Chapter 4: The Invitation

 Eli slammed his locker shut. This school was getting on his nerves. He and Jace Mathers were outcasts. They weren’t the richest kids, and their parents weren’t extremely rich or famous. Jace’s parents had made him enter an essay contest which promised the winner full tuition until graduation as long as the winner was an honor student. He felt sorry for the kid; he had to be under so much more pressure than himself. Not only that, but he was small in stature, and extremely naïve.  Yesterday, he had even been shoved into a trash can, upside down.

                “Why don’t you stand up for yourself?” he asked as he pulled Jace out of the trash can.

                “Well, my parents always told me solve my problems with my mind, not my fists. They also told me to rather, ‘kill them with kindness, rather than abuse them with words”. So, I try to reason with them rather than stoop to their level.” Eli rolled his eyes.

                “That is the worst advice I have ever heard.” Jace shrugged. “You like getting your ass kicked?” Eli asked him as they walked down the hallway. “Cuz what you’re doing right now is a surefire way to keep that up.”

                “Well, what do you think I should do then?” he asked, brushing the garbage off his uniform.

                “Well first of all, speak up. Don’t let them talk down to you like your no one; because you’re someone. Two, never throw the first punch. You let them do it, and then beat the crap out of them.”

                “Well that doesn’t sound very civil at all,” Jace commented.

                “It’s not about being civil,” Eli explained. “It’s about respect and survival.” He continued. “You need to assert a certain amount of authority, enough to be respected, possibly feared if that’s what you want, to gain respect. You’ll only gain respect from others, when you learn to respect yourself. Confidence and self-respect are two of the greatest ways of protecting yourself without having to take someone out; do you get what I’m sayin?”  Jace nodded in agreement.

                “I think so,” as they passed by a crowd of students, Eli accidentally bumped into someone as they turned the corner.

                “Oh, sorry about that,” he bowed as he and Jace descended the stairs. She turned and walked away, her long brown hair swinging side to side as she made her way through the hall.

                Yasmin met up with Skye outside the girls’ bathroom.

                “What up? You got intel?” Skye lifted her hat to get a better look at her friend.

                “Right now, I know that he goes around with that scholarship student, he seems pretty tough.”

                “Ha!” Skye scoffed. “Wait, he hangs out with the Garbage Boy?” she gave her a wayward look. Yuna nodded.

                “Yep, that’s him alright.” She said. Skye shook her head.

                “Whatever girl, thanks for the heads up. I think I know how to get him now.” They bowed and went their separate ways. As she headed east, Skye met up with Gina.

                “What’s new?” she asked, taking her to a secluded part of the hallway.

                “Well, from the rumors I’ve heard, he works at a garage somewhere on the South Side. I’ve also heard he’s like that shrimp kid’s bodyguard or something.” She nodded.

                “Alright, thanks, don’t worry, leave the rest to me, k?” Gina nodded, and left.

                “So, protecting Garbage Boy, are ya tough guy?” she looked in his direction. “I know how you work now, honey.” She smiled and walked away.

                Eli and Jace sat down in the far corner of the cafeteria for lunch. As they began unpacking their boxes, a girl approached their table.

                “May I join you?” she asked. Eli looked up. This girl had wavy brown hair, tied back with a glossy purple ribbon. She smiled sweetly holding her lunch tray, waiting for their reply.

                “Sure, why not?” he motioned for her to take a seat. She sat down next to Jace, who flashed his sweetest smile.

                “So, what’s your name?” Eli asked as he took a bite of his kimchi.

                “Oh, sorry, I haven’t introduced myself. I'm Jessie Tyler.” 

                “It’s nice to meet you,” Jace said as he took a bite of his tteok boki.

                “So, you are the new transfer student everyone is talking about?” she asked as she took a sip of her McCol.  

                “I suppose, didn’t know I was that popular.” He retorted sarcastically.

                “Ha! Well, that’s how it goes here. Believe it or not, there isn’t a lot going on here, so people like to make their own drama.” Eli rolled his eyes, and Jace shook his head.

                “It always seems that way, doesn’t it?” he turned to her and held up a plate. “Fried egg?” he offered. She smiled and gratefully took one.

                “Thanks!” he smiled.

                “No problem.” He offered one to Eli, who politely declined. He shrugged and went on eating. As they ate their lunch, Skye watched from the balcony.

                “Gina, come on!” Gina rushed over.

                “What's up?” Skye signaled for her to look down.

                “Hey, isn’t that,”

                “Yea, the little bitch,” Skye narrowed her eyes.  “She sure knows how to complicate shit.” She turned away, and reformulated her plan for the new mishap in the road.

                As Eli began to pack his things away in his bag for the day, someone came up and slammed his locker shut.

                “Hey! What’s the big idea-“he turned to yell at the person, when he saw Skye.

                “Hi there. What's up?” she asked sweetly, venom dripping from her words.

                “Drop the act, what do you want?” he asked, waiting for her demands.

                “Oh nothing much,” she began.

                “Well then, move outta the way,” he went for his locker, but she stood in the way.

                “I need to talk to you.” She said, crossing her arms.

                “About what? Don’t believe I’ve ever borrowed anything from you or your posse, what could you possibly want from me?” she smiled.

                “Funny you should ask.” She said, shifting her weight. “My friend seems to have taken an interest in you, and wants you to meet her.” She stated matter-of-factly.

                “Thanks but no thanks, I’m not interested in you or your little friends.” He tried to walk away, but she grabbed him by his arm and slammed him into the lockers.

                “Look here, honey,” her condescending voice roaring outward like an angry lioness. “I didn’t ask you, I told you, and you will do as I say, or Garbage boy and the girl get it,” she motioned in the opposite direction. The two other girls had Yoon Jae and Ji Yeon. One girl had Jace by his shirt, slowly twisting it, slowly suffocating him. The other girl had Jessie by her hair, twisting it as she writhed in pain.

                “You don’t listen, I beat the ever living daylights out of Garbage Boy and throw him on the next dump truck, and the girl gets a face lift,” she said as she pulled out a knife and flicked the blade open. “I haven’t really decided what I’m going to do with you yet.” she gave him an evil grin as she neared the knife to his throat. “So what’s it gonna be bad boy?” she asked, bringing her face closer, waiting for his answer. He looked over at his friends. The fear and pleading in their eyes. He turned to Skye.

END OF CHAPTER 4