To Fall So Deep

The packet of paper that Corrine passed to the class was an assignment outlining a final project that was to be turned in at the end of the year. Each pair of students must research, write an 8 page term paper, do mini-presentations, and a final presentation to the class about an author than will be chosen at random. Among the things that will be chosen at random, will be a project partner. Nina hoped that she wouldn't be paired with Harry, but at the same time there was a part of her that did.

"Nina Dela Vera, you will be paired with," Corrine pulled out another piece of paper from a glass fishbowl and opened it up, "Robbie Henley."

Nina let out her breath. The distraction of having Harry as a partner was going to be nonexistent, which meant she could actually concentrate on the final project. The entire class divided up into their respective pairs. Robbie Henley was a tall, slightly muscular boy with a dark buzz-cut. He was a footballer too, and on the team with Niall and Louis. He sat in the seat in front of Nina and turned his body to face her.

"Hi I'm Robbie," he introduced.

"I'm Nina," she responded.

"Whoa, no accent. American," Robbie stated.

"Uhm, yea, I'm new here,"

"Your surname is Dela Vera right?"

Nina nodded, "yea."

"Is your dad Leopold Dela Vera?" Robbie asked.

"Yea, do you know him?" Nina inquired.

"My dad works with yours at the Piers advertising company in the city," Robbie informed, "I hope they win the case."

"Uh, yea, me too," Nina didn't know what else to say. She didn't really know much about her dad's job, the trial, or anything about that matter. "So the project…"

"We got William Shakespeare. We're lucky. I don't know about you, but I think we should have some fun with this project," Robbie suggested.

"Fun?" Nina questioned.

"For our mini-presentations at least," Robbie started, "like what if we took iconic scenes from different Shakespearean plays and recreate them through photos?"

"I like that," Nina stated, "then we can do a small write up on what makes them iconic, and how they connect to todays world."

"Miss Nina Dela Vera, I like the way you think," Robbie smiled. Both Robbie and Nina high-fived, a gesture that caught the attention of Harry from the other side of the classroom. He looked at the duo for a minute before turning his attention back to his partner.

At the end of the class period, as everyone started to shuffle out of the classroom, Robbie and Nina exchanged numbers to keep in contact about the class project. Despite having to start senior year in a new school, in a new country, she wasn't fulling regretting it at the moment. Students were being nice overall, and so far she was able to make friends with three people. Maybe school was the key to recovery? It was her therapist who pressed her to make friends, and she managed to do it with flying colors.

The rest of the school day went by just as well, and according to Kathleen, her day didn't go too bad either. People stared at her scar, but she had no problem with it, or explaining what happened when people asked. She was brave, far more than Nina. When they arrived home, Leo was already there. He was sitting by himself at the dinner table drinking a glass of wine.

"Honey," Corrine began, and quickly hugged him.

"Tay, how'd the case go?" Kathleen asked. She knows about the case?

"We lost, anak," Leo sighed. Kathleen gave her father a hug.

"So what happens now?" Corrine asked.

"I look for another job," Leo said, "our savings plus your salary will pay our bills for the next few months, but we need to move into a cheaper place as soon as we can."

"Is someone going to tell me exactly what's going on?" Nina asked.

"Everything will be under control, Nina. Don't worry about it," Corrine softly said.

"I think I have a right to know what's going on, Corrine. You're not my mom, and you don't have the right to dictate and to withhold information from me for my own good," Nina snapped.

"Nina!" Leo bellowed, "don't speak to her like that. Show a little respect."

"Honey, no, it's okay," Corrine said.

"I mean it seems as if Kathleen has been told the truth from the beginning, so why can't I handle it?" Nina continued.

Leo looked at Corrine then to Nina, "I didn't want to stress you out. You were starting to recover so well, and I didn't want to bring my work problems into your life in case it hinders your recovery."

"Okay fine… But I want to know everything that's going on with your job, and the case, and the trial. I met one of your coworker's son today, Robbie Henley," Nina informed.

"Henley… He's a good man, and a great employee. Did Robbie tell you anything?" Leo asked. Nina shook her head,

"Nothing. So you tell me, tatay."

"The CEO of the advertising company I work for was charged with debauchery, bribery, and fraud. Which are all untrue, and I know this because the CEO is an honest family man, and I've known him since I moved to England. The law firm we went against belongs to Desmond Styles, and he is one hard ass. He is unfair, he is manipulative, and powerful. If he's able to convince a whole jury to believe lies, then I don't know what he's capable of when he becomes Ashford's mayor," Leo finished his wine, and slumped back into his seat, rubbing his face in his hands.

"Did you say Styles?" Nina asked.

"Yes," Leo answered.

"Does he have a son?"

"Harry Styles," Corrine replied.

Nina didn't know what to think at this point. All this information coming to her was too much. She hadn't had this much information thrown onto her lap since the woman from child protective services was explaining to her and Kathleen of the next steps following the accident. She knew Harry Styles was a womanizer, and probably just as manipulative as his father. He knew her name, and obviously what was going on in the trial, but he continued to speak to her. He was playing games, Nina was positive of it.

"Styles is running for Mayor?" Nina questioned.

"Yea, and no one is brave enough to go against him. He's really powerful, his law firm has clients from every where. He's filthy rich too. I'm pretty sure that's how he was able to pass the Academic Incursive Act upon the school," Leo insinuated.

"You mean he's the reason behind teacher haircuts, and changed curriculums?"

"He believes in starting with a strong foundation. Our students. Give them a good education, brainwash them into accepting the idea of being robots, and then they can go out into the world power hungry in order to be successful citizens of society,"

Nina sat on the couch next to her sister, genuinely feeling bad for her father. The idea of taking him back into her life after he left the family, and left her mother to struggle and support two kids was an idea she didn't know how to accept. But in all his vulnerability, Nina realized that her father was still a decent man-- a decent man who could potentially run the town of Ashford.

"Tatay," Nina started. Leo looked at his daughter, "what if you ran against Styles?"

"What?"

"I'm serious. You're afraid of what will happen if Styles becomes Mayor, right? Well why don't you try to prevent that from happening?" Nina justified.

"I don't know if I can do that. He's got so many people on his side, so much money--"

"Bullshit Tay," Nina had anger in her tone, "my own worst fear came to life when I lost mom, and I could've prevented it. I don't know what authorities told you, but the night of the accident, I was at a party. I disobeyed mom, I snuck out, and I couldn't save her."

"What are you talking about anak?" Leo asked, concern in his eyes. He stood up from the chair, and held Nina's hands, "don't blame yourself for the loss of your mom. It's not your fault."

"The fire wasn't my fault Tay," Nina's voice cracked. Tears welled up in her eyes, and suddenly they were falling.

This was the first time she cried about anything that had to do with her mother. She couldn't cry when she heard the news of her mother's passing, she couldn't cry when she moved to Ashford, and she couldn't cry during her summer months of indifference. But now, in this moment, Nina was able to admit out loud her reasons for anxiety, for shutting the world out, and for the guilt that kept her numb.

"But, if I had stayed home like I was supposed to, I would've been able to smell the fire, hear the alarm, anything… and I would've been able to get mom out in time; way before the fire spread, and before the house exploded from within," Nina continued.

"Please don't blame yourself Nina," Leo pleaded, tears running down his cheeks.

"You have a chance to prevent Ashford from it's own fire," Nina declared, "take the opportunity. Run for Mayor."

Leo looked at her daughter. This was the most she's spoken to him since she came to England. He may have left the family, but he never stopped loving Nina or Kathleen. He saw the same handwork and zeal in Nina's eyes; the same traits that her mother had. Leo stood up, looked at Corrine, and to Kathleen. He took a deep breath, and finally announced,

"I'm running against Styles."

Notes