Int. Parket High School – Chemistry class (third period)
It’s right before the start of class. Most of them are sitting in their respective seats while a few students are still standing. Conversations about boyfriends, the newest Grand Theft auto, and the newest rap beef circulate through the class. Right before the last student finds their seat, Nora suddenly bursts through the classroom door. Quickly looking at the clock, and realizing she's on time.
“Yes! Right under the clock.”
“Did you just get to school or something?” Tricia (A girl allowing her pink curls flow past her shoulders)
“Yeah, I overslept despite setting 3 alarms.” Nora admits.
“You’re lucky Mrs. Holiday isn’t early today.” Faith calls out to her.
Nora is walking toward her desk, when the black-haired girl (Girl from chapter 22.1) stands up. Her name is Renae (15).
“Yeah, lucky seems to be the word.” Renae says loud enough to gain the attention of the entire class. While Nora is confused, Faith recognizes Renae with a concerned look on her face. Rem is sitting in the back right corner of the class, observing.
“Um, yes. Was that supposed to mean something?” Nora says.
“It does seem like things just so happen to work out for you. Doesn’t it, new girl?” Renae directs Nora as she begins to walk toward her. “I mean you come here, talking big about not wanting to make any friends. Yet you steal other people’s friends. Are you some sort of manipulative freak or something?”
“First of all, who the hell are you? I don’t remember ever talking to you.” Nora retaliates.
“Her name is Renae. Before you got here, there was a group of us that hung out.” Faith explains.
“Oh yeah I remember that group of girls now. One of them got my name wrong.” Nora reminisces.
“Glad to see you actually do remember your old friends Faith. So, tell me, when did you decide to throw us away for this bitch?!” Renae asks while reaching for Nora.
“Who the hell are you calling a bitch?!” Nora says while smacking Renae’s hand away.
“Renae, stop it!” Faith yells while stepping closer and placing herself between Renae and Nora.
“What the hell is wrong with you? I didn’t throw you away, I just spent more time with Nora. I still hung around the group when I could.” Faith counters.
“Once every few weeks is nothing compared to how close we use to be!” Renae screams.
“So, what! I have no contract with anyone over my free time. If we’re being honest that group was toxic as hell. I felt like anything I said could be used against me later by people calling themselves my friend. How do you even call that friendship?" Faith asks.
“Don’t act like you weren’t part of it, you were just as toxic as the rest of us!” Renae objects.
“Whoa she actually admitted that their toxic.” A random student says.
“Honestly, if this group is as it sounds, you should leave it too. It seems like it’s making you crazy” Nora says.
“I’m not crazy!” Renae yells.
“Spoken like a real crazy person." Another random student says.
“I know right?” Someone else chimes in.
“Renae, listen to yourself. Are you that desperate for friends that you’re willing to stay in a toxic relationship? Do you understand how dangerous that can be?” Faith attempts to reason.
“Listen to Faith. At least she wants better for you.” Nora says.
This causes Renae to look back at Nora. With a certain fire in her eyes.
“What about you?” Renae asks eerily emotionlessly towards Nora.
“What about me?” Nora asks.
“Are you willing to admit you were toxic at one point in your life? I mean as soon as you got here, you and Ren (Nora's classmate. Not Rem - Javier's friend) got into something. It’s clear that you two had a history of some sort, but it’s clear there’s some unresolved emotion there. Tell me, Nora. What did you use to be like? Did you use to be toxic?” Renae continues.
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“What the," Nora is then cut off by Ren interrupting.
“That’s enough Renae, I have nothing to do with this. Why the hell did you even say my name?!” Ren lashes out.
“Whoa, what is happening? Ren’s yelling now? Things are getting wild.” A random student says.
Nora looks over to Rem with a stern look.
“Are you behind this? I should’ve known. First you tell people about me at the VBL building, now you’re bringing up old shit?! What’s your deal?” Nora yells at Ren.
“I didn’t bring up anything, watch your mouth, and don’t pretend like you’re little Ms. Innocent in this. You know what you did back then!” Ren counters.
“I didn’t do anything!” Nora yells again.
“What is going on in here?!” Ms. Holiday finally bursts through the classroom door.
Immediately a few students sat in their seats, showing they had nothing to do with the situation at hand. Leaving Nora, Faith, Renae, and Ren still standing. Ms. Holiday singles them out with her eyes.
“You four, out in the hallway. Now!” Ms. Holiday commands.
*
Nora, Faith, Renae, and Ren lined up outside in the hallway, side by side. Ms. Holiday takes a second to take a breath and calm down before addressing her students.
“Alright, can someone tell me why you four were disrupting class?” Ms. Holiday asks.
“Are we disrupting even though class technically didn’t start yet?” Ren counters.
“Ren, please…” Ms. Holiday stops him. It’s clear she’s not in a playful mood. So, Ren looks off to the distance.
“I think this whole thing was just a misunderstanding Ms. Holiday.” Faith says.
“I have to say Ms. Storm, you were the last person I thought would disrupt class. I wish I can say the same for you, Ms. Maxim.” Ms. Holiday
Nora inner thoughts: Did you really have to single me out?
“Okay, look. I don’t care what’s really going on between you. Class must get started. You four stay out here until you get it solved or else everyone is going to the principal’s office. I’m going to start class now.” Ms. Holiday says while walking through the classroom door. For an awkward moment things are quiet between the four teenagers. Nora is the first to break the silence and it’s towards Ren.
“What’s your problem with me?” Nora asks Ren again.
Ren seems appalled by the question.
“Are you serious?” Ren counters.
“Are you not?” Nora asks.
“You really don’t remember me, do you?”
“You’re the dick, who sent that video of me playing VBL around the class. Why wouldn’t I suspect you?!” Nora yells.
“I mean before that! Before you even came to this city! You don’t remember ripping the championship title from me?!” Ren explains.
Nora inner thought: The championship title? Is he talking about the Tekken tournament that I won?
“Are you seriously angry with me for winning a competitive tournament?! Here’s the hard truth, sometimes you lose! You’re not defeated until you accept it. So, while I may have beaten you in a video game, you’re the one that defeated yourself. Don’t blame me for your short comings.” Nora says.
“After I lost that match, my dad and I’s relationship fell off even more than normal. It was like he lost respect for me. This was also when he started telling me to join the army. To follow in his footsteps. To be like him. You did that. Not me. This was your fault, not mine!” Ren explodes.
Everyone in the hallway is silent.
“Ren…” Faith says.
This causes Ren to realize everything he’s revealed. Once he meets Nora’s eyes again, he sees her pity. Ren runs away from the three teenagers, leaving them awkwardly standing next to each other. Renae shoots a look toward Nora, while Nora returns the glare. Faith places her hand on top of Renae’s shoulders. Which Renae shrugs off.
“Renae, what was your plan?” Faith asks.
“For you to realize what you’re doing to the group! Our friends.” Renae answers.
“I’m sorry if my actions hurt you but I won’t apologize for doing what I think is best for me. There come times where you have to be selfish in order to find your own inner peace. I don’t feel the need to tread lightly around Nora, she doesn’t berate me when we don’t agree on things. We’re able to have fun without needing to put the other down. I mean think for a second. How many times did you feel like the target of the group? How many times did one of those girls say something that you thought was too far? Have you ever questioned why someone who claims to care about you, would say something to hurt you on purpose?”
Faith’s words are clearly affecting Renae as she begins to think back to every moment that her group of “friends” made her feel uneasy. Without saying a word Renae’s face goes stoically emotionless. She opens the classroom door and walks in. All eyes transfer from Ms. Holiday to her, as she makes her way to her seat. Meanwhile Faith looks to Nora with a sympathetic “I’m sorry” glance, while Nora returns it with a “I’m still confused” shrug. Eventually both girls walk back into class.
**
On the lower west side of Strand city (Within the Hat-tin borrow) a blue hound bus stops at the bus terminal. One by one, the riders make their way out of the bus. Eventually a slim Korean teenager walks off, carrying his one and only luggage on his back. He’s only a white t-shirt that’s one size too big, black, and white checkered pants, black and white checkered vans and both of his arms are fully tatted. He also has “36” tatted on his neck. This is Bok – Jin – Ho (16).
As Jin walks to the corner of the block, his phone rings. As he answers, the voice on the other side asks him a question.
“Yeah, I made it safely. The bus ride was hell, and they only made 3 pit stops. I sat next to someone who just wanted to talk about their new baby, which sucked but whatever. Who am I supposed to meet again?” Jin asks.
The voice on the other side answers his question.
“Yeah, right. I forgot you’re pawning me off to my aunt. Did you make sure to tell her what time my bus landed?” Jin asks.
The voice answers his question again.
“That’s all I need from you.” Jin says while ending the call.
Jin looks around and observes the city around him. It’s humid, there’s people everywhere. Some are shopping at the vertical shopping mall across the street, or the multiple restaurant/clothing stores in the nearby area. Jin feels the slight push of a young kid running into him. When he turns around there’s three kids looking up at him.
“Sorry mister” the kid says.
“Just watch where you’re going next time.” Jin warns.
“Come on! The VBL building isn’t far from here!” One of the kids yells.
The kids then ran down the street, leaving Jin standing on the curb by himself again.
“I hate moving” Jin says to himself.