The Devil's Candy

Chapter 1

"Okay class! Make sure to read chapters five and six for tomorrow," Ms. Boone says as the final bell rings.

It is a good thing I am already on chapter seven. I usually like to be ahead of my schoolwork; that way I do not have to stress about deadlines like the rest of my classmates. I gather my things and head towards my locker to exchange my books. Through the sea of students, I notice a bouncing head with blonde hair. As I get closer, I realize it is Jinnie who has been my best friend since middle school.

She can only be described as a "Care Bear with a knife", cute and cuddly while trying to look tough. The baggy clothes and dark makeup she wears everyday gives her that goth vibe even though she's constantly smiling and hates rock music.

"Amelia, guess what! Guess what! Guess what!!" she shouts as I reach her.

"Michael Jackson rose from the dead?" I ask.

"No Ty- wait what?" She gives me a confused look.

"Nothing. What happened?"

"Tyler Simpson asked me out for ice cream today," she squeals while doing a little happy dance. She has had her eye on Tyler for three weeks now, yet Jinnie is not one for commitment, but she loves the chase. Even with her rugged attire boys still seem to flock at her as if she's the last bottle of water on a hot day.

"That's great Jin," I tell her, as I switch my books for the ones I need to study later today in the library. I usually stay in the library every day after school to get ahead of my course load. Yes, I am a nerd. Sue me.

"I'll call you tonight and tell you all the details."

With that she speeds down the hallway towards the music wing for her last class. I make my way to my last class making a mental checklist of everything I need to get done in the library today. Once class was over, I head towards the library waving at Ms. Hall, the librarian. I sit at a table in the back corner where rarely anyone goes to get my work done.

After 3 hours of non-stop work, Ms. Hall finds me to let me know she is locking up. She is used to me staying until the last second the library is supposed to close. I gather my things and head outside towards the student parking lot where my blue civic is the only car left in the lot. Making my way towards it, I hear a loud bang and some rustling coming from behind the school where the dumpsters are located.

See, this is the part where I should run and not look back, right? Nope. I walk towards the noise to see what it could be.

Someone could be hurt.

That is an understatement.

By the dumpsters, I see four tall figures dressed in black punching and kicking someone who is laying on the floor.

Oh my god! Are they jumping someone? Do I call the cops? Yell at them to stop? My feet are planted into place as I stare as this stranger gets beat up.

"We can always find the trouble, we don't need no help

Singing oh, mama raised me well

But I don't wanna go to Heaven without raising hell."

My ringtone for Jinnie sounds loudly, causing all the commotion to stop. A gasp escapes my lips as one of the guys looks up right at me. I cannot tell who it is, but his bright green eyes have me standing there longer than I should have been. After a few seconds of silence, a groan comes from the stranger on the ground which snaps me out of my trance, and I dash towards my car. I quickly hop in and I do not take a moment to hesitate as I sped home not even caring if a cop pulls me over.

Once home, I lock the front door behind me and double check the windows before checking the back door. So far, the coast was clear, but I didn't want to take any chances, so I went straight upstairs to my room. Pastel pink, white and gold accents the room. My full-size bed is on the left side of the room and a small bedside table on one side. The other side of the bed there is some space between the bed and the bay window that has a great view of my backyard. In the right corner of the room is my desk that will inevitably be filled with clutter from my schoolwork. Then, there are two doors, one leading to my closet and the other to my own personal bathroom.

After taking a few deep breaths to calm my rapid heart rate, I decide to call Jinnie back before I end up slipping into a panic attack. How ironic, I need her to calm me down after she could have possibly cost me my life.

"Hey Chica, I tried calling you."

"Jinnie you won't believe-"

"Oh my god! I have so much to tell you about my date with Tyler," she said excitedly.

"But Jin, you have to hear what I saw-" I attempt again.

"It was so cute and he's a great guy, but I don't know. There wasn't a spark you know?" Jinnie interrupted.

"JINNIE!!" I shouted. There was silence on the other end of the line, "Are you going to listen to me now?"

"Well I don't have a choice now, do I?" she sassed. I rolled my eyes even though I know she cannot see me.

"You know how I go to the library after school and am always the last person to leave?" She hums so I continue, "Well on my way to my car I heard noises coming from the back of the school by the dumpster, so I went to check it out- stupid I know. But there was like four guys pounding down on someone. I do not know who they were, but then you called me, and the ringtone went off which made them stop. One of the guys looked me right in the eye!" I rushed out before she could interrupt me again.

"Did they see you? Are you okay? Shit Amelia, I'm so sorry I called you," she's definitely freaking out on the other end.

"I don't think they saw my face. It was dark. I'm fine though, the second they noticed I was there I made a run for it."

"I'm glad. Hey, how about I come over, we watch a movie, and I tell you the details about my date to calm you down?"

"Yeah, that'd be great."