Bab 34: Chapter 34
"I also want you to listen to your surroundings and observe quietly. I don't want you to help me solve this problem, what I want you to do is to be careful and who knows what things you might see that I won't be able to." He cautiously added, warning Layla while he looked deeply into her eyes before they could hear Blair's small voice.
"I will eventually let you talk to Blair but in the meantime, don't be involved and go home." He stood up and nodded at her as his goodbye before he opened a few lights and walked toward where Blair was.
Soon after, while Layla was still processing and trying to understand his words, the nurse shortly walked in and greeted Layla, also striding to Blair's direction to check her. Layla finally realized how long she was in the infirmary when she saw Alex and Jace, impatiently waiting for her outside. She immediately snapped out the perplexed stance she was in and stood up, giving the nurse a smile when she was glancing at her while returning to her table.
"Are you here to help your teacher? You're a bright kid so I assume that he's trusting in you as well." The nurse asked while roaming around to fetch a few things.
Layla could feel a snort coming up her throat but she gulped it away and shook her head. "Sir Kingsley just called me to inform me about the main objectives of the next topic he'll be discussing."
The nurse gave a half-smile. "Oh, okay. He's a tough one, isn't he?" She winked while walking back to Blair which was odd but humorous for Layla since she lied and the nurse was correct in thinking that Sir Kingsley was the kind of person who wouldn't care if you're intelligent or not because he mostly puts himself higher than the others but if you challenge him to make him interested then he'll notice you more than the others, and then he'll think that you're almost as intelligent as him if you partly succeeded.
However, she was grateful that he didn't entrust her to the current situation because she wouldn't know how to handle it. She couldn't even handle knowing the things that he has said to her. She has a feeling that if she got involved more, she would have been handling the problem poorly. The bullies would probably not take her seriously as much as they would take Sir Kingsley and Jace seriously. They were domineering and strong while as for her, she was a bit too much optimistic and bright like what the nurse said. Blair needed someone who would care for her without appearing too much after what she has been through.
After those thoughts, Layla realized that Jace would be able to help Sir Kingsley. They share some powerful characteristics which were needed to intimidate the bullies. He would be able to handle it alongside Sir Kingsley. From what she could see from Blair, she needed people who could think clearly yet sternly because she, herself, was bright and innocent too. She has got to have people who could think differently, to persuade her into allowing them to handle her problem.
Layla slowly walked out of the clinic, deep in thought but after she closed the door behind her, she snapped out of it and focused on Jace and Alex who were smiling brightly at her once she left the infirmary. Alex was carrying her bag while Jace carried her other things along with his own stuff since he often carries a lot. She approached them with a wave and a smile, forcing herself not to look around in fear after what Sir Kingsley has told her.
There were a lot of students roaming around the hallways and corridors now, they were all smiling and talking with their friends or classmates. It was possible that at least one of the students there knew about what was happening to Blair.
"Hi, Layla. What did Sir Kingsley say to you?" Jace asked after her small greeting of hello and thank you which Alex probably informed him about. He was wondering why Layla has been talking to her history teacher for almost a whole hour.
Alex gave her the bag and he quickly scanned her body, expecting to see spots of blood or any signs of discomfort but Layla was quicker to hide everything.
"Well, he didn't say much. He barely talked to me but I helped him when he asked me about the common attitudes and behaviors of the students here, he wanted to know what evoked the bullies to did what they did." She shrugged while adjusting the straps of the bag on her shoulders. "I missed you." She admitted and purposefully hoped to distract him from the topic. She didn't want to lie anymore especially to them.
She was also happy to see them get along now. They were so different but Jace could be nice as well if he wanted to.
Jace's cheeks flushed and he looked around, clutching the book in his hand. Alex playfully rolled his eyes but he suddenly squinted, looking at Layla carefully, suspicious of her intentions. Layla could feel the pressure of forcing herself not to look over her shoulder, becoming paranoid about everyone.
She felt like she could sense every single thing that was going on around them. A single bead of sweat rolled down her cheek and when she was supposed to wipe it, she quickly retracted her hand. Her senses elevated when a group of friends passed next to her while loudly laughing and chatting.
She grabbed Jace's hand and pulled him away. "I am annoyed. They're all laughing and happy when something is wrong. They shouldn't have to show that they don't care. The least they can do is to stay quiet until the problem lessens." She told them while they were following her. Her brows were furrowed and her lips were tightened down into a frown.
Some of the students who they were passing by, were scared of looking at her especially when they knew that she's always either calm or happy so they knew that they've done something wrong. She was eyeing them, thinking how much of a disgrace the school was at the moment. She left ashamed of what was happening.
She knew that she has to persuade Sir Kingsley to accept the position as the school's principal since that position was still vacant. The way everything was being handled could be the downfall of the school. Therefore, she was willing to set aside her dislike for him for the sake of the school she grew up in. That's why she also wanted to convince both Jace and him to work together.
Jace held her hand while he observed the people. Some of the students were quiet and were possibly gossiping about Blair while the rest were loud and noisy even when they pass the infirmary. His lips pressed together and looked at them disappointedly. Alex was the same and finally took his eyes off of her, looking around for some kind of clarification of why they were behaving as if the news was not scattered throughout the buildings. He's sure that everyone knew. He thought that maybe they were thinking too much about it and they just wanted to be joyful to pretend as if everything was fine and not to burden Blair who was inside the infirmary, she could walk outside at any moment.
"We...could be only focusing on the side of what we're seeing. Why don't we try to figure out why they are joyous?" He hesitantly asked them while scratching his nape in uncertainty and difficulty of understanding what's happening.
Layla shook her head while looking at him, the sweat on her body was beginning to get worse. "I think they're trying to hide what's happening. It could be because some are going through the same problem and they are trying to suppress themselves not to tell anybody and they are trying to protect the school's image." Her head turned to look at Jace. "There's no visitor, right? You would be one of the first students to know so I wish that isn't what's going on right now."
Jace considered Layla's and Alex's words to contemplate. He gave it a few seconds of silence to think whether it was possible or not. He, along with the other student council members would surely know if a visitor came. It has only been a day since Mrs. Vivian disappeared so it would be quite unlikely for the school to immediately shatter. Even Layla should already knew by now so she would help in the preparation but she could be right due to how the students were behaving right now. However, shouldn't he be notified promptly?
Alex could also be right, it was possible that they wouldn't want to stay silent so Blair wouldn't feel the gloomy tension. However, if they knew any better, they should just at least try to keep their voices down. What they were doing was irrational.
They were far from the infirmary now, passing through the corridor where Blair was seen. Layla expected to spot a few drops or smudges of blood on the floor but everything was perfectly clean. She was confused and uneasy about the situation.
Why did the problem appear to be hard to deal with? It was like they couldn't solve it any sooner. Sir Kingsley was right about almost everything although Layla was still confused by his nightmare.
Both Jace and Alex saw what Layla saw and it bothered Alex. While he was walking to Jace's the floor was still bloody and it was odd that there were no marks of what happened. It was perfectly clean. He looked towards their classroom to hopefully find classmates so they could explain what was going on but it was empty.
When Jace saw it, that was the only clarification he needed to answer Layla. "I think you're right especially because we have no principal. Go home, Layla, please. Alex could you take her home? I'll be the one to check what happened." Alex instantly nodded, finally understanding Layla's perspective.
Layla couldn't help but think that everything was connected, from Mrs. Vivian, to Blair, and the sudden visitor, even Sir Kingsley's dream. She protested against Jace. "I want to come with you, Jace. It would ease my mind."
Jace softly gazed at her. "As...long as you're sure...but after we find out what's wrong then we will immediately head home, okay?"
Layla genuinely smiled at him, her mind and heart were slowly soothing just from his gaze.
"But why would it be like that though? It's only been a day since Mrs. Vivian vanished which also reminds me of how exhausting this day has been especially for Sir Kingsley. Would it be really possible that in such a short time, the problems would arise one by one?" He questioned while his eyes looked up in wonder after he glanced at them.
"Everything is wrong, isn't it? Why would everything happen so abruptly?" Jace's eyes roamed around the nearly empty hallways for answers. "Although by now I think that Sir Kingsley has already scolded the students who are foolish enough."
Layla agreed. "Yeah, he would not let it get worse than it already is."
"Sir Kingsley would be a great principal. He should be the one to replace the old hag." Alex told them.
"Actually, when we were having a meeting which was supposed to be for the fight that broke out in the court, we instead focused on other matters and one of them was about the vacancy of the position. The parents have all voted for him to be the principal but he refused." Layla looked down in regret, thinking it was also her fault why he didn't accept the offer.
Alex's brows furrowed deeper. "Really? I thought he's the kind of person who would instantly accept that."
"Well, no but I want to convince him to accept it." Layla conveyed.
They looked at her and nodded. "You should be able to change his mind. You'd be the only one who could do so." Jace told, giving her hope.
Layla didn't know about that. Sir Kingsley did not and will never listen to anyone. She believed that he would only be irritated by her but she was willing to try everything just to convince him.
Layla glanced at Jace while they were walking thinking about what and how to say to him that she thought he would be a great help to Sir Kingsley and Blair since nobody else would stand up to the problems. They were fit for the role and they could analyze everything better, after all, two minds are better than one.
When they arrived at the student council office, it was empty and when they entered the room, it was as cold as a winter night. They all looked at each other in confusion.
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