“Thanks,” I say, not at all concerned about my phone. I’m more concerned about my family.
“Wow, I didn’t know this was out here,” he says, as we pull up in front of Uncle Matty and Jake’s house.
This place would be super hard to find, even by accident. It’s supposed to be that way. I don’t think Uncle Matty and Jake are the first people to use it. I guess a lot of important students have gone to school here in the past.
Not that I’m important.
But my dad is.
And my life is in danger because of it.
I jump out of the car, slamming the door shut behind me. I don’t look back, but I know that Estaine is following me.
I love that he is following me.
“What is going on?” I ask, as I throw the front door open.
Uncle Matty and Jake both have grim looks on their faces.
“Why don’t you sit down,” Jake says.
I hear Estaine walk in the door behind me. I go to sit on the couch and wait for Uncle Matty and Jake to yell at me for bringing him. But they don’t. Which scares me. Something really bad must have happened.
The couch dips down slightly as Estaine sits beside me.
“Did somebody die?” I ask.
Before anybody answers, it’s as if the moment slows down. Every second ticks slower. Every breath, though coming too short and fast, is slower. Even my heart is beating way too slow for this moment.
“Nobody is dead,” Uncle Matty answers.
I suck in a breath. My first deep one since I got the urgent text message from them. I gulp down the oxygen, not realizing until that moment just how dizzy I was getting.
Estaine grabs my hand, distracting me from the dizziness. I lean into him and wait for the news.
Whatever it is, it’s not good.
But at least nobody is dead.
“Something happened in Malibu last night,” Uncle Matty says.
“Charlie... Mom... Rick...”
“They’re not hurt,” he says quickly. “But your house... I’m sorry, Phoenix. Your house was burnt to the ground. Thankfully, everybody got out in time. But because of it, they have had to go into hiding.”
“Can I talk to them?” I ask.
“I’m afraid not,” Jake says. “Right now, it’s too dangerous. If the terrorists find you or them, any phone communication could lead them right to us, or them. We can’t have that. And right now, our number one priority is you.”
“No,” I say, feeling angry that he’s even saying that. “Charlie is the number one priority. My mom. Rick. Not me. Keep them safe. I would turn myself in to these stupid terrorists if I knew it would keep them safe.”
“It won’t,” Uncle Matty says. “Don’t even think about doing anything stupid.”
“I won’t,” I say. “Only because I know it really wouldn’t protect them.”
“For safety, we’ve decided to pull you out of school for the next couple of days. You’re staying on campus, but you’re staying here,” Jake says. “That way, if something happens, we can run quickly. We’ll go with you to pack a bag.”
“What am I supposed to tell my friends?” I ask.
Jake’s eyes glance at Estaine, then back at me. “We will think of something. Maybe we will tell them an aunt or a cousin died and you had to go to the funeral. The dean already knows what’s going on, and he’s excused you from all your classes.”
“What about soccer practice? I still haven’t gone and we have our first game next week,” I say.
“Maybe it’s best you drop out of soccer,” Uncle Matty says. “I know that you love it, but things are really out of our control, right now.”
I sigh. “You’re right.”
“Can I come visit?” Estaine asks. “While she’s here, I mean.”
Uncle Matty now looks at me. “Care to explain what pretty boy is doing here?”
I laugh at Estaine’s nickname.
Pretty boy.
It fits him, really.
“He knows. I told him,” I say. “I was talking to him about my family and kind of let a few things slip. I tried to cover them up, but while I was hanging out with him, my dad called. He saw his name on the screen and I couldn’t exactly keep saying my parents were dead when my dad was obviously calling me. So, I told him the truth.”
“Don’t you think you should’ve talked to us about it?” Uncle Matty asks.
“Yes. But then I decided I didn’t want you to yell at me, or worse, make me change schools,” I say.
He lets out an annoyed sigh. “Okay. I won’t yell. But I’m telling your dad and stepmom not to call you or text you. You have to make the contact first.”
“Okay,” I say, knowing that’s probably for the best.
“Also, we are going to be wiring you,” Jake says to Estaine.
“Wait, what?” I ask.
“Basically, we’ll be monitoring his phone calls and every word he says to his friends to make sure he doesn’t tell anybody who you really are,” Uncle Matty says. “Don’t try to fight it, because that will be the only way you will be allowed to stay at this school. Also, don’t tell anybody else. If you do, we will be gone.”
“Okay,” I say, then look at Estaine. “I’m sorry. Are you okay with this? If not, I will go.”
Please be okay with this.
Please.
Please.
Please.