School. A chamber of broken dreams and hurtful words. Of fluid lies and rampaging rumors that ravage the school borders and cross their walls with a thousand believers.
I am one of those kids that does, as in inflicts, these things upon other people. I can't exactly say it's something to brag about, and I feel bad. I mean- it's not that I don't have a heart, I just- am more of the cowardly lion. I need confidence. I can't stand up to other people on my own, so, I bully them before they can hurt me. It's really just a, I caught the cat before it ate the mouse, situation. Whereas, I am the mouse.
"Aye my boy, Mateo! I got a nerd alert at 4 o'clock. Want em bud?"
Ugh. Ray Carter. His sisters the leader of the student school board committee, Ivy Carter. She's beautiful, no doubt. Almost every boy in Southside high drool over her pretty face.
All the girls too. They drool over her shiny black hair and perfect makeup. I could care less about her. It's more of her brother I'm worried about. He's a bully. Not that I can exactly say much, but he does it for fun. At least I have a motive.
I have to stay close to him though. To not get hurt. To get good grades. His sister is not the only one who has a connection to the school board. Both of his stuck up parents are practically running the school, with the board blind of their lack of integrity, and the misuse of their position.
Making Ivy and Ray the most popular and the most educationally privileged. Well, just plain old privileged.
"No bud. He does no harm, leave him alone," I reply.
He chuckles, "Bro, he's doing harm by just being alive."
I shrug, and sigh, "Whatever man, just saying."
"You sure you don't want him?"
"Yeah, not really feeling it today."
"K dude. Your loss," he lifts an eyebrow.
I insist, "I'm sure man."
He shrugs.
I watch as he approaches one of my sisters friends. She's in a lower grade than me, but still in the same high school.
His tan skin stretches against his bulging muscles, and his confident jawline tightens as his lips turn from an adoring smile to a frightful sneer.
Ray pushes the scrawny kid into the lockers, his back finding the many locks that will probably leave nasty bruises later.
Hopefully the only wounds the poor boy will get from this encounter. I pray that he will be okay, for my sisters sake, and for my own. If my sister finds out that my friends beat up hers, she'll be livid. No mind she'll go after Ray herself.
I wouldn't be able to save her from his wrath. Trust me, he has enough built up from the constant prodding of his parents and the nagging of his sister.
I sort of feel bad for him, having to pick on kids to feel good about himself. Well, I mean, I'm not much better than him. Am I?
Someone pushes Ray off the kid. I know who it is. I just don't want to be right.
"Carmen!" I shove my way through the small crowd that has formed around them. "Carmen, stop!"
Meanwhile, in my haste, she has been trying to pry Ray off the kid.
"Mat! Help me."
Ray has now turned on her, "She yours Mateo?"
He isn't looking at me. That means one thing.
