"Haaaaa shit, damn, do I really need to go to school on weekends to practice for the school play? Fuck no."

Jonathan has been complaining on his way to school. Jonathan grumbled under his breath, his words muffled by the heavy hood of his sweatshirt.

He dragged his feet along the sidewalk, his gaze fixed on the pavement, a mix of annoyance and resignation etched on his face. The Saturday morning sun cast a pale light on the city streets, a stark contrast to the dark cloud that seemed to hang over Jonathan's head.

"Is that you Top 4?" A voice out of nowhere

He looked at his side, a teenager that looked like he was the same age as Jonathan.

"Who are you?" Jonathan asked.

"Oh, c'mon, it's me, Carl. Carl Vince, you know, elementary to high school?"

Carl Vince, a classmate and a gang member of Jonathan. Carl Vince is the Top 10 most feared one in the gang war. Jonathan and Carl usually don't talk, and neither do even friends.

"Oh, yeah, I remember you. Top 10 right?"

"Yep, that's me," Carl replied, using his thumb and pointing at himself with a shiny smile.

"So, what are you doing here?" Jonathan asked.

"Oh, you know, I just came to visit this city again. What about you, Top 4? "

"School play"

Carl chuckled

"Seriously? You, Top 4, doing a school play? That's a new one. What kind of play?"

"Silent Princess," Jonathan replied, his voice laced with a hint of annoyance.

He hated the way the word "prince" sounded on his lips. It felt so far removed from his previous life, from his past exploits.

"Silent Princess? What's that, a romance thing? You know, the kind of thing girls are into?" Carl smirked.

Jonathan rolled his eyes, a wry smile playing on his lips.

"Something like that."

He felt a sudden urge to share, to explain, to perhaps even defend this new path he was on.

"Well, that's pretty unexpected. Maybe I should come see it. Maybe you guys need a little protection."

Jonathan glanced at Carl, a flicker of something he couldn't quite place in his eyes. It was a mix of curiosity, a touch of admiration, perhaps even a sliver of something that resembled... respect? It was hard to believe, considering their history, but there was a hint of change in Carl's demeanor.

"What kind of protection? The pharmacy one or?" Jonathan asked.

"The second one," Carl replied without hesitation.

"I'll let you know when it is."

Jonathan was surprised by how quickly he was warming to the conversation and how the wall he'd built around himself was slowly beginning to crumble.

"Alright, Top 4.Keep it up; be careful.Don't forget who you are."

Carl gave him a nod and a brief smile. He turned and walked away, leaving Jonathan standing on the sidewalk, a whirlwind of emotions swirling in his chest.

This unexpected encounter had stirred something inside Jonathan. It was a reminder of his past, of the life he'd left behind, and of the person he'd become.

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

And it had opened a door to a new chapter, one where he was no longer just a feared gang member but a young man who was trying to find his way, a young man who was, perhaps, capable of more than he'd ever imagined.

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"Okaaaaay, let's get started!" Maya shouted.

Jonathan stood in the middle of the drama classroom, his expression a mixture of frustration and determination.

The air was thick with the scent of stale popcorn and the murmur of voices. The other actors, a mix of enthusiastic and hesitant, shuffled about, their gazes flitting nervously between Maya and Jonathan.

"Alright, everyone, let's begin with the scene where the sorceress captures the princess," Maya announced, her voice buzzing with excitement.

"Lily, you're up first."

Lily, the Sorceress, with her dark clothing and an aura that seemed to radiate an unsettling energy, stepped into the center of the room.

She adjusted her costume, a black cloak that seemed to swallow her whole, and then turned her gaze towards Nicole.

"You will learn to be silent, Princess!" Lily hissed, her voice a raspy whisper, as she reached for the toy.

"You will learn to submit to my will! "

"Oh no, please don't hurt me," Nicole said, with realistic fear.

Jonathan, watching the scene unfold, felt a wave of irritation wash over him. This was not how it was supposed to be. He hadn't signed up for this. This wasn't some violent gang confrontation, where he could use his fists and his anger to control the situation.

"Stop!" Jonathan interjected, his voice low and gravelly.

Lily paused, her hand hovering over Nicole. Her dark eyes flickered up to meet Jonathan's gaze, a hint of amusement in their depths.

"What is it, knight? Scared I'm going to hurt your precious princess?," she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"I'm just making sure this is done right," Jonathan said, his voice firm. He stepped forward, his movements deliberate and precise, his presence filling the room with an undeniable intensity.

"I wouldn't want the sorceress to miss her mark. She needs to be convincing. She needs to be... menacing."

Jonathan stopped in front of Lily, his gaze fixed on her.

"Look at me in... the... eye."

Lily met his gaze, her dark eyes unwavering.

"You're not supposed to be gentle," Jonathan said, his voice dropping to a low whisper.

"You're supposed to be a threat. You're supposed to make people fear for their lives. Do you understand? "

Lily's eyes narrowed, her expression shifting from amusement to a more calculating one.

"I think I understand perfectly," she said, a subtle shift in her tone.

"I'll give you another chance."

Jonathan said, his voice a commanding rumble.

"Try again."

Lily's face contorted into a sinister grin, and she took a deep breath, drawing herself up to her full height.

"You will be silent, Princess! You will be my puppet! You will bow to my will! ," she said, her voice laced with a venomous edge.

She lunged towards Nicole, a flurry of black fabric and a sinister grin, her movements sharp and forceful, her energy radiating a palpable threat.

Jonathan watched her, his eyes narrowed, his body tense with anticipation. He was no longer the stoic warrior of the play but a seasoned performer, a master of his craft.

He was watching, observing, evaluating, his focus razor-sharp, his instincts honed by years of experience on the streets.

He had been thrust into a world of theatrics, but he was quickly learning to adapt, to embrace the challenges, and to use his skills, honed in a different world, to achieve a new kind of victory.

Lily's performance, though a bit over the top, had a certain raw energy that Jonathan found oddly compelling.

He knew that the play was supposed to be a lighthearted fairytale, but he couldn't help but feel that Lily was tapping into something real, something that resonated with his own past.

"That's better," Jonathan said, his voice low and gravelly.

"It's not exactly what I imagined," Maya said, her face a mix of confusion and concern.

"But I guess... It's a start."

She tried to steer the rehearsal back on track.

"Now, Daniel, you're the King; you're supposed to be wise, regal, and... well, a bit clueless.Let's see what you can do."

Daniel, the King, stood up with a slight awkwardness. He adjusted his crown—a lopsided cardboard creation—and looked at Lily.

"I'm the King," he said, his voice cracking slightly.

"I have to... you know... rule the kingdom!"

His attempt at a powerful declaration was met with a few giggles from the other actors.

Jonathan stifled a laugh.

"You know, Daniel, you're not quite hitting the mark yet. A king needs to be more imposing. More… dominant. It's not about just declaring yourself the king; it's about making sure everyone knows you're the king."

Daniel, clearly flustered, looked at Jonathan with a bewildered expression.

"Like this?" he asked, trying to puff up his chest and project his voice, but it came out a bit shaky.

"No, no, not like that. Like this." Jonathan, ignoring Maya's exasperated sigh, stepped forward and placed a hand on Daniel's shoulder.

"Look, you're the king. You have power. You have authority. Show them who's boss. You can't be afraid to command, to demand, to make people listen."

He paused, his gaze meeting Daniel's.

"You have to be a king, not just someone who wants to be a king."

Daniel, surprising, seemed to understand. He drew himself up, his posture changing, his eyes taking on a newfound confidence.

"I am the King," he said, his voice firm, a hint of menace in his tone.

"And I will not be challenged! "

Maya watched this exchange with a mix of amusement and concern. She had no idea what Jonathan was doing, but he seemed to be having some sort of unexpected impact on the actors.

"Well," she said, trying to regain control.

"I think we're making progress. Now, let's move on to the scene where the knight, Jonathan, rescues the princess."

She pointed to Nicole.

"Okay, so Jonathan, you come in here, and..."

She paused, a faint smile twitching at the corner of her lips.

"And I guess... you rescue her?Whatever that means."

Jonathan stared at Nicole, his expression a mix of annoyance and amusement. He knew this was going to be difficult. He was a master of the silent treatment, of expressing his emotions through a stoic facade.

"So, what do you want me to do?" Jonathan asked, his voice low.

"I don't know. Rescue her! Fight the Sorceress! It's a play, Jonathan; just use your imagination."

But Jonathan was already moving, his steps purposeful, his gaze fixed on the toy.

He was in the middle of a school play, but he was no longer just acting. He was losing himself in a world of make-believe, a world where he was a warrior, a knight, a protector.

He bent down, his gaze focused on Nicole; he took Nicole's hand, holding it.

"Don't worry," he said, his voice low and soft, a whisper of comfort, almost a promise.

"I'm here now. I won't let anyone hurt you."

"Ayiiieeeeeeee!!!" Everyone shouted.

"Can you all shut up? It was going well!" Jonathan shouted.

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Jonathan sat beside Nicole, who was eating her biscuit silently. Nicole handed Jonathan one of her biscuits.

"Thank you. So, is this school play going well for you or?" Jonathan asked.

"A pain in the ass," Nicole replied without hesitation.

"Yeah, I agree."

Hmph, are you reading these readers? It looks like these two are close after all.

Pick-up line for the day:

Are you a construction worker?

Because you are building my heart for me.