PAPER RINGS || MARCUS LOPEZ.

𝙎𝙀𝙑𝙀𝙉𝙏𝙀𝙀𝙉

❝ I'm telling you, DeLuca is failing me because I'm against domestic violence. ❞

❝ If you pair up with your boyfriend for a combat class, you do realise you will have to hit him and vice versa. ❞

Dylan rolled her eyes ❝ Saya? Back me up? ❞

It was Devon's first day back and Dylan and Saya had been stuck to her side since she'd come in the door.

Dylan didn't open her mouth to anyone about Maria, there was another Kuroki meeting after classes and she'd told Marcus that's when she'd break the news. Try and deescalate tensions, at least until after they'd fixed their Chester mess.

Everyone had been staring at them, well, at Devon. Yukios murder was now common knowledge and the rumour mill was working overtime with speculations.

❝ Everyone is saying it was Soto Vatos. ❞ Devon mumbled, more so to Saya who was in the middle as they walked ❝ Maria played you. Played all of us. Yukios death makes us vulnerable. ❞

It felt weird hearing her sister talk about the boy she loved as if he were an object, something that stopped Kuroki from imploding. It felt even worse to know she was right in everything she said.

❝ Saya, hey! ❞ As if scripted, Maria sauntered over to the trio who had stopped at Sayas locker ❝ I need to talk to you. Alone. ❞

Dylan and Devon shared a look before sulking off to join the other Kurokis who stood outside the Poision lab.

Initially when Dylan looked over her shoulder it was to see if Marcus was around, but when she saw Juan make a beeline for Sayas locker with a blade any thoughts she previously had were forgotten.

It was a set up.

❝ Saya! ❞

In a matter of seconds both Soto Vatos and Kuroki were head to head in the hallway, Juans plan had went to shit after Dylan's unexpected warning.

❝ You set her up! ❞ Dylan spat, knuckles turning white as she gripped a weapon that had been passed to her.

❝ I would never! ❞

❝ Never what? ❞ Dylan scoffed ❝ You don't exactly have a great track record when it comes to loyalty, I'm sure Chico could vouch. ❞

At this point the girls were face to face, both knew this wasn't just about Yukio anymore. It was an accumulation of every flirtatious comment or look that lasted a little too long.

It was the buildup brought too by Chicos murder, by everything that happened in Vegas. Every snide remark or unnecessary touch.

It was no longer Kuroki against Soto Vato, but Dylan against Maria.

❝ Wait, stop! ❞

Marcus had come between the two girls, hand latched firmly around Dylan's wrist as he tried putting an end to whatever transpired in his absence.

There wasn't time for questions, the Monks too had heard something was happening and were mere feet away, shoving students into whatever dorm room was closest to where they stood.

Dylan had been locked in Marcus' room, as was Marcus, Willie and Viktor.

❝ Open the door. ❞ She demanded, tugging a bobby pin from her hair and shoving it in Marcus' face ❝ I need to talk to Saya. ❞

❝ No one gets out during clampdown. ❞ Willie tutted, dropping a bouquet of flowers onto Shabnams desk.

Marcus shoved her hand away and took his student ID from his blazer pocket in an attempt to unlock the door ❝ Jammed from the outside. ❞