Chapter Three
“How’d they find out?” Orion asked Archer as they watched Devony driving away from his apartment complex. He was relieved that she had been able to get out of there before her father arrived, but it still pained him that she was running to hide their relationship. It had been months! He had thought that six months was more than enough time for Devony to tell her father but she was still running. He shook his head.
“That fool Roderick told him. He’s always had a thing for her.”
Orion’s expression darkened. “Dev told me about him. He calls her every day to ask her out. Doesn’t he understand that he doesn’t have a chance?”
“I don’t think he cares so long as you two aren’t together. You two…are together, aren’t you?”
“It’s hard for her to go public with our relationship.”
“Still?” Archer asked, feigning surprise. “I’d think she’d be proud to be with you. You’re the student body President, a star soccer player, not to mention a cross-country runner.”
“What’s the good of doing all of that when they can’t change the color of my skin?”
“Do you really believe that’s what this is about?”
“I…I want to say it’s not,” Orion said, though his words didn’t sound genuine. “But what other reason could there be? I’m not someone to be ashamed of.”
“Of course not.”
“And while I don’t like to brag about it, my family is well off—”
“In South Africa, Orion. Things are a little different here, I’m sure.”
“We’re not doing so badly here either! I’m as good for Dev as the next man but she still doesn’t want her father to know about me. I swear, if I didn’t love her as much as I do, I might not put up with this. It makes me feel like I’m something dirty that needs to be hidden.” He squinted his eyes in the dark. “Do you see that?”
Archer followed his gaze. “See what?”
“There’s a car coming into the lot.”
“I’m sure other people live in this complex, Orion. Don’t turn paranoid on me.”
“That’s not it. I know that car,” he said. “It’s Dev’s dad. Damn, he must be here to see me.”
“You should go inside, then. Pretend you’re not home.”
“No! I’m tired of concealing this from him. He knows me! We’re friends! I’m not a creepy stalker like that Roderick guy. I deserve Dev and I’m not going to hide. I haven’t done anything wrong.”
“Maybe the car looks similar…” he trailed off, “…but so does that one,” he said, pointing at a sporty coupe that had just parked nearby. As he pointed, the door opened and a tall and somewhat lanky young man began walking towards them. His dark chestnut bangs hung out from his hat and his sharp blue eyes looked confused as he looked over Orion and Archer. “What’re you doing here, Micah?”
“My dear father the headmaster wants to see you,” he said, looking at Orion warily.
“Why would he send you?” Archer asked. “Something wrong?”
“He just told me to go find Orion and I figured he’d be home…and here he is.”
“Why does he want to talk to me? What’s going on?”
“Who knows with ‘Headmaster Castile’,” Micah said with distaste. “It could be about school lunches, or he could just want to check in with you to see how school’s going.”
“I’m fine. Everything’s fine.”
“We have company,” Archer said as the other car parked close to them.
“What’s the mayor doing here?” Micah asked.
“He finally found out that Orion’s plowing his daughter,” Archer said.
“W-what? What are you talking about?”
“Orion? Our boy standing right here?” Archer clarified. “You know he’s dating Devony, don’t you?”
“Really?” Micah asked, feigning shock. “Orion?”
“Don’t act like you don’t know, Micah. Archer knows all about us now,” Orion said.
“Are we staying or leaving?” Archer asked, turning his attention to Orion.
“Let’s wait a moment. I want to talk to Dev’s dad.”
“Are you sure? We could get in the car and go, no problem,” Archer said.
“I’m not running.”
“You!” Darren roared, throwing the car door open and striding up to him. “What have you done to my daughter?”
“I don’t know what you’re implying,” Orion said, staking a step back.
“Did you open your big mouth again?” Archer asked Roderick, giving him a shocked look. “You didn’t tell him, did you? I told you that was a secret!”
“Everyone calm down,” Orion said as Archer took a threatening step towards Roderick. That spoiled rich kid was such a creeper and even looked the part with his overly-gelled sandy blonde hair. Lowering his head slightly, he looked over at Darren, unable to hide his shame for keeping this secret from him. “Please, sir, let’s talk about this like the reasonable adults we are.”
“Reasonable? Adults?” Darren said, reaching out and grabbing him by the collar. Orion didn’t struggle, allowing him to pull his face close. “So says the boy who’s stolen my daughter and tricked her into sleeping with him?! Look at you! You could never be good enough for my daughter! You just showed up in this country and I gave you everything. Is this how you repay me?”
“My parents came to this country—”
“It’s obvious to everyone, Orion. You must have lied to her, or bribed her with things you cannot afford. Let me be clear, you are out of your league, son.”
“Sir, my parents are well off—”
“Shut your mouth!” he shouted, shaking his collar. “I’m having you arrested. I’m going to call the police.”
“Now wait a minute,” Orion said, struggling away from his grasp. “There’s no need to overreact. Let me explain.”
“A boy like you belongs in prison for trying to seduce my daughter! She’s a child, not even eighteen! What makes you think you have the right?”
“Don’t call the police,” Archer said. “Let’s go talk to the Headmaster. He’s the one taking care of him, right? Let’s go see him and see what he says.”
“Vance?” Darren said before clearing his throat. “I mean, Headmaster Castile?”
“Call the headmaster,” Orion gasped out. “I’m actually on my way to see him. If I’ve done anything truly wrong then he’ll expel me and I won’t be able to go anywhere near your daughter.”
“You’ll meet with the headmaster?” Darren asked, looking over at Micah. “Is he telling the truth? Did your father send you here to talk to him?”
“My dad – I mean the Headmaster – wants to see him,” Micah said. “We can all go over right now.”
“We’ll do that,” Darren said, his eyes blazing. “I won’t stand for this! You’re trying to ruin my daughter while putting your family in debt, I’m sure. Let’s go – we’ll follow you,” he said, walking to his car. Pausing at the door, he turned to look at Roderick. “It’s your lucky day. You were right and this just may prove to work in your and my favor. The headmaster and I are good friends, there’s no way he’ll approve of Orion sneaking around with Devony.”
“I’m sure the headmaster will sort this out,” Roderick said, smiling as the car roared to life. He was already getting closer to everything he had ever wanted. He wouldn’t be surprised if Devony were to show a new interest in him. “Soon,” he whispered.