First Punch ➟ Kellic

S E V E N

"Get up! Hey, you," someone shouts, kicking my mattress. "Get up!" they shout, waking me from my deep slumber. I groan, rolling away from the noise.

"Shut up," I whine, trying to go back to sleep.

"No. Get up, Cooper. It's almost 10:30," I recognize the voice as Carter and sigh exaggeratedly in the hopes that he'll leave me alone.

"I don't want to," I whine. Sometimes he'll cave and let me stay if I make enough of a fuss. "I'll go at lunch for detention."

"No. You'll go now. It's almost third period, you're lucky I waited this long."

I roll my eyes at the words 'waited this long', he definitely just woke up now. Waited my ass.

"Fine. I'm going, I'm going. Asshole," I mutter the last part quietly to myself and luckily I don't think he heard it.

He leaves and I quickly get dressed. I almost forget my bandana and have to run back into my room to grab it. I tie it around my ankle, rushing out the door.

I'm honestly so happy that I didn't make it in time for my first two classes. I'm curious to see Jake and figure out where we stand. Are we aquaintances? Friends? Does he hate me? He's so confusing that I can never tell. But at least now I've come to terms with my own platonic feelings, deciding I'll be friendly and see what happens.

As I continue to walk, my thoughts drift. I start to try and figure out something to do in detention. It's so damn boring to just sit there, but I don't do homework and I'm not about to start now.

I still don't have even half of a plan by the time I reach the abandoned house. I guess if it comes to it though, I can just bug Jake or hassle one of the asshole crackheads.

I stash my switchblade and head into the school, rolling my eyes the second I'm inside. Even just seeing the students and hearing the jumbled sounds of conversation makes me hate everything and everyone. Thankfully it's Friday, and I'll have a break from everyone soon. Another exciting realization is that I only have two more days of detention left after today. Well, as long as I don't get any more added on that is.

I grab my books, heading straight to calculus and spotting Lucas and the two other friends of Jake's as I walk. They watch me, glaring daggers, but can't touch me here and I know it. I wonder why Jake's not with them. I guess he could just be in class already.

My guess was proven right as I walk into the room and see him in the back beside my usual seat. I smile at him, oddly hoping we're on good terms. He smiles back, watching me as I make my way over.

"Hey, Princess," he greets. I roll my eyes at the patronizing name, but refuse to let it diminish my mood.

"Ugh, really, Jake? You're still at it with that?" I ask, annoyed. It was the first time I'd used the nickname to his face and for some reason I'm a bit worried about it. But it felt kinda good. I like it better than Jacob.

"Yep. Don't expect it to stop anytime soon. I like it."

"I don't," I answer, flipping my book open since I plan on actually paying attention today.

"Oh well, suck it up, Princess. If you can use a nickname then so can I."

I roll my eyes, shooting him an unimpressed look. "You told me I could call you that. I never said I was okay with being called Princess." I say the word as though it would poison me or something.

"Does it really bother you that much?" he asks, looking at me in a way that showed he actually felt bad about it. I sigh, thinking for a second. It's patronizing as fuck, but it's also felt kind of nice to have a nickname. Most Triad members have gangster names, but I never really got one and actually have a free pass to use everyone's birth name. Again, I'm part of the gang but I'm treated like a baby.