Darkson High

1.15

The sun had dipped below the horizon, leaving a soft afterglow in the sky as Jake and Nikky made their way to their favorite spot—the park where they'd first met a decade ago. It was a quiet, almost hidden part of the neighborhood, away from the noise and chaos of the main streets. The park wasn't much to look at: a few benches scattered around a small grassy area, a half-broken swing set, and a towering oak tree that shaded them during the day. But it was theirs.

Jake settled onto the familiar, worn-out bench under the oak tree, adjusting his sunglasses to the top of his head, a cigarette already tucked behind his ear. Nikky plopped down beside him, setting a box of freshly bought beignets in her lap. The sweet smell of powdered sugar wafted up, making both their mouths water. It was a spot filled with memories, some sweet like the pastries, and others more complicated.

"Man, these are still the best," Jake said, grabbing a beignet and taking a big bite, powdered sugar dusting his lips. "I've missed this. Missed us."

Nikky chuckled, reaching for a beignet of her own. "You missed beignets more than me, admit it."

Jake shot her a sidelong glance, a small grin tugging at his lips. "Alright, maybe it's a tie."

They both laughed, a comfortable, familiar sound that echoed through the park. They ate in silence for a while, savoring the food and each other's company. For the first time in what felt like forever, it felt like nothing had changed.

Nikky looked over at Jake, smirking as she noticed the cigarette behind his ear. "Still with the cigarettes, huh? You know those are gonna kill you."

Jake shrugged, grinning. "Gotta have some vices. Besides, I think they make me look cool."

Nikky rolled her eyes. "Yeah, like a delinquent. You really leaned into that look in England, didn't you?"

Jake's smile faltered slightly, a shadow crossing his face. He leaned back, staring up at the darkening sky. "You could say that. That place... it wasn't what I expected."

She could sense the shift in his tone and decided to press gently. "So, what really happened over there? Why'd you get kicked out?"

Jake hesitated, his jaw tightening. "You know, the usual. Sneaking out, breaking curfew, getting into fights. But it wasn't just that. It was... darker."

Nikky's expression softened, but her curiosity sharpened. "Darker how?"

He sighed, running a hand through his hair, the cigarette nearly falling from his ear. "That school was full of rich assholes who thought they owned the world. I got into it with this one guy, Sebastian, real piece of work. He liked to push people around, thought he could get away with anything because his dad was on the board."

Nikky nodded, listening intently. "Sounds like another Kyle."

"Yeah, but worse," Jake said, his voice low. "One night, he and his buddies went too far. They were hazing this kid, younger than us, terrified out of his mind. I saw it happening and... I just snapped. Jumped in, started throwing punches. Got a little too carried away. Didn't stop until a teacher pulled me off him."

Nikky's eyes widened slightly, but she kept her voice calm. "Jesus, Jake. You beat him up?"

Jake looked down at his hands, as if still seeing the blood on them. "Yeah. And I don't regret it. But they did. Got expelled the next day. The headmaster's daughter, who I was sort of seeing, tried to get them to reconsider, but they didn't want to hear it. Didn't want their precious school to look bad."

Nikky reached out, placing a hand on his arm. "So that's why you came back. And now you're dealing with Kyle."

Jake's face hardened, a shadow crossing his features. "I don't think Kyle's gonna be a problem. After the 'lesson' I gave him, he knows better than to try anything else." His tone was almost chilling, his eyes narrowing slightly, making it clear he meant every word.