Flares in the Dark

1.03 | a boy of words

LAUGHTER SPREAD THROUGH THE SCHOOL HALLS as the gang made their way through the crowd. But not a single person paid any attention to them. Without Mason, the Knock out Kings were nothing except puny kids trying to act tough and failing miserably.

Liam walked with them, his back still ramrod straight and his face indecipherable. The gang envied him for his mask and after the fight with Mason, even the stupidest member knew that Liam could've defeated their leader had there not been such a drastic difference of size between the two.

The laughter was still spreading when Liam realised who the subject of the mockery was. One of his previous friends, Owen stood near his locker which was painted red with black letters running down like a stream.

Nearly in tears, the boy was continuously clenching and unclenching his fists to keep himself from hurtling punches in every direction. Looking at the locker, Liam was shocked. Suddenly he felt like punching the person who painted that on the locker too.

There was a crude picture of a pair of boobs and a single penis standing proudly between them. The words on the locker went somewhat like this:

'FREE DICK AVAILABLE WITH A SAMPLE OF FREE BOOBS! GRAB OFFER NOW!
#OwenAndJessica'

Only recently had Owen started dating Jessica, the girl he had crushed on since the moment he understood the meaning of crush. For weeks the boy stuttered and stumbled the moment she walked into the room and finally after loads of persuasion by Liam, Owen crossed his fingers behind his back and proposed.

Liam remembered Owen dancing like a ballerina after Jessica blushingly said yes, the couple had been happy together.

Now though, they were on the brink of ruination.

Because of the Knock out Kings.

Because Liam had abandoned them.

Liam realised with a shock that Owen was looking at him as if he could do something. The red locker screamed the words his best friend could not dare to and Jessica was probably in the girls' washroom, crying her heart out to her best friend Blaize.

There was a time when Liam would've done anything for Owen. Now, he wasn't so sure. The gang was watching him, studying his moves and expressions and he realised that this entire thing was a test for him.

His reputation hung on the line and he had to prove his allegiance to the gang if he didn't want to risk being kicked out. He had to keep his mask up and he had to become a part of them, he had to show that he was a part of them.

So he tried to ignore Owen's pleading eyes and he kept ignoring his ex-best friend till the silent plea turned to barely restrained fury. He laughed forcefully with the gang when Jessica ran out of the washroom, her face still wet and stained with tears, trying to stop Blaize from doing something reckless.

Blaize ran up to them, out of breath, her fists clenched and ready to strike at a moment's notice. Her hair was a complete mess and rage had distorted her features to make her look frighteningly ugly.

Without hesitation, she said loudly so that the entire corridor could hear, "Who do you think you are?"

Liam had retreated behind the gang when she came to them, so another boy had to face the brunt of her wrath, "Excuse me?"

Her face was red and she looked ready to beat them all to a pulp if necessary. Knowing Blaize, he had no doubt she would succeed, "I said, who do you think you are?" Her voice sounded strained as if she was barely containing herself and her face had grown redder.