Chapter 24

The next day, Wyatt spent thinking to himself in worry. He was now scared that Emma was hiding her secret from him because she doesn't trust him. Although he suffered alone, Emma knew something was bothering him. Before the two went to sleep for school the next day, Emma asked "Hey, Wyatt...?".

"Yeah?" Wyatt responds.

"Is... something bothering you?" Emma asks. "You've been acting... different today".

As Wyatt tries to think of what to say to Emma, he thinks to himself "Could I really ask her about it? What if I only make the situation worse?". Suddenly he remembers when Emma was going through a lot of worry, like he is now, and it hit him. "Before" he thinks to himself, "when Emma was constantly worried about something, but wouldn't tell me, was she worried about telling me that she's a laibah? Is she... scared of what I would think of her?". Finally, Wyatt looks up at Emma and says "I'm just worried about a few... silly things. Don't worry, it's nothing". As Emma looks up at Wyatt in confusion, Wyatt thinks to himself "I've gotta think of a careful method to talk to her about it. So for now, I'll wait until she's more comfortable to talk about it. Bedsides, we've been together for so long, built up so much... we can't let our time together go to waste over something like this...".

"Are you sure you're fine?" Emma asks.

"Y-Yeah" Wyatt says.

"Because you seem to be spacing out a lot" Emma says.

"I'm just worried over a few things about class" Wyatt says. "But were on the last week of the semester, so we're almost at the point where we can form clubs. I just hope... everything will work out fine".

"This is not fine!" Jackson shouts before homeroom class begins.

"Calm down!" Aeris says. "I know they're doing some stupid shit, but-".

"Stupid shit!?" Jackson asks. "This counts as simply stupid shit!?".

"What's going on now?" Emily asks as she enters the class and sits next to the noisy group of Rejects.

"Jackson found another one of those notes on his chair" Aeris says.

"It's more than a simple note" Jackson says. "Before it was just stuff like "Die" or whatever. This time, it's a full written explanation about how some of these students are getting their parents to come up to school to personally protest against the school's decision to also house laibah students! They're trying to have people gather to once again fully push us out of the city! They won't even let us have the chance to go through college like they do! Screw being expelled, because at this point, it's gonna happen anyways!".

"What are you saying?" Aeris says. "That you'd rather just be expelled?".

"Hell yeah!" Jackson shouts. "If I'm gonna get kicked out of school, I'm kicking their ass regardless!".

"Hey, Hey!" Wyatt says, "chill... last thing we need to do when we're this close to the next part of our plan, is to act irrationally".

"Easy for you to say" Jackson says, "you're human! You're still safe no matter what happens!".

"And I'm not letting them just get rid of you either!" Wyatt says.

"And what can you do about it?" Jackson says. "Stick to the plan? Yeah right! And I doubt you'd go as far as to bring yourself in the danger of getting expelled to actually help us!".

"Jackson, what the hell is wrong with you!?" Aeris yells.

"Admit it!" Jackson says, "even you, Emily, Jessica... everybody included... humans will only go so far for a laibah!".

"Wait, what'd I do wrong?" Jessica asks.

"You know what?" Jackson says as he turns his head away from the rest and crosses his arms, "forget about it. Pretend like nothing happened and don't worry about it. I'm sure that's what you'd do anyways".

"J-Jackson...?" Emma says nervously, however, Jackson refused to respond to anyone.

During lunch, everybody showed up to eat at their usual spot. Everybody except for Jackson. "Where'd that idiot go?" Aeris asks.

"Dunno" Jessica says, "but this whole ordeal really has him upset".

"Well..." Aeris says, "this school is poor and low on funding. So it's not unreasonable to say that when the parents and students gather to protest something, that the school would feel obligated to listen. The staff here probably don't get paid a whole lot, so they're likely already paranoid about how to make their income...".

"And that's what's driving Jackson to believe that this 'protest' of theirs would be effective" Emily says. "He's worried they'll listen to the majority, because they'll fear what'll become of the school if they don't".

"And if they do listen to them?" Jessica asks. "Then what?".

The group fell silent for a little while, before Aeris spoke up. "I guess... that means we'll have to... part ways".

"B-but the school wouldn't really do that!" Emma says in panic. "Would they?".

"I'm not sure..." Aeris says with a weakness in her voice.

After school that day, a large group of students with their parents show up outside of Ryan's office. When Ryan comes out of the office to speak with them, the parents start shouting. "We can't be sure if our children are safe with those THINGS around!" They demand. "Remove the laibah from our kid's school! They're ruining my child's future! What good could a laibah do anyways!? It's not like they'll get a good job or anything! They're all a menace, and a threat to our society!".

"Ladies and gentlemen" Ryan says gently, "please calm down. I understand the issue at hand".

"Then remove them immediately!" A parent shouts.

"If you understand the laibah are a problem, then why are they still here!?" Another parent shouts.

"And what about that laibah teacher!" One of the students chant, "I can't feel safe with THAT walking in our halls!".

"I said I understand the situation" Ryan says in a gentle tone that came off as condescending, "Not I agree with what you're saying. The laibah are not the problem".

"Then what is!?" A student protests.

"We want an apology followed by immediately action!" A parent shouts. "I work sixty hours or more a week, while worrying about my kid's safety!".

"You want an apology?" Ryan asks with a smirk. "Alright... I'm sorry".

"And then what are you gonna do?" A parent asks.

"You're interrupting me and that's rude" Ryan says. "You didn't let me finish. I'm sorry... I'm so very sorry that you're all incompetent, misdirected, ignorant, hateful people. I'm sorry this is what our society is based on. I'm sorry you all feel so unsafe when you're the ones causing a panic, but most of all, I'm sorry the laibah students, especially our laibah teacher has to bear through all your sorry crap as you continue to play the victim. As for my action... I'm keeping the students as they are, and the teacher too. You don't have to continue sending your children here if you truly don't feel that they are safe here".

The parents and students fell silent, as Ryan continued to say "That'll be all. You can leave now...". Ryan then walks back into his office, and ignores the continued shouting of the parents from the other side of the door.

"You'll never receive another Centi from our household!" Some of them shout.

"Let's see you run this school without funding!" Some other parents shout.

The next day, some of the students were talking about the laibah situation. "My parents said we'll be transferring schools after this semester" one of Marcus's friends say, "and it's all those damn laibah's fault!".

"Come on" Marcus says as he pulls some of his friends towards the back of the classroom. Marcus and his friends walk right up to The Rejects and say "You disgusting creatures have finally crossed the line".

"Excuse me?" Jackson scoffs as he stands up.

"You heard me" Marcus says. "Because of you guys, some of our classmates have to change schools next semester, all because you guys won't leave".

"Bite me" Jackson says. "And good riddance, I say".

"You wanna fight?" Marcus says as he rolls up his sleeves.

"I'm not in the mood for any of this shit" Jackson says, "so if you want to throw down, I'll thrown down".

"Stop!" Wyatt says as he stands up and puts his arm between the two of them. "Whatever happened wasn't Jackson's fault! Why are you two so hellbent on making things worse?".

"Move your hand..." Marcus says.

"You'll have to make me" Wyatt says.

"Move your hand, Wyatt" Jackson says, "I'll make sure this punk never speaks again".

"Jackson, stop!" Aeris yells.

Jackson began to raise his fist in the air, as if preparing for a punch. "Admit it!" Marcus says, "you're a laibah! We all know it! You're the reason we're in this mess!".

"That was your own fault for starting something you can't finish!" Jackson says.

"Jackson! Wyatt! Marcus!" Refus shouts as he enters the room. "Explanation, now!".

Marcus scoffs as he turns around and heads back to his desk. Jackson forcefully pushes Wyatt's arm away from him as he sits back down. Now Wyatt was left the only one standing. "Uh... Mr. Maloney, it's just..." Wyatt says, "I'm trying to... stop a conflict before it turns into a fight".

"The only conflict" Marcus says, "is that laibah are still here".

"Yeah, I'm a laibah!" Jackson shouts. "You happy!?".

"Jackson Lonny!" Refus shouts, "shut up before you start another-".

"No, you shut it!" Jackson shouts. "I'm tired of these people! Let them leave this school, we're better off without them!".

"Jackson!" Aeris shouts.

"Jackson!" Refus says, "I'm stopping this before we have to start expelling people! You're dismissed for the rest of the day. Come by after school to pick up your homework and study materials".

"... We need to talk after school" Aeris quietly says to Jackson.

"Yes sir" Jackson says with a scoff, as he stands and stomps out of the classroom.

"This can't be happening..." Jessica says with a sigh of disappointment.

"I'm sorry..." Wyatt says. "I tried to stop him, but-".

"Don't worry about it..." Aeris says. "It's not your fault. At least he hasn't been expelled".

After school that day, Jackson and Aeris met up at the school gates. Wyatt overheard Aeris tell Jackson that they needed to talk and wanted to make sure that his friends were safe. So on his way up to work, he went to go see them. After Wyatt left, Emma later left the dorm as well, to go vent her worries about their current school's situation to Matilda. Before Wyatt arrived, Aeris and Jackson began talking. "It can't be good" Jackson says, anger still in his voice, "so just get it over with already. What did you want to talk about?".

Aeris pauses for a moment, trying to build up the strength to say what she was going to say. "I'm afraid..." Aeris says with tears beginning to form in her eyes, "that it's over between us. Until you can stop acting so... so irrational and out of anger, I need to be... alone".

Jackson pauses for a moment, then finally says "So that's it, huh?".

"Yo!" Wyatt says as he approaches the two of them. "You guys alright?".

"No... not really" Jackson says. "You really have the worst timing ever".

"I'm just trying to help-" Wyatt says.

"You're just in the way, all the time!" Jackson shouts.

"What else am I supposed to do?" Wyatt asks. "I'm trying to be there for my friends!".

"No, you're just in the way!" Jackson yells.

"See?" Aeris says, "this is exactly what I'm talking about!".

"Look, in the way or not" Wyatt says, "I try to do what I can to make sure my friends will be alright!".

"Cut the bullshit!" Jackson says.

"Jackson, stop!" Aeris yells.

"What bullshit!?" Wyatt says.

"You and I both know it's all just a game of charades to you!".

"What are you gettin' at?" Wyatt asks.

"We all know that humans will only go so far for laibah!" Jackson says. "Friends or not, you don't really feel obligated to actually help! All you do is just pretend that you care!".

"Why would you think that!?" Wyatt shouts. "Of course I care! You guys are my friends!".

"Oh yeah!?" Jackson asks, "Then what about Emma!?".

"Why are you bringing Emma into this?" Wyatt asks.

"Jackson, don't-" Aeris begins to say before she's interrupted.

"We all know that you only go out with her because you think she's human!" Jackson says. "But in reality, we all know you'll end up dumping her and breaking her heart, because she's really a laibah just like us! She won't tell you, because she knows it too!".

"Jackson, you asshole!" Aeris shouts. When Jackson finally pays attention to Aeris, she was pointing towards the school. As Wyatt and Jackson look at where Aeris was pointing, they saw her. Emma, standing in the middle of the concrete walkway, shocked, crying, frozen in fear.

"E-Emma!" Wyatt says as he reaches out to her. However, Emma turns her head away from him to try and hide her tears as she runs off towards the forest.

"Why would you do that!?" Aeris asks Jackson as she slaps him.

"I knew it..." Wyatt says as he clenches his fists, shaking and trying to keep his composure. "I already knew... about Emma. I wanted to wait until she was ready to talk about it".

Jackson and Aeris freeze for a second. "Wyatt, I-" Jackson begins to say.

"Forget it" Wyatt says as he runs after Emma.

Aeris stares angrily at Jackson. "I-I'll make this right..." Jackson says. "I'm gonna go help look for her".

"Did you forget that you were supposed to stop by the class today?" Refus asks as he approaches. "The principal wants to talk to you as well. You better get moving".

"Smooth..." Aeris says as she slowly claps to show disappointment.

Wyatt tries to follow behind Emma, but quickly loses sight of her. Panicking, Wyatt goes to the only person he knows that knows Emma as well if not better than he does. "Welcome!" Matilda says as Wyatt enters. "Oh, Wyatt? What's the hurry?".

"I can't explain everything right now" Wyatt says, "but Emma ran off!".

"She what!?" Matilda asks. "What did you do!?".

"It wasn't me!" Wyatt says. "There was some... really dumb argument... and well... someone kinda gave away Emma's secret".

"What secret?" Matilda asks, hoping it's not the worst case scenario.

"Look" Wyatt says, "I know she's a laibah! B-but... she's still... Emma! That's what's important to me! Do you know where she might try to hide?".

"Are you going after her?" Matilda asks.

"Yes" Wyatt says firmly.

"You better" Matilda says. "If you wouldn't, I'd permanently kick you out of the store! Or worse, I'd just kick you repeatedly!".

"Can you please tell me where to find her?" Wyatt asks.

"Well..." Matilda says as she thinks. "She lived in the forest before, she has a lot of memories there, as well as it's a secluded area. Have you tried that?".

"No I haven't" Wyatt says. "Thanks!". Wyatt begins to run out of the store, but suddenly stops. "One more thing" Wyatt says. "You remember that deal we made?".

"The picture?" Matilda asks. "You want it now?".

"It's a desperate measure at this point" Wyatt says. "I was originally planning on playing off that photo thing as just a random joke in the store and giving her the picture for her birthday, but... I'll need it now more than ever".

"I have the picture ready, but no frame" Matilda says.

"It's fine" Wyatt says. Matilda hands the picture of the two of them in Matilda's store. The picture that Matilda took when Wyatt and Emma went shopping for winter clothes last weekend. "Thanks, Matilda!" Wyatt says.

"One more thing!" Matilda shouts before Wyatt runs out of the store. "If you don't bring her back, I'll be more than just pissed off at you... I mean it. Bring her home safely".

"I plan on it" Wyatt says.