Chapter 14 - This Is Harder Than It Looks

The year; 1996. A young Aken Amnestor is standing in his office with his arms crossed. The leaves that were once vibrant with color at the start of the school year have all fallen off and have been replaced with beds of white snow on the ground outside. The person Amnestor is scolding is a young student with a few bandages and bruises on his body.

"So uh, would you believe me if I lied and said I slipped on some ice?" the student asks.

"Maybe," Amnestor sighs, "But not if you clearly say that was a lie."

"Look that stuff doesn't really matter," The student replies as he pops some bubble gum in his mouth, "Everybody gets into fights these days. Hell my buddy Jerry was in three this morning."

"Well I don't know who this Jerry guy is but you should stop," Amnestor says, "You should be focusing more on your schoolwork."

"School Work?" The young student asks as he takes out all of his perfect-scored papers, "Amny are you talking about this schoolwork?"

"You have an essay due next wee-." Amnestor tries to say but the student cuts him off by handing him the finished essay.

"I think I'm doing just fine," the student remarks as he makes his way to the door.

Lamenting his loss of the argument, Amnestor just says, "If you say so, just don't get caught up into too much trouble."

"Now why would I do that?" the student smirks.

Amnestor chuckles at the student's last remark.

THE MIRACLE CLINIC

The year; 2013. Amnestor sits in his office when he hears a knock on the door.

"Come in," Amnestor replies as Ronnie Everst enters, "How can I help you Mister Everst?"

"Oh nothing much I was just wondering if you were maybe changing your mind about the whole ending the club thing," Ronnie asks.

"I didn't," Amnestor replies as he grabs his coffee mug.

"You sure?"

"I am."

"Are you sure sure?"

"Yes, I am sure sure."

"Well, what if we decide to show you how important our club really is!" Ronnie remarks, "C'mon say something that you need help with and we'll solve it for you. Do you have issues finding love? Don't have enough money? Or maybe even-"

"I'm fine Mister Everst," Amnestor remarks, "I don't need any money and I have been married to my wife for quite a while."

"Wait you're married?" Ronnie remarks.

"Yes, does that surprise you?"

"A little, you just don't seem like the type to-" Ronnie begins to say before realizing maybe insulting the person he's trying to butter up isn't the best decision.

"I'll see you in a bit," Ronnie remarks as he walks out of Amnestor's office.

Amnestor goes to finish his coffee but before he can even take a sip, Alex Smith enters his office.

"Yes, Smith?" Amnestor asks.

"Um, I'm guessing Ronnie couldn't convince you," Alex says.

"You are correct."

"Well then look at it this way, wouldn't being in a club lower the chance of us getting into fights?" Alex questions, "Since we'd be staying at school more often instead of being out on the streets."

"Alex, your club is the only club that has been involved in not just one but two fights in the past 2 weeks."

"Yeah I give up," Alex says as he leaves the office.

As Amnestor goes to open his computer, Elizabeth walks into the room. 

Amnestor looks towards Elizabeth. 

Elizabeth looks towards Amnestor. 

The two continue to look at each other.

"Yeah this is impossible," Elizabeth says as she turns and walks away.

After a bit, Marcus walks into the office.

"No," Amnestor states.

Marcus turns around and exits the office.

_____________________________________

Later that day, Ronnie & Marcus are sitting on the couch in The Everst Family Home's Living Room. The two teens are both trying to brainstorm solutions to the current predicament.

"Maybe we can give him an apple?" Ronnie suggests, "Teachers love those."

"I don't know, the only thing I've seen Amnestor have is coffee," Marcus sighs.

"True maybe then…apple coffee? Is that even a thing?!"

"Maybe?"

The two then begin to debate about whether apple coffee exists or not until they hear the front door opening. The two look to see that Sally Everst has just entered, having finished working for the day.

"Sorry for taking so long, someone came in right before closing asking for a full-body tattoo. When I said we couldn't do that in one sitting, he got really upset," Misses Everst groans as she sets some groceries on the counter, "The food in the crockpot should be done in a few hours."

However, as Sally goes to sit down in the living room she spots that Marcus is there as well as the two having several sheets of paper all over the ground.

"Hey Marcus, seems like you two have been busy," Sally remarks.

"Hi Misses Everst!" Marcus says, "We're trying to figure out how to get on Amnestor's good side."

"Amnestor?" Sally questions with a shocked look on her face, "You mean Aken Amnestor?"

"Yeah, you know him mom?" Ronnie asks.

"Somewhat, he was a teacher at Starlight High back when your Dad attended," Sally responds, "I didn't think he'd still be working there after all those years. I thought he quit after that incident."

After hearing those words, Ronnie's attitude quickly shifts from nonchalant to fully attentive as he asks, "What incident?"

Sally Everst sighs as she continues, "I went to Seastar High back then so I only really heard about it from your Dad, Ronnie."

"Dad was a part of it," Ronnie murmurs before saying, "Can you tell us everything you still remember?!"

"Yeah, but it may be a bit long," Sally remarks before motioning to the couch, "You two mind?"

Ronnie & Marcus nod as they move enough so Sally can sit down. Afterwards, the two teens prepare themselves to learn about the incident that occurred at the start of Mr. Amnestor's career. The incident that made him who he is today.

See You Next Chapter!~