When Luke was left in the hallway alone with Veronica he played the video on his cell phone. A few moans could be heard that made Veronica blush.
"The camera on the latest iPhone is very good. I can see your expressions with great definition," Luke said with a wicked grin.
"Don't move. I already have several copies. It's useless if you steal my cell phone," added Luke, who noticed Veronica was about to make a move.
"Y-you were on that night...?" asked Veronica, still in place.
"Yes. I was able to hide just in time in a dirty closet. I never thought you would commit such an act on top of the noble symbol of the Nightshade Society," replied Luke, acting exaggeratedly on the noble side.
"What do you want? I won't rat you out to the principal that you stole the books. Do you want to join the Nightshade Society? With the support of several members, I can get you in." said Veronica.
"Join that society? I don't want that. Just keep it under the rug that I stole the books. I'll get them back to you," said Luke.
Veronica was surprised that Luke refused to join the elite club. Any student who knows of its existence from myths or family wants to join the club.
"Have you read the books yet?" asked Veronica.
"Not yet. I'll get them back to you in a few days," Luke replied without further explanation.
"If this gets to the principal's ears and I get detention the video of you and Tommy having sex will be seen by the whole school," said Luke in a threatening tone. He wouldn't mind uploading the video.
Veronica looked around as Luke said sex wouldn't be good for anyone to overhear their conversation. Luckily, the hallway was empty.
"The perfect Miss Veronica Umbrio having sex on the floor like a savage. In the noble hall of the century-old elite club. What would Goody Addams say? Or your parents?" asked Luke with a smirk.
This arrogant idiot tried to threaten him and thought she had everything under her control. He had to show her place.
"No, please don't!" said Veronica in desperation. Her life would be over. Her family would find out and might see the video. She would be a disgrace.
"I won't, as long as you don't cause me trouble. I'll ask you for a book or two, as long as you give it to me the video won't get out," said Luke putting the cell phone away.
Unlike many scoundrels, he was a man of his word. He threatened her since he was caught and they knew he stole the book. But mostly because they came across as very arrogant. As if they were superior to him.
"When will you delete the video?" asked Veronica.
"When I want to. Write down my number. I may need a book in a few days," said Luke, passing his contact to Veronica, who had no choice but to accept.
"You can't release the video, we're family! You can't disgrace the family name. It will affect you too," said Veronica, trying to use one last card to see if she could save herself and have the video deleted.
Luke for the first time had a puzzled look on his face.
"What are you saying? Are you out of your mind why your popularity can fall to pieces?" asked Luke, confused.
"Don't play dumb. Your mother Sophie, belonged to the Umbrio family! She was my aunt, and I'm your cousin," exclaimed Veronica.
'My mother belonged to the rich Umbrio family...? Her brother is Veronica's father which makes her my cousin?' thought Luke with a surprised expression.
"Don't talk nonsense," Luke said in disbelief.
"You don't know? Almost the whole school knows that your parents were from the Poe family and the Umbrio family," said Veronica, looking at Luke with a strange expression.
Luke had a question mark on his face. He wasn't one of the people who paid the most attention around him. He's sure Enid never brought this up.
He must have asked Edgar when he had the chance. Natasha never said anything to him, and she was the closest to his mother. He didn't ask her either, though.
"Let's say you're right. So what? You think I'll delete the video?" asked Luke. Later he would confirm if this was true.
"But we're family..." said Veronica.
"Family? The first family member who approaches me tries to threaten me. Besides, you didn't help my mother when she needed it and exiled her. I have no relationship with you," Luke said in a cold tone.
"Keep your pets under control, and if I ask for a book bring it to me. That way your social life will be safe," added Luke, turning away and leaving Veronica alone.
Luke confirmed through Edgar that his mother was from the Umbrio family. He also asked Natasha, and she said yes. She didn't give much more detail. Her inheritance was canceled since her mother was exiled or something.
Anyway, he didn't want the money from those scoundrels. With the money he would get from Carrie, he had plenty left over. He had plenty more books to bring into this world.
"Did you know I'm related to the Umbrio family?" asked Luke, walking beside Enid in the direction of the cafeteria. He had finished the first class of the day and they were heading to lunch.
"Yeah... A lot of people already know about it. You're very famous, and everyone wants to know about your past..." replied Enid. She had predicted that Luke would find this out at his meeting with Veronica, who belonged to the Umbrio family.
"Why didn't you tell me?" asked Luke, feeling like an idiot. He was the only one who didn't know about his family history on the maternal side.
"Well...I noticed you never cared about that stuff. You even seem to be bothered by fame, and your knowing about it might make you more bothered," replied Enid.
"You seem to know me well," Luke said, taking Enid's hand and moving closer to her.
Enid was right. Knowing would be a nuisance, and it didn't do her any good.
"Hehe, of course I know you," Enid said, laughing, moving closer to Luke as they walked into the cafeteria.
As they entered the cafeteria the murmur died down, and Luke felt more stares than usual on him. He knew it was a strange occurrence for him to be holding hands with Enid, but already the whole school knew about their relationship, and many times he appeared in public with her holding hands.
"What happened?" asked Enid in a low tone. She was used to the stares for being with Luke and she was getting used to it, but today was different.
"I don't know..." replied Luke. He noticed at one of the tables Xavier, who waved him over.
Along with Enid, they made their way to Xavier's table, who was sitting with Bianca, Ajax, Sabrina, Yoko, Divina, and one more mermaid boy.
It was weird to see everyone sitting at the same table. Now that Luke and Enid were there, it was arguably the most popular table in the ninth grade.
"Hey everyone," greeted Enid enthusiastically to her friends and the others.
"What's up? I'm feeling more stares than usual," she added in a low tone.
"This happened. Play the video," replied Xavier, passing his cell phone to Enid.
"Mm, let's see," said Enid, giving play to the video. It was weird that she didn't know the latest gossip of the moment. Luke walked over to see what this was all about.
His brow furrowed as he watched the video. It was about the beating he gave the two older students, 'Who recorded this?' thought Luke. The video was shot from a distance, but with the zoom of a good cell phone, the fight looked perfect.
The video ended with Luke kicking Brad several times. Viewed in third person it looked pretty violent, but he had done it because the werewolf's stamina was so good. He wasn't a madman.
"Luke... I told you to be nice to the older students, right?" asked Enid, staring at Luke.
"Huh? Did you say something like that?" said Luke without making eye contact with Enid.
"Don't you listen to me when I talk?" asked Enid.
"Now that you mention it. I do remember. It was self-defense. That video is taken out of context," said Luke justifying himself.
Before Enid could reprimand him further a bell rang through the speakers. Then a monotone voice was heard throughout the cafeteria.
"Please have student Luke Poe proceed to Principal Weems's office," said the voice.
'Saved by the bell,' thought Luke. He would rather be punished by the principal than reprimanded by Enid.
Enid was the only person with whom he had stopped being rude and foul-mouthed. So, he could no longer win an argument when he had been partly to blame. The power of love says his stupid ghost great-great-grandfather.
"I've got to go. See you in a bit, if I don't get kicked out," Luke said, kissing Enid and hurrying out of the cafeteria.
A smile broke out on Enid's face as she watched Luke's back get further and further away.
"I never thought I'd see Luke so obedient. You have my respect, Enid," Ajax said with a strange smile. Everyone else nodded in agreement. He didn't look like the same kid who kicked the crap out of an older student.
"Hehe. Luke is good. You just have to know him," said Enid sitting up a little embarrassed.
"Good? Did you see the same video I did? He beat the crap out of that older student. That's dangerous. What if that aggression comes back at you?" asked Yoko. She didn't like her friend's boyfriend.
"Don't talk nonsense, Yoko," Enid said with a frown and a different tone than usual.
"The first ones who surrounded him in a threatening way were them. It's taken out of context. Besides, Luke would never hurt me," Enid added. She won't allow her friend and roommate to criticize her boyfriend.
"It's true. It was two versus one. Two older students bullying a younger student. Serves them right," Xavier said, defending his friend. He already considered Luke his friend.
Yoko snorted slightly and didn't say anything else all lunch. Enid didn't speak to her either.
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