𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐆𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬: 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐊𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐎𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐊𝐡𝐚𝐧

Twelve

Allow me to share a brutal truth.

Olivia Khan's life was taken by the hands of Parker Sun.

But how many innocent souls did he extinguish?

Was it 22, or possibly 15, or even just 10?

The exact number eludes me.

During school hours, Mackenzie, Gianna, and I gathered at our usual spot - the lunch tables - to discuss the tragic events that had unfolded. As we spoke in hushed tones, the cafeteria buzzed with noise and energy around us, oblivious to our heavy hearts and troubled minds.

The words hit us like a punch to the gut. Juliana and Gianna's faces paled, their eyes widening with fear and disbelief. "We're going to war," I said, my voice heavy with resignation.

Gianna's question hung in the air, echoing through the tense silence. "Was it the Northside Ducks?"

"Yes, Gia...it was." My heart sank as I spoke the name of our rival gang. The Northside Ducks were notorious for their violent tactics and relentless pursuit of power.

A wave of frustration and anger washed over me as I thought about Tanner Luke, the leader of the Ducks. He had called for war against us, his competitors, for some unknown reason.

"I thought you and Tanner were a thing?" Gianna's question shattered the tension, but only served to remind me of my failed attempt at a relationship with the enemy leader.

"Gianna, Tanner and I were supposed to be a thing but that's never going to happen." The awkward silence resurfaced, thick and suffocating.

Shaking off the memories and emotions, I focused on the task at hand. "Anyways, we need to stop Tanner's plans for war. The faster we do this, the longer we can avoid bloodshed and destruction." My words hung in the air, a reminder of how high the stakes were for both sides. We needed to act quickly and strategically if we wanted to come out of this unscathed.

"What a brilliant idea, little bean," exclaimed Kenzie, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I'm glad you like it," replied the narrator, affectionately patting her friend's shoulder. Kenzie had always been a creative soul, always coming up with unique and imaginative ideas. That's why the narrator decided to give her a nickname that fit her perfectly. She was going to call her Kenzie - short, sweet, and full of energy.

During 6th period, the narrator had Art 3, which was their favorite class. As soon as they walked into the room, they could feel their heart flutter with joy. The walls were covered in colorful artwork from previous students, inspiring the young artist even more.

As a child, the narrator had cherished memories of playing with their mother's old palette and art brushes. They would spend hours painting anything and everything that came to mind. Even though their mother would scold them for getting paint on the walls of their bedroom, nothing could stop their love for creating beautiful pieces of art.

In class, the narrator sat next to Tanner Luke, a boy who caught their eye right away. His platinum blonde hair was styled in a messy yet charming way, and his forest green eyes seemed to sparkle under the classroom lights. The narrator couldn't help but notice the scattering of freckles across his nose and cheeks, making him even more attractive.

Feeling a bit nervous but determined to get to know Tanner better, the narrator struck up a conversation with him. They talked about art and discovered that he also had a passion for it. From that moment on, they knew that this would be an unforgettable friendship filled with creativity and shared interests.

"Hey, Tanner!" I exclaimed, smiling at my longtime friend and secret crush.

"Hey, Juliana," he replied with a small smile of his own.