Reorganizing Broken Tiles

This is giving me a massive headache, so let’s try and organize the current situation.

John currently does not exist in our university. No one speaks of him, speaks to him, and now refers to me as the top achiever of the university, with George being in second place. This new fact of reality went so far as to remove all previous references of him in our systems. Amelia herself has confirmed this fact.
I have very strong reasons to believe that my Father had a heavy influence on how this result came about. The reasons for this radical action is currently unknown to me.
George Brillion does not fit into any of this. From the looks of it, he seems to be a person on the sidelines trying to influence me and John into becoming, well, better people. That’s my take on his actions.
    “Is this correct?”
I reported my summary to Amelia, who was on a group call with me.
    “All that you have is correct. I would like to add that a representative for your father tried to directly force me into this ignoring plan of his. Of course I ignored it, but with your Father’s influence it is extremely hard to just shake such a command off.”
    “I would know.”
That comment came from the heart, considering how long I’ve spent around my Father.
In the call was also the art tutor Franklin and George. James unfortunately had something to attend.
    “The principal did suggest that I try something wacky to cheer John up, but this is a problem to solve. A slight period of joy will not fix his underlying problems.”
    “Thank you for trying Franklin, but I’m sure your time has yet to come. We need to focus on the here and now. George and Alice, I hate to say these words but only the two of you have the power to change the outcome of John. As the closest things he has to friends, it’s unfortunately on you to help him.”
    “You say that as if it were a bad thing, Amelia. I would help him out in a heartbeat, no problem.”
George expresses his pure thoughts, and his concerns. He continued.
    “Family business on my end is also picking up, so I’m afraid I won't be able to be as present as I’d like to be.”
   “Would you be able to come over to his place today?”
George paused for a few seconds before answering.
    “I can make time.”
    “Perfect. Thank you.”

Amelia butted in to end the call.
    “Okay folks! Me and Franklin are running on time here. Again, sorry that this has to fall on your shoulders, but we alone cannot handle this. Thank you very much for your time.”
    “Thank you as always. Franklin out!”
He was the first to disconnect.
    “I’ll see you soon Alice. Take care.”
George was the next. That left me alone with Amelia.
    “Thank god those two left. Listen, unfortunately I have more to dump on you. I have something I need to come clean on.”
    “Go on.”
I urged Amelia to continue.

I heard her take a deep breath in before she spoke.
    “I used to be John’s foster parent. I say used to, as he pretty much abandoned me. Rightfully so, since I did the same. Unintentionally, but it still happened.”
    “Alright.”
    “I’m telling you this so you know that as someone who cared for him before, his current state terrifies me. And because of my actions before, I cannot suddenly show up like I care about him. That wouldn’t be right. That’s why I’m relying on you specifically.”

You could hear her voice slightly tremble as she continued to speak.
    “As the outsider to all of this, I feel you’re the one he can open up to the most. You’re uninvolved, apart from your father forcing this situation on him. But that's his actions. Yours can be different. Unlike myself, you can be there for him. That’s what I'd hope anyway.”
    “What about George?”
    “He's already been around John for a year. For John to truly change, he needs someone who has no current relation to him. A total stranger he can trust. You’re the one who fits that bill. So again, I’m very sorry for pushing this onto you, but please, do help him.”
    “I intended on doing just that.”
I heard a sigh of relief.
    “Thank you. Really, thank you.”
    “Don’t concern yourself with it. You have other things to work on.”
    “You're right. You’re right. I’ll leave it in your hands. If you need any advice, you know where to find me. Thank you for your time.”
She hung up before I could reply.

…
I looked over at James, who possessed the face of a neutral man.
    “You look like you had a bomb dropped on you.”
    “That’s because I did. Dear God.”
I leaned back into my chair and tried to flush all of the tension away.

However, I didn’t have much time to rest, as I had a call with my editor to attend to.

    “Are you serious?! You ask for an extension and this is what you come up with?!”
The squeaking of an annoyed editor passes through my headphones and into my ears, worsening the headache that’s haunting my head.
    “Look, I know that whatever you’re going through right now is tough. But if you want to stay in this career path, then you will need to come up with good ideas despite your current situation!”
She’s not letting me away with my poor concepts. And rightfully so. I should have done better.
    “Like come on. What kind of garbage is this!?”
She waves at her camera sheets of printed paper.
    “Seriously???”
    “I’m sorry.”
    “You better be. Honestly, you’re such a hassle sometimes.”
     “I know.”
    “If you know then get to it! You were already getting good ideas off that… what’s his name again… John guy. Where did he go?”
    “That’s complicated.”
    “No, it is not. You have another week. Get me a better chapter with or without him, or else I’m dropping you. This call is finished. Good luck.”
And just like that, the call closed. It was short and sour.
I didn’t even have time to process it fully, as James came up to me as the bearer of bad news.

    “Your father is about to arrive.”
    “Of course he bloody is.”
I can’t catch a break today. Well, gotta keep up, even with this splitting headache.

Just like last time, I opened the door for Father.
    “Hello, my beloved daughter.”
    “Greetings, Father. What brings you here today?”
    “A discussion about your current standing within your university.”
His voice does not radiate love for his daughter. This is the voice of a leader dictating orders.

    “So you’re admitting you did something?”
    “I saw that you were not taking advantage of John Smyth, so he is off the map now. You get to follow your path without distractions.”
    “So you’re the one who caused all of this?”
    “Caused is a bad word. More like, I tipped the scales off his favor.”
He confirmed it. I guess that’s a benefit of being his adopted daughter, he sometimes opens up to me like this. However, such a confession works against all of my plans right now. This is the worst possible scenario I could have imagined.
    “I can’t believe you’d ruin a life, just like that.”
    “It’s just business. You’ll learn to accept such sacrifices on your business path.”
Just business, he says.

I felt my headache continue to pound and pound and pound, until I felt something break.
Something snapped.

I don’t care anymore.

    “Father, if this is all you have to discuss, then I will be taking my leave.”
    “I am not finished-”
    “Thank you for your time, Father. James, please see him out.”
As soon as I left the sight of my father, I felt my hand shoot into my pocket. It immediately dialed for George.
    “Who is this?”
He says this like we weren’t on a group call together a hour ago.
    “Are you ready to leave?”
    “How did you get my number?”
    “I’m leaving for John’s place right now, and you’re coming.”
    “Okay dragon, stop breathing fire over there. I’ll be on my way shortly.”
    “Good. See you there.”
I ended the call and began to gather my drawing equipment.
Once my backpack was ready, I set off towards John’s apartment.

George was standing outside his apartment block, leaning on the wall beside the door.
    “Welcome, fair traveler.”
    “Kept you waiting, huh?”
    “You certainly have. Despite all that anger, you still showed up late.”
    “Of course I did. I’ve never even- whatever, this isn’t important. Let's go in.”
    “Roger that.”

Upon climbing some stairs, we arrived at his door.
My instinct was to knock on the door, but the slight gap in the door frame prevented me from doing so. The door was already open. Voices could be heard from inside. The voice of John and someone else.

    “Why are you here, sir?”
    “To stop you from killing yourself.”
    “...excuse me?”
    “I am familiar with your background. You think your journey is now over because you are no longer recognized by the people you seek to best. You were thinking about finally resting, were you not?”
    “A-and what did I was?”
    “Then it’s very important that I came when I did. I do not want to see a loss of a life during my teaching years that I could have prevented. You see, back when I was in training, I had a friend. He too wanted to become accomplished, just like you. Just like you, He also ended his pursuit when he got the award of becoming a tutor. That was his goal. So that was his end. You’re on the exact same path as him, facing the exact same cliff.”

Upon peaking through the gap, we could determine that the one speaking to John was James, the science and ethics tutor that did not show up for our call today. He’s way more emotional than his usual self.

    “Right. I have to apologize on behalf of Amelia. She would have shown up if she wasn’t kept by the principal. Well, they’re talking about the matter right now.”
    “What matter?”
    “The matter of you and what your death would mean to the university. Everyone is taking this seriously, you know.”
That much is true. Amelia would have not poured her worries out like she did under normal circumstances.
    “You should think about not doing… that. Your journey is not over yet.”
    “But I don't want to do anything anymore.”
    “Let’s think about it this way then. Instead of wanting anything, is there anyone you want?”
    “Anyone… I want?”
This made John shoot forward and grab his stomach.
    “Want by your side. What about your friends?”
    “I… have friends?”
    “From my perspective, yes. You do.”

After finishing that sentence, James looked straight at us, the two friends in question that were peaking through the slightly open door.

We were set up. We played right into his plans.