o ruled the school with sharp smirks and iron fists. He wasn

ughter echoing behind him. He could handle that. He had been handling worse at home. But then it

He swung, landed a punch on Troy's nose, and felt the sick satisfaction of watching blood spurt. But three against one was never

om one of Jake's punches. "I like that. So, here's the deal. You ca

to tell Logan to go to hell. But he wasn't st

cafeteria and announced, "Evans is one of us now," Jake just sat the

he bruises healed slower. Because now, instead of being

." "Take his money." Jake hesitated, at first. But hesitation was weakness, and weakness meant

as a scrawny kid, maybe a freshman, trembling against the lo

dging him forward. "Show him what

nched hi

instead?" Troy whispered, ju

ake s

punch was

at, it g

g. Stopped questioning. Stopped feeling. The guilt was there, gnawing at him, but he sho

're gonna have some fun, boys," he had said, a wicked grin

no. But the word didn'

ockets, heart hammering against his ribs. The

gan said, pulling out

stomach

ded. "Just a little fire, a little

But Logan was watching him. So were

e liquid onto the old wooden floor, a

n anyone expected. Smoke thickened. Th

tered, stepping b

e alarm

g turned

eady done. Teachers were yelling. Students were coughing in

, slipping away before

sn't so

e was called to the

he principal said, voice laced with

s the words expelle

were waiting for hi

Evans," Logan

st them, feeling the weight of his c

e in a long time,

s jus

-