So American, Kwon Jae-Sung - Eli Moskowitz

Chapter One: One Kiss

The morning bell rang, signaling the start of a new school year at West Valley High. The air buzzed with a mixture of excitement and anxiety as students filed into their classrooms, eager to see their friends and speculate about the months ahead.

Miguel strode into the classroom with Eli and Rika close behind him. The three had arrived early enough to claim their usual spots in the back corner—prime seating for blending into the background while still maintaining a full view of the room.

"Good morning, everyone, and welcome to a brand new year at West Valley High. I hope you all had a great summer and are ready to dive back into the school year."

The announcement did little to calm the restless energy in the room. Desks creaked as students shifted, and whispers continued to ripple through the space. Eli turned to Miguel, his mischievous grin firmly in place. "Dude" Eli began, leaning closer. "You kissed Sam?"

Miguel stiffened, the words pulling him back to the present. He hesitated, glancing at Rika before giving a short nod. "Yeah."

Eli's grin widened. "Nice!" He gave Miguel a playful bump with his shoulder, but Miguel didn't share the enthusiasm. His mood remained subdued, weighed down by something Eli either didn't notice or chose to ignore.

"Nice?" Rika repeated, her voice cutting through the noise like a blade. A few heads turned, curious about the rising tension. "That's all you're going to say about this?"

Eli blinked, genuinely caught off guard by her tone. "What? It's not a big deal, Rika." He shrugged, brushing her off. "I'm just saying, it's about time Miguel made a move. You're not seriously mad about this, are you?"

Miguel's gaze dropped to the desk, his voice barely above a whisper. "No, not nice. I shouldn't have done that to Tory."

Eli raised an eyebrow, his grin unwavering. "Why limit yourself to one chick? I plan to have a full rotation by the time midterms come around," he said, his tone as casual as if he were discussing lunch plans.

Miguel stared at him, his frustration breaking through the guilt. "What? Dude, are you serious?"

"Are you serious, Eli?" Rika interjected sharply, her voice rising with anger. "That's how you talk about women? Like we're just... disposable?"

Eli flinched at her words but quickly masked it with his usual nonchalance. "What? It's a joke, Rika. You're reading way too much into this."

"Do you even hear yourself? Or care how this makes me feel? Because I'm sitting right here, Eli."

Miguel shifted uncomfortably beside her, his voice hesitant. "Rika, come on. You know Hawk didn't mean it like that."

Rika crossed her arms, her glare unwavering. "Sure, because that makes it okay."

Eli raised his hands, grinning again like it would smooth things over. "Relax, Rika. I'm giving Miguel props. Sam's a catch, right?"

"And Tory's a person," Rika shot back, her tone sharp. "Or does that not matter to you?"

Eli's grin faltered, his confidence dimming for just a second. "You're making way too big a deal out of this."

"It's not funny," she said, her voice unwavering. "Do you even hear yourself? Or are you too busy being—"

"Hey!" Eli snapped, his tone sharper than before. The easygoing mask slipped entirely, replaced by irritation. "Don't act like I'm the bad guy here."

"Then stop acting like one," Rika retorted, her voice quieter but no less cutting.

The air between them grew thick with tension, drawing uneasy glances from nearby classmates.

Then, a scrawny, nervous-looking student approached Eli. His awkward smile wavered as he cleared his throat. "Uh, hey, Eli. Just so you know, I wet the bed until I was thirteen. Nothing to be ashamed of," he said with a nervous laugh.

The room went silent.

Eli's face twisted with annoyance, his usual bravado giving way to something darker. Without a word, he slapped the student's books from his hands, sending them scattering across the floor. "Get the hell out of my face," Eli growled, his voice cold and venomous.

The student froze, his face pale, before scrambling to pick up his things. The awkward shuffle of papers filled the room as he hurried away.

Miguel blinked, looking between Eli and the retreating student. "What was that about?" he asked, his voice a mix of confusion and disbelief.

Eli shrugged, his irritation still evident. "Nothing. Don't worry about it."

Miguel exchanged a glance with Rika, but neither said a word.

The intercom woman continued her announcements, blissfully unaware of the tension brewing in the classroom. "You can also buy tickets for the fall musical. There will be a production of the global hit, Grease," she announced brightly. "And as we embark on another academic year, it's important that we be tolerant of all our peers, regardless of—"

Her words were abruptly cut off by the unmistakable sounds of a scuffle. A sharp rustling and muffled shouting crackled through the intercom, followed by a piercing burst of static.

"Hey! You're not supposed to be here!" the woman's voice shouted, her tone shifting from calm authority to panic. "Give that back! Ow!"

The static screeched again, and for a moment, everything fell silent. Then, a new voice broke through, sharp and full of venom.

"Samantha LaRusso," Tory Nichols said, her tone cold and calculated. "I know what you did, and you're going to pay for it. I'm coming for you, bitch!"

Miguel's blood ran cold as the intercom cut out abruptly, leaving an oppressive silence in its wake. His mind raced, trying to piece together what he'd just heard, while the weight of Tory's words pressed down on him. Around the room, students exchanged wide-eyed glances, murmurs starting to rise like the beginnings of a storm.

"Whoa," Eli said, breaking the silence with a low whistle. He leaned back in his chair, clearly impressed. "Did she just hijack the intercom? That's some next-level psycho."

"Not the time, Hawk," Miguel snapped, his voice tight.

Rika looked between them, her expression a mix of concern and disbelief. "What the hell was that? Did she seriously just threaten Sam over the school intercom?"

Miguel ran a hand through his hair, his jaw clenched. "It's Tory," he said quietly, as if that explained everything.