The Mafia's Little Prince

Twelve

✦⋆✦ Leonhart, age 13 ✦⋆✦

The first week of school was great I guess. Maybe since Gavin couldn't get away with picking on me. Mr. Jones seemed to follow our class to the lunch room, so in the end, Gavin only tried once to beat me up, and Mr. Jones was like a dang superhero, grabbing Gavin away from me.

"Leonhart." Mr. Jones called me over to his desk. I got up and sighed. Did I do something? It's Friday. Finally. 

"Yes sir?" I whispered.

"You've been making 95% on every paper in every subject." He stated, sitting back, patting the chair at his desk side. I sat awkwardly. "Is there some reason you miss just enough questions to score 95% each time?"

I was surprised he noticed that...I had been missing just enough to make 95%. Maybe I should have switched it up.

"Hm, just a coincidence," I stated keeping my eyes on my hands.

"I see. Is it also a coincidence that it's always the first question and the last question you get wrong?" I looked up to see him smirking. Why was he paying attention that much? That's a level of creep mode in my opinion! Yet, I found it very skilled to notice such a thing when he grades 12 students' papers and not just mine.

"Uh, I..yeah." I lied, looking away.

"What makes you not want to get perfect scores, Leonhart?" He spoke this time lower and almost as if he cared. 

"I-"

I bit my lip. I think I had grown used to the old school. I scored 100 on everything, and it made the Bryons mad. They told me since I was so smart, I was to read the dictionary and recite it word for word. For over three months, I was constantly beaten for not remembering the pages word for word. It was impossible for me to remember about 50,000 words. Finally, when they were drunk, I tossed the dictionary in the fire pit and told them they had done it. They got so drunk at times, they'd forget what happened the night before. Thankfully they never went to buy another.

"Leonhart?" When Mr. Jones touched me, I didn't mean to do what I did. I smacked his hand away and the sound echoed.

"Mr De Luca!" Mr Otto snapped, but Mr Jones put his hand up, making an 'I'm fine' face over at Otto before looking back at me.

"I-I'm sorry." I whispered.

"It's my fault. I shouldn't touch you without asking. Now, next week, I want to see all 100's, yeah? Don't hold back Leonhart. You are a bright boy. You are surrounded by loving sisters and I can almost bet they would be impressed that you score perfect."
It was almost as if he read my mind when I was thinking about the Brysons.

I nod. I'll keep my 95's for now.

***

After school, Axel and Atticus ran over with Ellie behind.

"Hey! Want to come to the bowling alley with us!" Axel chimed. I pause at my locker. I have never been invited to something, nor have I been bowling...

"Uh, well, I need to ask my sister," I stated.

"Ask what sister what?" Phoebe appeared.

"To go bowling with us," Ellie spoke.

"No. Let's go." Phoebe stated.

"What? Why! I can ask Genevieve." I stated.

"I said no. Come on." She grabbed my hoodie and I tried to yank it away from her.