Chapter Three

Jordeyn leaned forwards, tapping Cayden repeatedly on his back, "pst. Hey, what's the answer to three?"

"Jordeyn, shut it. You know I don't know the answer to that, so quit fucking asking.

"That was the first time I asked you, you twat."

"Jordeyn, I said to shut-"

"Cayden Matthews. I thought I told you over your course of summer school that if you talked out of turn this semester, I'd give you a year's worth of detention, did I not?" A crimson hue kissed his face with embarrassment as heads turned towards him in disgust.

He just stared at her in shock and silence and could only muster a, "yes. Yes, maam, you did."

"That's what I thought. Now please, for hopefully the final time, be. Quiet." Cayden nodded quickly and tilted his head down towards his tear stained paper. He'd only ever been humiliated in front of the teacher by his parents, but the entire class who had some of the best known gossipers? Never, did he believe that for once in his life, this would happen. He's always tried being the bigger person and a role model to the people younger than him - not getting much of a role model growing up being a part of the reason - and he was terrified that his one chance at making his parents proud was being taken from him.

He could already hear the snickers and retorts from the students around him and stole a glance behind him towards Jordeyn, who was walking up to the front of the classroom. Cayden desperately wiped his face clean of the tears and raised his head, stealing glances at everyone around him. She stared down every single person in that room, and she could've sworn that the teacher broke out in a cold sweat. No students moved or breathed, "if I hear anyone. And I mean anyone talk about what happened in this class, I swear over my corpse I will call Jay and have him deal with you. And yes, this does include you, Mrs. Merrit." She eyed her from the side with appeal in her eyes. Mrs. Merrit's breathing hitched and let out a high-pitched squeal that Jordeyn took as an 'okay.'

Every since Jay had been promoted as top of his class at the age of eighteen, people who knew of their relation never crossed her path. He was known for his ability to dominate the battlefield and shoot down anyone within a fifty foot radius. His stealth and wisdom were within other qualities the teachers all respected Jordeyn and her family: bout a year before Castillo's murder, there was a mass killer in Pento. He traveled to Blinyth more than a few times to attempt to find and arrest him, but all of his attempts had been deemed unsuccessful. That was, until he had found him living in a motel in the heart of Pento itself, paying for his stay with bits of bread and fruit. From that moment on, he'd remained at the top of his class despite his work in the past, but of course, none of that mattered in Pento. In Pento, all that mattered was finding a job, cooking, cleaning, and raising the children - for the ladies - and going to war - for the men. It had seemed that the city had gone back in time from the year 2020 onward, due to presidential matters, nothing could be done about it. A woman's job in life was to raise the children and stay in the kitchen.

Ms. Merrit signaled that class was over and sought each of them out the door. Jordeyn ran out the door, Cayden, on her heels.

"You didn't have to do that. Really, it's fine."

"Cayden, shut it. Disrespectfully. I did have to do it, because I know how much you care for the little kids and how much they look up to you - everyone does."

"But Jordeyn-"

Jordeyn spun around and shoved Cayden into an empty classroom. She locked the door, threw her bag onto a desk, and walked over to Cayden. She stared at him with emotionless eyes and slapped him across the face. Hard. "Quite honestly, you should be thankful I said anything at all. You do realize I know what your mother does to you at home while your father lies down passed out on your couch right? I know it's an ugly situation and that's why I've found a job helping the librarian stack books. So I can give you the money when I know there's enough for you to survive on your own. I understand you have Blayne, but between the two of us, she isn't the best at saving money."

"Oh, trust me … I know." Cayeden chuckled.

"Then, next time, try to be grateful. Oh, and, I've already talked to your parents about it and they agreed to the six of us going out on the town for your birthday."

"Six? Jordeyn there's only five of us."

"You think I'm stupid enough not to bring my brother along?" Cayeden stared at her in shock.

"How did you manage to get the council to agree on letting him end his shift early?"

"Cayeden, I do hope that you learn to remember certain events from the past. My parents were the leaders before they… yeah, you know." She quickly turned away from him. "Well … You should probably head to class. Don't want to be late for class now, do we?" A forced laugh left her mouth as she threw her backpack over her shoulder and left just as quickly as she had shoved him.