Loads of surprises

Lexie Carson's expression was unreadable, a mix of emotions flashing in his eyes - confusion, indecision, or maybe anger. I couldn't understand. "Hey, thanks for your help. I'll take it from here," Tony said, snapping me back to reality. "Uhm... I... Thank you," I stuttered, struggling to find the right words.

I glanced at the gathered students, feeling nervous. Maya was fuming with anger. "You're from an aristocratic and respectable home. I expected you to behave like a proper lady, but it seems I misjudged you." Lexie faced Maya, and the murmurs and camera flashes continued. A student responded, "This isn't high school; it's a mature community. We get things done here, but bullying is crazy, dude." Soon, everyone was against Maya. Tony took my hand, leading me out of the scene. I was still in shock. Lexie had always treated me poorly in the past, even denying our relationship when asked. What changed?

As we walked away, Tony's arm around my shoulders felt like a shield, protecting me from the harsh gazes and snickers. He's always been my rock, my confidant, my best friend. I don't know what I'd do without him. "Hey, Kate, you okay?" Tony asked, his voice soft with concern. I nodded, still processing the whirlwind of emotions. My brother, Lexie, showed up out of nowhere, standing up to Maya and her crew... it was surreal. But what really threw me off was the look in Lexie's eyes when he saw me - like he actually cared.

"Katie!" Tony called again, breaking my daze. I smiled slightly and nudged him. "I'm good. You're always saving my ass, as usual." Tony scoffed. "I don't know why you're against me scratching that witch's eyes. If we'd done something to break her wings, she'd have relented." He was obviously unsatisfied. "Tones, we can't do much about her; she's the director's daughter. Let's just give it time. She won't know what's coming for her, trust me."

Tony asked, "What's going on with Lexie?" My mind raced with the sudden question. "He just shows up like that, after all this time? And he's so... different." I shrugged. "I know, right? I was just as surprised as you." Tony continued, "Well, it's nothing to worry about. At least he's on your side now." I felt nervous at the thought.

We walked in comfortable silence for a bit, Tony's arm still around me. I felt grateful for his presence and unwavering support. At the fast food joint, we ordered our meal, aware of the limited time left before Miss Mark's class. "Thanks, Tony," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know what I'd do without you." He smiled and gave me a gentle squeeze. "You'll never have to find out, Kate. I'm always here for you."

As we dug into our plantain fries and milkshake, Tony suddenly stopped and pulled out his iPad from his backpack. "I've got a surprise for you," he said, his eyes sparkling with excitement. My curiosity was piqued. "What is it?" He tapped on the screen, revealing a familiar figure - the masked assassin who had saved my life when my parents were murdered. My heart skipped a beat.

"But Katie, I'm not quite sure if he's …

"Tones, no doubt, he's the one," I said, my voice trembling. "I'd never forget that masked face, etched in my memory forever." 

"Tony, how...?" I stuttered, my voice trembling.He grinned mischievously.

"I did some digging, and continued from where we stopped." I was overwhelmed with emotion, hugging Tony tightly. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I exclaimed, tears of joy and relief welling up in my eyes.

As we pulled back, I couldn't stop staring at the iPad screen. It was really him - the person who had changed the course of my life forever. I felt one step closer to finding the answers I had been searching for. Tony cleared his throat, bringing me back to reality. "Hey, we should talk about our group assignment, too. We need to finalize our presentation." I nodded, still in a daze. "Right, yeah. I was thinking we could... um... What did you have in mind?"

I suddenly remembered. "Wait, what about your stepmom? I got your text earlier…" Tony shushed me. "Let's not talk about her right now, okay?" He's always like that, not wanting me to worry or get entangled in his family affairs. Tony chuckled. "I've already done most of the work, actually. I figured you'd be too distracted with…... everything else."

I playfully rolled my eyes. "Thanks for understanding. But seriously, Tony, I owe you one. Big time."

He smiled and clapped me on the back. "Anytime, Kate. That's what friends are for."