by Lannah Smith
"Are you sleeping, John?" Skull asked, peering through the window, his face almost pressed to the glass.
John forced a smirk out of his lips and lowered the window. "No. I was just thinking," he answered. "What is it?"
"You're smart, right?"
The question made his brows rise. "Why?"
Pieces of paper were suddenly pushed through the open window and to his lap. John blinked. They were test papers.
"What the hell?"
"I just told the teacher I needed to take a piss. Answer them, will you?"
"Didn't he see you take them?"
"I hid them inside my jacket. Hurry."
John chuckled and threw them back out. "Answer them yourself. Didn't Rohan and Leon teach you?"
"I forgot," Skull grunted as he picked up the papers. "Damn it. I don't think I'll pass."
"You didn't even try, you bonehead. Get back to class."
"What about you? Don't you have exams today?"
John turned the key in the ignition, trying to get his truck to start again. "I'm done for the day."
"You're flooding the engine." Skull opened the door and motioned him out of his seat. "Get out. I'll get it started for you. In the meantime, answer the test papers."
John rolled his eyes. "I'm not doing shit. Hurry and go back."
"You're so fucking stubborn. Get out."
With a sigh, John slipped out of his truck and watched Skull climb in. "If you can't get the truck to start your first try, you need to go back, alright?"
He barely finished the sentence when the engine coughed a couple times before gaining momentum and coming to life. Skull grinned smugly down at him.
"Told you I could do it."
"Yes. How wonderful," John deadpanned. "Now get your huge ass out of my truck."
"Why now?"
The sudden switch of topics made his brow lift again. "What?"
Skull leaned down, resting his elbow on the wheel, and repeated in a serious tone, "Why are you after Dwayne Williams now?"
John met Skull's somber stare with a composed expression, a tranquility that belied the anger swirling inside him. Skull may be stupid, but he could sense things and had sharp intuition. He had to be very careful with his answer.
"I saw him," he said with an unaffected shrug. "Behind building B. He was bullying some kid. I think he was from your class? His name was Jimmy, I think."
"Jimmy?" Skull turned angry. "You mean Jim Austin? So that's why he was late. I like Jim, you know. He's cool."
John leaned his shoulder against his truck, relieved that Skull caught the bait. "Ah, that Jim. Doesn't Rohan hate him?"
"It's because Jim lets me copy off him," Skull explained as he jumped out of his truck. "But because he was late he could not get a seat next to me. Fucking Dwayne. We'll get him tonight. We'll fucking get him tonight because if he's after Jim then I might fail again."
John let his mask slip off a moment, knowing Skull was too busy muttering angrily to notice the wild, triumphant expression on his face.
Fuck, yes.
Shaking his head, John told him. "Speaking of which, you know you've been gone long enough to make the teacher and Rohan suspicious, right?"
Panic latched on Skull's face. "Oh, shit!"
Skull began to run back inside, almost forgetting his papers in haste if John hadn't reminded him. John climbed up into his truck and put it in gear. As he pulled away from the parking lot, he smiled to himself, reveling in the glow of his triumph.
What did he know?
My hands crumpled the paper I was writing in and I tossed it aside. Resting my forehead on the heel of my palms, I stared blankly at the page of the report on my table.
What did Dwayne know about me?
I closed my eyes tight.
He said he'd heard things about me. What kind of things? And what the hell did he mean when he told me I was just as dirty as the rest of them?
Maybe he knew about John. Maybe he knew that I slept with him.
But how? How could he possibly know?
Iris assured me no one from East Private was going to that party. She assured me no one would dare because it was a much known fact that the Westerns disliked us and would not hesitate to embarrass us if they find out which was why she passed me off as a cousin from another city come to visit.
But John was there. And if he was, then maybe Dwayne or someone from the school went to the party too.
What if they saw me kiss him?
What if they saw him take me to his car and immediately assumed we slept together?
John was of disreputable reputation while I... I worked hard to have a squeaky clean reputation. To be trustworthy and respectable. To be one of the outstanding students this school has ever seen. It was what was expected of me. From my family and friends. It was what was expected from the dutiful daughter of Anya Sakurai and Terrence Evans.
Even if everyone regarded me as the princess, I didn't want to take any chances. I couldn't let Dwayne ruin me. I couldn't bring dishonor to my family. I couldn't sully the Sakurai name.
Covering my face, I let out a small groan.
What the hell should I do?
The door suddenly opened and a sing-song voice rang out.
"Terry!"
Putting down my hands, I looked up to see Hannah step into the room. I immediately wiped the worry from my face. Curling my hands into fists, I dropped them onto my lap and breathed deep.
"Are you doing rep work again?" she asked as she plopped on the seat in front of my table.
"What else should I be doing?" I said sarcastically, picking up the report and putting it aside. "This is the Student Representative Committee room. Didn't you read the sign outside?"
Hannah waved her hand dismissively. "Whatever. You know we're free to go home anytime, right? Let's go eat."
"I'm busy."
"Come on, Terry," she wheedled. "I'm hungry."
"Why don't you just eat with Mary and the others?"
"But I want to eat with you. It's past lunch, you know."
I pointed the tip of my pen at the phone two tables away. "Just order something from the cafeteria. We have an arrangement with them to deliver us food directly here."
"How luxurious," she commented dryly. "Fine. What's for lunch?"
"Food, generally."
"I mean, what are you having?"
"An unwanted conversation."
Hannah sighed. "Why are you so mean today?"
The hurt in her tone made me feel guilty.
"I'm sorry," I apologized, wiping my face with a hand."I'm just having a bad day."
Hannah stared at me for a moment before leaning in to whisper, "Are the reds playing downtown?"
I chuckled. "I'm not on my period, Hannah."
"I thought you weren't. You're not that growly." Hannah put her elbows on the table and her chin on the cup of her palms. "Then what's your problem? Come on. Tell Hannah all about it."
An idea popped into my head. I could ask her if she heard any rumor today. Anything at all that could possibly ruin me.
Hannah started to study her nails, turning her hands over and flexing her fingers to get a proper look. She had just had them done yesterday.
Reaching for a report I've yet to study, I asked her nonchalantly, "Did you hear anything today?"
Her forehead creased as she glanced at me strangely. "What do you mean?"
"Rumors?"
"Why?" she asked, tilting her head to the side."I thought you didn't like hearing rumors."
I shrugged. "You're just abnormally quiet today."
"I thought you liked me quiet?"
"Do you always answer questions with questions?"
She grinned. "I don't know. Am I?"
I glared at her and she laughed. "You're too serious, Terry. That's why it's fun to tease you. I'm on the rag today, if you must know. And to answer your question, no. There are no new rumors today. I actually wish there were so I could get my mind off Aunt Flo."
At that moment, I felt like a rotten best friend.
Checking my watch, I rose from my seat and slung my bag around my shoulder.
My troubles could wait later. Hannah needed me to be a friend right now.
"Where do you want to eat?" I asked her."I heard there's a new café that opened right across school."
Her eyes gleamed with delight. "Really? Then let's go there!"
"I think they have strawberry flavored milkshakes and cakes," I informed her.
"Daddy just gave me back my credit cards so I'll be damned if I don't buy every single one of them," she replied with such conviction that I laughed.
I pushed Dwayne off my mind as we walked out of the room. There was nothing I could do at the moment. I could only later, I would have to plan measures to make sure he keeps his stupid mouth shut if he knew about John.
And countermeasures if he dare try to attack me.
◆◆◆
"What the hell? Who are you people? Let me go!"
Sprawled on the ratty couch they kept inside the warehouse, Leon barely took his eyes off his phone when he asked, "That him?"
Next to him, Rohan nodded. "Yes."
"Go wait in the car, Rohan," Skull said, walking around the couch to put a hand on his shoulder. "You don't need to see this."
Rohan shrugged his hand off him. "How many times do I have to tell you?" he glowered."I'm not a fucking kid."
"Just go," Leon ordered without looking up.
Rohan looked like he wanted to protest but thought better of it. Clenching his jaw, he rose to his feet and stomped out of the warehouse through the exit behind them. Alec, the other guy in the room with them, went to check if Rohan really went to the car. When he came back and nodded at Skull, Skull gave him a nod back and went to stand behind Leon.
John watched everything from the back. He leaned against the wall, running a thumb over his eyebrow ring, his fingers tapping out a light drumbeat against his jeans. To them, he probably looked like he was uncomfortable and wanted to be anywhere but here. He hated being here, hated seeing the shit that always went down inside the warehouse.
But he wasn't. Not today.
He was seething inside and he definitely wanted to be here right now.
"Let me go!" Dwayne shouted as he came to view. The twins, Ed and Al, had his arms in their tight grips and they were pulling him towards Leon."Let me go, you fucking assholes."
"You heard him," Leon said, rising menacingly from the couch. "Let him go."
Dwayne slid angry eyes up and saw him.
Then they widened and the anger drained away, fear quickly taking its place.
John moved closer to get a better view of this. He wanted to memorize every detail of his expression.
"L-Leon?" Dwayne whispered as he shrank from him.
"Do you know why you're here?" Leon asked mildly.
Dwayne's throat wobbled as he swallowed. "I... I don't know."
John felt Leon's rage permeate the room. He was glad everyone's focus was on him because he himself was on fire. Every inch of his skin blistering. His eyes burning. His brain boiling.
How he ached to be alone with him in the room.
How he fucking ached.
Patience, he told himself.
He would have his turn later.
Leon began to laugh, loud laughter devoid of warmth or humor. He turned around, still laughing, removed his jacket and handed it to John. Then he suddenly spun on his heels and threw a punch at Dwayne.
He wasn't laughing anymore.
It hit Dwayne full on the mouth and he staggered back. He would have fallen if it weren't for Skull, who had moved behind him and righted him up. Dwayne turned to him, craning his head back in order to look who it was holding him and in recognition, stepped back shakily. He touched his lips and saw the blood on his fingers. He whimpered.
"I... I don't understand," he stammered.
"You don't understand?" Leon asked mockingly. John and the others began to surround him, pressing in against his space. Dwayne's face was of pure terror as he whirled around, looking for an escape. "Should I enlighten you?"
"P-Please," Dwayne begged. "Please, let me go. I-I don't know why you're after me. I didn't do anything wrong to you."
Leon's eyes grew dark. "Not to us, no. But what about Sera?"
His face, if possible, grew paler. "Sera? H-How—?"
"Date-rape drugs," Leon recited, his voice rising. "You know what they are, don't you? Of course, you do, you sick fuck. You used them on her."
Dwayne reacted on the fury in Leon's face and tried to take a step back in an attempt to get away from him. But he bumped into Alec, who in turn, pushed him back to Leon.
"Once! I only tried using them once!" he protested. "B-But I didn't manage to—"
"To what? Fuck her?" John interrupted in a contemptuous tone."Fortunate for her, her friends arrived in the room and saw what you were trying to do. Fortunate for you, they believed you when you said she was just drunk and you were trying to help her."
"I—"
"Jim Edison, you remember him?" Skull asked from behind Dwayne's back and Dwayne flinched. "He told us why you fuckers have been after him. You want to have a party at his house since his parents are away just so you can try the roofies on another unsuspecting girl."
"Where did you get them, Dwayne?" Leon interjected.
"From..." John could see Dwayne's mind working, like he was trying to figure out what the hell he should say. He finally decided on honesty."From a supplier," he ended in a tiny tone.
"Who?"
Dwayne lifted his hands up and shook his head. "I swear, man. I don't know him. He only sends me texts. I swear. And whenever he makes a delivery, he always puts them in my gym locker."
"Then who's your next target?"
His bloody lips trembled and his gaze fell.
"Who is it?" Leon asked, yanking his collar up. "Who's the girl?"
"I... I don't know."
Leon punched him in the gut. "Who is it!" he snarled.
"It's Sophia!" he screamed in pain, spitting out blood. "I-It's Sophia Gideon."
Leon yanked him closer. "Why her?" he asked in a soft, chilling tone.
"The supplier... the supplier wants her," Dwayne whimpered. Tears leaked from his eyes and John curled his lips in disgust at the pathetic sight."He promised me free...h-heroin if I managed to get her to Jim's house. He's... he's taken a liking to her. And about Sera, I... I was only trying to see if the drugs worked."
"What the fuck, Dwayne?" Skull growled in disbelief. "You been doing heroin too?"
"I'm sorry, okay? I know it's wrong. I... I've been trying to get off the damn drugs but with football, the vice-captaincy and school... The pressure just got to me."
Controlled by emotion, Leon took another swing at his face. Dwayne let out a pained grunt as he bumped into the twins.
"That's no fucking excuse to take advantage of girls!" Leon erupted, grabbing his throat. He began to strangle him. "No fucking excuse at all!"
John closed his eyes.
He knew what Leon was seeing. He knew what Leon was feeling. He knew what Leon was remembering.
And John knew he needed to stop or he won't ever.
Fuck him, but he shouldn't have done this.
If only he didn't care for her anymore.
John opened his eyes and pulled on Leon's arm, "Stop, Leon. He's learned his lesson. You'll kill him if you keep going."
"Filth like him deserves to die," Leon muttered through gritted teeth, his face still suffused with rage. Dwayne was clawing at his hands, his eyes bulging from their sockets. "But death is too good for you. So you'll live. You'll fucking live knowing I'm here, watching you. Knowing that anytime, I can get you hauled back in here and make you wish you were dead. You better watch yourself, you sick fuck."
Leon stepped back, letting Dwayne go. Dwayne wrapped his hands around his throat and chocked in air. His legs gave out and he crumpled up and slid to th
e floor, crying and gasping. John almost pitied him.
Almost.
"Do your friends use drugs too?" Leon asked, inspecting his knuckles.