We Are Similarly Different

Je'Kai Arden

"What do you say we attend class today? Kyle and his cronies say that the new girl is quite the catch. Je'Kai grunted. "He better keep his filthy hands off of her." He whispered more to himself. "What was that bro?" "Nothing, let's just get to class." Je'Kai threw his hoody over his head as they walked into the classroom. The only seats open were the two behind Kyle and Azariah. Vincenzo picked up on the hesitant glance he offered the new girl before hanging his head low and taking his seat.
"Je'Kai it's unnecessary to wear that indoors, don't you think?" Azariah questioned over her shoulder. Vincenzo scoffed. "Girlie, I don't know who you think you are, but I think it's best you stay quiet like the rest of the class and finish your work." Je'Kai grew angry at his friends disrespect. "Shut it Tesco." Vincenzo only continued. "No, I will not, this bitch-" Vincenzo's sentence was left incomplete as Je'Kai attacked him as if he called him Jack Frost.
Nobody even attempted to get Je'Kai off of Vincenzo. They were confused as to what the fight was about. The class just watched. Je'Kai could only hear Azariah shouting at everyone to move out of the way. "Kyle I have to stop him." "He's dangerous Preston, leave it alone." Azariah's voice was strained, as if she were hurting. "Kyle, let me go." Je'Kai stopped pounding into Vincenzo's face and turned to face the squabbling pair.
Kyle had his hands gripped around Azariah's wrists. He saw the shift of Je'Kai's attention. Shock replaced her desperate expression. Je'Kai was still angry. Just not at his friend. "She said let her go Yale." Kyle laughed. "She's my girlfriend Arden, I wouldn't have let go if you made me. Vincenzo rubbed the blood from his face and interrupted Je'Kai's response and leaned over his shoulder. "We'll talk about this later." "Oh, is that so? And what's little Kai going to do about it ?" Kyle taunted as he shoved Azariah into Damon's chest. Je'Kai went taut. "Why don't you call me that again?" Je'Kai asked as Kyle approached him with a smile on his face. "Get Azariah out of here." Je'Kai said to Vincenzo, who made his way towards the girl. He was too late, Kyle had slammed into Je'Kai and whispered "Jack Frost is for sissies."
Azariah watched as Je'Kai pounded his fists into Kyle's face. His friend Vincenzo attempted to get him to stop by yelling while Damon and Ryan tried pulling Kyle out from underneath Je'Kai's frame. Everytime they successfully got him out, Je'Kai had only pulled him right back. Kyle was unconscious but Je'Kai couldn't care less. He continously threw punches at the boy.
That was until he heard Azariah's scream. Je'Kai threw one last blow at Kyle, yet it never landed on the boys flesh. Azariah called out again. "Jack Frost, it's enough. Everybody who had only been cheering for the fight to get worse fell silent.
They'd watched as Je'Kai approached Azariah a lot calmer than he did Kyle. Looking passed Azariah he spoke angrily at Vincenzo. "Were you not supposed to get her out of here?" He then pulled Azariah into a hug. "I'm sorry Rapunzel."
Azariah wasn't having his apologies. She shoved herself from his grip and slammed her fists at him. "You're nothing like I remember." Je'Kai's shoulders dropped, he wanted nothing more than to take it back but there was no way he could.
He effortlessly gripped her hands and pulled her into his arms.
"I didn't love a monster." She cried continuously. Je'Kai didn't know what to do. He only knew that he hated hurting her, just like when they were kids. "I'm sorry Aza. I didn't mean to hurt you." He apologised, just like when they were children.
The bell signaling the end of the school day sounded. He tried loosening the grip she held his shirt but lacked the energy or even the will to do so.
Vincenzo, noticing the two sided struggle and pulled them apart. "I'm not the same person you left behind Aza. I'm a danger to you. I promise never to interfere with your relationships and you're going to promise to stay away from me."
As hard as he tried to mask it, his voice sounded broken. He wanted nothing more than to be alone. He walked away. He drowned the voice from his head as Azariah tried hopelessly to stop him.
With Vincenzo not far behind, they left the school building. As fresh air entered Je'Kai's lungs, he calmed down. Noticing, Vincenzo got right to it.
"Are you going to fill me in on what happened back there Arden?" Je'Kai rolled his eyes drastically and kicked over everything in his way. "Azariah and I go way back." Je'Kai said breathlessly. He fought off the tears stinging his eyes and tried to swallow the knot in his throat.
He pushed her away, he couldn't let it get to him anymore. "On the contrary my friend, if my eyes do not deceive me, I'd say you're in love with this girl. You've loved her all your life."
Je'Kai nodded. "No shit Sherlock. Vince, I've never felt like this about anyone else." Vincenzo shook his head. "See, that's what I don't understand. You know you love her, yet you do the complete opposite and make her believe that you hate her." Je'Kai sighed, he just wanted to be alone, yet knowing Vincenzo it would never happen. "Vincenzo, what we do, you've seen how dangerous it is. I just can't drag Rapunzel into this."
Vincenzo nodded. "I get you dude, but you only truly fall in love once. If I were in your position, I'd take all the necessary risks." Vincenzo got onto his bike. "You're going to loose her." He said nonchalantly as he sped off. Je'Kai allowed what his friend said to sink in before spending off on his own bike. He had no control over anything and everything soon fell apart.