The Degenerates - Under Edit

prologue

Trey Arden sat meekly in the corner of the café booth, his arm slumped over the top of the chair, one leg propped on the seat. His leg was heating up in his jet black jeans. It was the first day the sun had broken through the clouds, and it seeped over the first rows of chairs and tables against the windows. Trey was ignoring the insulant noise that erupted from the booth directly next to his.

The obnoxious group burst into laughter; Trey noticed some perched on the table, another boy sat on top of the booth itself. He flickered his eyes to his watch, noting it was ten minutes past nine, his first class back this semester started at nine thirty. Why did he agree to meet up here? He could have just slept instead; it was a waste of time considering he couldn't stand the nonsense that arrived with this group of try hard delinquents anyhow.

The door opened and Trey looked up quickly. For second, he was irritated it wasn't who he was after, but regathered and was almost nearly delighted as Neijla Woods crossed quickly through the entry and approached the counter, ignoring the noisy booth that made quiet comments and muttered things about her looks.

Neijla. Her name rang through his head like a bell. He focused his attention on the girl, on her back, as she spoke confidently to the server.

She didn't seem to take notice that the group of boys were talking about her. Or maybe she didn't care, but she was quick to make her order and once having received it, she strode out the door.

Neijla's light was dimmed by a darker figure entering the same doorway she had exited. Trey arched up in his seat as Theo eyed Neijla down as she walked by. Theo stepped through the door purposefully, getting a rise from his follower group sat to Trey's left. Trey stood abruptly, not wanting to spend any more time in the café than he had to.

"Arden," Theo said, and gestured the two fellow behind him through the doorway, who then found the group at the other booth, sitting down comfortably, "fancy some breakfast?"

Fucking tosser, Trey thought as he met him face to face. "No. What did you want?"

Trey was an inch shorter than Theo; but beat him in his physicality. Trey had an intimidating stature but met his match when it came to Theo. Trey hated how he almost had to look up at the man. Tall, but lanky, yet had a domineering presence around him, like an aura that chanted danger.

Theo gestured he turn away with his hand, away from the others, "You seen Brad or James?"

Trey stepped back, suddenly disinterested, "What?"

Theo's eyes crossed with caution, though he masked it with a joke, "You know, the pansy twins?"

"Last I saw, they were gathering the fireworks from the garage," Trey looked around the café, "The fuck's it to you?"'

Theo chuckled at Trey's response, like an older brother after they taught a child how to misbehave, "Relax, just wondering. They owe me."

And with that, he tapped a bruised, scarred knuckle to Trey's jacket, and he stepped aside, letting Theo cross over to the booth.

He hated Theo.

Trey shoved the door open, so hard that it swung back and clicked loudly as its' hinges hyper extended, then crashed shut as he stormed out of café, chasing after Neijla Woods, who had already disappeared out of sight.