Black

L

I slid down the chair in an attempt to decrease the chances of being chosen to answer the question asked by the man standing at the front of the class.

Surprisingly, I actually knew the answer to the question. I had read it in the book from the library when I was trying to complete my assignment.

Monroe Doctrine was the one who marked the beginning of a long term American policy of trying to prevent European powers from interfering in Latin American political affairs.

Though I would rather keep that information to myself.

"Jack, how about you answer for us the question?" I breathed in relief as he averted his eyes to the end of the other side of the class, and I was about to zoom out and waste time, but my eyes caught the movement of a boy taking long strides in a rush outside at the hall.

I shook my head and picked up my pencil, drawing different sized circles all over the page when a pair of loud laughter caught my attention again. This time they were three boys passing by our class door in the same direction, but they were walking in a normal pace.

Didn't they have a class?

Upon being interrupted, Mr. Hayes walked to the door with an annoyed expression worn on his wrinkled face and opened the door, calling for the boys who walked by.

As if relieved that the talkative teacher finally directed his attention away from the class for a second, a loud buzz filled the classroom, but my attention remained on the door and the boy who now stood in front of Mr. Hayes.

"What's going on in here?"

The impatient boy moved his leg up and down, looking at who I guessed was the other two boys. He didn't look familiar at all.

"They are saying there's a huge fight at the end of the hall," he said, sparking interest in the few people sitting around me as they perked their ears to listen to the gossip of the day.

Losing interest, I rolled my eyes and continued to draw more circles before my attention was grabbed by the vibrating phone beside my hand. It was the hourly message from Zoella's teacher.

She is eating her fruits and she is okay.

I picked up the phone, typing a reply as I eyed the teacher who was still talking to the boy.

"Class? You think I would miss on the opportunity of watching Styles getting beaten up?"

I straightened in my seat, blinking rapidly as my stomach tied up in knots.

Someone snorted from the class, "Can't say he doesn't deserve it."

Without thinking twice, I grabbed my stuff and dashed out of the class, hearing Mr. Hayes behind me shouting to get back in class.

I knew he wasn't in a good mood today morning, but he had brushed me off when I asked him about it, and I let it go, but I kept in mind to ask him again later today.

The hope I had that what I heard was a rumor completely vanished as I came across the ring surrounding what sounded like a violent fight.

I dropped my bag, moving slowly to the crowd, and tried to catch anything from what they shielded from me. The glimpse of curls was enough to force my legs to push through the ring as my mind raced with whom he could be fighting.

A train of curses filled the air just as they came in view.

I rushed to him, my eyebrows furrowing as I beheld who stood in front of him. It wasn't Chris or even Dylan; it was someone I instantly recognized as one of the boys from his group of friends with another one right by his side also throwing punches at Harry.