Chapter 4"new beginning

Jack has never had a real home. At least, not in the traditional sense. Home has always been where he could rest without fear, and his family has been the ones who helped him survive. With his mother's death, everything has led to this: searching for a man who doesn't even know he exists. But he doesn't just want to find him, he wants to observe him first, to test his own theories before deciding what to do.

Now, standing in front of a small, cheap apartment in Reseda, he wondered if he was finally about to have something resembling a fresh start.

The building was old, but solid. The kind of place where neighbors knew each other by sight but didn't interfere in each other's business. Perfect.

He went to a small place that he described as the administrator's place, where a man between 28 and 34 years old looked at him suspiciously.

— How old are you? — he asked, seeming to own the place.

Jack smiled, pulling out the documents proving his emancipation and tossing them on the counter.

—Eighteen, legally speaking—he replied.

The man took the papers, studied them for a few seconds and shrugged.

— Do you have money for the deposit?

Jack took out an envelope full of money and placed it on the counter.

—Two months early—he said.

The man raised an eyebrow in surprise, but asked no questions. Within minutes, Jack had the keys to his new apartment. Small, old, and with a strange smell. But it was his.

He threw his backpack on the floor and looked around. A mattress thrown in the corner, a small bathroom, and a tiny kitchen. Nothing fancy, but it did the trick.

"Now, school."

Jack had never been a fan of school. The short time he spent there didn't leave him with fond memories. But if he wanted to fit in and watch Johnny Lawrence closely, he had to act like a normal teenager. He knew Johnny Lawrence wasn't his true focus. He wanted to live his own life, put the past behind him, and find his own direction. Even with enough money to live 100 lifetimes, he was still young... what was wrong with wanting a little more?

He grabbed his phone and searched for schools in the area. It didn't take long for him to find one: West Valley High School.

The next day, Jack walked into the school building, attracting little attention. He wore simple clothes, had messy hair, and looked as if he had already lived more than any other student there.

In the principal's office, a man in a suit adjusted his glasses as he reviewed Jack's documents.

"Did you stop studying when you were seven?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

— It was complicated. But I'm ready to go back — Jack replied without hesitation.

The director sighed.

— You understand that we can't just put you in a class without making sure you have the necessary level, right?

— Let me test it out — Jack suggested.

The director seemed to consider the idea.

— It won't be easy. I'll need to give you tests in math, English, and science to make sure you're ready for high school.

Jack shrugged.

— Just tell me where I sit.

The director smiled slightly, impressed by the boy's confidence.

— Okay. You'll have your exams tomorrow. If you pass, you'll officially be a West Valley High student.

Jack left the office with a small smile. This was only the first hurdle, but he was ready to face it.

Reseda would be his new battlefield.