn't even notice as they closed the door and pulled up chairs to sit on the other side of his desk.
"Professor Z?" The older man blinked a few times and looked at Josie. "Are you alright? You were acting kinda weird in class today."
"She called me last night," Professor Zachary said in a low voice. "She told me to keep her safe."
"Who called?" Lucas inquired. "Keep who safe? Does it have to do with something going on around here?"
"I don't know," Professor Zachary stuttered. "I just haven't heard from Monica in almost twenty years. I never knew where my sister went." He took off his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "She sounded so scared. I'm afraid of what might have happened."
"You never told us you had a sister," Josie said. "In fact you never really told us a lot about your past. We know you used to play guitar and that you're scared of clowns. Where you went to school and how you ended up here. Otherwise you know a heck of a whole lot more about us than we do about you."
"Well, none of you have exactly asked." Josie and Lucas gave him guilty looks. "I suppose I haven't been very open with my private life either. I'm more concerned with you all and making sure you make it to my age."
"So, who is Monica?" Lucas asked.
"She's my older sister," Professor Z answered putting his glasses back on and leaning back in his chair. "She was the reason I picked up the guitar and the other reason I also stopped playing. When she kinda disappeared from my life when I was twelve, but I got letters from her until I was about fourteen and then they stopped completely. I never knew where she was or what she was doing. My parents stopped talking about her and they acted like she never existed. When they died I had no way of contacting her and it felt so weird to be standing there in the cemetery almost by myself with no one to talk to about how I felt."
"I'm sorry, Z," Josie told him quietly. "If we had known…"
"It wouldn't have helped anything," Z interrupted her as he sat up straight. "It's the whole reason I've never told you all before. I'm more worried about you, Josie. And you, Lucas. The same goes for Marshall and Corrine. What happens to me is not important."
"Yes it is," Lucas replied. "You're involved with this as much as we are, Z. Everything we've been through has proved that. You wouldn't be here without Pearadyne. We wouldn't be here without Pearadyne. Even though we know it's practically the root of all evil none of us would have been put together to try and solve the mystery of the wormhole or everything else for that matter. You're a part of this, Z." Josie stared at the young man in surprise who slowly shrunk down in his seat.
"That was, uh, compelling, Lucas," Josie commented. "That's how you acted when you had all that confidence and almost got into the fight with Stew."
"Thank of reminding me of that stupid decision." The red head let out a laugh as Professor Zachary chuckled a bit.
"Thank you, Lucas," Zachary told his student. "I think I needed to hear that."
"What are you going to do?" Josie asked. Zachary looked at her questioningly. "About the phone call? Are you going to figure out what your sister was talking about?"
"I wish I knew where to start," Z said. "I knew she went to England after she first started sending the letters, but other then that I have no idea. I don't have any other family to contact and ask if they know anything. I have nothing to go on, Josie."
"Maybe we could ask Vaughn if his father could help," Josie suggested. Lucas rolled his eyes and the professor let out a polite cough. "Okay. I know we don't completely trust Vaughn anymore, but I think he still likes Z well enough that he might be willing to help."
"And what do you think Victor would say about it?" Lucas shot at her. "He wants to make sure we all go down in flames. We've had to be really careful lately about searching for the answers."
"Lucas and Corrine should know about this," Josie stated. "They might know what Z can do."
"It would help if we had connections," Lucas replied. "But alas being only teenagers we have none. None of our parents are even in any area of law enforcement. We have these brilliant parents in fields like neurosurgery and business that spawned smart kids who have to deal with a wormhole and school that makes abnormal things happen."
"You might want to chill a little, Lucas," Josie said. "You're kinda scaring me here." The young man shrugged and adjusted his glasses.
"Ah, Professor Zachary, I thought I mind find you here." The three in the room looked toward the door to find a man dressed in black with a goatee standing inside. He wore a small smile along with a sly expression.
"Mr. Pearson," the professor started as he stood up. "What can I do for you?"
"I hope I'm not intruding upon anything," Victor said giving a sideways glance at Josie and Lucas. "A conference about problems in class perhaps?"
"Oh, no," Zachary responded. "We were just talking."
"I see," Victor said. "There's someone who is waiting to meet you at my home. I hope you can spare a few minutes to come meet them."
"Why couldn't you bring them here?" Lucas asked. Pearson gave the young man a look as he narrowed his eyes.
"I don't believe that's any of your business."
"Lucas…" The young man noticed the expression his teacher wore and decided it would be a good idea to be quiet. "I'm clear for about an hour, Mr. Pearson."
"Wonderful," Victor replied with a forced smile.