Chapter 2: So… We’re Going Back to School??

Chapter 2: So… We’re Going Back to School??

The room was too quiet.

Which was strange… because VYBE was never quiet.

Zane sprawled across the couch, scrolling through his phone like it contained the meaning of life. “Okay, this is officially getting annoying. It just keeps getting worse.”

Jace snatched the phone from him mid-scroll. “…Oh.”

Blake leaned over, curiosity lighting his face. “Is it bad?”

“Do you want honest or comforting?” Jace asked, one brow raised.

“…Comforting.”

Jace tilted his head slowly. “It’s bad.”

Blake groaned dramatically. “Great. Just what I needed to hear.”

Cole didn’t even look up from his laptop. “It’s trending again,” he said calmly.

Adrian, arms crossed, frowned slightly. “Still?”

“Yeah,” Cole replied. “And it’s not just the original issue anymore. People are adding new stuff. Rumors, theories… it’s spreading fast.”

Zane groaned and flopped back. “People seriously need hobbies.”

“Zane,” Adrian said, calm as ever, “this is the internet. This is literally their hobby.”

“…Unfortunate,” Zane muttered then glanced at Kai. He turned and said with a hint of complaint.

"You know, for someone in the center of all this, you are too calm."

Kai sat quietly in the corner, fingers lightly strumming his guitar. “Talking won’t change anything,” he murmured.

“…Wow. So helpful,” Zane said, shooting him a look.

Before anyone could reply, the door opened. Damon Reed walked in, coffee in hand, smiling like nothing could phase him.

“Morning, superstars,” he said casually.

No one responded.

Damon raised a hand, clearly amused. “…Okay, tough crowd.”

Zane jabbed a finger at him. “Say something useful.”

“Useful…” Damon tapped his chin. “You all look alive. That counts, right?”

Zane groaned. “Not helpful.”

Damon chuckled and dropped a file on the table. “Sit down. I have news.”

They all sat, eyes on the file.

“We’re taking a break.”

Silence.

Blake blinked. “A break?”

“Yeah. Full one. No shows, no releases, nothing. We lay low until this blows over.”

Zane shot up. “For how long??”

“A few months,” Damon said, unbothered.

“…I’m going to lose my mind,” Zane muttered.

“Probably,” Damon said lightly.

Jace ran a hand over his face. “So what exactly do we do? Just disappear somewhere?”

Damon smirked. “Better. You’re going back to school.”

For a second, no one breathed.

Then the room exploded.

“NO??” they all yelled.

Even Kai looked up, calm as always, his eyes flicking to Damon.

Zane jabbed him. “Be serious.”

“I am,” Damon said.

Jace rubbed his face. “School… as in classes, uniforms, people asking for pens we’ll never get back?”

“All of it,” Damon confirmed.

Blake frowned. “…Which school?”

“Bluecrest Academy,” Damon said casually.

Adrian blinked. “…The boarding school?”

“Yep,” Damon nodded.

Zane stared. “So not only are we going to school…”

“…We’re living there too??” Jace finished.

“Exactly,” Damon said, smiling faintly.

Zane’s chair screeched as he stood up. “I refuse. Absolutely refuse.”

“You don’t have a choice,” Damon said lightly.

“…I still refuse.”

“Noted,” Damon said, completely unbothered.

Cole finally closed his laptop. “Wait… the agency agreed??” he asked, eyes wide.

Damon tapped the file. “Yes. They agreed. Controlled environment, good security, and you’ll be treated like normal students.”

Zane laughed sharply. “Impossible. People are going to recognize us immediately.”

“They probably will,” Damon admitted. “But no concerts. No fan meetings. Follow school rules. Keep things quiet.”

Adrian nodded slowly. “…Makes sense.”

Zane looked betrayed. “You too??”

Blake tilted his head, smiling faintly. “I think it might be… interesting.”

Zane jabbed him. “Stop saying that.”

Kai finally spoke, calm as ever. “It’s better than staying here.”

Everyone turned.

Zane frowned. “…You’re okay with this?”

Kai shrugged. “Less noise.”

Jace scoffed. “There is no version of school that is quiet.”

“…Less,” Kai corrected.

Cole nodded. “A new environment might help.”

Zane looked around like he’d been abandoned. “…Wow.”

Damon clapped once. “Great. Team spirit. Love to see it.”

“Pack your things. You leave tomorrow,” he said.

“Tomorrow??” Zane snapped.

“Yep.”

“…We’re actually doing this,” Jace said slowly.

“Nope,” Damon smirked. “You’re definitely doing this. Try not to get expelled in the first week.”

“Not promising anything,” Jace muttered.

Damon chuckled and left.

The room fell quiet again.

Zane flopped back. “This is going to be a disaster.”

“…Yeah,” Jace said, half amused.

Blake smiled faintly. “I still want to see it.”

Adrian stood, arms crossed. “Get ready.”

Cole picked up his laptop. “Bluecrest Academy,” he murmured.

Kai lifted his guitar. “…School,” he muttered.

Zane groaned. “I hate this already.”

Then Damon’s words lingered in their heads, almost like a warning:

“And… ECLYPS will be joining next week.”

Blake groaned. “Figures. The agency is promoting them nonstop. No wonder they fueled that rumor.”

Jace scowled. “Perfect. Not only do we deal with school… we deal with them too.”

Zane growled. “I can already feel myself wanting to punch Riven in the face.”

Kai didn’t say anything, but his eyes turned a degree colder..

" Cough, come on guys look on the brighter side. It's atleast gonna be fun." Blake said quickly changing the topic

"Yh" The rest chorused after him.

Kai looked outside for a long time before stroking the guitar strings softly.

"Hm". He muttered barely audible.

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