Chapter 6
A new day
Vincent woke with a start to his new phone beeping. He had fallen asleep as his desk while doing some reading for his test. Quickly pulling the paper off his cheek he scrambled across his room for his phone, flipping it open he hit the button to read the message:
Good Morning. I Wanted to
remind you of one of your
responsibilities as a Turk
Never be late.
-Rio
"Thanks" Vincent snapped closing his phone and dropping it on his bed. It was now 7:15a, class started at 7:40a and it was at least a 15 minute drive from his house. Vincent grabbed a pair of pants and socks from his drawer and a shirt from his hamper pulling it over his head. Pulling his pants on he hopped on one foot across his room to get his socks and shoes on, once they were securely on his feet he darted out of his room to the bathroom. Returning to his room, teeth brushed and hair somewhat tamed he grabbed his books and shoved them violently into his bag and his phone beeped again. He had a feeling this would go on all day. He grabbed the phone and flipped it open, reading another message.
Meet me at your car
after school today, 3p
-Rio
Shutting the phone he grabbed the clip and put it on his belt, sliding the phone into it. It was mandatory that the phone be on your dominate side, since he was right handed, it sat on his right hip. That was something they would teach him in training but he already knew it. Grabbing his keys off his desk, bag slung over his shoulder he bolted down the stairs and out the front door, stopping long enough to lock it. He unlocked his car and hopped in, throwing his bag in the passenger seat. Pulling away from the curb he darted in and out of traffic to get to school on time.
Rio just grinned. Of all the times he had watched Vincent this was the first time he was running late and since he watched how disgruntled he was to find out how late he woke up he knew it would be the last time. Jumping down off the roof he got in the dark blue sedan and followed Vincent to school, still timing him. He was sure he was going to make and excellent Turk, but an even better Elite. He knew Captain Snow would train him as one; they were always short handed when it came to Elites mainly because it took a lot to become one, but Vincent displayed everything they needed.
Parking his car he stole a quick look at himself in the rearview mirror, the swelling had gone down on his lip but he broke the cut open when he was brushing his teeth so it was now red and inflamed, the cut above his eye was starting to heal up decently. He knew he would have to explain those. Grabbing his bag he exited his car and ran for his class, locking his car with the remote. Running quietly through the empty halls he arrived at his class. Here goes nothing he thought, taking a deep breath he pushed open the door and walked in. Everyone in the class was talking up until he entered; now it was so quiet he could hear a pin drop. Quickly he walked to his seat in the back of the room between Valor and Molly, curious eyes following him. His teacher wasn't there yet. Sitting down the second bell rang and all eyes were on him. Molly turned away to avoid making eye contact.
"I thought you wouldn't make it" Valor whispered as he leaned over.
Pulling out his pen he dropped his bag on the floor and looked at Valor, whose eyes still brimmed with sadness.
"Why wouldn't I" Vincent answered.
Valor looked at the instructor who was now calling the class order.
"Class, attention please. The exam will begin after roll call and instructions."
Turning away from Vincent the class groaned as the teacher called attendance. Vincent hoped his phone would stay quiet, even though his teachers knew about it his class mates didn't and he really didn't feel like explaining anything or annoying his teachers. Just then his phone beeped loudly catching the attention of the class as they all turned and starred at him again.
"Well Mr. Valentine is here" the teacher said loudly, skipping down to his name and marking it off, everyone snickered and watched as Vincent pulled the phone off his belt and flipping it open to read the message.
Nice timing. Remember, you are a
Turk now so you need to act like one.
Apologize to no one and explanations
to civilians aren't needed.
-Rio
Vincent shut his phone and put it back on his belt. Perfect timing indeed, Vincent was just thinking of how to explain things to his friends. Valor starred at him, but he never returned his looks. Molly hadn't spoken to him or even looked at him since he arrived until now, her eyes narrowed with curiosity. Vincent heard some of the other students complaining because he got to have his phone until the teacher stopped the complaints.
"Mr. Valentine has special permission to have his phone, you don't. Now, on with the exam please." The teacher met Vincents stare briefly and he could see the fear in them. The exams were being passed out and Valor looked at the phone on Vincent's belt. Mr. Valentine, since when? I wonder why they have started calling him that Valor thought to himself. He would have to ask him once class was over because he did have a few questions, mainly because that wasn't Vincent's normal phone, he'd never seen that model before and he would know, he kept up on electronics. His gaze was averted when the exam was dropped on his desk, sighing heavily he picked up his pen and began filling in answers.
Vincent was relieved when his phone stayed quiet for the rest of class, but while he waited for the rest of his classmates to finish their exams he couldn't help but wonder why Rio would want to meet him after school. He had at least 4 days until he had to leave for Junon so Rio wanting to meet him confused him. Then he remembered the car issue his letter mentioned. He knew exactly who he wanted to give his car to; hopefully they would accept it and take care of it. Slowly, one by one the students turned in their exams and waited, Valor being the last one to turn in his test they were relived when they could finally talk. Vincent caught the whispers that were going around the class and all of them were revolving around him. Wondering how he got his cuts, why he could have his phone and what his special permission was. Valor and Molly remained quiet until the bell rang. Quickly Vincent gathered his bag and tried to make it out of class before Valor and Molly bombarded him with questions but was stopped when a strong hand shot out and grabbed his arm, holding him back. Turning Vincent was met with two pairs of eyes, one blue and one green.
"Vince, we ne…"
"Vincent" Vincent said, cutting Valor off.
"What?"
"My name is Vincent; you are to call me Vincent"
"Why?" Molly asked.
"Because that is my name, not Vince, Vin or Vinny" Vincent replied looking down into Molly's eyes.
"Ok, whatever, Vince. What is going on with you" Valor snapped. He immediately realized how he said it and instantly wished he could take it back when Vincent's scarlet eyes looked at him narrowing with anger.
"If you wish to talk about it meet me at your truck at lunch. We will talk about it then." Vincent replied, anger dripping off his voice. Shaking his arm loose of Valor's grasp he turned and stalked out of the class to his next exam.
Molly and Valor stood almost in complete shock. Vincent had never asked them to say his full first name and now he was almost forceful about it.
"Are we going to meet up with him" Molly questioned looking up at Valor.
"Damn right we are, I want to know what the hell is going on here, the teacher called him Mr. Valentine, he is insisting that we call him Vincent and he has a new phone. I want to know what the hell is going on here, and he will tell us, one way or another." Valor replied.
"I noticed that too" Molly said quietly. Side by side they left class and headed for the next one that they had together. Vincent was off to study hall to take the math final he missed. Then after that it was lunch time and they would hook up with Gabriel, Darrel and Zephyr and meet Vincent out at Valor's truck, they all wanted to know but Gabriel, Darrell and Zephyr didn't know about the phone yet, although Darrell would soon find out since he was going to be in the same study hall class with Vincent today.
Darrel sat in the corner by the door when Vincent walked in. The first thing he noticed was the black and silver phone on his hip, phones weren't allowed during class time and that didn't even look like the one he used to have and the cut on his eye and lip. Darrell watched as Vincent sat down a few desks away from him, pulled out a pen and waited for the bell to ring. Vincent knew Darrell was staring at him and figured he would get his mind wrapped around other things.
"Darrell, you and the others are to meet me at Valor's truck at lunch. You will get answers then." Vincent said quietly, never looking up from his desk.
"Ok, but Vince"
"Vincent"
"What?"
"My name is Vincent, not Vince."
Darrell didn't finish what he wanted to say. He was confused about Vincent's new demeanor and was hoping that the answers he planned on giving included answers to their questions. The study hall teacher walked in and handed Darrell a book and Vincent his test when the bell rang. Vincent started to fill out answers when his phone beeped on his hip, penetrating the silence to the room. The teacher looked up and sighed, but said nothing. Darrell looked over his book and watched Vincent pull the phone off his belt and flip it open, he looked like he was reading something.
They will get the answers they seek then…wow,
you're good with words Valentine.
Would yo like me to meet you there too?
I would be more than happy to you know.
Anyway, I am glad to see you have been
correcting them on your name.
-Rio
Quickly Vincent keyed in his response.
No, they will see you
soon enough.
-Valentine
His phone beeped with Rio's reply.
You are right. Ok then.
-Rio
Vincent looked out the one lone window in the classroom and saw Rio sitting in the bushes pretty well hidden until his phone beeped. He wasn't expecting Vincent to actually respond but then again everyone was telling him to start acting like a Turk. Turks aren't supposed to ignore their messages and he didn't. Closing his phone Vincent put it back on his hip and went back to his exam. Darrell went back to his book although he couldn't concentrate on it. The teacher said nothing as Vincent took a message and sent one in his study hall. He just sat at his desk and watched him do it. That was normally an automatic suspension. Darrell couldn't wait until lunch to ask his questions. Reading the same lines over he was trying to process what could be going on with Vincent, his only conclusion was it had something to do with the Turks, but he didn't see any of them around. Vincent handed his exam to the teacher and sat down with his bag over his shoulder waiting patiently for the lunch bell to ring. Once it did Darrell stood, leaving his book on his desk he bent down to grab his backpack. When he stood up Vincent was already gone. Walking out into the hall he scanned it quickly looking for him. Realizing that when Vincent didn't want to be seen he wouldn't be Darrell headed to his locker to meet up with the others.