Later, in the counselor's office, the boys sat battered, bruised, bloodied and sore, the air thick with silence and disappointment, the silence heavy with tension.
Peter's knuckles were bruised. Fernando's white shirt was stained red. Jason's eye was swelling shut. Leon was also wounded and the rest too.
Jason muttered under his breath, still angry. Peter sat quietly, jaw tight. Leon glared ahead, his pride burning hotter than his bruised face.
No words were exchanged, till the counselor, Mrs Brandy came in. She sighed deeply pinching the bridge of her nose as she scanned their battered faces
"You all think you're men," Ms. Adisa said, pacing slowly.
"But today, you acted like boys with nothing to lose." she added
"Boys," Ms. Adisa said quietly, looking over her glasses
"this isn't just a fight. It's a failure. On all of you." she added
"A week of cleaning bathrooms, scraping gum off lockers, emptying trash bins, and sweeping the courtyard—together." She said and they all groaned whispering among themselves
" Enough!" She yelled and they all became quiet
" And you two" she said facing Leon and Jason
"You're leaders," she said, eyes scanning their battered faces.
"And today, you led a war." she added
" You will be benched till further notice, no games, no practice what's so ever and you're both derailed from your positions"
" We can't play without Jason, we already lost the last match" Peter said
" We got championship coming up next week" one of the baseball guy said
" I'm not done, they would be benched till they reflect on their mistakes and settle whatever this is" she said referring to their injuries
" I already told your coach about it and they agreed, so whatever is going on here..y'all should better get it resolved or you'll be losing your next match if you're not careful" she said before dismissing them
Kiara met with Cyma and Dani at the cafeteria, they watched as Elena was acting all so lovely with Leo
" Do you think Vinny told him yet?" Cyma asked
" Probably not" Kiara said
" She's evil" Dani said
" She's just this way cause of Jenna" Kiara said
" There's no difference between the two if you ask me" Dani said
" One is evil, one is wicked and she's planning on helping the wicked" cyma said
" But even the wicked has a chance to love someone you know" Kiara said
" How do you even want to do that?" Dani asked
" I'm not, she is" Kiara said referring to cyma
" Don't involve me" cyma said
" That's why I told you about it" Kiara said
" No, I'm not doing this with you" cyma said
" You're the best friend so typically...." Dani was saying
" Don't say it" cyma cut him shut giving him a death glare and he close up
" You're the best person for the job" Kiara completed it on his behalf
" Okay, as much as I'll really love to stay and talk about it with you guys ... I gotta go. I have this outing with Lucas"
" It's a date" cyma said
" Not really a date, were just going to the casino to play some games" Dani said
" It's a casino date" Kiara said
" So did you guys do the do, last night?" Cyma asked
" Cyma" Kiara said
" What, I'm curious" Cyma said
" No, we didn't. I told him I wasn't ready and he respected my decision" he said
" Wait, you're a fucking virgin" cyma burst out
" Cyma" kiara shunned
" Sorry, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it that way, it's just the way he says he's gay like he's into the gay stuff" cyma said
" I just know I have interest in guys, I haven't done it yet" he said
" So yesterday was meant to be your first night and you managed to ruin it" cyma said
" I didn't I just wanted to be sure, we were in love" he said
" Okay, so are you sure now?" Cyma asked
" Cyma" Kiara said
" You won't get it" Dani said
" Don't take what she says to heart, I understand you. You want your first night to be special, to be romantic" Kiara said
" Like the fairytale kind of stuff butterflies, flowers" cyma said
" Cyma" Kiara shunned
" Or the Wattpad kind, dim light, slow music" cyma said
" Stop, for real" Kiara said
" My bad, I don't know how it is like for virgins" cyma said
" You can be a jerk sometimes you know" Dani said
" I agree" Kiara said
" Same here" cyma said
" How was your first night like?" Dani asked
" Mine,.. unplanned. Had it a club restroom with a hot bartender guy" cyma said
" You had it with a stranger"
" Yeah, it's better with a stranger. You don't need to feel ashamed the next morning or the rest of your life, cause you won't probably see them again" cyma said
" Don't tell your kids this, or any other thing. Just send them to me for advice, you're bad at it" Kiara said
" Well, I just feel like I would when the time is right. It will come itself, I don't need to push it" Dani said
" Yeah, do you" cyma said
" What about you kie?" Dani asked
" Not that intense and crazy" Kiara said
" It was like those fairy tales, her prince charming came to pick her up by for the ball" cyma said
" Funny" Dani said flatly
" No, she's actually correct, aside the fairytale part" Kiara said
" Oh, so I'm guessing the prince charming is Peter" Dani said
" Yeah" Kiara said
" You guys are trending everywhere" Dani said
" Speaking of trending, you should probably go check on him. I heard the football team got into a fight with the baseball team" Cyma said
" I heard, I expected it." Kiara said
" Quick question Dani" Cyma said
" Don't ask" Kiara said already knowing the question she asked in mind
" Who would use the condom?" Cyma asked and Dani looked at her with no expression
" And you still asked" Kiara said
" I'm just asking cause I feel Lucas is more of the guy"
" Cyma, stop.. just stop"
" I mean he kind of looks like his d. would be bigger than yours"
" Okay, I think you've said enough. It's not funny anymore"
" We would figure that out, when we get there" Dani said still trying to keep a clean air
" Speak of the devil and he appears" Cyma said as Lucas approached them
" That's my call" Dani said
" Hey" Lucas said kissing him
" Hy Cyma and Kiara" Lucas said
" Hey, we kept your boy quite busy" Cyma said
" He's lucky to have both of you, he won't be lonely without me" Lucas said placing his hand on Dani shoulder
" You ready?" He asked Dani
" Yeah, let's go" Dani replied
" Ciao girls" Dani said as they left
" You went hover board" Kiara said facing Cyma
" Just wanted to light up the conversation, Dani is so cute when he does that expression where he's trying to suppress his anger" Cyma said and Kiara shook her head
" You have any plans today?" Kiara asked
" Yeah, I'm meeting Tyler later. Why do you ask?" Cyma asked
" I need someone to accompany me to see Peter" Kiara said
" Where is he?" Cyma asked
" The last time I asked, he was at the infirmary. He said he was feeling left out as Nancy was tending to Jason injuries" Kiara said
" That's sweet" cyma said
" I know" Kiara said and Cyma phone beeped
" I'm sorry, but I gotta go. Tyler just texted me" Cyma said checking her phone
" Alright, have fun" kiara said
" I always do" she said leaving
Kiara picked up her phone and messaged Peter if he was still at the infirmary but he said he was home already and he was about to leave for the club with Jason
" Club?" Kiara thought and an idea popped into her head.
The sun has already started dipping behind the trees. The town is winding down — students are headed home, the wind carries soft chatter and rustling leaves.
Jenna walks briskly, her bag slung over one shoulder, earbuds in, she was heading towards her car exhausted from the day, emotionally more than anything. But she stops when she sees Vinny pacing a few yards ahead — muttering to himself, kicking a small stone back and forth, clearly in a state. He's not even aware of how obvious his stress looks. Jenna sighs, rolling her eyes.
"Don't do it. Walk away. This is not your problem" she thought
She tries to keep walking, but her body slows. Something about how lost he looks pulls at her. Against her better judgment, she turns back. She takes a deep breath and approaches.
"Hey… you good?" Jenna asked quietly
Vinny jumps slightly, caught off guard. He blinks, like coming out of a trance.
"Jenna…?" He said softly, almost like a question
"You know walking back and forth in circles won't solve whatever this is" Jenna said
"Yeah, I know." Vinny sighs deeply
"It just… helps me think he added and She crosses her arms, raising an eyebrow.
"So? What's eating you? The kiss from last night?" She asked
Vinny lets out another sigh, longer this time. He looks up at the sky for a moment before answering.
"Not exactly. I mean… yeah, that too. But it's not the kiss itself. I don't care about it like that.
It's Leo." Vinny said and Jenna narrowed her eyes as she listened
"I feel like I'm betraying him. Like… what if Elena tells him before I do? He's gonna think I was hiding it. That I was cool with it. That I let it happen." He added
"So tell him." Jenna said
"I want to, but… what if that's exactly what she wanted?. What if this was all a setup? Like… to mess with me and Leo. What if that kiss was her playing me just to cause a rift between us?he said
Jenna's eyes soften a little, but her tone gets sharper.
"She wasn't targeting you, Vinny." She said
"You think? Why else would she kiss me out of the blue? We've always just been… chill. No signs. No flirting. She knows we're just friends" he said running his hand through his curls, clearly spiraling.
"What if I'm just a pawn in some dumb game she's playing?" Vinny asked
"You're not the pawn" Jenna paused
"I am" she said and coldly stops.
"You? What… what do you mean?" He asked confused
"She's using you to get to me." Jenna said
"How?" He asked, confused and still pacing mentally
Jenna takes a beat. Her jaw tenses. She looks away for a second, as if deciding whether to open the floodgates or not.
"You know what? Never mind. I should've just ignored you and kept walking." She sighs as she turns to leave.
But Vinny grabs her wrist gently—not in panic, but in genuine need for understanding.
"Wait—Jenna. Please. Tell me." He said and she faces him, her eyes flash with emotion.
Because I like you, dummy. Isn't it obvious by now?" Jenna said raising her vice slightly and Vinny froze, taken aback.
"All the green lights I've been giving you — the way I laugh at your dumb jokes, how I always sit next to you at practice, how I stuck around you at the party last night. You really didn't see any of that?" Jenna said
"Jenna…"
"It's always been you, Vinny. Even when Elena flirts with you, even when I pretended not to care." She paused
"But she knows. She saw. That's why she kissed you — not because she wanted you, but because she wanted to take something from me before I could ever have it." Jenna added
There was silence as the wind picks up slightly. A car passes in the background, but Vinny and Jenna are still in their own bubble.
"You know what? What am I even doing here" she said quietly and hurt as she was expecting a him to say something even if it's just a word but he didn't.
She turns again. This time faster.
But again, Vinny stops her—not grabbing her this time, just blocking her gently with his presence.
"Jenna, wait." Vinny said
He struggles with his words. He's clearly not used to this kind of moment. But something about her honesty stirs something deeper in him.
"This is all… new to me.You—liking me, Elena, Leo, the party, Everything's spinning." He said as he looks at her, finally locking eyes.
"But I felt something last night. Not during that kiss — after. When I saw you across the room. I don't know what it is yet, but…Can we take it slow?. Just… give me a little time to figure this out. Let the Elena situation cool down, and then… maybe we can see where this goes?" He said and Jenna studies him.
She doesn't smile. But her expression softens, and she gives a small nod.
"Okay." Jenna smirk slightly
"But you better figure it out before someone else does." She said and Vinny chuckles awkwardly.
She walks past him now — but this time he doesn't stop her. As she leaves, she turns back slightly.
"Oh… and for the record — I wasn't giving you green lights. I was holding up a neon billboard." Jenna said as she walks off.
Vinny stands in the fading sunlight, lips twitching into a small smile — the first real one all day.
Leo sat in his room, looking at the picture he took of Kiara today in class, and the one he took that day.. it's like she keeps getting more and more attractive. Just then something popped into his mind, his took his old laptop and uploaded the picture on the towns media with an anonymous name. Now, other people could see how attractive she is and how good his photography skills are. On a second note, he thought of deleting it Incase Kiara didn't like the fact that he posted it without her permission but it was an anonymous post so he promised himself that after an hour, he'll delete it but he slept off and the pictures were already receiving likes, comment and going viral as well