Partners In Crime

1 Justice For Johnty

The roundabout on the playground of Leeoy High was spinning so fast it became a blur, to the point it almost looked like a helicopter propeller taking off.

No student would dare to be on it when it's mildly fast, let alone this rapid.
Some students wouldn't  go on the secondary school playground equipment as they deem it childish and irrelevant. But not Johnty Bills. The dark and curly-haired bad boy redefined the overused contraption and found a new way of playing with it.

When it was over, he came out differently than when he entered. His hair was frazzled, and his uniform - which consisted of blue trousers, a black tie and shirt - was a mess. Other than that, he remained in one piece. He didn't even hurl.
A second later, he was swarmed, by other students who gave him every celebratory gesture under the sun, capping it off by a handful of kids lifting him like a trophy, up to the dark, grey and miserable sky. It was a good thing they were soon going in. And even then, the students had plenty of time to cheer him on, further encouraging the reckless behaviour he was well known for doing in this school.

It doesn't get better than this.
And he was right.
It only nose-dived. And it all started by hearing a familiar slow clap. He, like everyone else, turned to see who it was. Three girls were standing there, facing the crowd, all exceptionally smug.

The girl at the centre is a thin girl with fair skin, big blue eyes, and a black hair band. Her hair is straight, blonde, and is waist-length. She and her entourage's uniforms were the same as the males but reversed. It was a short-sleeved white collared shirt, a black tie, a dark-blue pleated skirt, almost knee-high white socks, and black Mary Jane shoes. Leggings were also clothing they could wear.

Her name was Chelsea, the popular rich and snotty girl. Accompanying her were Ashleigh and Kayleigh Magno Opo.

"Not bad, for a Neanderthal."

John's triumphant smile faded and was replaced with a scowl.
It didn't help that the crowd cowardly put him down quicker than he was raised, then giving the foursome space. Even his best friends Jacob and Noah left.

"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing." Chelsea shrugged.
"I'm just saying. With your brain the size of a pea, I won't be surprised you came out all defective. Not that I'll be upset."
"I won't expect anything less."
"The stunt you pulled wasn't even original. I can have five trained monkeys do that efficiently."
"Excuse me if I'm not a rich snob like you."
"At least my parents didn't get divorced due to constant insubordination behaviour like you."

Johnty growled and Chelsea smirked. She got to him. She could tell she touched a nerve. Just the response she foresaw. Now to reel it home. She leaned closer so their noses were almost touching.

"You know why? Because I'm loved."
She got out a nickel, took his hand, opened his palm and placed it there.
"It's not much, but it's a start." She giggled. "Who knows? Maybe you'll be just as wealthy as me. Doubt it though."

She turned and walked away. Johnty, fists clenched, took off his tie, lashed out and tried to gag her. But before he could even do anything, the blonde screamed.
That was all the others needed to chant, itching for a fight they so desperately wanted to instigate. It was a sharp contrast to how they earlier acted.
At the same time, the bell rang. And if it wasn't the fact no one came in afterwards that caused suspicion, it was the depleted look on their eyes that showed how much the strictness of the school had gotten to them.

Either way, the break-time duty teacher came in, breaking into the circle like a sharp knife cutting an onion.
The students briskly left after that.

Long story short, the boy is now in detention. It won't be the last time either. Nine times out of then it'll be his actions that sends him here. But he mostly didn't do anything wrong this time. He just played the victim to this school's corrupt biased justice system, since they're scared to look into it properly because Chelsea can boycott them with a snap of a finger.
So in a way, she owns this school, which makes the experience here at Leroy even worse. He could have been the bigger man and simply walked away.
But he didn't.