The FYP

Chapter Third

A/N: Edited chapter. Major and minor. 

Chapter Third

Joy

 Jonah was asking for trouble the moment he had dragged the poor boy away. I bit my bottom lip. He had the tendency to do something on impulse especially when it involved Kim's group. Lucas was quick to follow them down into the pit; but we all knew he’ll fail at trying to save his friend.

 Mike muttered, “Yeah, or he just wants Nur’s attention again.”

 Lucas paused at that, whirling around to look at him. “What?”

 Natalie rolled her eyes. “Your brother there,” she hissed, “still has a crush on her, ever since he was New Blood. That’s the only reason why he’s trying to mess with Kim,” She spitted out his name like it tasted vile on her tongue, “now.”

 Anil sniggered, “Yeah and not because he’s getting back at Kim for ‘rubbing’ you the wrong way.” He wiggled his eyebrows; the innuendo was not lost to us.

 She glared at him. “What about you Anil? Vicky still painting your ‘pride’ in your sleep after the New Year’s party?”

 “She used a permanent marker!!!” Anil’s face flamed up.

 The two started arguing then, between who had it worse when it came to a thorn at their side. Lucas gave them a weirded out look; so he asked me, “He has a crush on her? Still?”

 I hesitated, not sure how to answer.

 Mike explained it instead, “It’s just what we’re guessing. He’s been doing this for two years now. Always getting Victoire," he pointed at her, the blonde girl standing next to Nur by the graffiti wall, "or Kim riled up; get a reaction from them to get Nur,” He shrugged, “to step in and stop him. She’s the only one he listens to.”

 I saw the gears rotating in Lucas’s head, twirling at this one bit of information. This got me curious.

 “Did Jonah tell you about her?” I asked.

 His expression turned from thoughtful to cold. “No. I met her on the bus, saying she knew him.” He stared at me and it was unnerving really. He had the same cold glare Jonah has. I squirmed beneath his gaze a little. “They’re not friends though?”

 At this part, Anil gave a bark of mean laughter. “Friends? Mate, I don’t think that’s what they were.” He had this suggestive look on his face. “Rumour has it they secretly dated two years ago, away from everyone’s attention.”

 “More like our attention.” Nat grumbled loudly.

 Anil rolled his eyes but continued. “But they broke up because of him doing...all of that," he gestured at Jonah dragging TJ along, "so now he’s trying to get her attention by going after her friends.”

 “And yours too from the looks of it.” Natalie quipped in bitterly. “He better not scare him away.”

 Lucas shook his head as if this was too much for him to process. “I-” he let out a frustrated growl, “I need to go save TJ.”

 He ran off, racing down the steps as quickly as he could. I stared after him, contemplating. His reaction to the news seemed...well, it wasn’t expected. He was shocked but I noticed that one flicker of unease on his face. He went up to the crowd below, trying to get through. But Jonah had done the damage now. Kim and the New Blood had already begun to square off.

 “Come on,” Mike said, “Might as well enjoy the show. And who knows Nat,” he smirked at her, “maybe the New Blood will win.”

 We made our way down the Pit, where the battle had started and was already at full blast.