Chapter 53: Exposed

Jace got home looking completely drained. His shoulders sagged as he shut the door behind him quietly, careful not to wake anyone. The house was silent, dimly lit by a hallway bulb. Grandma was already asleep, probably tucked in hours ago. He dragged his feet toward the kitchen and opened the fridge, grabbing a bottle of cold water. The chill felt good against his dry throat as he took long gulps. He made his way to his room and kicked the door shut behind him. Without even turning on the light, he undressed, pulling off everything until he was left in just his briefs. Tossing the clothes carelessly aside, he crawled under the duvet, sighing as his body finally met the mattress. "I'm tired," he groaned, his voice raspy from exhaustion. He reached out for his phone and turned it on, the brightness making him squint. After unlocking it, he opened the group chat for their band and dropped a message: 'I'm home. That was crazy." As if they had been waiting, the replies came in almost instantly, everyone except Ronald responded. Jace stared at their messages for a while, then typed another line. 'Goodnight guys." He logged out, just as he was about to place his phone on the bedside table. But before it could leave his hand, it dinged again. A new message. It was from Dorah: 'You should apologize to Ronald." Jace hissed, visibly annoyed, and dropped the phone without replying. He turned on the bed, lying on his back with a sigh as his mind drifted toward the prom incident. 'Was I too aggressive?" he whispered to the ceiling, frowning. The memory played back in his mind like a bad dream. His fists, the shouting, the look on everyone's faces. 'I just don't like how he keeps doing things that he knows can hurt her," he muttered, voice tightening. 'Why does she love him after all this? Why can't she just... No. No, no, no," he stopped himself, shaking his head and turning to his side. 'I just want her to be happy," he whispered like a secret no one should hear. Soon, fatigue took over, and his breathing evened out. Sleep finally came. But instead of his alarm waking him, it was the loud, sharp ringing of his phone that jerked him awake. 'Who's that that's not letting me sleep?" he grumbled, pulling the duvet over his head. The ringing didn't stop, it came again, and again, until he growled in frustration. 'Ahhhhhh," he groaned, sitting up sluggishly. He checked the screen and squinted. His dad's name flashed on it. 'Why is he calling me this early in the morning? Did something happen to him?" Jace thought, anxiety creeping in. It was only 5 AM. He didn't want to answer, but the thought of something being wrong made his stomach twist. He tapped the green button. 'Dad?" he said, his tone cautious and questioning. 'Edmond Jace Benedict!" his father's voice thundered through the phone. Jace immediately sprang to his feet, heart racing. That tone only meant one thing: trouble. 'What could I have done now?" he thought, beginning to pace around the room. 'Good morning, Dad," he said, trying to sound calm. 'What's good about this morning, huh? Tell me exactly what's good, Jace?" Joseph barked again, clearly furious. Jace winced. He already knew it, he was deep in trouble. 'Dad, what happened? What did I do?" he asked, voice uncertain. Just then, Grandma entered the room, probably awoken by the noise. Without a word, she walked straight up to Jace and took the phone from him. 'What do you mean...." 'Joseph," she cut in sharply, her voice firm. Joseph immediately paused. 'You know I've warned you several times about your temper. What did I tell you earlier when you called me? I told you violence doesn't solve anything. Even if you want to correct your child, you can do it without exploding every time. Can't you just chill?" Grandma scolded, her voice unwavering. Joseph was quiet on the other end. 'Okay, fine. I'm sorry, Mum," he replied, sounding regretful. 'Put the phone on loudspeaker," he added after a pause. She did, and held the phone between them. 'Jace," Joseph said. 'Dad, I'm here," Jace replied, moving closer to his grandmother. 'I heard about what you did at your school prom yesterday." As soon as he said that, Jace's memory clicked, and his face paled. 'What the fu..... Sorry. How did you know?" he asked, running a hand down his face. 'Seriously? That's what matters to you now?" Joseph's voice rose again. 'What matters is why you thought beating up your fellow student, your friend, was acceptable!" 'I'm sorry, Dad," Jace muttered. 'Sorry? That's it? Why did you do it?" Joseph demanded. But Jace stayed silent, his lips pressed into a thin line. 'I believe I'm talking to someone here?" Grandma looked at him, silently urging him to respond. Still, nothing. 'Since you're not willing to talk, then fine," Joseph snapped. 'You're grounded for a month, and I'm freezing your account until I say otherwise." 'What?" Jace's eyes widened in disbelief. 'Joseph...." 'Dad!" Jace and Grandma said in unison. 'Don't. You don't want to talk? Fine. That's your choice. But this is mine. And Mum, don't even think of helping him go out. I'll be checking in constantly," he warned before ending the call. Grandma handed the phone back and turned to leave. 'Grandma, please," Jace called, grabbing her wrist. 'Help me beg Dad. He can't just ground me like that." 'Sorry, son. You know how your father can be. Just let him calm down, he'll come around. At least he didn't seize your gadgets." She shrugged and stepped out. Almost immediately, she stepped back in. 'Where's your car key?" she asked. He blinked at her. 'What?" 'Your father just texted me. He said I should collect your car key," she said, showing him the message. 'Not my car," he groaned, stomping his foot like a child. 'Be quick. He's going to call again to ask for it." Grumbling, Jace walked to his reading table, picked up the key, and handed it over reluctantly. He watched her leave, then collapsed on his bed with a long, frustrated sigh. He picked up his phone again and sent a message to the band group chat: 'I'm being grounded." 'For?" Max replied. 'Why?" Jason asked. 'The fight," Jace replied simply. 'My account was frozen too. And my car key is gone. I don't even know how my dad found out about the fight." 'I think Ronald's dad told him," Max sent. 'He also found out and took Ronald's gadgets and car key too." Jace sighed and quietly left the group chat, dropping the phone beside him, the silence of his room closing in around him like a weight.