War in Broadway High

3. Let's Start a Riot!

Chapter 3: Let's Start a Riot!

Jeremy.

Right as the bell for lunchtime rang, Jeremy and Michael slipped out to go into the 7-Eleven that was just around the block.

Michael always saw the same guy hanging there, they were sort of slushy buddies, even though they never actually talked. They just both knew each loved the 7-Eleven Slurpees and would always find each other there, and that was pretty much their whole thing.

This time wasn't any different, the trench coat kid nodded at them in recognition and then went to enjoy his drink, he seemed to like those slushies a bit too much in Jeremy's opinion.

Michael got some sushi, a negimaki roll, along with his frozen beverage, dancing a bit to the rhythm of Bob Marley blasting through his headphones. He seemed extra happy when the lady gave him a generous pour, almost overflowing the cup.

"I still can't believe Rich scribbled on my backpack," Jeremy muttered, remembering how the bully had cornered him almost as soon as he walked into school, shoved him against a locker, and written with a permanent marker on the front of his bag. "What does Boyf even mean anyway?"

Realization seemed to hit Michael, and he took off the headphones, leaving them resting on his neck. He grabbed his own bag and placed it next to Jeremy's. Together, they very blatantly spelled BOYFRIENDS.

Jeremy groaned.

"Who even still thinks calling people gay is like a funny insult thing? I hate this school."

Michael paid for his stuff and they both walked back. The boy in the red hoodie shrugged, while stuffing his mouth with the sushi.

"It's all good. I saw on Discovery last night that humanity has stopped evolving."

"And... that's good?"

"Evolution's survival of the fittest, right? But now you don't need to be strong to survive. Which means..." he suddenly grabbed Jeremy by the shoulders, almost dropping all he was holding. "there's never been a better time in history to be a loser! So own it! Why try to be cool when you can be-"

"Christine," Jeremy's eyes had widened.

"Uh, I was gonna say getting high in my basement, but..."

"No, Christine!" Jeremy enthusiastically pointed at the pinboard right at the entrance of the school, where the sign-up sheet for the school play was, and where Christine Canigula was, writing her name in quirky but pretty handwriting.

"I have to sign up as well, then I can spend time with her!"

Michael was a bit skeptical.

"But you don't know anything about theater. You used to think a soprano voice was doing an Italian mobster accent."

"I mean it is called The Sopranos..." Jeremy murmured under his breath.

"It's like you're trying to look for ways to embarrass yourself."

"No. I'm evolving." There was a fiery decision in Jeremy's eyes as he signed up for the play as well.

Rich was passing nearby, and yelled "gay!" at him as a few of his friends laughed, but Jeremy did his best to ignore them.

Michael sighed and put a reassuring hand on his friend's shoulder.

"Then you got this bro!"

As the two went back into the cafeteria, however, Jeremy's thoughts about Christine dissipated, because something clearly was going down.