Loyal Lies

Yue and Ezekiel cornered me during lunch time. 

"Spill!" Yue demanded. "We heard what happened yesterday. Are you okay?"

"Yeah I'm fine. Silas showed up just in time."

"About that girl..." Ezekiel said leaning against the table. "Her name's Mary Hall. Well, was Mary Hall. She dropped out this morning."

"Wait what?" I nearly dropped my coffee. "I mean, I figured she'd avoid me after Silas scared her off but... dropping out?"

"Karma's a witch," Yue grinned.

That same girl who threatened to make my life a living hell had dropped out? Something felt off about all of this.

I decided to wander through the library after lunch to look for a quiet spot when voices drifted over from the other side of the shelf.

"Did you hear about Mary?" someone whispered way too loudly for a library. "She disappeared right after messing with that Miller girl."

"Just like Steven did" another voice added. "I heard they both transferred to different schools but like... no one knows where?"

"My cousin said Miller's family probably threatened them or something. I mean her grandfather's some big shot conglomerate CEO and she's the heir, right?"

I rolled my eyes and pulled out a random book to peek through the gap. Three girls huddled together pretending to study while obviously spreading the latest gossip. 

"Maybe we should stay away from her" the first girl muttered. "I don't want to disappear too."

I almost laughed. If they only knew I was right here listening to their ridiculous theories. But something about their words nagged at me. Steven and Mary both vanishing without a trace... it did sound weird when you put it that way.

Shaking my head, I grabbed my actual book and headed deeper into the library. Let them gossip. At least their wild theories might keep other bullies away.

On the drive home, I found myself telling Silas about my day again. It had become a habit somehow - him listening while I rambled about everything and nothing. When did my butler become my personal diary?

"And guess what, Mary dropped out this morning. Kinda weird, right?

"Hmm." Silas glanced at me through the rearview mirror. "Well at least another pest is out of sight, milady."

"Silas!" I couldn't help but laugh. "That's mean. I know she was awful but calling people pests?"

"My apologies. Would 'unfortunate nuisance' be more appropriate?"

"You're impossible," I tried not to smile. "They might be bullies but they're still people."

"Ah yes. Very unpleasant people who dumped garbage on you yesterday."

"Okay fine, they're horrible" I admitted. "But still! You can't just... hey wait." I narrowed my eyes at him. "You seem awfully happy about them dropping out."

"Do I?" His face was the picture of innocence. Too innocent. "I simply appreciate when problems solve themselves."

"Solve themselves huh?" I watched him carefully but his expression gave nothing away. "You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?"

"I'm merely your butler," he responded. "Though I must say the school is much more pleasant without certain... pests around."

"Silas!"

"Unfortunate nuisances?"

I couldn't help it. I burst out laughing. "You're absolutely terrible you know that?"

Silas only response was a small smile in the mirror. I leaned back in the car seat watching the city blur past. I just realized how different things were now. A few months ago, I'd drag myself through each day just to pass out in the car heading home. The maids would greet me and I'd trudge up to my room . That huge empty space that never really felt like home.

But now?

I glanced at Silas through the mirror. He was focused on driving. His posture perfect as always. It was funny how seeing him waiting by the car had become the highlight of my day.

No matter how awful things got, that subtle smile on his face somehow made everything lighter.

"What are you thinking about, milady?" His eyes met mine in the mirror.

"Just..." I smiled a bit. "Just thinking how nice this is. Having someone to talk to at the end of the day."

Something flickered across his face but it was too quick to catch.

"The pleasure is mine, milady."

We fell into comfortable silence after that. The sun was setting painting everything gold and for once, my exhaustion felt more like contentment than defeat.

Who would've thought a butler could make such a difference?

The car pulled up to the mansion and Silas was at my door before I could even reach for the handle.

"We've arrived, milady." Silas opened the door for me

"Thanks Si-" I barely got his name out when a massive bear hug lifted me clean off my feet.

"Grandpa!" I wheezed my face squished against his chest. "Can't... breathe!"

His deep laugh rumbled through me as he set me down. "Sorry, little one. Just missed my favorite granddaughter."

"I'm your only granddaughter" I rolled my eyes but couldn't help smiling. It was rare to see him home this early.

"Well that makes you my favorite by default, doesn't it?" He ruffled my hair like I was still seven. "Actually I came home early because we need to talk about something important."

My stomach dropped a little. "Let me guess. My birthday?"

"Got it in one." His eyes softened. He knew why I never wanted to celebrate. How could I when all I could think about was twisted metal and sirens and my parents never making it to Disneyland?

"Grandpa..." I started but he cut me off gently.

"I know, sweetheart. I know." He put his hands on my shoulders looking at me with those kind eyes that always made me feel like a little kid again. "But you know what I think about every year on your birthday? I think about how grateful I am that you're here. That I still get to see you grow up into this amazing young woman."

I felt my eyes getting hot. "That's not fair. You can't just say stuff like that."

He pulled me into another hug, gentler this time. "Too bad. Grandfather privileges."

I let out a watery laugh against his shirt. "You can't just use that excuse for everything."

"Watch me." He pulled back grinning. "Now about that party..."

"Grandpa!"

"What? I didn't even say anything yet!"

From the corner of my eye, I caught Silas quietly slipping away to give us space. Some things never change. And maybe that wasn't such a bad thing.