I can't Hurt You - Marcus Lopez Arguello

16

After first period, second was Poison Lab. The bell rung and all the students rushed to their bags. I picked up my things and headed to the girl's bathroom to change into more normal clothing for next period. Once I'd finished, I only had a couple minutes left before Poison Lab was in session so I didn't bother trying to find Marcus. He'd be there anyway.

I made it to class right as the bell rang and sat next to Marcus. I quickly noticed the chemicals and beakers set up in front of us.

"Morning, class. What you're cooking today is a dastardly syrup I call Mellow Yellow. One drop and you're overcome with primal hallucinations and terrible anguish." Mr. Denke spoke while he went down the row of sitting students inspecting their desks as I started mixing my poison.

"Sounds a lot like a night with Petra. Isn't that right Vik?" One of Chico's minions asked Viktor in a teasing manner.

"Did not know Chico's lapdog was allowed to speak." Viktor replied through his thick accent.

Okay, maybe Viktor wasn't all bad. As sucky as he was to me for being a Rat, he seems to genuinely like Petra. He could be good for her. Maybe she won't be so... I don't know... dead inside if she has someone to love. It sucks to be Billy, though. He would've been good for her too.

I looked over at Petra to see her reaction. Honestly, it looked like she didn't care. She was more focused on mixing up the poison just right. Denke passed by her and gave her an approving smile which she returned. You could say all you wanted about Petra, but she was smart as fuck.

"Yo!" Marcus whisper yelled at me snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Huh?" I asked in a confused way.

All he did was hold up the poison he was mixing and then look at the asshole who pranked Billy sitting next to him. He did it all with a devilish smirk making me know exactly what he was thinking. That asshole really wants to prank a Legacy. My confused face turned into more of a cautious one you could say. My eyes widened as I shook my head rapidly, not wanting to get caught by Denke who was still passing by all the students checking their progress.

Once Denke got close to ours we pretended to be too busy and focused working to notice. Well, we weren't exactly pretending. I really was mixing my poison, I needed this grade. Marcus on the other hand, was doing it to poison a fucking Legacy.

Once he left Marcus signaled Billy who was sat in front of the Legacy asshole. He made the same gesture to Billy that he made to me, making Billy smile widely. These dumbasses are going to get themselves killed. Billy then turned to face the Legacy boy behind him.

"Rat trap. I get it. I get it. I-" Billy said to the boy while laughing and making snarling noises.

The boy looked... creeped out to say the least. Then, Marcus knew it was time to get him back. With a determined look on his face he looked at me and then the boy.

"Let me grab those jelly beans." Marcus said as he knocked over the boy's poison making it spill everywhere on him.

I hit Marcus on the shoulder with a 'you're a dumbass' look written all over my face. The vapor coming out of the poison reached the boy's eyes making him react to it. He blinked multiple times before he stood up like a crazy person.

"The fire, it's-it's-it's inside me! Get away! Get away!" He screamed like a lunatic.

Shabnam tried to go up to him and help him as the rest of the class laughed. I'd be lying if I said I didn't laugh, too. I tried not to, I really did, but I couldn't hold it back forever. It was pretty funny and he did kind of deserve it.

"Karma, man. Kar-ma." Billy spoke sounding amused.

The boy kept screaming before Denke spoke.

"The rest of you are free." He said.

All he students got up out of their seats and headed towards the door, including the poisoned boy being guided by Shabnam to the infirmary I'm assuming. Marcus and I stood up with smiles on our faces.

"You two, stay put." Denke said pushing our shoulders down.

I made a shocked face as Marcus made a mad one. I wasn't even taking part in this asshole's shenanigans. Oh fuck me, I can't win can I? I looked at Marcus now having a pissed off expression as well and flicked him off. He returned a sarcastic smile. Once everyone left he spoke to us again.

"Class clown around here... ends poorly. You should know that, Gonzalez." He said addressing me on the last part.

"With all due respect, Mr. Denke, I didn't-" I said before he cut me off.

"I don't wanna hear excuses, Emma. We're in class to learn." He said sternly now addressing both of us.

"Dude, I was trying. Serious. I-I wanna learn, but I'm sort of shit at everything." Marcus said.

Jesus his voice is hot. Why am I thinking about his voice right now? We're literally on the verge of getting detention. He does look really hot right now, though. Holy shit what's wrong with me?

"You'll get there. Give it time. These Legacies, they've been tutored in this their whole lives." Denke said walking off and putting some rubber gloves on.

"Does it bother you? Training people like that?" Marcus asked.

"I thought we were gonna train a generation to burn it all down." He replied now picking up all the tools and things people left on their desks.

"Yeah, but it's like their a bunch of know-it-all's who think they can't be taught anything anymore. It must get annoying is all I'm saying." I said now participating in the conversation.

"Yeah, and well, looks like you're propping it up." Marcus agreed looking away from him.

"They put a carrot on a stick, tell you if you catch it, you'll have the power to achieve your goals. But bit by bit, they move it from your path to theirs." Denke explained vaguely.

"Jesus, Denke, you really have to work on your straightforwardness." I scoffed.

Silence came over is all before he sat next to us.

"That day at the graveyard, Marcus, you said something that reminded me maybe I lost my way." Denke said to Marcus.

"Oh, I didn't mean to crumb on you. You know, talk is cheap. What do I know?" Marcus said.

"It's gonna get worse, not better. Keep your head down. Pick your battles. Save your time for maximum destruction. Play ball at King's until you learn what you need, and then get the fuck out. Both of you." Denke said before getting up again.

"Before finals." Denke finished as he got back to cleaning.

We both looked at him with a blank expression. What the fuck were we supposed to say exactly? He walked away and we looked at each other before getting up and exiting his classroom. After leaving Marcus immediately started rushing.

"Woah, dude where are you going?" I asked hurrying after him.

"Doesn't matter." He said sternly.

"What?" I muttered with my face scrunched up in confusion.

He then went up to Willie and grabbed him by his shoulder turning him around.

What was this dumbass doing? No one was supposed to know about their friendship.

"Dude, something's up I think Jurgen's gonna-" Marcus said before Willie cut him off.

"Who you touching, Rat?" Willie asked shoving Marcus's hand off him and putting on his tough bitch act.

"Oh, cut the shit Willie-" I said stepping up before he cut me off as well.

"Who you think you talkin' to like that?" He asked rudely getting up in my face.

A silence came over us as Willie and I glared at each other.

"Let's just go, Em. He's not worth it." Marcus said grabbing my hand and pulling me away.

I obliged and walked away rolling my eyes. I should've beat that motherfucker's ass, though.