by Lannah Smith
"You danced with John Steele," Hannah said in awe after she cornered me. Her cheeks were flushed from dancing with William. "You danced with John Steele."
"You sound like a broken record," I pointed out. "And it was just a dance."
"But it's John Steele."
"Did you want me to rebuff him and incur the wrath of his family?" I said with a brow raised.
Hannah hesitated. "But... why you?"
"Maybe because I'm the daughter of the host and it's polite?"
"Polite and John Steele do not go together."
I sighed and slid my gaze to the exit, wishing for that hot bath. "Parties and John Steele do not go together too," I murmured. "But it evidently is not the case anymore."
When Monday came, what I had always dreaded happened.
I was the subject of rumors because of that stupid dance.
I had told Hannah to keep her mouth shut but somehow it leaked out. I had a feeling it were Mary and Cecil who spread the gossip. They were also in the party though I didn't interact with them much.
But it wasn't that bad as I thought it would be.
Because no one really believed it happened.
There were pictures but it seemed John was careful not to get his face in the shots. Only a handful of people from school were invited to the party, the people who were considered the aristocrats of the school, and unlike Mary and Cecil, they were discreet with their affairs and didn't partake in something mundane as gossip.
But even though no one believed the dance happened, a rumor had to start from somewhere and some were really curious about it.
I took my leave and went out of the classroom. The halls were empty and quiet, while the sounds of bustling classrooms filtered through the doors. Walking through my favorite hall, the one with the view out into the courtyard, I went over the answers I filled out my workbook in my head.
The faculty was in the administration building located in the next building and the path was one I also like to cross. Different types of shade-loving plants tucked under trees were planted alongside of it, offering a pretty view. I stepped out of the building and turned the corner for that path but immediately staggered back as someone crashed into me. I looked up, bewildered, and saw a skinny freshman looking down at me.
Panic twisted his features as he mumbled, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
"And you tell Rohan I did not break that alright? It was already broken when I took it from his table—."
The person behind him stopped grumbling when his eyes fell on me. He was leaning against the wall, arms crossed over his big chest. His peeved expression disappeared and his eyes widened.
Twisting around, I stared at the back of the fleeing boy. He was holding a PSP and was sprinting so fast his arms waved in the air. Shaking my head, I walked by, fully intending to just ignore what happened.
In a moment of weakness, I gave him a sideways glance as I passed and mumbled a, "Hello."
A grin slipped across his face and he suddenly moved to block my path. Mischief lit up his face and warily, I raised an eyebrow.
He didn't say anything.
He just stared down, grinning at me.
It made me irritated.
"You will remove yourself from my path or I will forcibly remove you myself," I said coolly.
His grin widened and he gave me a once-over, telling me with his eyes there was no way a tiny girl such as myself could move a giant like him even an in inch. I gritted my teeth and took a step toward him. That surprised him more than the greeting had. It seemed like he was used to having girls back away from him.
"Do you think I'm joking, Christopher?"
A sparkle entered his eyes. "No. I think you're pretty, Evans."
Before I could remark on that outrageous remark, he went on to say. "And if you stop calling me Christopher, I'll let you pass."
I lifted my chin. "I don't negotiate with bullies."
He laughed. "Shit, Terry. You know I'm not a bully."
"I don't know anything about you anymore, Christopher. Not since you began hanging out with those two."
"I'll tell you everything I know if you want," he promised with a sincerity I couldn't help but smile.
"You don't need to, Chris– Skull," I amended, calling him by the name he was going by these days. "I just want you to move."
He chuckled and moved aside to let me pass. I thought this was the end of our conversation but then he started to follow me like a little puppy.
"Where are you going anyway?" he asked.
I sighed. "To the faculty to deliver these files."
"I saw you dance with John at the party."
I wasn't surprised by this instant change of topic. I was used to his abruptness.
"Of course you did," I responded wryly as I stepped into the path. "You were there remember?"
"You were dancing too close with him," he accused.
"Not as close as you were with Rhea behind the curtains," I shot back, giving him a scalding look. "Seriously, Christopher? In my own party?"
"Thought it was Skull now." He chuckled. "And it just happened."
"What? Your penis just magically fell into her vagina?" I deadpanned.
"It... did?"
I raised the files to give him a smack but he laughed and rushed ahead. It registered on me that I was talking to one of the most infamous people in school. One of the school bullies. I swept my eyes over him. No wonder people thought he was dangerous. He had grown and gained a lot of muscles in the past few years.
"So you don't like him?" Skull asked as soon as I caught up with him.
"Like who?"
"John? You only danced with him."
I groaned softly.
Not this again.
"Because he asked me to dance," I replied briskly. "And you know it's bad form to reject the son of a VIP guest."
His expression turned thoughtful "Well, I guess you're right."
Voices up ahead made Skull stop walking. We were nearing the administrative building and a few people were milling around in its entrance. I paused and looked at him.
"You can't be seen with me," he said with an apologetic smile.
I nodded. "I'll see you around, Skull."
He gave me a salute and returned to where we came from while I continued on to my destination.
No one knew that Skull and I knew each other. I wouldn't call him a friend. Neither would he. In fact, it had been years since we last talked to each other as I had gone my way to avoid him and him as well.
When he first came to school, he was a small, scrawny kid who always kept to himself. Everyone pretty much ignored him and he didn't have any friend.
But then he confessed to April Locke.
I was there when the actual confession happened and couldn't believe it myself. Because why in the world would he like April, who was not only the meanest girl in middle school, but in the whole school?
Then the bullying started.
Pranks were pulled on him, names were called and after-school beatings happened. I managed to save him a few times by just appearing but honestly, I did not prevent any of them to happen because I simply did not care. After what John pulled on me, I ceased caring for a lot of things until I met Hannah.
He was in the infirmary when we first talked. I had scratched my knees and went, only to find us alone because the nurse had gone somewhere. I was considering leaving when he suddenly spoke to me from the bed he was sitting on.
"Inside that cabinet," he muttered and I turned to him.
"What?"
He jerked his chin at the direction of the cabinet. "Antiseptic and bandages."
I stared at him. His brown eyes were blank, his face expressionless and not bruised but his body, I could tell, was suffering. His bullies were careful not to hit his face since his grandparents were quite influential in town but since he never tattled, they didn't stop hurting him. But even though his eyes were blank, I could see pain swimming in their depths.
/> My chest tightened painfully. It was like looking at a mirror.
Suddenly, his eyes flashed and he slid down the bed. He walked to the cabinet and pulled out the first-aid box himself.
"Sit," he told me.
I frowned. "I can do it by myself."
"Trust me. I can do better," he retorted. "I've been doing it for a while."
I fell silent. He didn't wait for me to move but pulled me to the chair himself. I sat still while he took care of the scratches. I looked at him, like really looked at him, at his pale skin, his brown hair with the irregular bangs partially covering his eyes.
And I knew.
He was just like me.
"You're going to be alright, Christopher," I said softly. I didn't know where the words had come from but I just wanted to tell him that.
He looked up and stared at me for a while.
Then he said, "Like you're going to be alright?"
I pursed my lips.
Knowing I was right did not ease the pain in my chest.
"We're both going to be alright."
That was the start of our weird, almost friendship.
We'd meet in the infirmary, he was there a lot of times, feigning sickness, and I'd sneak there just to talk to him. I didn't want to admit it to myself but I found him interesting. He was surprisingly talkative, naïve and... well, slow. He had difficulty grasping his studies and I taught him when I could. He liked that I never asked about his bullies or about April and I liked the company he brought.
But then I saw him hanging out with John and Leon.
He looked happier.
Healthier.
And the darkness in his eyes had disappeared.
I didn't even feel a sense of betrayal over losing him to someone who I thought was my friend.
All I felt was relief. I was genuinely happy to see him happy.
I never went to the infirmary again.
And he never did.
John ran a hand through his hair as he released a tired sigh. His thoughts were on his best friend, who was having dinner with Sophia and her parents tonight. He was worried about him and he couldn't help but feel nervous. There was no telling what Leon would do or wouldn't do.
And Sophia's Dad.
What if he punched Leon for mouthing off?
Leon didn't like being around adult men and he might do something rude.
Hell, he should have refused the invitation or excused himself, saying he had a stomachache or toothache or something. But Leon wouldn't do it. He told him to mind his own business then went home with Sophia.
And Sophia. He definitely liked what he saw when he had lunch with them yesterday. And her smile, it was so fucking beautiful and he was so glad Leon had that in his life, that he had her in his life.
But what if her parents decide to break them up?
It was bothering John so much he almost didn't spot Skull. The moron was squatting in the dirt behind a bush that poorly concealed his presence, staring at the parking lot through the leaves.
What the hell was up with him and hiding behind bushes?
"What are you doing here, Skull?" John asked, staring down at his friend.
Skull glanced at him then returned his gaze to the lot.
"Hiding," he answered.
John's eyebrows climbed up. "From who?"
"Rohan. I broke his PSP."
The dumbass.
He started to laugh. "Man, you are so dead."
"Shut up," Skull hissed at him. "He might find me."
"Whatever." John shook his head, amused. "I'm going home."
But before he could leave, a hand clamped around his wrist. John groaned and threw him a dirty look. He didn't need this shit. He had already planned a stake out of Sophia's house to make sure Leon was going to be fine. It was past overprotectiveness and borderline stalking, which was why he didn't tell anyone about his plan. He just couldn't stay still, knowing Leon and his tendency to talk shit.
"Take me home," Skull declared.
John shook his hand off. "Dude, no. You have a car."
"Yeah but Rohan is probably waiting for me there. You don't want all this hotness to die, do you?" he complained, gesturing to all of him.
"Yeah, first of all, we already agreed that the word hot belongs to me while stupid belongs to you."
"Stupid is a mean word," the idiot grumbled.
"And second of all, why the hell would you touch his PSP?" John went on in an exasperated tone. "You know that shit's sacred."
"I wanted to play," Skull muttered with a sulking grimace.
Shrugging, John told him, "Your funeral."
"So can you take me home?" he asked with a hopeful expression.
John rubbed the back of his neck wearily. "Fine," he muttered begrudgingly. "Let's go."
Skull grinned and John hoped he wouldn't regret letting him in his truck. But he hadn't even started the truck yet when he regretted that decision.
Would it be considered homicide if he chucked Skull out of a moving vehicle? He thought angrily.
"Hey, are you listening to me?" Skull said, poking his arm.
John swatted his hand away. "I'm driving, you moron."
"Just answer the question! Why'd you dance with Terry Evans?"
"Of course you had to see that," he muttered. "You disappeared with that brunette that I thought you had gone home with her. And is there a rule somewhere that says I couldn't dance with her?"
Skull looked disgruntled. "No but come on. You and Evans. Evans and you."
"Me and Evans. Evans and me." John snorted.
"That shit just doesn't jive, man. It's crazy."
"That shit coming from your mouth is what's crazy," he snarled. "You know what? You're like the gossipy chick of our group."
Skull wasn't offended. Instead, he laughed out loud.
"Rhea's been telling me stuff," he said in defense. "I told you about her, didn't I? She's the girl who wouldn't stop talking. She's the brunette."
John clenched his jaw and his hands on the steering wheel went tight. "Stop fucking her."
"If I stop, she'll only tell me more stuff."
"Then stop seeing her."
Skull started to laugh again and he scowled.
Damn it.
It was bit unnerving, how close Skull was to the truth. And it irritated him to hear him conclude that he and Terry were far from compatible, which reminded him that he hadn't really talked to her since the party. If Skull weren't his friend, he might have beaten his ass.
"To make sure he doesn't need helping anymore."
John was thirteen years old when he heard Leon say that as he practically dragged a skinny Skull to his house. Such words surprised him because first, they came from Leon, and second, because his best friend was actually interested in anything that wasn't gloom and doom.
So he tolerated Skull's presence and he tolerated Leon teaching him how to fight and how to use the gym equipment in his basement. He tolerated Skull's cheek, which had become more and more directed to him and rarely at Leon as the days went by, and tried not to pummel him to ground.
When he asked Leon why he was helping him, this was only what Leon had to say.
"I hate bullies."
This strange justice worried and confused John but later, he would find out why.
And later, he would find out that this wouldn't end with Skull.
Since then, Skull hung out with them and the three ended up being good friends. John still couldn't believe that the dwarf had become a giant.
"Don't think I don't know what you're doing," Skull said as John turned the truck to his street. "You're trying to steer me away from all talk about Evans."
Damn it. But he hated how he was unusually perceptive.
Now if only he applied that skill in his studies...
John kept his tone carefully neutral when he lied, "I danced with her because Dad suggested it. And before you ask me when I started obeying him again, I did it to prove a point," he cont
inued. "Can't tell you what it is, though. It's between me and my family."
