Cade was munching dark chocolate on the bench while watching the football players play a friendly match against one another. They tainted their white sports jersey with mud as they slid on the grass and get hit by the ball. Lewis was the eye-candy during the game. As the team captain, his voice was loud and dominant. His agility was exceptional with his long legs.
Cade stood up when Lewis swam into the mud. His face was covered in dirt. Everyone waited for an uproar, but Lewis just laughed at it all. He removed his shirt and wiped his face with it. The girls were drooling while looking at his dashboard chest. He was buff at 18 because of his active lifestyle.
Cade was amazed after seeing this side of him. Lewis was the silent type when he was with Luke and Liam. He was practically the person they could order around without complaining. But there he was, shining like a star with a bright grin.
“Hey, Curtis!” Lewis called.
Cade waved at him.
“Do you want to play football?” Lewis asked.
“No. I haven’t tried that before.”
“The first time is always memorable.”
“But I don’t have an extra shirt.”
“You can borrow my uniform in the locker.”
Lewis suppressed a chuckle when Cade came out wearing his uniform which was two times larger than him.
“Alright, team. Don’t go hard on Curt. He’s a walking stick. So, be careful. You might break his bones,” Lewis said.
“What was that for?” Cade asked.
“For protection?”
“You’re low key slandering me,” Cade murmured.
As a boy who’d been stuck with board games, Cade surprisingly enjoyed the outdoor sport. Though his muscle pain was killing him after the game, it put a smile on his face. Especially when the team lifted him up while singing a celebratory song when they won.
Liam dragged him to the basketball court during lunch break saying, “You played football with Lewis? That’s not fair. You must try basketball too!”
Liam called his teammates and let Cade join their practice. He did his best to catch up with them while Lewis and Luke were in their seats, eating some popcorn. They would often cheer for them.
“Smash them, Curt!”
“Hey, that’s a foul play.”
“Oh, sorry. I was carried away.”
When the practice match was over, it was time to annoy Luke before the bell rang. They thought their friendship would become stronger if they know one another’s interests.
“So, Curt already tried our hobbies, which are football and basketball. It’s your time to share with him what you’ve been up to these days,” Liam said.
“Well, I’m busy organizing events in our school as the President. Should I allow him to be the President for today?”
“That would be cool.”
“Of course not. He can’t be the President. It’s not an easy position. You can’t play with it, unlike basketball and football.”
“Come on, Luke. Don’t be such a bummer.”
“What about art? You used to love it, didn’t you? Liam told me you were the President of the Art Club before,” Cade suggested.
“What else did you tell him, Liam? You should learn to shut your mouth sometimes. Should I expose your past too?”
Liam shook his head. “God, no.”
“Art is amazing, Luke. There’s nothing to be ashamed of,” Cade said.
“Fine. Let’s go to the Art room.”
The boys picked blank canvases and lined up to paint.
“Are we allowed to be here? I thought it’s exclusive for the Art Club members?” Cade asked.
“I have a free pass since I was their president for 3 consecutive years,” Luke replied.
“Okay, let’s make a masterpiece for 10 minutes,” Liam said.
Lewis stretched his fingers and carefully tested every brush and smelled every paint with different brands. He selected what he thought was of his standards.
“It smells so good. My spirit has been lifted to heaven,” Lewis said.
“I didn’t know you have an intense passion for oil paintings, Lewis,” Luke commented.
“Me neither. I only feel it now.”
Ten minutes had passed, and Lewis proudly presented his work.
“Guys, don’t freak out. I know my art will totally blow you away,” Lewis said with a sly smile.
“What is wrong with you, dude?”
“I hope you won’t label me as a prodigy after this,” Lewis added.
Luke frowned.
“In 3… 2… 1… tada!” Lewis turned his canvas around and revealed it to them.
“Is that waterfalls?” Cade said.
Liam rubbed his chin and said, “It’s probably the deeper level of the ocean.”
“I think it’s the statue of liberty,” Luke said.
“What are you talking about? Are you blind? It’s the Immaculate Mother of Mercy!”
“Wait. What?”
“Lewis, you’re hallucinating.”
Luke came nearer to Lewis and smelled him.
“Goodness gracious, Lewis. Did you smoke weed?”
Lewis put his finger on his lips. “Keep it down, Luke.”
“Where did you get it? When did you start using it?”
“Chill. Someone gave it to me earlier for free. I didn’t ask for it. God sent him to make my life happy.”
“Oh, God.”
“State his name and I’ll kill him,” Luke said.
“Calm down. It’s a onetime thing. I will not do it again.”
“I don’t care, Lewis. Once you started it, you will keep on craving for it and that’s when addiction starts.”
“It’s Jacob.”
“Good choice.” Luke tapped his shoulder and moved out like a raging bull.
“Hey! Luke! Where are you going?”
Liam sighed. “This is trouble.” He turned to Lewis. “This is the last time I’ll remind you not to get close to Wilson.”
Luke went to the rooftop of the Science building where Jacob and his group loved to stay. No noises and cameras all around. Luke loosened his tie as he approached Jacob.
“His horns are popping out,” Liam whispered.
Jacob was smoking a cigarette with his friends. “Luke Harris. What brings you here?”
“Are you the one who gave Lewis some weed?”
“That’s correct,” Jacob replied in a confident tone.
Luke gestured his fingers for Jacob to come closer, but his group defended him.
“Step aside if you don’t want to get expelled,” Luke warned while clenching his jaws. The students stepped back, and Jacob moved forward.
“Give me one,” Luke said.
Jacob smirked and gave him a piece of cigarette. Luke pulled out his lighter made of gold with a letter L marked on it and lit his cigar. He closed his eyes as he inhaled the smoke, feeling relaxed. As soon as he opened his eyes, he hit Jacob’s cheek with a flying kick.
“You little piece of shit,” Jacob murmured, as he felt dizzy. Luke pulled Jacob’s hair back, removed his necktie, and tied it around his hands.
Luke whispered into his ear, “I’m not a little piece of shit. I’m a monster.” Luke then pressed the cigarette on Jacob’s neck. Jacob screamed in pain as the burning sensation penetrated his skin.
“If I hear you distributing some illegal drugs in school again, I will leave a scar on your tongue,” Luke said. “And if you report me to the faculty,” Luke dragged his body to the side of the building, making him face the ground which was six feet far from them, “I can easily throw you out there.”
Cade was frozen in place, unable to decipher what happened and how Luke dealt with the problem. Meanwhile, Liam and Lewis reacted a little like it was something normal for Luke to do.
***
“Mr. Curtis Flemming.”
Cade was exhausted and in a deep sleep when the teacher called his name. Out of all the subjects he could’ve taken for granted, he was in Mrs. Shannon’s class—the so-called ‘witch.’ Liam threw a crumpled paper to his head that woke him up. In shock, Cade stood up with his eyes half-opened.
“I’m sorry, Mom,” Cade uttered.
The entire class looked at him.
“Mr. Flemming, did you just sleep-talk in my class?” Mrs. Shannon raised her brows. Cade roamed his eyes and realized his situation. “I’m sorry, Ma’am.”
“Get out and kneel in the corridor.”
Feeling defeated for the first time in a while, Cade walked out. Liam crumpled another paper and threw it at Mrs. Shannon’s back. The old lady gazed at them like a devil with her eyes as sharp as a blade.
“Who did it?”
Everyone pointed to Liam. “It was intended for the trashcan, Ma’am. But I’m not a good shooter.” Liam forced a smile.
“Get out!”
Liam knelt beside Cade.
“What are you doing here?” Cade asked.
“I need a break from hell.”
“Do misbehaviours affect your grades?”
“A little. Just get punishments in moderation. You know. Not too much and not too little. Then you’ll be safe.”
Cade never experienced being penalized at Westgate High. It was something he could effortlessly get away with. But things were different in Machalmmond, and he was getting used to his new setup with his buddies. He contemplated the events that occurred during the day and had a few realizations: first times aren’t so scary and punishments aren’t so bad. Unless Luke is the punisher.