The bell rang, signifying the end of Jason's time in Mr. Graves' boring electronics class. It took everything Jason had not to fall asleep. Building things sounded fun, but the idea of schematics, 3D model drawing, the engineers' pillars, and preparing to follow criteria made his head spin so fast the dizziness actually helped make him more sleepy. He took his review worksheets and stuffed them in his folder, which he then proceeded to stuff in his bag before making his way out of the classroom.
He walked straight past the spiral staircase and took the regular old zigzag steps back downstairs to Stanlee's locker. The only downside was that these steps reeked of rotten milk that had been spilled on the staircase. Jason had to hold his breath as he zoomed down the steps.
Jason finally made it and breathed in fresh air free of rotten milk. As he turned the corner back to the hallway where his second-hour class was and also where Stanlee's locker was located, he saw Wade, Stanlee, and four other boys locked in a heated argument.
Wade stood there with a smug smirk. "So, what's it gonna be, Einstein?"
Stanlee snorted. "Wade, I've never met anyone as twisted or as low as you. Don't think for a millisecond that I'll reconsider."
Jason could tell by how Stanlee stood in front of the other three boys that he was defending them. His voice wasn't the same; there was a lot of edge in it. Jason was uninterested in middle school drama and thought he'd rather not pick sides, especially with a weirdo like Stanlee and a idiot like Wade. He began to turn around and head to Officer Black's office so he could get directions to the gym when...
Wade shook his head and started snickering. "You just sold yourself, Stanlee. I have no idea why you're so invested in shielding the twins and chungus Marcus. It's time to face facts. You're not Kevin. The rebellion is over. There will be no second coming. Ain't that right, Jonas?"
Jonas, the kid in all black from his Nike Tech hoodie to his black Air Forces, yawned. "Yeah man, everybody's lost hope in him, especially after how he crumbled to Jackal."
Jason stopped, turned around, and walked towards them, but still kept his distance and listened. None of them seemed to have noticed him.
One of the kids standing behind Stanlee, the slightly chubby one, stepped forward and pushed Jonas. Jonas crashed into the lockers, dropping to a knee, stunned.
Marcus growled, "Don't talk about Kevin. None of you guys could beat him by yourselves anyways!"
Jonas dusted himself off, rising to his feet, his eyes in a deadlock stare at Marcus. "Well, that might be true, but what about you, fatty? If Kevin really cared, he'd be here like he used to be."
Marcus scoffed, "I can't always rely on Kevin to protect me. He's been through so much."
Wade sighed, "Womp womp. Mr. Brown is probably rolling in his grave right now. Let him rest in peace."
Stanlee's eyes narrowed. "You of all people should be the last to talk about Mr. Brown!"
Wade walked up to his face. "Yeah, or what?"
Stanlee balled his fists but didn't move an inch.
Wade rolled his eyes. "Exactly. This is why you'll never be like Kevin. He didn't care about consequences or how he'd be viewed by others; he just acted. You, on the other hand, are playing the long game and will have nothing to show for it."
Wade glanced at Jonas. "Go ahead, get your get-back."
Jonas rushed forward and threw a straight punch at Marcus. Marcus froze.
Smack.
Jonas's fist was caught inches before reaching Marcus's face. Jason stood there, his left hand holding Jonas's fist and his right arm buckled around Jonas's arm before pushing him back with one hand into the lockers.
Jonas was fuming. "Who the hell are you?!"
Jason stretched. "I'm the new guy, Jonas."
Stanlee blinked. "Jason, what are you doing?"
Jason sighed. "Isn't it obvious? Helping my friends out."
Wade scowled. "Ya know, for a newbie you're really annoying. You just met these pathetic morons and you call them your friends?"
Jason shrugged. "What can I say? I'm a simple guy. Marcus stood up for my bro Kevin. That tells me everything I need to know about whose side I'm on."
Wade chuckled and returned his glance to Stanlee. "You still haven't told this kid how things work here?"
Stanlee sighed. "Jason, that straightforward bluntness is an annoying trait of yours."
Before Jason could respond, Jonas charged him.
SWOOSH
SWOOSH
PAT
PAT
Jonas rushed him recklessly with two wild hooks. Jason wove to avoid each of them-the first with a sidestep, the second with a well-timed duck. Out of frustration, Jonas then tried to hit him with an overhead punch. Jason parried it with his arm. Jonas roared and charged face-first with a haymaker, only for Jason to push his face back into the lockers.
Jonas stumbled, dazed.
The hallway grew silent, broken by Wade.
Wade scowled. "Seriously, Jonas? Getting beat by the newbie?! How the mighty have fallen."
Jonas shook himself out of a daze. "THAT WAS A FLUKE. MIND YOU, IT'S TEN IN THE MORNING."
Wade shrugged. "Good point. Anyways, we'll be seeing you punks in gym."
Wade turned to Jason. "Newbie, I'd watch my back if I were you. You just sided with a bunch of losers. Don't think I forgot those snarky comments ya made in first hour. Your ass is grass."
Jason smirked. "I'd love to see you try."
Wade held his menacing gaze on Jason for five more seconds before turning his back and heading to the gym. Jonas followed, throwing up middle fingers at Stanlee, Jason, Marcus, and the twins before tracking Wade to the spiral steps.
One of the twins immediately checked in with Marcus. "Hey Mark, ya good, pal?"
Marcus exhaled, a glow in his eyes. "Yup, I'm great, Barry. Thanks to..."
Jason puffed out his chest. "Jason. Jason Yang."
The other twin, who was staring at Jason in awe, came up to him. "Thank you, Jason. What you did was so badass! My name is Conrad, but you can call me Connor."
Connor outstretched his hand.
Jason smiled, shaking his hand. "Nice to meet you. And I'm guessing Barry is your twin?"
Connor chuckled. "Guilty as charged."
Stanlee readjusted his glasses. "Guys, we have a class to be going to. Save all the introductions for on the way or in the locker room."
Barry sighed. "Let's get this over with already."
Connor sighed back. "I really hate that defeatist mentality you have, bro. Try to be a little positive, you doomer."
Barry scoffed. "And you're too much of a ray of sunlight. We need to be realistic. Right, Mark?"
Marcus shrugged. "I say we leave the calculations to Stan. Any game is winnable, right?"
Stanlee nodded. "Right, we're gonna throw everything we've got today."
The three boys' jaws dropped simultaneously.
Barry's eyes widened. "Are you being for real, bro? Why do you figure today is winnable?"
Stanlee glanced at Jason. "Trust me, guys. I've got a good feeling that today is the start of a losing streak for Wade and even Jackal."