"I'mma start shooting in three, two, one!"

Silas rushed out of the room, opening the door. "Wait, it's me!"

"Good to see you again. Where is she?"

"She went to the bathroom."

"Perfect, I'll deal with her later." He briefly turned back into the other hallway. "Serene, you could soften her up for me."

"Put the gun down, you don't have to kill anyone!"

"Oh I know. I'm only here for her....and you," pointing it at him.

"Hold on! You want her, and you're mad I stole her from you. Killing me isn't going to help you get her back. But keeping me alive can!"

"Really? How!"

"You were the one responsible for the fires, right? If you can beat me in a fight, I'll let you frame me for that."

"Explain."

"Cam and I have been researching that. Killing me gets you life with no parole or your parents going to prison. Just bringing it means you could get four years and parole. But, you can frame me for being the ringleader of the operation, and say my research was to hide that."

"You'd tell the cops that?"

"With a good lawyer, you could get a reduced sentence, misdemeanor or parole, if I'm alive. Better than life over me."

"Huh, good point. What's the catch?"

"First, Camila doesn't die. You want her alive, right?"

"Of course."

"Second, you fight me one v one, no weapons, hand to hand."

He laughed. "Oh wait, you're serious?"

"You're a real man right? And we settle things with our fists."

"You, take me on in a fight?."

"Why not? Two big, strong, pick me alpha males fighting over a girl who's beautiful and doesn't realize it. We're already living a stupid love triangle, and she's not choosing both of us."

"You, big, alpha energy?" He laughed like a hyena. "You're actually serious about this? "

"I'll tell you a bigger joke. You're laughing, but you're still holding the gun. Why, scared I'll beat you?"

Arden's laugh changed to a scowl. "What do you get if you win?"

"Nothing much. I mean, I know I'm the better boyfriend. Now I get to prove I'm a better fighter"

Silas mentally grinned watching him throw the gun onto the floor behind him, falling for his bait.

"Don't feel bad when I embarrass you in front of your classmates."

He positioned his stance: both hands perpendicular to each other.

Mohawk probably warned D, which means buzzcut's the downstairs distraction. If Cam or I can beat them, we can help the others, or stall until security gets up here.

Arden started walking towards him.

Either way, if I die today, winding his fist back as both of them started running at each other.

I'll give him the fight of his life, clenching his jaw as both men punch each other in the face, preparing for a cross counter.

"Serene? What are you doing here? Don't tell me?"

"Yeah, I've got dirty on people in the other schools. All it takes is a little fibs and I'll have those ladies eating each other alive."

"They have you on camera, get out of here!"

"I don't think so," closing the door behind her, approaching her. "See, you exposed Arden's plans to the police after that little stunt you pulled. And aren't bad people supposed to be punished?"

"You want to be known as mass murderers? The plan was never going to work and I never wanted any part of it at all!"

"Why? Is it because of that brokie you left us for? Don't worry about that. Arden's probably dealing with him right now."

Lightning struck her mind. He said he had more than one loaded gun, listening around at the sign. To her relief, no gunshots were heard, but she heard loud slam several lockers, like there was a fight outside.

"Silas?" She tightened her fists, trying to run out of the bathroom "Move, he could hurt him!"

Serene stopped her with a slap, having to cushion her fall to the sink with her arm.

"He said to get you out of here. He never said I didn't have to make you suffer first."

She rose up. "Get out of my way!"

"Or what, Ariel? Daddy's not here to save you or your man. You're out of your depths."

Camila pressed the button on the sink, splashing water into her face, and grabbed her, pushing her to the paper towel dispenser.

"No one is putting out my flame!"

She tried to rush out of the room but Serene pounced on her, forcing her hand to block the heavy impact of being slammed onto the bathroom stall doors, trying to block from rapid hits at her face until she fell to the floor with her bag falling next to her.

Seeing her face about to get stomped on, Camila quickly swung and threw her bag at her, using the window to get up and kick her back.

She rushed in for a follow up but her former friend caught her hand and delivered a swift gut punch. Clenching her chest as she fell down was bad enough, but Serene started going through her bag, pulling out some of the artwork she had made over the course of the year.

"Oh, is this your little arts and craft show? Pretty your five dollar drawings are something a kindergartener would make," including the easel Silas made for her back in January.

"Get your hands off that!"

"Or what," dumping the rest of her supplies and artwork into the bathroom garbage can. Wait, this is different from your usual shitty style, isn't it. Don't tell me you paid someone to draw you, instead," laughing. "Your new babe made that for you, didn't he?"

Camila watched in horror as she started ripping it in two. Angered beyond belief, she grabbed one of her markers and shoved it into Serene's legs, dodging her kick and punching her straight in the gut, aiming for blood.