JUVENILE

CHAPTER 1

BENJAMIN looked out of the window, staring mindlessly at nothing in particular. The raindrops kept pouring heavily and dampened the land of Daffodil Meadow. The weather that morning was as murky and gloomy as his perfectly-sculpted face.

The chauffeur drove him straight to the new school that his parents chose for him. He did not feel excited, but he was not indignant either. His heart was only filled with emptiness as if he was just a lifeless doll. "We have arrived here, Mr. Harrison."

He lifted his head from the headrest, gazing at the main gate of the school. There were not that many students outside, maybe some of them had already started their lessons. 'Golden Oak High School...' He recited the signboard that hung on the giant barrier.

He hopped out of the passenger seat as soon as the chauffeur opened the door for him. "Do you want me to accompany you inside, Mr. Harrison?" The middle-aged man asked politely. "No need," Benjamin answered without sparing any glance at the older male.

He began to enter the school area and went to the office to register beforehand. When he walked inside, he was greeted by the smiling female clerk who was sitting at the desk. "Are you the new student for 11th grade?" She inquired as if she already knew him.

"Benjamin Harrison, right?" She asked again for assurance while opening the personnel file. Benjamin just nodded his head in response. He did not utter even a single word. The bitterly cold expression had never worn off from his face. "Hendery! Hendery!"

The woman shouted suddenly, calling for someone else. "I am here! I am here!" There came another person behind Benjamin in an instant. The boy named Hendery seemed like he was the same age as him. "Here is your new classmate," the clerk pointed at him.

"Usher him to your classroom," she instructed. Hendery looked at him and he smiled widely in excitement. "Come! Come!" He held Benjamin by the arm and dragged him out of the place. "Your name is Benjamin, right? I already heard about you yesterday."

He started chatting gleefully as they walked side by side to the building. "I am Hendery Clinton by the way. You can call me Hen or Dery or whatever you like. I am one of the school leader boards." Benjamin had no desire to respond to his introduction at all.

He kept his mouth shut and fixed his gaze at the front. "Psstt!" Hendery leaned closer to him while cupping his mouth with one of his hands. "I know too many secrets about everyone in this school. You can ask me anything and I will tell you in full details."

Benjamin rolled his eyes and quickened his pace. He was not the type of person who would meddle in others' businesses. "Wait! Wait!" Hendery ran after him as he was left behind. Both of them headed upstairs since the classroom was located on the third floor.

Hendery led the way and Benjamin followed him quietly. They barely reached their destination when they heard loud chaotic noises nearby. Benjamin glanced at the boy beside him in confusion. His ears caught some horrifying cries from the classroom.

"I think there is a fight going on," Hendery muttered slowly. "You wait here, okay?" He rushed inside promptly, leaving Benjamin alone in the hallway. The curiosity got the better of Benjamin as he stepped further to peek at what was happening there.

He decided to stand behind the other students who were gathering at the door frame. "YOU MOTHER FUCKER!" A hoarse voice cursed aloud. "Zach! Stop!" The softer tone of another person chided. Benjamin could not help but look at the owner of those vocals.

His eyebrows twitched once his eyes landed on one of the boys who got his whole face covered with blood. Most of the tables and chairs were scattered all over the place. Some of them even broke into pieces due to the extreme violence. "LET GO OF ME, FUCKER!"

The bloody boy growled angrily while trying to free himself from the school prefects. "Zach, what is the matter this time? This is the second time you fight this week!" Hendery spoke out. "You should ask that dumb bitch! He is the one who started it!"

The other boy who seemed like the opponent of the one named 'Zach' snorted in exasperation. "I never start shit with you, Zachary Adam! If you did not run your mouth like an idiot, I would never punch you on the face!" He spat full of hatred. "ENOUGH!"

Hendery raised his voice all of a sudden. He stared at the culprits in anger. "No need to blame each other! Both of you are at fault here! Zach, I think you should mind your tongue from now on! We all know that you like to provoke people with your words!"

He reprimanded Zachary Adam and then turned his head to the other side. "And you!" His index finger was directed toward the second offender. "You should work on your temper. You even get angry over the smallest thing. Control your fists a little, will you?"

Another school prefect grumbled as well next to Hendery, "You guys keep destroying our chairs and tables. Who is going to pay for this damage now? Do you think our school has enough money to repair all of this? This is why our Principle gets bald every day."

Benjamin shook his head, retreating himself from the crowd. 'Same shit again,' he thought in boredom. He shoved his hands inside the pockets and leaned his back against the veranda. He had to wait for the chaos to cool down before entering the classroom.

Not long after that, Zachary Adam stormed out of the class while shoving people out of his way. He was breathing heavily due to uncontrollable wrath. Benjamin scrutinized the figure who just walked past him. He watched the boy leave until he was out of sight.

He could not even see his features clearly since his entire face was coated with fresh red liquid. "Zachary Adam... Zachary Adam..." He repeated the name indistinctly. He had no idea who this person was, but all he knew was he needed to avoid him at all costs.