Seconds passed, all of which I spent staring  speechlessly at Andy. At last, I scoffed. "Andy, what are you saying?"

The fierce expression on his face flickered when he saw my reaction, but it was only for a bit before it hardened once again. "You heard me. I said-"

"Oh, I know what you said," I drawled. "I'm just wondering what exactly you plan to do. Gang up on me with these blockheads and beat me up? Even if you were able to, what would that gain you?"

"It's not about what I'd gain, it's about what you'd lose."

"And what's that? My pride? I'm sure I'd get that back when I'm staring down at your bloody face when Mitch and the others come for-"

"You really think they'll care?" To my surprise, Andy chortled. "C'mon Smith, I always thought you'd be at least intelligent enough to see past your arrogance.

Tell me, why do you think people kiss your ass so much? Because they like you? Don't make me laugh. Ah, maybe because of your family's mone- wait, but that can't be right. You were still a pompous spoilt brat when you were getting beaten up in middle school, weren't you?"

The smirk on my face began to twitch, despite how much I struggled to keep it in place.

Andy went on. "So, I guess the only sensible reason left is because you beat up Dylan, right? But then, if that's the case, it makes sense to assume that people only follow you because of that illusion of dangerousness you have around you. Now, what do you think would happen to you if word spread that you got beat up, hmm?"

Keep calm. Hold strong.

I repeated that mantra severally in my head as I stood up and began walking past Andy. "Honestly, I'm really not in the mood for this foolishness today. Now, if you'll excuse me-"

The next thing I knew, I felt myself being roughly shoved back. I lost my footing, then crashed down onto the stands.

Instantly I shot back up, all trace of a smirk replaced by a feral look that better matched my mood. My clenched fists shook, eager to connect themselves with Andy's face.

And still, Andy's eyes remained hardset as he said, "I wasn't fucking done talking."

My breath came out in short bursts, like I was in the middle of strenuous activity. I suppose that I was in a way, because it certainly wasn't easy keeping my clenched fists away from Andy's jaw.

I growled, "If any one of you touch me again, I swear-"

"That you'll do what exactly?"

My eyes shifted to Aarav's malicious eyes. "Why don't you touch me and find out? They say experience is the best teacher."

Looking at the guy beside him, Aarav let out a short guffaw. "See what I mean, Miguel? Even when he knows he can't do shit, he still has that goddamn attitude!"

Miguel's tawny beige face contorted as he leered at me. "He probably still somehow believes he can get out of this!"

My eyes shifted to his dark pupils. "Oh I don't just believe I can. I know it. The only question is whether I'd have to break a few noses on my way out or no-"

"Yo, guys!"

Seth's voice rang through the air, bringing all talk to a stop momentarily. None of our eyes left each other though. My entire body was alert, ready to leap at the slightest sign of movement.

When the sound of footsteps was nearby, Aarav looked away from me and sneered, "This doesn't concern you, faggot."

"Cool." Seth stopped at my side. "Hey Angelo, would you mind coming with me? I need to-"

Aarav's eyes darkened. "Did you not hear me, fag?"

"-speak with you in private."

Although my heart was still pounding furiously, I scoffed, then turned to Seth. "As much as I want to, I can't. You see, I'm apparently supposed to be getting my ass kicked right at this moment."

Seth's brows furrowed. "What?"

"Are you fucking deaf?"

Seth's head snapped towards Aarav's direction. "Yes, I fucking heard you, I obviously just don't want to respond to you! Or do you lack the braincells to comprehend this?"

Honestly, even with all the stifling tension, my eyes still widened at Seth's response.

In fact, I'd say everyone there was shocked, because no one said anything for a few moments. To me,  every second that passed meant we were a second closer to the inevitable explosion that was coming.

The first person to speak was Aarav. Slowly, he hissed, "The fuck did you just say to me, faggot?"

To his credit, Seth's voice only shook a little as he replied, "Y-you heard-"

"Seth, shut the fuck up!"

Andy placed his hand on Aarav's shoulder after he let out his command. "Hey man, calm down. He doesn't know what he's saying-"

"Well then he better learn to shut the fuck up and mind his business," Aarav growled, roughly shrugging off Andy's hand.

Andy frowned at that, but still turned to Seth and said, "Man, just leave. For your own good."

I swallowed the words that had been at the tip of my tongue when I heard Seth exclaim, "What the fuck! 'For my own good?' What does that even mean?"

"Look man... it's complicated, okay? Just... leave!"

"Alright then. But only if Angelo comes with me."

Andy's jaw tightened. "I'm afraid that's not possible."

"And why not? Andy, what the fuck is going on here? Why are you with them?"

Andy didn't reply for a spell of time, during which his jaw repeatedly clenched and unclenched. When he did, he spat out, "Tell me, Seth? What do you think of Smith?"

Seth frowned. "What do you mean? He's our friend!"

"Really? Is that what you think?"

"Yes, of course!"

"Well then, that makes one of us. Because I happen to believe that this so-called 'friend' of ours is no more than a self-righteous jackass who takes pleasure from other people's pain. He doesn't care about anyone other than himself!"

A grim smile came over my face as I heard Andy's description. Particularly the last part. For some reason, it was comforting to know that that was how he saw me.

It might have been even better if it were true.

Meanwhile, Seth said, "Well that's your opinion."

"It's not just my opinion, it's facts! What has he ever done for you, hm? Tell me!"

"He...he protected me the time when a certain asshole wanted to beat me up because he was salty that I'd dumped his sister. A certain asshole who you've apparently decided to pair up in your vendetta against Angelo!"

"You better tell him to shut his mouth if he knows what's good for him," Aarav hissed.

"Why are we even letting this fag talk?" Miguel asked.

"'Cause apparently, Andy doesn't want me to shut the faggot up." Aarav's eyes wandered over to Andy. "Yo man, can you hurry this up? I don't want to be near this fag any longer than I-"

"Fag this, fag that, can you simply not come up with anything original? What the fuck does the fact I'm bi have to do with this anyway? Start using your brain while you speak, maybe that way you can start making even a bit of sense!"

For a brief moment, silence reigned supreme.

Then, the bomb detonated.

Shoving Andy aside, Aarav launched himself at Seth. He collided with him with the force of a cannonball, sending them both sprawling to the ground. Aarav righted himself first, and despite Seth's best efforts to kick him away, he climbed onto Seth, straddling him.

Seth's head rocked to the side as the first blow landed on his face. Another soon followed.

Behind me, I heard Andy yell, "Aarav, what the fuck-"

"Fuck off! I'm gonna send this faggot to hell a little earlier than he was originally due!"

My next course of action didn't require much thought to come up with. Matter of fact, I didn't think it through at all. I like to think of it as an instinctual solution to the problem beside me.

Barely a moment later, my hand was wrapped round the object, my fingers not too far from the trigger. Behind me, I heard Andy shout, "Holy shit! Aarav, get the fuck off him, now!"

Growling, Aarav looked over his shoulder. "I'm not fucking joki-"

The words caught in his throat. Whether it was because of the taser that was in my hand or the manic grin on my face is a question I'll probably never know the answer to.

I drawled, "Oh no, please go on hitting him. However, you may be 'shocked' at what I'll do to you!"
.      .      .

I didn't get to spend up to even ten minutes in class before I got summoned.

At least I was expecting it. After all, despite the fact I'd had to take a barely conscious Seth to the nurse's office after I'd let Andy, Aarav, and Miguel scamper off, Andy wasn't seated in history class by the time I got there. Immediately I'd noticed that, I had no illusions as to his whereabouts.

So when I was summoned, via the intercom, to Prickleberry's office, I left class without much of a change in mood. I even took my fanny pack along with me.

True enough, Andy was in Prickleberry's office when I got there, along with Aarav and Miguel.When I walked into the office, Aarav shot me a smirk that left me wishing I had at least given him one good shock.

I walked forward till I was directly in front of Prickleberry's desk. "You called, sir?"

Mr Prickleberry folded his arms, glaring at me. "According to these boys, you brought a weapon to school-"

"-and tried to attack us with it!"

My blood grew hotter as I heard Andy's voice.

"Yes, that to. So, what do you have to say to that?"

"What do I have to say? Well-" Unzipping my fanny pack, I brought the taser out of it and dropped it onto the table, "-I think this answers that question."

Prickleberry's eyes widened as they took notice of my actions. Finally, a few moments later, he cleared his throat and said, 'Apart from Smith, the rest of you should go back to your classes."

As they began to shuffle out of the room, I heard Aarav say, "Of course, sir. We really hope justice would be served."

Prickleberry didn't reply. Come to think of it, I'm not even sure he heard them. The sight of the object before him seemed to take up all of his attention.

After they left, I said, "You look like you need several moments to take this in, so I'm going to sit down now, if that's okay with you."

"No, it's not okay with me!"

I furrowed my brow. "So I'm not allowed to take a seat now?"

"Mr Smith, I don't think you understand how much trouble you're in." Mr Prickleberry's eyes left the taser and wandered up to mine. "You brought a taser to school. This is grounds for expulsion."

It's funny, but the threat of expulsion didn't even make me break a sweat.

Smirking slightly, I rose an eyebrow at Mr Prickleberry. "Weren't you just trying to comfort me this morning?"

"I was sending my condolences, not comforting you. Condolences which you rejected in a rude manner that's all too much your style."

"So this is about what happened this morning?"

"Of course not! This is about you blatantly plotting to harm a few of your colleagues."

I had to restrain myself from scoffing. "I understand, sir. I'm most likely going to get expelled, aren't I?"

"Yes, sadly."

Judging from the gleam in his eyes and the way his lips constantly twitched, I'd say that his words rather contradicted his actions.

I sighed, then brought my phone out of my pocket and started scrolling through it. "Alright then, guess I have no choice."

"Good."

Silence filled the room then. After moments of looking unsure of what to say, Prickleberry gave a shaky chuckle. "Honestly, I'm surprised. I would have thought you'd complain more."

A smirk found it's way onto my face as soon I found what I was looking for. "Oh, there's no need for that. I'm not getting expelled, after all."

"Did you hear anything I said before?"

"Oh, I heard you alright. Now, I think it's time you heard me." Turning my phone screen in his direction, I asked, "Tell me, do you recognise who these are?"

Tingles ran through me as I watched the color drain from Prickleberry's cheeks as he stared on at the picture of him and Miss Delane (I don't think I need to remind you which picture).

When he didn't reply even after several seconds had passed, I drawled, "You know what? I think I would sit down."
.       .       .

Welp, Angelo finally pulled out his ace! What do you think is going to happen next? 👀

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Till next time!