Off Key

#25

It was Monday.

All the boy's first day, back ever since the party.  They were all currently walking with each other to the entrance of the school.

"Maybe they'll pull a Minho and throw their lunches at us," Seungmin said. "Hey! It was a favor!" Minho yelled out. Hyunjin giggled. "Not a very good one." He mumbled.

"They're not gonna hate us. They voted for us. Why would they hate us?" Chan said. "Maybe because a fight happened at our party?" Jisung said. "Yeah, but the fight was Ryujin and Yeji," Jeongin said. "Ok, and?" Jisung questioned.

"That's an iconic fight that will go down in history! And, we're going to be the most popular band in school!" Jeongin said, excitedly. "We're the only band in school," Changbin said as they arrived at school.

"Brace yourselves," Chan said as Felix shut his eyes, tightly. "I meant for fame," Chan said, laughing at Felix.

As they walked in, everyone was silent. People started whispering and getting out of the way, every time the boys walked past them.

'Oh my god, it's Stray Kids!'

'They're so hot!'

'I wonder if they have girlfriends.'

'I'm asking them out to prom!'

Were the things the boys heard throughout the halls.

"Damn, everyone likes us," Jisung said as he waved at people. "I told you guys," Chan said as he smiled at people. Felix saw a group of girls staring at him and he smiled at them to be friendly. The girls all panicked and screamed, freaking out.

Felix didn't know what was wrong with them and just continued. "Yeah, I think they do," Felix said.

Hyunjin, Minho, and Chan were all already used to the fame and attention, but it was quite funny seeing the other boy's reactions to the attention they were getting.

"Jisung!" A girl yelled out, grabbing Jisung's and Minho's attention. The rest of the boys continued walking, not hearing the girl. "Can I get a kiss? Please?" She pouted, trying to act cute.

Jisung felt bad for saying no but did not want to kiss her. "Uh," Before he could continue, Minho stepped in. "Go find someone else to kiss, Kimmy." He said as he put his arm around Jisung and walked away with him.

Kimmy scoffed and stormed off. "Jisung will be mine.. no matter what." She mumbled to herself as she stomped down the hall.

The two boys caught up with the rest. "Thank you, so much! I didn't know what to tell her but I did-" Minho stopped and pulled Jisung back from walking. "Hey, we'll meet up with you guys later, at lunch?" Chan nodded and off they went.

Minho pulled Jisung into the closet and turned on a little light that was hanging from the ceiling. Jisung had no idea what was going on and was confused, but couldn't help but feel something was going to happen.

"Uh, Minho, what are we doing-" Minho shushed Jisung's with his finger and got closer. "Jisung, I need you to pay attention and listen to what I'm going to tell you," Minho said almost whispering. Jisung felt his heart race, he didn't know what to expect.

He nodded his head and Minho removed his finger and moved back.

"That girl, that's Jang Kimmy, the psycho of the school." Since Jisung was still kind of new, he didn't know who many people still were. "She's called psycho of the school because of her outbursts." Minho sighed, "One time, in the 10th grade, she gave this guy a box of chocolates and a love letter."

"He told her that he wasn't interested, in the nicest way possible because he was scared of what she would do if he hurt her feelings. That same night, she drowned his cat in chocolate." Jisung gasped. Who would do something so cruel, I love cats.

"She's done way worse things." Jisung was a bit confused. "Why hasn't anyone told anybody?" Jisung asked. "Because it's all suspicions. All the things she did, can't be proven because theirs no evidence." Jisung understood but didn't get why he was telling him.

"What does she have to do with me?" Jisung asked, feeling unsafe. "She asked you for a kiss. She always asks the people she likes for a kiss. Sometimes people give her one, sometimes they don't."

Minho pulled Jisung by his shoulders, closer to him. "Jisung, you're in danger. From now on, you'll be stalked, followed, attacked every time she finds you." Jisung didn't know what to do, he felt scared. "What have the other people done?"

He asked as Minho sighed. "They've gotten restraining orders on her but those don't stop her. Every person that she has liked, always disappeared. She either did something, or they left the school, town, state, and even country."

Jisung felt himself get more and more scared and nervous about what was going to happen. "What do I do?" He said to himself, as he looked down at the ground, his voice sounding little. Minho felt his heartbreak when he heard Jisung, he looked and sounded scared. He just wanted to hold him and protect him against every bad thing in the world.

Minho held Jisung's face and brought him closer. "I'll stay with you." Jisung liked how that sounded but didn't know what he meant.

"What do you mean?" Jisung asked, again, sounding little. "Let me stay with you and protect you." Jisung looked up at Minho. As much as he liked that idea, he wouldn't allow him. "No, you'll put yourself at risk, and I don't want you to get hurt or something."

Minho shook his head. "I don't care, as long as you're safe, and I can protect both of us and your mom." Jisung hugged Minho, tightly, not wanting to let go. "Thank you." He said, in the crook of Minho's neck.

Minho hugged Jisung back, by his waist. Jisung's touch always made Minho feel happy and content, he didn't know what it was, but it happened all the time with him and only him.

"Before I go, we need to explain to all of our parents about the band and me living with you. Okay?" Minho asked as he pulled back, staring at Jisung, now only holding his waist. "Okay," Jisung said as he agreed.

~~~

Chan got a message from Minho saying that they needed a group meeting at lunch, today.

He replied with an okay and closed his locker. He was late for class since everyone had already left. Chan heard the sound of shoes getting closer and saw Yeji walking up to him. "Hey, Chan!" She said as she leaned against the locker next to his.

"Hey, Yeji, what's up?" He asked as he leaned as well, against his locker. "I just wanted to thank you." Chan was confused. "What did I do?" He asked, curious. "For making the band and letting Hyunjin be part of it. He told me about the story that you let him be in it after he said no."

"So thank you, and you're a great leader." Chan smiled and shook his head. "No, I'm not that great." He said with a cheeky smile. Yeji smiled back. "No, you're a great one, and a great friend too."

Yeji and Chan have known each other since forever but have never been close. Hearing Yeji call Chan his friend, made him happy. "Thanks. You too." Chan brought Yeji into a hug and Yeji hugged back. "Just a great friend but not a leader." She said as she let go. "No, you'd be good at leadership. You have leader vibes." Chan said as he let go as well.

Yeji thought to herself. A leader? "Hmm, I don't know about that but I got to go." Chan suddenly forgot about class and ran down the hall. "Oh shit, class, bye!" He said as he ran and waved. Yeji laughed and waved as she walked to her class.

Yeji heard footsteps coming from somewhere but ignored them as she went to class.