I stood beside the rest of the class and watched as a lone turd floated down the halls. It was carried on by a river that I could only assume was toilet water. Not even our teacher had anything to say. She just stared with her mouth wide open. Clearly debating if she got paid enough for this. 

Sadly, I think I know who did this… 

"Hey Einstein, why don't you part the sea with some math?"

One of the kids in the crowd said, followed by some laughter. I turned toward the noise and found a group of guys trying to shove Richard, our resident know-it-all, into the flood.

"No, what!?" Richard sneered. 

"Yeah come on, math is everything right? Show us degenerates how useful math is." Another student shoving him said. 

Can't say I was surprised though; he did call them degenerate apes for laughing in class. My eyes lingered on them as they shoved and picked at Richard. I started to move towards them, but stopped. They all suddenly halted, and I noticed Richard was now near the doorway. 

The group of guys snickered and nodded to one another. Oh crap, they were gonna knock him in! Should I tell the teacher? No, there’s definitely not enough time for that. I picked up the pace and rushed over, just as they leaped and knocked Richard at the water. I dove just in time and grabbed his wrist, then yanked him back into the classroom. However, I tripped on my own foot. So as Richard fell inside, I fell face first into the water. 

It soaked me from head to toe and it even got into my mouth! I sat up and spat the rancid water out, while the class erupted into laughter. 

"Bruh! Look at him!"

"Tryna be a hero!"

"Oh my gosh! I think he swallowed it."

My heart bashed against my chest, I could barely breathe. It was like I was choking on air. 

Everyone was looking at me, their eyes tearing up from their laughter. I tried to move, but I was frozen in place. My eyes glued on their faces, permanently recording this moment.

Move, Stryder! Move! I managed to bite down on my lip, and the coppery taste of blood flowed into my mouth. The warmth came back into my body and I stumbled to my feet. I dared a glance back at my classmates, who were still laughing. I can’t, I can’t go back in there. I turned around and raced down the hall. 

Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Why are you so stupid?! 

The laughter of the kids danced around in my head and the scene kept playing over and over again. I shouldn’t have ran in! I Should’ve just stayed put!  The teacher would have handled it. I’m so stupid! 

I saw the bathroom to my right and flung myself inside. Immediately I pressed my back against the tile wall and just tried to breathe. It was like the air was running from my lungs. Calm down, just calm down. I closed my eyes and took deep breaths. It took awhile, but eventually I calmed down enough to stop trembling. So much in fact, I started to feel just how drenched my hair was.

I pushed off the wall and walked over to the sink’s mirror, praying that I didn't see poop stains on my face. Thankfully my peach skin was blemish free, however, my hair was dripping with this mysterious liquid. I grabbed a few paper towels and started to dry off. Unfortunately, my clothes couldn’t be saved. Looks like I'd have to sneak into the gymnasium and get my gym clothes…

Just as the thought came, I finally recognized the sound of rushing water. I turned toward the noise and saw every toilet and urinal was overflowing like a waterfall. 

"I swear; if he's the cause of the flood, I'm gonna strangle him…"

...

I leaned back against the huge tree in our school's courtyard and tried to relax. The complete lack of people genuinely eased my heart. At least here there wasn’t another whisper about the guy who drank toilet water. I picked up the grocery bag that held my normal clothes, then glanced down at the gym shorts I had on.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

"This better not have been you..” I mumbled.

"And what if I did!?" A voice screeched into my ear.

I squeaked and turned around, my fist aiming to deck whatever made the noise. However, I came to a halt once I saw who it was.

"The hell Zack!? I almost clocked you!" I complained.

But Zack just keeled over and laughed. 

"Oh my gosh you squealed like a little girl!" He snickered. "So much for the mighty Stryder!"

He looked up and moved his chestnut hair from his jade eyes. There was a moment of silence, and he just smiled.

"Don-"

Before I could even finish he just started laughing again. 

Should I hittem? Nah, I'd probably knock him out if I did. Then I'd have to carry him… I took a breath and walked away from the school grounds. Zack rushed up ahead of me and spun on his heels, then started to walk backwards.

"So, were you the one who flooded the halls?" I asked 

"Oh, absolutely." He replied.

Without a second thought, I punched him in the gut. He dropped to his knees and I took a few steps past him.

"Ah! What the hell man!?" He whined.

"Don't ‘what the hell me!’ I fell face first into your pee water prank!”

"Oh my gosh that's hilarious!" He chuckled and held his stomach. "It's a sin that I didn't see that." 

I grumbled.

"Do I even want to know why?"

He slowly stood up straight and went into his pocket, pulling out a crumpled five dollar bill. 

"A buddy of mine bet me five bucks I couldn't do it."

I pinched my brow and shook my head. "Did you seriously flood the school for five bucks?"

"Five bucks and clout, but yeah."

"You're actually insane..."

"Anyways!" Zack said as he faced forward again and we continued to walk. "Wanna hang at your place today?"

"Not unless you're gonna help do chores." 

"I guess the mighty Zack can help poor Stryder with meaningless tasks for a while."

I scoffed, "Translation: flirt with my sister while I do all the work?"

"Bingo!" He cheered. 

I rolled my eyes and sighed.

"She's too old for you man." 

"Love has no age; Besides." He stopped walking and pointed his thumbs toward himself. "She can't resist this sexy beast!" 

My eyes rolled even harder than before as we kept walking.

"There's not enough water on this earth for all that thirst you got."

"Like you don't ogle at Alexis!" Zack snapped

"Shut up..."

As we continued down the road, Zack so wonderfully explained how he got all the toilets and sinks to overfill. He was especially proud of the turd that flowed from the private bathroom in the principal's office. I started to chastise him for flooding the school, and we got so caught up in our heated debate, some rando bumped into Zack.

"Watch it dude." Zack snapped.

I stole a quick glance back at the guy and my breath was snatched away. My eyes froze on the familiar red bandana that hugged around his neck. 

"Hey scrub! Do you know who the hell you bumped into!?" The large man barked.

We both stopped walking and turned our attention towards the guy. He snickered and tugged on the bandana.

"What?" Zack spat out. "Judging from that pin head of yours, I’d say we got ourselves a walking Patrick star." 

I watched as the man's face scrunched up like a prune and turned pink. Which made Zack snicker. "Even better now!"

"I'm from the Red Steel Gang, dick!" The man yelled. "Drop down and beg for forgiveness, and I'll think about forgetting that Patrick joke!"

“Oh my gosh, who actually talks like a generic villain. Seriously dude? Drop down and beg for forgiveness?” Zack was pushing it. 

“You got three seconds!”

Zack smirked and turned back around, then pointed at his butt. 

"You can shove your forgiveness right here chunks!" Zack said before continuing on as if nothing happened. .

"Zack!" I yelled.

"Alright kid! I'll? Remember that!" The bald man croaked, his seedy eyes marking us both with a promise that this would not be forgotten. .

The Red Steel Gang, Zack just pissed off the Red Steel gang. The most powerful gang in the city. 

I glanced back toward the bald man, and tried to think. Was there something I could say? Something I can do? It wasn’t long before the man had disappeared down the road, and not a single idea graced my mind.

“Yo! What’s the hold up! My Darling is waiting for me ya know!” Zack called out to me.

Which melted the ice that had frozen my legs. Does this idiot seriously not know what he just did!? I ran up to him and snatched his arm.

"What the heck is wrong with you? Do you have a death wish or something!" I roared and glared a hole into his eyes.

Zack looked away from me and yanked his arm back. For a moment he was silent, then he clenched his fist and glared back.

"I’m sick and tired of the Red Steel Gang thinking they own the damn place! I'm not going to let them push me around!" He snapped.

I blinked a few times, this was the first time in a long time I’ve seen him this serious.The rage I had inside slowly began to fade, and I took a breath. I guess I can see where he’s coming from.

"Look, I don't like it any more than you do, but making enemies with a whole gang isn't wise. We can't fight all of them at once.”

He grumbled and scratched at his head.

"I know! I know! I just hate it. It's like I'm trapped in my own damn city." 

“I get it, and regardless of my disappointment. If anything happens tomorrow, I got your back.” I assured and gave him a smile.

He smiled back and held out his fist.

"Hell ya! We'll kick their-” He was cut off. 

"Five dollars a mask, sunny!"

Zack stopped talking, and we both turned toward the voice. There in the middle of the alley was a small old man with a cardboard stand. My heart sank looking at his frail thin arms, it's like he hadn’t eaten in days.

“Oh, dude! Look at that demon mask!” Zack cheered and excitedly nudged me.

I scanned over the worn cardboard box, and noticed the mask Zack referred to, plus another. One mask was plain and white with a downward sword painted in the middle. While the other mask was red and built like a Japanese demon. It had huge teeth poking out from its mouth, and two horns.

I went into my pocket and pulled out a twenty, then placed it on the old man's stand.  I grabbed the red mask and tossed it to Zack, while I took the white one and put it in my jacket pocket.

"Keep the change." I said.

The old man smiled, but it wasn’t heart warming. It was like his lips stretched ear to ear, and he just stared at me. I tried to ignore it and turned back around toward Zack.

"Such a hero, Sir Stryder," Zack mocked as he put his mask on.

I just rolled my eyes and waved the old man goodbye. Then we started walking away. 

"Thank you, my knight." I assumed it was the old man, but I was puzzled by the tone. It sounded...feminine. 

I turned to say no problem, but the man and his stand were gone. Goosebumps crawled up my arm and I desperately looked around for him.

"Where did he go?" I asked.

"Who knows, I bet the old guy had the munchies or something." Zack assured.

"Right..."