First Punch ➟ Kellic

T H I R T E E N

I wake up the next morning to those stupid kids screaming again. One was crying and the other was yelling at their mom for something. I sigh in annoyance, pulling my blanket over my head as I try and fall back asleep. It doesn't work. I lay there for a while anyway, taking in the fact that it's a new day and shaking off the tiredness. I groan as I finally get up, trying to decide whether I want to go to school. I should though. Like I've said, I never make it to first period. I should go.

I grab all of my shit, taking my time as I head downstairs. Just because I'm going doesn't mean I have to be on time. I check my phone's clock, smiling as I realize I probably will be late after all.

As I walk out the door, my somewhat happy mood drops. Jake's leaning against the street light, waiting for me. He looks up as the door opens, my smile dropping and eyes quickly rolling to the side as I sigh. He just won't give up. I start to turn, not wanting to deal with this as I decide to go back to bed.

"Wait!" he exclaims, scrambling a little as he rushes toward me.

"Don't," I say, putting my hand up and keeping him from coming too close. But, weirdly, it stops me from going inside. I know he'd probably follow me in, and I don't want anyone to hear the fight and find out that I know who they are. I still don't have it in me to kill them. Or even to be the one who gets them killed.

"You're mad...and I get that. But can we please at least talk for like one minute?"

"Why?" I ask, fed up with this act of his. "What do you have to say to me that's so important?" I try to keep my voice at a normal volume, and push past Jake as I rush toward school. I don't want to wake any of the others, so my best option is to get as far from here as possible.

"They're not gonna hurt you anymore, okay?" he says, hurrying after me. I just ignore him, continuing on towards school where I can hide away in my classroom.

"I promise," he adds, grabbing my arm to stop me. It just makes my rage grow even more. "If they touch you again, they-"

"What do you want from me?" I ask, tearing myself from his grip. "You want me to just get over it because you protected me one time?" I scoff and shake my head. "As long as you're still hunting my friends, I want nothing to do with you." He looked kind of hurt and it weirded me out. I don't get why he wants to repair things so badly. I was always awful to him.

"I'm sorry," he says, a genuine expression on his face. For the thousandth time, my anger wavers. But I can't let it go. He's done so much to hurt me and my friends, it's gotta stop. No more excuses; he's a monster.

I turn and continue forward, not wanting to look at his annoying face anymore.

"Whatever," I mutter, trying not to let him ruin my mood. I just want him to go away so I can forget about all of this and move on with my life.

He sighs a little from behind me, still following. He's so persistent, it's honestly annoying.

"Please don't kill them," he begs.

His words make me stop dead in my tracks. I spin on the spot and one look at his face confirms my suspicion. He looks so worried and distraught. Plus, his voice was all choked up. So that's why he cares so much. He's protecting them, not me. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. That way I don't rat his friends out and get them killed.

I'm furious again. I try to hold my voice below a yell as I say, "Is that was this is all about? You just want to make sure I don't snitch?"

"N-"

"Don't lie to me," I say, the rage monster inside of me clawing at its cage as it tries to force its way out.

"But I-"