High School Royale

14〛Predators

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Prior to the morning of July 16th, the wrong version of this chapter was uploaded. I had uploaded the unedited version. The edited version has since been updated, and it includes numerous revisions, such as deleted unnecessary scenes, lots of added clarity, the usual editing stuff. I apologize for this lapse in quality.

Jesse Mercado - 9:47AM
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Jesse was hidden behind a sprawling bush, wiping down his face with a towel. "Ugh, there's a reason I quit hunting club freshman year," he whispered to Aaron. "I could be playing water polo in this ninety degree weather. And waking up at six during summer?"

"Stop bitching before you scare off another rabbit," Aaron said with a smile. "Just try to enjoy it for Albert's birthday, alright?"

"This is genuinely what a lot of people in Cederton have to do to survive through the winter, y'know," Eddie said. "Including Albert. Don't shame someone's lifestyle just because you haven't been a part of it and are too used to the fuckin' green lawns of Clearwood."

"Yeah... My bad, I'm sorry."

Thomas was beside them, his fingers rapidly flashing across his screen as he texted his new girlfriend. Albert was sneaking past, giving his head a good-natured push forward.

"Bros before hoes. C'mon."

"Sorry," he muttered, putting his phone away.

"Found a deer," Albert whispered, pointing where he came with his rifle. "Wind is still, but be careful of any east breezes. We'll move at an angle."

The boys trekked forward, through the thicket, Jesse soaked in a layer of sweat, his entire body sticky. They arrived at a small clearing, where Albert crouched behind a fallen log. Jesse squatted near a tree stump, setting his gun down, as Albert reached for his earplugs. "Earplugs in, everyone."

Jesse reached into his pockets and put them in, as Albert steadied his shot. His chest inhaled, and he fired. Leaves rustled. Birds flew. The deer fell with a groan.

The group ventured forward, meeting the fallen deer who kicked and cried, hole in their stomach and guts bleeding out.

"Shit," Brandon said. "You hit their guts? I thought you never miss!"

"Me and my shot," Albert cursed. "I could've sworn it would've hit its neck."

"Poor thing," Thomas said. "Let's put him out of his misery."

They all had to speak loud to hear over the earplugs. Albert didn't move, just staring at the deer while it cried and bled.

"Albert?" Aaron asked.

"The meat's gonna spoil, man," Brian warned.

Albert continued staring, his gaze hardening.

"Albert," Jesse said, setting a hand on his shoulder. "It was a mistake, it's okay."

That seemed to awaken him. "Oh, my bad. I just... I simply felt bad, that's all."

He crouched by the deer, placing a hand on its head, aiming at the neck. "Thank you." The gun fired. Jesse turned away, facing Aaron instead, whose hard, questioning gaze penetrated Albert.

. . .

"So do you wanna talk about how you acted earlier?" Aaron asked.

Jesse looked up from his workbench, where he had been hammering nails into his bat.. "What's there to talk about?"

He snorted. "Don't play dumb, Jesse. You know exactly what me and Maria mean."

"He's right, Jesse," Maria said, arms crossed. "What the hell was that? Why did you seem so on board with their plan?"