Chapter XII: Conflict

That night, after everyone had gone home, Aiden received a message from Hobson, who said that Madysin had finished with Ezekiel, that he had the road free and that he should tell her as soon as possible that she was his girlfriend. The young man was happy, but he told Hobson that he would not tell her so, that he wanted to surprise her; during the weekend Aiden bought a beautiful necklace with a heart charm and had the initials of their names engraved on both sides, all this in order to ask Madysin to be his girlfriend.

After the weekend, the youth were on their way to class when they saw Mayor Palk's guards at the entrance of the high school and that they were checking on the students. Once inside, Aiden tells Hobson and Lenz that the guards are here because they know that the guard is attending the high school because of the piece of cloth they had left at the entrance:

-with this I will tell Madysin to be my girlfriend-

-whoa! It's beautiful Aiden... I would accept to be your girlfriend without thinking about it - says Lenz

-that's good... considering on your part... but don't say it anymore... it sounds weird-

-and when are you going to give it to her? When are you going to tell her to be your girlfriend?- asks Hobson

- I don't know... I was thinking of telling him when we left school, at the park-

- Why don't you tell them at the Halloween dance? It would be cool if you asked her in front of everyone - says Lenz

- You're right... it's a great idea Lenz, I don't know how you get great ideas, buddy.

- I know... I'm great - brags Lenz

- Well, we have to keep this a secret and not let anyone know... I've tried hard every night since I met her and now with this opportunity I can't fail," says Aiden:

- Look, look!... but if you are a brain, donkey and a topknot... the loser square-

- you want, you better get out of here - says Aiden

- Don't worry... I'm going... by the way, I know your little secret that you keep and why you disappear every night.

- What are you saying? You're lying... we're not afraid of you," says Lenz.

- I don't know what would happen if the whole school found out... I'm going to shout it out - when the young man was about to divulge Aiden's secret, he stops and says:

- wait! It's worth risking the whole city to mess with us-

- Is the whole city at risk? Don't make me laugh...

- I'll do anything you want... but don't say anything.

- there is only one thing that can keep me quiet ... stay away from Madysin, or talk to her she is mine you understand ... if I see you again with her I will divulge the secret through the speakers ... to something else, you will take to the Halloween dance Brithany, with her is who you should be, right? Do you understand?

- Yes... understood... - Ezequiel leaves, and the young people are worried because it seems that Ezequiel knows about the secret and it is dangerous for him to reveal what they are doing, Hobson worriedly tells Aiden:

- And now what are you going to do with Madysin?

-for now, do what Ezekiel told me... I must protect it, but above all the city I cannot let it reveal anything -

-and I wanted them to be boyfriends... they were my favorite couple... well after Yesica Vans and Leonis Evans... What?... they are the main characters of my favorite novel- says Lenz

- This is serious... this is no time to be joking Lenz- says Hobson

The young people leave; on the other hand, Brithany was retouching in her locker when Ezequiel arrived and told her:

-I've got it all figured out... I even found you a date for the Halloween dance-

- Was I asking for a partner for the dance? Do I look that desperate? For God's sake... -

-jumm... okay I'll tell my good friend Aiden not to go with you then, I'm going -

- Wait a minute, wait... Aiden is the couple you got me... How did you do it?

- Let's say I found out what they're hiding and managed to bribe them a little... plus the loser won't get any closer to Madysin-

- Finally... there's some intelligence in the little brain you have... well you have to tell me everything, so let's go.

The doorbell rings and you both go to class. During the break, Lenz and Aiden went to the principal's office to check out the statue. As they were arriving, they ran into Madysin, who greeted them and offered his help, but Aiden did not speak to him:

- Why don't you talk to me?

- I have nothing to tell you, that's all - Aiden finds a small slot through which he manages to insert the key (the dige of the necklace) and manages to open a small compartment in the statue's chest. The young man grabs the piece and Madysin sees that the clue that was rolled up was very small, as he sees the sharpness of Aiden's words and how the young woman ignored it:

- Are you all right? What's wrong with you Aiden? Why are you behaving like this with me, ignoring me, not even talking to me, treating me like the ugliest thing in the world, like I've done something bad to you? What have I done to you to make you treat me like this? Suddenly the director was approaching the office and Lenz sends a message by phone to Aiden that the director was approaching, he saw the message and tells the young woman:

- Look... I'm sorry if I don't talk to you or treat you this way is to protect the city and... - Madysin interrupts him and says:

- that's enough! I'd better go-

- At that moment Aiden puts his hand on the man and she takes it off in a very abrupt manner causing the piece to blow up and fall on top of a tall cabinet that was there. On the other hand, when Lenz saw that she was not coming out, he had to think about how to distract him from coming closer and he saw the perfect opportunity: the director was carrying his morning coffee cup, the young man approached him and with a little joke of "look what you have on your chest" he threw the coffee on him, then he ran out and the director started to chase him.

In the office Aiden... noticed that the piece was too high and that he wasn't going to have time to get it back so after putting the statue back in place he went desperately behind the young woman into the hallway with the certainty that the director wouldn't find it, the sad and upset young woman tells him:

-I can't believe it Aiden! That you treat me like this, you care more about the secret than your friends... I think I should never have helped you... I thought you were different from the rest but you are even worse than Ezequiel... if that's the way things are going to be I don't want to see you anymore, we won't be friends anymore either... goodbye-

- Wait Madysin let me explain-

- An explanation? I don't need you to explain to me what I already know... by the way take it, at least I managed to get the clue out... and... quiet I won't tell anyone about the secret at least with that I can comply... goodbye Aiden Rowell.

The young woman leaves crying, saddened by what she had just done. Aiden tells her to wait, but she ignores him. At that moment, Lenz arrives, who had caught him and was also punished, asking Aiden:

-no... I lost her... and her too-

- Really, my friend? You mean I was punished in vain, now I have to be in after-school detention... besides I had already sworn to my parents that I wouldn't go back to that place - the young man all discouraged answers him:

- Sorry Lenz... I'll make it up to you later.

All crestfallen Aiden leaves. The young woman was sad and disconsolate in the stands of the court, while she remembered in tears that happy and smiling Aiden she liked, that she had met; at that moment Emma arrives who comforts her, gives her a hug and accompanies her. After school Aiden arrives home and when he was about to go upstairs to his room his mother calls him and says

- Why didn't you say you came as you always do? Did something happen to you? Should I be worried?

- Yeah, but you shouldn't worry, mom. I just need to be alone. That's all.

- I wish I could help you with whatever happened to you, but I'm late. The mayor has a conference across town and I won't be back until tomorrow night.

- Will I be left alone?

- not yet trusted you enough to leave you alone less in a town where we are new so Aunt Iris will stay with you - suddenly the bell rang - must be her.

Aunt Iris arrives and greets them both, Mrs. Rowell leaves and Aiden goes upstairs to shower and change for dinner. At dinner Aunt Iris sees the young man very crestfallen, he didn't eat and only stirred up the food that was on his plate:

- Aiden David Rowell Horwrah, you're going to tell me what's wrong with you right now. You've never wasted food like this before, much less my stew, and you've always eaten three dishes?

- I was going to ask a classmate to be my girlfriend at the Halloween dance. I've known her since I got to town and she's the most beautiful girl I know, her eyes, her face, but I fought with her and she told me not to look for her anymore.

- There's my boy in love, you'll be back with her for sure.

- I ruined everything... but I did it to protect her and that's what she doesn't know-

- How hard can it be? Well, as your great-aunt Rosa used to say... there's nothing better than a cup of hot chocolate to fix heart problems... so you go and have a good cup of chocolate and then consult that love problem with the pillow-

After that conversation Aunt Iris goes to prepare the hot chocolate; on the other hand Brithany was in her room with Adyson, both were getting manicures and pedicures at what the young lady tells her:

- Don't you think they went too far this time in separating Aiden and Madysin?

- Far away? Please... finally Ezekiel's airhead did something right and now Aiden and I are going to make the best couple in high school... besides, why do you say that?

-is that... Ezequiel is an airhead, bully and good for nothing... he will never get Madysin's attention if he keeps trying to make Aiden look bad, besides Madysin doesn't love him anymore... and you... want to be Aiden's partner just to look good for the rest of high school and you think that will expand your circle of friends, but you don't even have just me...

-Hey, Adyson, Adyson, Adyson!... don't ever mention that again, because your dream of going to Paris can go up in smoke... you know I'm the only one who can get it for you and without me you're nobody in high school, got it? -Adyson nods her head and keeps quiet.

In the high school, the director Raimondi was in his office saving some things that he had confiscated from some students, when he was opening the shelf it got stuck (it seems that it almost always gets stuck) this pull with force and suddenly something fell off the top of the shelf, the director bent down to see that it was being immediately surprised to see that this small device similar to a piston had the initials of Crowlhan Horwich, he immediately called the mayor who was on a trip to the neighboring city for a conference and when he answered he said:

- sir... I have very good news for you-

- Raimondi, unless it's something about our assignment I'm not interested, so open your mouth and don't make me waste time -

- Sir... I seem to have found an artifact by Crowlhan Horwich, it's like a piston seems to be used to open some kind of door or passageway-

- That's great news Raimondi, you finally do something right... listen to me carefully, I'm not coming back until tomorrow night... put that piece away and stop the guard from taking it away from you... we can finally get one step ahead of him, don't ruin him-

After finishing the call the director Raimondi kept the artifact under lock and key and proceeded to eat the piece of cake. Aiden was sleeping when suddenly the guard's necklace began to shine and he got up as if scared, after calming down suddenly a very strong and bright light began to appear when it stopped shining the young man was surprised by what appeared in front of him, it was Mr. Graham and he told him that it was time he knew the whole truth.