I whipped my head over to Barry, narrowing my eyes to slits. "Nice work, goofy. Definitely winning the Oscar for best friend."
Barry held my glare, "I tried to apologize, something you two haven't done yet!"
"Ughhhhh, Lover boy let it go!" Keisha yelled, "We were going to tell you after the match. Wade just took advantage of the moment cuz thats what garbage like him does!"
Barry's expression hardened, "Even so, it wouldn't have hurt you guys to at least say Stanlee went to the ER to get further care. Why couldn't you tell me?"
Keisha stared at him incredulously, "Barry, you were shaking like a leaf before we entered the gymnasium, and you were going to cancel on us if your little boo thing wasn't there to 'save the day.' One thing's for certain: Alicia has tougher guts than you."
Barry growled, "Say that to my face, you hothead—"
Officer Black cleared his throat. "If I'm not mistaken, the bell rang. It's passing time, get to class. I have hallways to walk down. So shimmy on out of here."
Nobody moved. Keisha, Barry, and I were in a triple deadlock staredown.
Officer Black stood up from his chair, "Imma countdown from 5, if nobody is out by the time I say 0, you all get detention and a write-up for insubordination."
The word "detention" shook Keisha and me out of the glaring contest we were having with Barry. We both had better things to be doing than being here with a bald cop on one of the last days of school. Not to mention the robocall home.
"Let's go," I grumbled.
I stormed out, followed by Keisha and Jessica. As we headed to the foyer to go up the main stairwell, Barry caught up with us and stormed past us onto his own 5th hour. He shoulder checked me as I turned around the base of the spiral steps. I grabbed my right shoulder immediately and rubbed it, feeling a chill sensation and a wave of blunt pain wash over my right shoulder blade and chest area.
"What the hell, bro?" I bellowed.
"Barry!" Jessica yelled.
Keisha glared at him in disgust, "Seriously, dude, you need me to go buy you a Snickers. Cuz now it's safe to say you aren't acting like yourself.
Barry exhaled loudly, "There you go, downplaying all of this. Kevin deserved it."
Jessica's face twitched with slight anger, "Because?"
"Because of all people, he was the last person I thought would lie to my face!"
I chuckled to laugh off the pain before saying coldly, "Did that make you feel better, Barry? Because that's not going to solve anything. That was just really petty. Marcus was right, you are no better than those two."
He stopped near the top, near the 2nd-floor entrance, and turned to face us from above.
He stared up at the ceiling lights in the stairwell, "Maybe it's what I have to be to protect my little twin and me these final days... until we all eventually go to high school and split up. I'll be strong for both of us."
He turned his back, facing us as he opened the main stairwell entrance to the 2nd floor. Before he walked through, he glanced at the trio of us, his eyes lit like a blazing fire, "Stay away from Connor and me. You guys made us believe, when in reality we never stood a chance."
Just like that, Barry left, the door slammed, echoing throughout the spiral corridor.
Jessica turned to Keisha and me, "Barry's scaring me. I've never seen this side of him. Does he really mean what he said?"
I shrugged, " Barry? Maybe. But, he doesn't speak for Connor. "
Keisha sighed, " Anywho, after how I blew up on Alicia, she took all her anger out on Barry in the infirmary. Jessica told me."
Jessica rubbed her neck, "It wasn't pretty, Kev. Barry was standing up for you guys despite how hurt he already was. Now, when Alicia saw him defending us over her. She said some... harsh things."
I nodded slowly, "I see..."
Everything replayed, the stairwell conversation, the walk to the gym, Alicia empowering Barry to be brave, Barry apologizing to us, and slightly overcoming his fears, every little time he would have heart eyes and yap about her, we'd be telling him Alicia prolly doesn't see him like that. At least he could dream. At least he had someone outside of us to be his emotional support. Now his dream is dead, and his emotional support has been crushed. Thanks to us...
I stared at my shoes, "However, I will admit this is partially my fault. I was caught up in the heat of the moment."
Jessica's eyes were still glued to where Barry was standing a moment ago, "No its my fault. I should've waited till after gym class was over. I didn't know Maxie was there. "
Keisha shook her head, "It wouldn't matter anyway. He wanted us not to play at all. That's just peak cowardice in the face of the people who hurt Stanlee. We made the right call, Kevin. Jessica, don't blame yourself. How could you have known about Maxie? You aren't god."
Jessica sniffed, So where do we go from here?"
I exhale, "We make peace with Marcus and apologize to him."
"What about Barry?" Jessica asked.
Keisha waves her hand dismissively, "He'll be back tomorrow. We've got bigger problems to worry about than him. Here's the game plan. Jessica and I will talk with Marcus in our Mrs.Pats class. After the 6th hour, we go straight to Officer Black and have Marcus say what he saw."
I nodded, "Sounds like a plan. I'll see you guys in a few, then."
Keisha and Jessica said their goodbyes and went through the 2nd-floor doors. I took a deep breath before I climbed the spiral steps. I continued my journey to the third floor and onwards to my 5th hour with Mr.Jones.
Each step I climbed felt harder than the last. My legs were spent, my arms could barely move, my left arm still clutching my plastic container of Bosco sticks and marinara sauce, and my right arm gripped the railing. Despite the shoulder check Barry gave me, I was still pushing through. Though I will admit my entire right arm and abdomen were burning. It was almost as if the blood beneath my skin was a pool of water, and a power line dropped into that pool. Sizzling hot. That's not even counting what's filming in my head mentally. All the glorious and happy memories of Monday were gone. Just the bleak, dark, catastrophic moments of today.
I finally made it to the 3rd floor, pushing the door open and taking a left to enter Mr. Jones' class. Right as I walked in, the tardy bell rang. 'Sheesh, dodged a bullet with that one.' After the first hour, the classroom doors automatically lock themselves and can only be opened from the inside. The main controls to this are in the hands of the office staff and Officer Black, whom I really didn't wanna see again so soon.
As I scanned the class for an empty seat, I couldn't help but notice the attention I had on me. Whispers spread throughout the class like wildfire. I should've expected this. Most of the school by now knows about gym class. So seeing me in bandages from my arms to my shoulders and chest was only gonna fan the flames. Not to mention the frantic flickering lights overhead. I prolly looked like the undead to them right about now. A mummy that left its tomb in Egypt.
Mr Jones clapped his hands five times in a rhythm. The entire class, except me, repeated the rhythmic clap.
Mr Jones tightened his tie, "Alright, class, let's settle down. We have much work to do. Kevin, take a seat, please."
I made my way towards the back of the class near the exit door. That way I'd be the first person out of class. I took a seat and set my plastic container down. Now that I looked at it, the container was foggy. "Odd, it was as clear as gas a second ago". I opened it slightly and peeked inside. My Bosco sticks were steaming slightly as if it was just baked in the oven. The smell overpowered my senses and thoughts. My stomach rumbled like a thundercloud. Those pancakes I had this morning were never gonna get me through a day like today...
And yet... I didn't deserve to eat lunch. Not with all the people I let down. Not while everything I built in the last year and a half is falling apart. "I'm a failure of stand in captain. I'm sorry, Barry, Connor, and Stanlee."
Jackal's words rang in my head on repeat ever since I crumpled to that gym floor in defeat. "You're not ready."
What did he mean by that? Am I not ready to lead? Well, that's the only thing that makes sense.
In the face of overwhelming power, I froze. I ... I...was powerless, again. Just like last Friday...
Mr. Jones clapped his hands. "Alright, now that we've finished reviewing the key terms for the exam, everybody, grab a set of Newton's cradles and write down some observations for extra credit points while I run to the office and then the bathroom."
Everybody walked up to grab one single file, except me, I'd rather wait till it's clear so I don't have to bump into anybody. I stared out the window. Dark grey thunderclouds filled the sky. A thunderstorm was imminent.
"Yo, Kevin, here ya go."
I glance back to see Luke setting down the extra pair of Newton's cradle sets he grabbed for me.
I smiled, "I appreciate you, dude."
He shook his head, his face looked very glum,: Nahh, it's the least I can do, I heard about what happened after Barry, and I took Conner to the recovery room."
I frowned, "Yeah, you can't win 'em all. But mannn, I really didn't want to win that one, especially since I promised Stanlee we'd win."
My shoulders slumped forward, "Instead of being a hero and avenging my bro, our friend group is cracking apart,t and nothing seems to be going our way today."
I laughed, "I'm nothing but a big zero."
Luke shook his head, "Kevin, pull yourself together—"
BAMM!
The entrance door swings open, slamming on the concrete wall. The entire class grew silent (slamming doors was not a regular occurrence at Lyons Academy). Waltzing in with his pants sagging and that cursed black scab on his bottom lip was none other than Wade. Closing the door was Charlie. I had honestly forgotten Charlie, and I even shared this class.
Wade wasted no time making his way to my desk, "Yo Ramen, I'm here like I promised! Square up, let's go 30 right now!"
I glanced up at Wade in utter annoyance, "The hell are you talking about?"
Wade glared at me, "Don't play dumb, I told you I was finna beat yo ass for that shit talking ya did in the infirmary. Now I said get up!"
He pushed my Newton's cradle set to the floor, but I caught it and placed it back on my desk, surprising myself and Wade.
Wade stood there, shocked for a second before shrugging, "Too bad you couldn't catch that dodgeball today or save Stanlee and your entire team from crumbling apart."
I could feel my head reaching a boiling point from Wade's obvious taunts. The back of my neck felt like my nervous system couldn't figure out if it wanted to be hot or cold. Like someone was playing with the thermostat in my brain.
I exhaled, "Wade, you can try and ragebait me as much as you want. You can't beat me down any more than I've been beating myself."
Wade snickered, "Is that right?"
I nodded, "Yup, only difference is I'm not gonna jump you or Jackal just cuz I lost, cuz I'm not a petty weakling like you."
The class broke out in laughter. Charlie tried to hold it in, but his mouth betrayed him. He howled like the head alpha of the pack—well, in this case, the class.
Wade's face reddened as he smirked, his veins popping on his forehead, "Hope that shit was funny, y'all. Guess what? If y'all don't shut the fuck up right now, Imma tell my grandad that y'all are encouraging and participating in bullying."
The laughing ceased immediately. The room was so quiet you could hear a mouse squeak.
Wade sneered, "That's what I thought. Whoever doesn't pay me five dollars by the end of today, their getting they ass whooped by Jackal and me, Charlie is gonna collect it all for me, and he'll tell me who didn't pay up."
Luke broke the silence."No,"
Wade swiveled his head back towards us, "Was that you, Luke. I don't think I heard you right. Must've been the wind."
Luke yelled at the top of his lungs, "No one's paying you five dollars! If you're broke, just say that!"
Silent snickers and nods of approval fanned throughout the class. This was unlike Luke, who usually stays quiet and is a bystander nine out of ten times. He's been present at almost every little disagreement and fight.
Wade's eyes narrowed, "I'll deal with you later. Kevin, I'm not gonna say it again, in stand up before I make you stand up."
I chuckled, "Nahh, I'll pass, unlike you. I got nothing to prove. Today I proved my point, you aren't shit without Jackal. How you like that shiner I gave ya?"
Wade grabbed the collar of my shirt. I tried to resist, but the quick movement of my arms immediately stung as if I were being stung by fifty hornets. I flinched hard as Wade shoved me backward. My foot hit the back leg of a computer chair, and I lost my footing as my whole world spun. I fell backward, slamming hard against my back on the carpet floor.
Wade growled, "Charlie, let's get his ass. We finna do him like we did Stanlee."
Luke yelled, "Oh no, you don't."
BRACK!
Luke had grabbed my container and smacked Charlie in the face with it, blinding and staggering him for a second. But a second was all Luke needed. He tackled Charlie as they wrestled on the floor. My classmates nearby scattered away from the two wrestling boys and stood near the back of the classroom in shock and awe.
Wade shook his head, "Whatever, guess I'll make another vegetable today. At least Stanlee won't be so lonely."
I felt the carpet's static crinkling along my right arm as I pushed myself up to a knee, "Shut up talking about Stanlee."
Wade kicked me in my chest, st sending me crashing back to the floor, this time falling hard on my right shoulder. The same one that's been aggravating me since Barry shoulder checked me.
"Make me, Kevi," He mocked.
My right shoulder was buzzing, almost vibrating at this point. The lights above seemed to be getting dimmer. I took a deep breath and held it. I rolled back onto my feet and clenched my right hand into a fist (which weirdly looked transparently blue, and my veins were a cerulean blue). The lights were flickering so fast that someone with epilepsy would collapse.
I glared at him, "Don't call me Kevi and don't talk about Stanlee, asshole."
I rushed Wade, faked an upper cut, and threw a pure straight jab at his chest.
BOOM
The thunder from outside rocked the entire classroom as the lights went out way before my fist made contact with Wade's chest. When my fist connected with Wade's chest, the feeling of a static shock left my fist and blew him and me back with force. Luckily, I fell backward into a computer chair.
Wade, however, wasn't so lucky. He crashed into the wooden door and crumpled to the floor, yelping in pain. The room was silently dark to everyone's surprise; none of the lights came back on immediately like they usually do. The sound of creaking overpowered the room, coming from the entrance doorway, except the door wasn't opening...
All at once, the door hinges popped off simultaneously. Wade cowered as the wooden door came crashing down on him.