teapot flowers

Part 5

James Williams, his path to Brazil.

"Well if it isn't stick-in-the-mud James in the flesh. You got a problem, Gringo?" Thiago Peres called out to me as I walked up.

I had been staring, it's true, but only because Thiago and his gang of thugs were all gathered around his locker which was right next to mine, and they looked like they were up to no good. "No, I just need to get to my locker," I said, gesturing in its direction.

I gave a forced smile, trying to hide my disgust. I hated the fact that my locker was so close to his. The first day I met him he tried to offer friendship, saying we could be locker buddies, but I soon saw through him. Thiago was a self-entitled rat who was always looking for cheap amusement at the cost of others. He was sure he could get anything with a snap of his fingers because his father was on the school committee board.

He thought he could add me to his group of thugs, but he soon found out that I had no intention of taking part. Normally the refusal of any of Thiago's 'requests' would result in you tasting his wrath. So what, you ask, is standing between me and a Thiago beat down or at least a swirly special? Oh that's simple. I'll break it down to three factors:

A. I'm taller than he is, even though it's only by a couple of inches but still, it counts...

B. I hate to admit it, but I'm a bit of a teacher's pet; if I came to class with a black eye the teachers would notice.

C. All the girls in the school are run by his sister, who for some odd reason has a strange infatuation with me, and she wouldn't have second thoughts about blacklisting her brother if he messed with me.

(I don't really get why she is into me - I mean, we haven't talked more than a handful of times but best I can figure it's because I am one of the five international students here).

I walked past Thiago and started to put in my combination. They continued to laugh and make a ruckus. I tried not to worry too much, even if they were up to something. I really shouldn't be getting involved anyway.

32,13,- My fingers froze before I could finish putting in the last digit of my combination when a small voice came out from Thiago's locker.

"Ah, hey guys? Can I come out now?" It said. I turned to Thiago, he had a disgusting smile on his face as he chuckled. "I don't know guys, what do you think? I was starting to like the idea of keeping a locker pet". He answered with a smack of his hand shaking his locker. The locker grew quiet. For a moment I thought the kid in the locker was going to cry, but to my surprise, he called out again. "Um, I hate to bother you, but I need to head to science class. How about you let me go and we can continue this after the third period, how does that sound, huh buddy?" This was followed by a huge uproar of laughter from Thiago and his gang.

My blood started to boil. How could I just sit back and watch when it was right in front of me. Still, I need to keep my head, it would be better to avoid a full-on fight...I put my right hand on his beefy shoulder, it took all of my strength not to hit him right there and then. "You know you should really have the janitor check out that locker door, it's starting to squeak," I said still with that fake smile plastered on my face. Thiago pulled his body out from under my hand and turned to face me. "That's funny gringo, but I don't think I was talking to you... piss off." Thiago answered, clearly with a chip on his shoulder. my fist tightened but I kept smiling. "Hey locker pet, what time is your science class," I asked, knocking gently on the locker. "Oh, me? 2:15," he said matter-of-factly, through the locker door. "Isn't that your class too? Why don't you and your little pet get going, wouldn't want to be late." I said, crossing my arms and leaning my right shoulder on my locker.