April's Justice

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FOUR

Jace Carter couldn't help but pay special attention to how April Justice felt. He was raised to think himself superior than others, and even though he wasn't, he had to treat Justice as if he were superior. His parents made it very clear his very first year here that it was important to try to get her to be on their side. When that failed and she chose to be with her band of traitors he had decided to do the next best thing; make her life miserable. She put on a tough exterior and most people bought it and didn't mess with her. Jace was the only exception, and since she had completely humiliated him in front of his parents, he would stop at nothing to humiliate her.

As he walked away from the scene he left behind, April on the ground with tears in her eyes oblivious to the group of onlookers whispering behind their hands, he felt a surge of triumph. He knew she wasn't crying out of embarrassment like he had hoped she would when he thought of saying what he did, but nobody had to know. Instead she shed tears of anger and frustration; she had been in such a good mood only seconds before. He laughed. Did she really think he wouldn't try something like that? How foolish of her.

"Jace!" someone called. He kept on walking figuring if someone needed him so bad they would catch up with him. A hand on his shoulder stopped his progress.

"What?" Jace snapped, angry that he could no longer concentrate on what was happening with Justice. He turned around to face his best friend, Vincent Green, Immediately he felt bad for snapping; he may be terrible to Justice but not to anyone else. He was viewed by most as a nice guy, it was just those close to Justice that saw him as cruel.

"What happened with April?" Vince asked. Jace just shrugged and continued walking, hoping Vince would get the hint that he didn't want to talk right now. After a second, Vince ran to catch up with his friend, falling into step with him. He really didn't like being ignored. "Jace! April. What happened?"

"Nothing." Jace began to walk faster, now starting to get mad. He had planned on sticking around to see how Justice would retaliate, but Vince had caught sight of him. No way would Vince allow him to gloat about it, he was such a gentleman that way, which is exactly what Jace didn't want right now. Might as well continue walking away now that that plan was ruined.

"Really? 'Cause it doesn't look like nothing," Vince said, matching Jace's speed.

"She just fell, okay?" Vince knew Jace was lying. He couldn't believe his best friend would do that, lie to him. For that matter, he couldn't believe he would trip a girl. He knew there was bad blood between Jace Carter and April Justice, wherever it came from, but would his friend seriously stoop so low as to bully her physically now as well as verbally?

"What the hell is your problem?" Vince said, stepping in front of Jace. He knew he was picking a fight, but there was no way he could let this go.

"My problem?" Jace said defensively.

"Yeah. Why do you have to make her life so freaking miserable? What did she ever do to you?" When it was clear to Vince that Jace was not going to respond he continued. "She's not the kind of girl to do something to deserve this! When are you going to realize that whatever you do affects me too? I go over there to help her up and she tells me to get lost! She-"

"Aww, does Vincent have a crush on April?" Jace mocked, caught up in the heat of the moment. Was Vince really talking down to him? Defending Justice? Who did he think he was?

"What do you care? You don't give a damn about anyone other than yourself! I'm surprised more people don't see it! You walk around picking on the weakest person you can find-"

"Weak?! She's more powerful than you and I combined and you know it!" The two boys were now nose-to-nose, breathing heavily, waiting for the other to throw the first punch.

"But she doesn't know that! She has no clue what she is. She's just as lost now as we were before we were told about any of this! She has no clue what the heck is going on. And what do you do? You rub it in her face!"

"You don't think I have a good reason to?" Jace said, throwing a punch. Vince caught his fist in his hand before it made contact with his face.

"I know you don't," Vince said, pushing Jace away from him, releasing his fist. "And just so you know? She said she hates you and wants absolutely nothing to do with you or me. I hope you're happy," Vince said walking away. And happy Jace Carter was. Justice was too nice a girl to openly admit not liking someone, but he knew she hated him, he could feel it boiling inside of her whenever he was around. Just the fact that she said it out loud made him grin; he finally managed to break through the tough face she put on.