A Fox In a Bat City

@Chapter 6

I would be lying if I said I wasn't worried. 

It was a Monday morning and I sat idle in my seat as I pondered over Jeremiah's party. Its early termination left me in a state of confusion.

I wasn't going to pry into business that didn't concern me though. Thankfully, Jeremiah was unharmed and we frequently messaged each other since the incident. He didn't seem like he wanted to talk about it after I asked about his wellbeing so I never brought it up. I just wanted him to be safe. I didn't realise that his safety meant so much to me until I made it back home on Saturday. Since then, Jeremiah has been on my mind more than usual. 

More-so than I was willing to admit. 

"Ugh! This lecture is so booring Anaich- I mean Ishe."

I slowly looked over at Stacy with a bored expression. "It's not that bad," I replied nonchalantly. 

"I think the fact that Samuel Slater, one of America's most influential industrialists, partook in unethical child labouring to produce textiles is really telling that these praised figures were so self indulged in de-individuation."

Stacy blinked, nodded her head in thought. "I guess...I never thought about it that way."

I sighed. "Yeah well, a lot of people take things at surface level. Then again, a lot of history is taught that way so."

"True that sistah!"

I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. "Please never do that again."

Stacy nodded quickly. "Yeah no, that felt so out of place. Anyways. Have you heard?"

I chuckled. "Gonna need you to be a bit more specific."

"Apparently, one of my friends was talking about a gang fight that broke out like ten minutes away from her uni and someone ended up getting shot."

I widened my eyes, suddenly overcome with tense nerves. "How does she know someone got shot?" I questioned.

"Well, I didn't really ask her that but it probably did happen. I mean, c'mon, gang fights always equal someone getting shot."

"Not really."

"Haven't you seen the music? Always about shooting someone."

I turned around in my seat and placed my palm on my cheek in question. "What do you mean 'the music'?" 

Stacy let out a nervous cough. "I meant like, you know what I mean. The violent gang music. We have it in the UK too. Never understood the appeal really or why they loved telling on themselves."

"Don't generalise. Besides, some of it is just made up..." I stopped in my rant as I saw an unexpected incoming message appear on my phone screen. 

The lecture ended just on time and I hurriedly made my way out of class without even looking back. 

Finding a quiet spot, I called the number back, confused as to why she decided to call for a meeting at this time of hour.

"Renee what the- You know I got classes on Monday," I spoke as she picked up.

"I know I know. I wouldn't just call you to come if I didn't have a reason to. I'm not the one who even planned it."

"Chee! Okay I'm on my way. Is everything good?"

Renee just let out an annoyed groan from the other end of the call. "You'll see."

I made my way to the hideout and was greeted with Renee and Fat Mike seated on two chairs like school kids at detention. The sight almost made me let out a small laugh but I held it back for obvious reasons. The situation must have been serious for there to be two emergency meetings in the span of less than a week. And on a Monday at that.