Devil on the Rooftop [Book 1]

Chapter 24 - Khaleel

Hino dumped Basil Bhak's sneakers and watch in his locker. There were some people who liked to flip houses, well Hino liked to flip accessories. He had a friend from across the pond who always got five percent of the cut we made on a sale, plus the cash we threw in for cleaning and correcting the items. Hino came up with the idea in our early days, when people didn't take us as seriously as they should have. When a client couldn't pay, Hino told me to take whatever shiny item off their persons and consider it a late payment fee. Loyal had no issues with it, actually, it turned out to be a good fear tactic.

"I'll text Zander to write a receipt for this stuff," Hino said, spinning his padlock. We were on the second floor of the academy, closest to the math wing, and a few minutes from hearing the final school bell.

I ducked out of gym class early because I could and texted Hino to meet me on the rooftop. He had French but he was happy to play hookey because there was a substitute teacher. Zander couldn't follow me off the field because Mr. Gonzalez would take notice if his favourite student went missing. When I got to the third floor, I found Basil Bhak drinking out of a water fountain. It was the perfect time to hit two birds with one stone.

"We need to keep track of late payments the same as a regular contract," Hino said, typing on his phone.

"Good idea," I answered. "Anyone else I need to break?"

We walked to the end of the hall where classes were still in session but we didn't fear being caught. No one would be dumb enough to question how we spent our time at the academy. Why? Because without our parents, they wouldn't have a salary to earn.

"We are all caught up at this point but Loyal might tell you otherwise," Hino said.

"What do you mean?"

"You remember the two idiots Zander used to hang around?"

"Carter and Dobberman?"

Hino nodded. "Dobberman still owes us money and Loyal says he wants us to track him down and get our payment in full."

"It's not an unreasonable request," I thought aloud. "Carter is in our English class. We could use him to lure that asshole out but would it be worth all the drama?"

"Probably not," Hino admitted. "It's money we could use, I won't deny that, but Zander and Loyal both have unresolved issues with Dobberman."

We were about to turn the corner when Matilda bumped into Hino from the other side. I halted and stuffed my hands in my pant pockets, observing her more carefully than I had before. I couldn't believe she was the same girl I picked on in middle school. She looked completely different; the shape of her face was the same but her skin was so clear, so soft, and effortlessly dewy. And those legs? My gaze dropped to admire the way they looked in a skirt. God, I would do almost anything to have those legs wrap around my waist.

"Ah, sorry!" Matilda said, her eyes flashing up at us. Then, she was off, faster than before.

"Hey!" I called after her.

Matilda kept moving; her athleticism helping her reach the end of the corridor in seconds. The bell rang loud my in our eyes and as if on cue, classroom doors swung open, and students rushed out to head home for the day. Conversation filled the halls as foot traffic moved in both directions. 

"Why is she such a pain in my ass?" I scoffed, referring to Matilda.

Hino smiled. "Are you still smitten?"

"Who the hell have you been talking to?" I asked, appalled by the suggestion. "And do I have to be smitten in order to have fun with a girl?"

Hino shrugged and went back on his phone. I looked away in disbelief, insulted by his assumption. I wasn't falling for Matilda. We were having fun, or at least I thought we were before she got all serious on me. I was partly at fault. I could acknowledge that but fuck! I missed the days when guys and girls could fool around with one another without signing away their freedom. Matilda was one of the few girls at the academy who actually liked me and I could take advantage of that. I could date her like she wanted but what about what I wanted?

"Shit," Hino sighed, staring at his phone. "Khaleel, we gotta go. Tomasia is having a meeting with Loyal in the student council room."

"What?" I complained, looking over his shoulder at our group chat. "What the hell? Do they think we operate on their schedule? No, seriously? Did they forget we have lives of our own? I'm starving over here. I want to go home, eat, kick back, and watch old British people bake for attention."

Hino didn't pretend to sympathize.

We ran to the nearest staircase and rushed to the school basement. We made a couple of right turns and spotted Zander loitering outside the student council room. He looked calmer than we anticipated. That seemed to ease Hino's worries but we knew having the twins in the same room was a recipe for disaster. Maybe Zander volunteered to stand guard? Then again, maybe not. His focus was on sending a text...probably to one of his fans.

"Where is Loyal?" Hino asked.

"Inside, with Tommy and Arisa."

"They kick you out?" I asked.

"No, I'm just not mentally prepared to see my beloved yet," Zander supplied. "I need a couple of minutes to compose myself."

I smacked the back of his head.

"Ow!" Zander glared. "What did you do that for?"

"Loyal could be in trouble!" I lectured.

Zander rolled his eyes. He was the last to join our little crew and the most indifferent addition to boot. He was incredibly slow to take action when we needed him to, and even slower when Tomasia Wilson was involved. His obsession with her wasn't just for laughs. We all knew Zander didn't want to cause any problems for the girl he liked, and we appreciated the sentiment, but it didn't give him the right to choose sides.

"Get out of the way," Hino said, forcing Zander to move. He turned the handle, opened the door, and found Loyal leaned against one of the tables with an arm around Arisa. She didn't bother to acknowledge us when we entered, nope, she was too busy glaring daggers at the student body president.

"What did we miss?" I asked.