2:40 PM. Outside the Library.

Ryan and Lorenzo were standing outside the library entrance, waiting. Lorenzo was on his phone, scrolling as usual, while Ryan looked around and smiled at everyone walking past. Ryan looked to his left and saw two figures walking towards him. It was Alexander and Frank.

"Hi, I'm glad you came", Ryan greeted with a smile.

"What'd you want to talk about?" Alexander went straight to the point.

"A few more people still need to arrive here first".

"Few more? Who else did you invite?" Alexander questioned with a screw face.

"They'll be here shortly, don't worry", Ryan said with a smile still on his face.

The next to turn up was Adam; he came alone. He walked past Alexander and looked directly at Ryan.

"I'm happy you made it".

Adam didn't greet him back and kept looking at him.

"Are we going inside?" Adam asked.

"We are waiting on two more people",

As soon as he said that, David was walking towards them, alone.

"There's a lot of people here". David mentioned, coming closer.

"Yeah, I wanted to speak with a person from each class", Ryan said, looking beyond David.

"I don't see Malakai with you. You didn't bring him?" he questioned; deep down, he was happy Malakai wasn't here.

"No, was I supposed to?" David questioned with his hands in his pockets.

"No, no. I just thought you would. You could have brought someone if you wanted".

David raised an eyebrow, wondering why he specifically said Malakai but remembered Ray telling him that Ryan had approached them during lunch.

"He's already got on your nerves?" David said, fishing for a reaction.

Ryan shook his head,

"I'll explain inside".

"What is this!" A voice shouted from a few feet away. Dillon appeared, with Jason following behind.

"I thought it was going to be a one-on-one meeting?" Dillon questioned, getting closer.

Ryan clapped his hands together,

"Everyone's here. Why don't we go inside and start". He said, ignoring Dillon's question.

Everyone looked at each other, thinking, were they being set up?

"You're not setting us up, are you?" David spoke his mind.

"Set up? I just wanted to talk to the main characters of each class".

Hearing the main characters of each class helped connect a few dots, but it didn't paint the whole picture. Did he want a chat? Does he want to form an alliance? Is he going to war with each class? No one knew his intentions, but the only way to find out was to follow him.

Ryan started walking into the library,

"By all means, if you don't want to join me, then you don't have to. There's no one stopping you, but I think it will be good if you hear what I have to say".

Ryan walked into the library with Lorenzo, who didn't take his eyes off his phone once. Adam followed without hesitation. Alexander also followed without hesitation, but Frank was a few seconds behind. Dillon kissed his teeth,

"He better not start something he can't handle", he said, walking in with Jason behind him. David watched and went in last. The eight of them entered the library, and their presence was made as soon as they entered. Eyes latched on, and whispers killed the silence. Ryan walked with everyone following; they reached a large round table with six seats. This table would usually have some students on it, but weirdly, it was left open. Ryan went round the table and sat with Lorenzo sitting on his right. Adam took the seat on Ryan's left. Alexander sat next to Adam. Dillon and David took the last two seats, so Frank and Jason had to stand behind their friends, looking like bodyguards. Frank didn't complain, but Jason,

"Can't we bring another seat?"

"You can try, but you can see there's no space", Ryan replied.

Jason knew what Ryan was trying to insinuate, so he folded and chose to stay standing. Ryan looked around the table,

"Okay, first I want to thank all of you for coming", Ryan said welcomely.

"Shut up, just say what you wanna say." Dillon shut down the pleasantries.

Ryan's eyebrows were raised before, but now they were lowered. He was still smiling, but the glow on his face seemed to have dimmed a little.

"Okay then", he smiled.

"Everyone on this table is someone I respect. I see you as the figurehead of your classes".

Unimpressed looks were a common theme around the table.

"Ten challenges will happen this year. Ten opportunities to rack up points".

"How'd you know there's ten?" David asked.

"I've got my sources," he said sinisterly.

"If you don't believe me, you can ask Alexander", Ryan gestured to Alexander.

Everyone looked towards Alexander.

"Yes, he's not wrong. Ten challenges happen every year. Even next year, when we are in year two, there will be ten challenges", Alexander informed them.

"Is it the same challenges?" Dillon questioned.

"I don't know". Alexander answered dishonestly.

"But you do know", Ryan said.

Alexander looked at him with the side of his eye and kept a straight face.

"This first year is supposed to be a starter year for us", Ryan said, starting a speech. Everyone could feel it coming.

"This year is supposed to make us settle in. It's the same with the challenges. To ensure no one pulls away, leaving people with no chance in the 2nd year. The challenges this year are heavily team-based, with your class or people in your class. This gives people a somewhat chance if they slacked this year".

Hearing this news shocked a few people on the table; it was new information for them.

"Now we get to the good part", Ryan said, leaning forward.

"I've brought all of you here together. We all know we can offer something valuable to each other. So what do you think about working together?".

"Huh!" Dillon let out.

"What?" David said confusingly. Adam and Alexander kept the same neutral face they maintained since the start, Ryan noticed.

"Adam, you've been quiet. What'd you think?" Ryan questioned before he could get an earful from Dillon.

"It makes no sense. You say we're the main guys in our class, so why do we need to work together? We can get points on our own. Wouldn't it be better to work with your own class?" Adam gave his opinion.

"We can dominate. Imagine all of us working together. The leaderboard will be us six", Ryan said, looking around the table.

"All of us here deserve to be in 1-A. We all know the exams to rank the classes were bullshit. It doesn't represent what this school is all about. If we help each other in future challenges, imagine the points".

"How can we work together with the challenge next week?" David questioned.

"I'm just saying in general." Ryan then looked at Dillon.

"Look at Dillon for the example; he has already helped his class and himself to try and get more points for this challenge", Ryan said, smiling.

Everyone looked towards Dillon.

"How?" David asked in disbelief.

"He fixed the randomisation of the pairings. It was quite smart, actually. You found out we were being set a challenge on Monday, so before Monday, you asked each person in your class who they wanted to be paired up with."

While Ryan was explaining, Dillon couldn't believe it.

"Then you gave everyone a piece of paper with the person's name they wanted to pair up with. They had the piece of paper in their left hand, and when they went to pick the name out of the box, they used their right hand. When they revealed the name, they hid their hands from the teacher, closed their right hand with the piece of paper they picked from the box, opened their left hand, and revealed the piece of paper you gave them in the left hand".

Dillon turned towards Jason,

"How does he know? Who told him?" He worriedly asked.

"I don't know." Jason had no clue. He was stunned Ryan knew that much; he explained it perfectly.

"Using tricks for an exam. What else did I expect from a lower class?". Alexander mocked condescendingly.

Dillon didn't respond; he didn't even hear it. He was still trying to comprehend how Ryan knew.

"It's really clever, to be fair." David gave props to Dillon.

"See what I mean. If we can gather up and help each other, eventually, when a challenge involves the other classes, we can scratch each other's backs and get more points", Ryan said.

"Scratch each other's backs?"

Everyone looked up. Malakai was standing behind David’s seat.

Ryan's energy dropped, but Dillon's energy increased. He was happy to see Malakai; Adam had no opinion of him yet, and Alexander didn't care about him.

"What's going on here?" Malakai said with a smile. Ryan's smile dissolved; he wasn't frowning but no longer smiling. David turned around,

"Why are you here?" He questioned, happy to see Malakai.

"I was studying on the second floor with Maria, then I saw all of you walk in".

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"Why did you come now? Surely, if you had seen us, you could've joined this meeting sooner", David asked.

"I did. I came downstairs as soon as I saw you, but I got held up by some second-year girls. Asking if it was me that said he had an AK-47", Malakai explained.

"That joke is never leaving".

Everyone around the table just watched as David and Malakai had their own conversation.

"You know Ray called me cuz you left without your phone". Malakai told David.

"Really? Well, it's because of this". David said, lifting his hands up.

"Malakai, can you leave?". Ryan asked politely.

"But I don't wanna", he replied in a slightly sassy manner.

Dillon started laughing,

"You're an annoying piece of shit, but you're funny", Dillon complimented.

"Thank yo-"Malakai instinctively turned around. He saw a boy with dark skin and afro creeping behind him. The boy was startled that Malakai somehow noticed and turned around; he thought to himself,

'How the fuck did he know I was behind him'.

"Don't worry about him, Reece, he's here now. Nothing we can do", Ryan hopelessly said.

Malakai turned back around,

"How many minions do you have?" He jokingly asked.

"Are we finished?" Alexander said, looking like he was about to stand up.

"No!" Ryan snapped.

Alexander let out a little smile,

"That guy really got under your skin, hasn't he?". Alexander poked at Ryan, noticing his mood change as soon as Malakai turned up.

"Not even close", Ryan said with a straight face.

"Anyways, what do you think? Helping each other will give us a head start for the next two years". Ryan laid down the offer bluntly.

Everyone stayed silent. No one was on board with the idea.

"I knew this was going to be the outcome", he said with a smile. He let out a sigh,

"It was worth a shot, so all of us are enemies".

"We were always enemies", Dillon said like it was common knowledge.

"This was useless", Alexander complained.

"You just gathered us here to see each other's faces, but it's useless because I don't care about people in classes lower than me", he continued.

"That's not nice", Malakai butted in.

"Who are you again? Your name has been said a thousand times, and I still can't remember it". Alexander said in a condescending tone.

"Malakai Junior. You know you can look at the leaderboard and see my name. Even after next week, you'll see my name at the top because I'm a hundred points ahead". Malakai tried to aggravate Alexander.

"Watch yourself", Frank said, stepping forward and entering Malakai's line of sight.

"Who are you, his bodyguard?" Malakai asked with a raised eyebrow.

Ryan stood up,

"Now, now, let's not fight. Look, I've told you all some valuable information, and I've introduced you all to each other", Ryan intervened not to cause a scene.

"No, you haven't. I can't even remember his name. He's barely spoken", David said, pointing at Adam.

"Well, you know each other's faces. Enemies may have been the wrong word before, but you know what? All of us here are rivals. That sounds better", Ryan replied.

Alexander left his seat,

"Frank, let's go", he said while leaving.

The two of them left first.

Dillon kissed his teeth,

"Waste of my damn time", he said while leaving with Jason following, not contributing to the meeting once.

Now left at the scene were Adam, Ryan, Lorenzo, Malakai, David and Reece.

Adam didn't say a word and left without looking at anyone.

"Damn, that didn't last long", Malakai said, looking at everyone that was still there.

Ryan turned to look at Malakai. He had a cold look in his eye. He then gave an eerie smile,

"The time when everything comes crashing down on you, believe me, I'll be there. And that will happen because of me".

He then walked around the table, avoiding stepping on the side Malakai was on. Lorenzo stood up from his seat, approached Malakai, and offered his hand,

"Lorenzo", he greeted.

Malakai shook his hand,

“Malakai Junior”.

Lorenzo gave a smile and walked away with Reece.

"That kid's creepy", Malakai said to David.

"He didn't say anything the whole time. That was the first time I heard him speak", David replied.

"So you didn't want to invite me?" Malakai said, putting a hand on David's shoulder.

"He texted me to come to the library at 3:00 PM on Friday. I didn't know I could bring anyone. But then I saw everyone else turn up with people, so he probably didn't tell me I could bring someone in case I brought you." David stood up.

"What did you do to piss him off?" David questioned.

"Genuinely, I have no clue", Malakai replied.

David stretched his arms,

"I'm going back to my dorm. Don't you need to be somewhere?" David asked, looking at Malakai.

"Oh shit!" Malakai eyes widened.

"I'll text you later", Malakai said, rushing towards Maria upstairs; David watched on, smiling.

"Shit, I left her without thinking. Is she gonna be pissed?" Malakai thought to himself. Malakai rushed up the stairs and walked to the table where they were studying.

"What're you studying? We can help you, you know".

"It looks like you need help. You look lonely".

Two second-year boys were swarming Maria.

"My friend will be here soon; he went to get something", she tried to swerve her way out of the situation politely.

"He? Well, he's not here; he left you alone".

"This guy doesn't seem like a good friend because I've seen you alone for like ten minutes",

"I wasn't gone for that long", Malakai said, standing behind the two of them with his hands in his pockets.

Both of them, startled, quickly turned their heads; they didn't notice he was there.

"Huh".

"Get lost fucking midget."

"Bro, she doesn't want any of you, so why don't you get lost". Malakai said while smiling. One of the guys got pissed and went face-to-face with Malakai.

"Listen, you fucking kid, respect your elders".

Malakai smiled in his face.

"Elders? Are you a second-year? And you're hitting on a first year? Going for a younger girl. Kinda weird if you ask me. Are you a pedo?" This was Malakai's speciality, Chatting shit.

The guy grabbed Malakai's hoodie. A position Malakai had gotten used to as two people had already grabbed him like that. Malakai's words brought the reaction they were aiming for. Maria leapt up from her seat,

"Let go of him", she said in a worried tone.

Malakai just smiled at her to reassure her he was fine.

"Why does everyone like grabbing me like this?" He said.

"I ain't scared of you; if you're going to do something, do it", Malakai provoked.

The guy tightened his grip.

"There's no need to fight", another guy said, coming in between the two.

"Piss off", they said, looking at him.

"Don't you think it's lame picking on a first-year?" Micheal said to the two guys.

"Fuck off, Man, I'm not trying to hear a lecture from you".

"I'm not trying to lecture you", Micheal replied.

The guy let go of Malakai, ignored Micheal,

"You got lucky this time", he said, looking at Malakai.

They then proceeded to leave. As Micheal was there, Malakai looked at him, wondering who he was.

"Malakai, nice to meet you", Micheal said, offering a handshake.

Malakai reciprocated the handshake,

"How'd you know who I am?" Malakai questioned.

"I saw you at the assembly", Micheal replied.

"My name wasn't said".

"I heard your name being said a lot these past few days, and I connected a few dots", Micheal said with a smile.

"Okay. Who are you?" Malakai asked, wondering if he was a good guy.

Micheal turned his back and started to leave,

"I'll tell you the next time we meet".

Malakai watched him leave,

"Why is everyone here so weird ?" Malakai said out loud. He then looked at Maria, who was studying.

"Maria?" Malakai said, trying to get her attention. He then tilted his head to try to make her notice him. Malakai took his seat,

"Look, I'm sorry I left; I had to see what was happening", he tried apologising.

Maria looked up from her notes with a straight face,

"I won't leave again, I promise", Malakai said, with that smile he always does.

Marai's straight face broke, and she giggled a little,

"Fine, let's just keep studying for now. Then we can go get some food".

"Sounds good." Malakai smiled.

Malakai opened the book in front of him, but before he looked down at it, he looked at Maria. He didn't just look. He stared at her. Maria caught him staring,

"Is something wrong?" She questioned, waiting to be asked something.

"I was just thinking, it's nice being with you in a place like this", he replied.

"What do you mean? The library?" Maria questioned.

"Never mind, it was nothing." Malakai rested his head on the table, smiling and closed his eyes