𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐄| 𝐉.𝐅.

28: College tour

"Don't freak out." Justin mutters to Clay as I keep my gaze on Bolan's door with the words, MONTY WAS FRAMED graffitied with red paint.

"Why not?" Clay asks, swallowing thickly.

"What the fuck?" Alex mutters as I turn my head to Clay and Justin. "Who did this?" He whispers.

"No fucking idea." I whisper back.

"Holy shit, the admin doors." I hear Zach say and I turn my head to meet him. "Respect." He chuckles.

"Do you know who did this?" I ask him.

"Nah, but they got balls." Zach says.

"How can you..." I trail off, then turning to Alex. "Oh, we're so fucked!" I exclaim in a whisper.

"Yeah." Zach chuckles again, then walking away.

"He wouldn't have, right? No matter how fucked up he's been?" I say to Alex.

"No." He whispers, shaking his head.

"Then who?" Jessica says and Alex turns his head.

"What about her?" Alex asks as Jessica and I follow his gaze to see Estela and Luke, the blonde haired one who punched Clay.

"I don't think so." I tell him. "She's in HO. She knows who Monty really was."

"Yeah, but he was still her brother." Alex says and I sigh as we both walk away.

  ||

"Hey." Justin says in a raspy voice and I look up at him.

"What are you doing...in the class?" I ask him.

"Just came to check on you. You know, about what happened yesterday." He says.

"I'm fine. Clay is fine. Everything is fine." I flatly say as I go back to writing down a few notes.

"You...sure?" Justin asks.

"Why do you think you can come in here and ask me that?" I say.

"Because I still care about you, Steph." He says. "Look, when something like that happens, I know it can bring back past trauma."

"Trauma?" I question. "You wanna talk about trauma like some fucking doctor or something?"

"Alright, guys." Ani whispers.

"Let's talk about how I got traumatized in the first place." I say.

"Steph-"

"Let's talk about you and your friend Bryce." I state.

"Okay, let's not talk about that here." Ani says. "Okay?" She whispers to me as she leans next to me over the table.

I turn my head, clenching my jaw as my eyes now fixate on the table.

"Justin, go." And tells him.

  ||

"Clay." I say and he looks up at me. "How's your eye?" I ask.

"Oh, uh, it's fine. I'm fine." He nods and I nod back as he takes a seat next to Ani on the bus.

"Ah-ah-ah, good morning, seniors." Mister Bolan announces as he gets on the bus.

"Shit. Bolan." Clay mutters.

"Really exciting day." Bolan says.

"What the fuck is he doing here?" Tony asks as he's now sitting in front of me.