Reckless Charms (New Boy from Juvie)

Under the Radar

The school courtyard buzzed with activity as students gathered for lunch. Groups of friends chatted animatedly, and the smell of food wafted through the air. Cleo and her friends, Luna and Max, were seated at their usual spot, enjoying their lunch and discussing their morning classes.

Across the courtyard, Kai sat alone at a bench, eating quietly. His dark hair and sharp features made him stand out, but he preferred to keep a low profile. His presence had attracted attention, not all of it positive.

A group of bullies, led by a student named Blake, spotted Kai from across the courtyard. Blake and his cronies, who were known for their disruptive behavior, exchanged looks and smirks as they approached Kai's bench.

Blake, a tall boy with a scowl permanently etched on his face, swaggered up to Kai. "Hey, Mercer," he said loudly, his voice dripping with mockery. "I see you're still hanging around here. Don't you have somewhere else to be?"

Kai glanced up from his lunch, his expression calm but his eyes cold. "I'm fine where I am."

Blake's smirk widened as he leaned closer. "Really? Because it looks like you're just a sitting duck here. Aren't you afraid of getting a little... attention?"

One of Blake's friends, a girl named Sarah, snickered. "Yeah, we heard you were a big shot at juvie. What, did you come here to start trouble or something?"

The other bullies laughed, their voices loud and mocking. Kai remained seated, his face a mask of indifference. He took a slow bite of his food, choosing not to engage with their taunts.

Cleo, who had been chatting with Luna and Max, noticed the commotion from across the courtyard. She could see Kai's tense posture and the way he was being targeted by the bullies. Her friends also noticed and exchanged concerned looks.

"Should we do something?" Max asked, his voice low but filled with concern.

Cleo, her brow furrowed, watched as the bullies continued their taunts. She felt a surge of sympathy for Kai, but she also knew the importance of picking the right moment to intervene. "Let's see how he handles it first."

Blake, clearly enjoying the attention, reached out and knocked Kai's lunchbox off the bench, sending it tumbling to the ground. "Oops. Didn't mean to do that," he said, feigning innocence.

Kai's eyes narrowed slightly, but he still did not rise from his seat. Instead, he calmly reached down to pick up his lunchbox, his movements deliberate and controlled. "I don't have time for this," he said quietly, his voice steady despite the provocation.

Blake's grin faltered slightly at Kai's calm demeanor. "What's the matter? Afraid to fight back? Or are you just a coward?"

Before Kai could respond, Cleo stood up from her table and walked over with Luna and Max in tow. Her approach was confident and cheerful, a stark contrast to the tense situation.

"Hey, guys," Cleo said, her voice bright but with an edge of authority. "Is there a problem here?"

Blake turned to Cleo, his expression shifting to one of irritation. "Nothing you need to worry about, Cleo. Just having some fun."

Cleo gave him a disarming smile. "Well, I'd hate for any 'fun' to turn into something more serious. How about you leave Kai alone and find something else to do?"

Blake opened his mouth to retort, but Cleo's unwavering gaze and the presence of her friends made him reconsider. With a dismissive snort, he waved his hand and said, "Whatever. We're done here."

The bullies slunk away, grumbling amongst themselves. Cleo turned back to Kai, her expression softening. "You alright?"

Kai looked up at her, a flicker of gratitude in his eyes. "Yeah, thanks. I can handle them."

Cleo smiled warmly. "I'm sure you can. But it never hurts to have a little backup."

Max and Luna joined Cleo, their expressions a mix of concern and relief. "You sure you're okay?" Luna asked.

Kai nodded, looking more relaxed now. "I am. Thanks for stepping in."

Cleo and her friends returned to their table, their conversation picking up where it left off. Kai, now feeling a bit more at ease, quietly finished his lunch, occasionally glancing over at Cleo and her friends with a hint of appreciation.

As lunch break continued, Cleo couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment for standing up for Kai. The brief interaction had made her see a different side of him and had strengthened her resolve to get to know him better.

After the confrontation with the bullies and Kai's return to his own separate table, Cleo and her friends resumed their lunch. The cafeteria buzzed with noise and activity as students chatted and ate.

Luna, who had been unusually quiet since the incident, leaned in closer to Cleo and Max, her voice dropping to a hushed whisper.

"Hey, Cleo," Luna began, glancing over at Kai, who was now sitting alone at a different table. "I've been thinking about Kai. When he was dealing with those bullies, I was actually half-expecting him to pull out a knife or something. With all the rumors, it wouldn't have shocked me."

Cleo looked over at Kai, her expression steady. "I didn't get that vibe. I thought he handled it pretty well."

Luna sighed, her gaze still on Kai. "Yeah, he did handle it, but the rumors about him are hard to ignore. I pity him a bit, but... I'm just not sure. I mean, my dad is the chief justice, and I've seen how the system works. If someone ends up in juvie, they must have done something pretty serious to get there. I trust the judiciary to do its job."

Cleo nodded in agreement, her voice firm. "I understand. I mean, I trust the system too. If he's been through juvie, there has to be a reason for it."

Max, sensing the growing tension, intervened. "But maybe people can change. We don't really know him yet."

Luna shook her head slightly. "I want to believe that, but it's hard. The rumors paint him as someone dangerous, and it's not easy to just overlook that. I'm cautious, especially given what I've heard."

Cleo looked at Luna sympathetically. "I get where you're coming from. It's tough to shake off those preconceptions. But maybe we should give him a chance to show us who he really is."

Luna glanced at Kai, who was now eating quietly at his table, seemingly lost in his own thoughts. "I suppose. It's just that the idea of him being dangerous doesn't completely go away. Even if he's not acting out now, the past doesn't just disappear."

Max tried to offer a balanced perspective. "True, but everyone deserves a chance to prove themselves. Maybe he's trying to start fresh."

Cleo's gaze softened as she considered Luna's concerns and Max's perspective. "I guess it's worth considering. Maybe spending more time with him could help us understand if he's really changed."

As the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch, the students began gathering their things. Kai remained seated at his table, seemingly detached from the ongoing conversation. Cleo and her friends headed to their next classes, each reflecting on the day's events in their own way. Kai's presence, though physically separate, loomed large in their minds as they navigated their growing acquaintance with him.