Brown Sugar

Chapter Eight.

Justin had skipped breakfast the morning after the confrontation with his father. Both men were still mad with one another. Justin pulled up to campus early. While he was parking his car, he noticed more girls than usual staring at him. Some guys were even gazing at him too while walking. He figured that it was because word of the fight with Roger spread. Once he finished parking his car, he let out a sigh of relief once when he saw Kyle making his way over to the car.

"What's going on?" Kyle asked once he was finally at Justin's side.

Justin took out a cigarette before replying. "I don't know, and I really don't care. I have other things on my mind," he replied.

"Oh. Did something happen to Bey?" Kyle raised his eyebrows.

"What the hell are you talking about, Kyle?" Justin gave him a look.

"Nothing. What's on your mind then?" Kyle tried to deflect.

"I got into a huge argument with my father last night." Justin began walking towards the campus with Kyle.

"I knew that you would eventually..." Kyle stated honestly. "What happened exactly?" he questioned.

Justin took a deep sigh before explaining, "He told me I should learn my place, apologize to my 'friends', and that everything was Beyoncé's fault." He shook his head.

"It could have been worse," Kyle shrugged.

"Apparently, I broke one of Roger's ribs," Justin couldn't help but chuckle.

"Are you serious?" Kyle tried to hold in his smile but failed. Justin nodded as confirmation.

"My father is going to pay the medical bill. I spoke with Beyoncé yesterday, and she showed me her wrist. You can see Roger's handprint. I really wish I could kick his ass all over again," Justin huffed, crossing his arms.

"You need to calm down. It's too early to be getting worked up," Kyle said.

"I shouldn't be worked up about that?" Justin furrowed his eyebrows.

"Quite getting defensive. Bey is fine right? Going at Roger again won't do anything but make your father angrier, you in trouble with school... or worse, the police," Kyle cringed.

"I know. I hate when you're right." Justin looked away for a moment. The two friends sat silently on the bench, trying to avoid the occasional glares passing students would give them.

"Do you think Roger will be back today?" Justin finally broke the silence while crushing his cigarette.

"Probably not, I don't—" Kyle began to answer when suddenly he held his tongue and stood up frozen like a statue, looking at something in the distance.

"What are you looking at?" Justin asked as he stood as well in attempt to see what caught his best friend's attention. He could then see a small crowd of students that made their way to the bench he and Kyle occupied.

"LET US THROUGH!!" An angry voice shouted within the middle of the crowd. Justin and Kyle looked at each other. They knew that voice anywhere; it was Roger. Justin wondered if he should go in the opposite direction to avoid him, or stand his ground and risk an altercation on school property. He only had a second to make his decision, but it was too late.

Roger was in full view, and for the first time, both Kyle and Justin looked at his injuries on display. He was walking with a noticeable limp, but Justin thought that he was being extremely dramatic to get attention and sympathy. He could see the bruise on the side of his face. Then Drake and Alex stood beside him.