Five years later.
Demi Weston adjusted the straps of her bag on her shoulders and dashed out of the school door as if some monsters had chased her.
Before she could reach the outside, a hand suddenly caught her scruff. Demi looked around and saw Cody’s handsome face.
“Co-Cody!” the girl stuttered.
“Skipping school again, huh?” Cody pulled a face.
“I… um.” Demi tried to find an excuse, but she couldn’t find any right words to say.
She held Cody’s harsh gaze for a second and started to cry, “Please… Cody… Don’t tell Mom and Dad. I didn’t mean to….”
“Tears are not useful for me,” Cody had grown a lot taller, and he looked like a proper young teenager now, “Save your tears for your parents. I’m bringing you back home.”
Demi quickly begged, “Cody, Wait! I know you’re the best. Don’t tell Fritzi and Drew, I’ll behave. I promise!”
“You’ve tried to escape from school so many times. You don’t have my trust anymore,” Cody said matter-of-factly.
“No!”
****
When they went back to the mansion, the adults were watching football on TV. None of them seemed to pay any attention that Demi came back from school earlier again.
Cody frowned as he saw his sister, “Candace? Why are you at home early today as well?”
“The school is taking three days off,” Candace shrugged, “You seem pretty ideal yourself as well. Did you go to Demi’s school to check out if she’s skipping classes again?”
“I don’t want to stay in school. The things teachers taught us are stupid! I learned them when I was three!” Demi folded her arms on her chest.
“Hey, Demi! Don’t be rude,” Fritzi turned to frown at the girl, “We’ve talked about this, haven’t we? If you can finish this semester, we will hire a teacher for you at home, so the teacher can teach you more complicated things.”
“But it is still boring. So why can’t we hire a teacher now?” Demi looked like she was about to cry.
“No, baby. It would be best if you learned how to get along with other kids in school first. This is your main task this semester, remember?” Drew sighed, looking defeated after hearing his daughter’s answer.
Demi looked angry as she waved her little fist, “Cody also thinks the school is slow, so he doesn’t need to go to school to learn how to socialize!”
“Yeah, but everyone likes me if I want their friendships,” Cody shrugged as he held Demi’s scruff, “Can you do that, little one?”
“Stop calling me little one!” Demi snapped. Cody was right. Even he seldom had any attempts to make any friends. Everyone still liked him.
“Besides, your writing sucks. I can’t even tell what words you’re writing when you hand in that essay about the novel you read. Your writing should be good if you want to pass any exams,” Cody frowned.
“I don’t need to write prettily. Now is a 21st-century old man. People will type most of the time,” Demi protested.
“Hey!, Demi, Cody will be your teacher for the whole next semester. It would be best if you learned how to respect your teacher,” Drew announced immediately without batting an eyelid.
“What?!” Demi’s mouth dropped open in horror, “HE’S THE TEACHER YOU HIRED?!”
Demi had never felt such an intense degree of desperation in her years of life.
“Yeah. We hired Cody. Who’s gonna be better?” Drew continued, “You respect him, and he has a lot of experience studying alone at home. You will learn a lot from him.”
“NO… Dad!” Demi shook her head, “No… Please don’t.”
Demi felt her kid’s days were gonna be ruined if Cody Bradley were her home tutor.
This old man was a psychopath, and he tortured people for fun.
“Dad, can I teach Demi?” Candace looked at his father as she felt bad for the little girl, attempting to save her, “I also got an A+ grade in school. You know…”
“Candace, I noticed your math points just dropped a bit lately. Do you want me to give you some coaching as well?” Cody quickly interrupted his twin.
“No, thank you, brother,” Candace stood up from the chair nervously. “Thank you, but no. I… um… I actually still got homework to do. See you guys later.”
Candace ran for her room instantly.
Demi sniffed and looked at Cody’s face.
Cody smiled like a villain, “Where were we? Oh, your writing. Let’s go to the study room so you can practice your writing with me, shall we?”
“Cody is such a great big brother, isn’t he?” Linford smiled widely.
“The kids are getting along so well, aren’t they?” Drew smiled back.
****
“Where’s Demi?” Mr. Weston asked the minute he came into the house.
Candace raised a hand, “Cody captured her! She’s practicing writing in the study room!”
“Captured?” Mr. Weston’s eyes widened.
“Demi tried to skip class today, and Cody caught her on time,” Drew hurried to explain.
Mr. Weston frowned, “She’s skipping class again? I need to talk to her.”
“Grandpa, she is learning,” Drew laughed, “You know how strict Cody is. He will teach the girl a lesson.”
A smile broke Mr. Weston’s wrinkled face, “You’re right. Cody is such a responsible older brother. I wish Demi also had an older brother to guide her often. Having a significant role model is vital for a kid’s growth. Look how decent a young lady Candace grew into!”
“Yes, Mr. Weston. Thanks to Cody Bradley, I may look like a young lady, but my heart is often scared. Do you want that for Demi as well?” Candace’s voice was loud and clear.
Cristelle flew towards her daughter, shooting her a warning look before turning to smile at Mr. Weston, “Cody said Demi is a smart kid. I guess that’s why he would love to be her teacher. Not so many people share the same experience as Cody.”
“Yep, kids having higher IQs are definitely more lonely,” Mr. Weston shook his head, “I’m glad Cody and Demi can be friends.”
“Talking about giving Demi a bigger brother,” Drew noticed the change in the air, so he tried to make things less heavy, “Fritzi and I can definitely not do that this time as we’re both busy. But getting the girl a little brother, I think, will not be a problem sooner.”
“Eww! Uncle Drew, it’s gross!” Candace covered her ears.
“Watch your mouth, Mr. Weston,” Fritzi knocked her husband’s head.
Grandpa sighed long, “Now, I wonder where the girl got her high IQ from.”