"People will forget what you said, forget what you did, but never forget how you made them feel." – Maya Angelou
✧ ANGELUS ✧
"So, Angelus, your first day in school, you got into a fight and ended up in detention," Michael said.
I ignored him.
"And you, Kelsey, you also got sent to detention for using your phone in class."
She didn't answer either. Just sat there fuming, arms crossed like she was gonna explode.
Good. I hope she's mad. Let her be mad. That's her problem.
"And both of you hate each other now," Michael added.
Kelsey didn't even hesitate. She just nodded like a bobblehead on caffeine.
"I hate him! He's a pr**k! And so you know, Angelus, I hate you! I hate everything about you! I hate your pathetic arrogant foolish life! I don't wanna see your face—"
Yeah, she said all that. Like, exact words. Straight from the bottom of her drama-queen heart.
I mean, look—I don't blame her too much, but also… it's not my fault. I don't go around starting fights. But I'm also not gonna stand there and let someone punk me just 'cause they think they run the school or whatever.
✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧
Okay, I know you're probably sitting there confused as hell right now.
"Wait—how did we go from class to a fight and detention??"
Relax. I got you. That's exactly what I'm about to explain.
So yeah—that whole mess? It all happened during lunch.
Let me rewind and take you back—
✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧
"Angelus, please wait behind," Mrs. Tristan said as the rest of the class filed out.
Not like I was in a rush anyway. I had plans to grab something biteable and maybe walk around the school, but now? Not really in the mood.
I stood from my seat and perched on the desk instead. She sat on the one next to mine.
"So, which school were you in before this?"
"The Gratitude College. Nigeria."
I really didn't want to talk about that school—barely remembering it is enough pain.
I know there were others too, but… I'm not going into that.
"Wow, Nigeria? You don't really look African though."
I didn't respond. And after a beat, she continued, clearly realizing I wasn't about to say anything else.
"Well," she smiled softly, "your performance in Mathematics today was impressive. I mean, really impressive."
I said nothing. I just looked ahead. Already aware of where this is going.
"I want you to use that intelligence, Angelus. I want you to challenge yourself. There's something I'd like you to consider."
Here it comes…
"I'd like to nominate you to represent the school in an international science competition."
"Nope. Not doing it," I replied instantly.
She sighed, like she already expected that answer.
"I'm not asking you to decide right now. Just… think about it, alright?" She reached into her bag and pulled out a card, handing it toward me. "You'd get extra credit, opportunities to travel, learn new things… it could open serious doors for you."
I didn't move.
"And you might meet people who'll change your life, maybe even make new friends and acquaintances..."
"I said I don't want to do it."
This time, I got up and walked out, leaving the card hanging in the air between us.
I could feel her eyes on me as I left, but I didn't look back. I didn't care.
I meant it.
I don't want to be part of anything that involves making friends. Especially not trips and bonding and all that crap.
My two best friends died in a car crash—I was in the car with them. My dad and brother died in another crash—I was there too. My mom's still in a coma. I survived all of it. Tell me I'm not cursed.
Everyone I get close to ends up dead. So no, I'm not taking any chances. If being alone is what it takes to stop hurting people... then so be it.
I'll take that deal—every time…
"Hey, Angelus."
I turned and found Joel jogging up to catch me. What does he want? I already saw he's one of Mason's friends.
Hope Mason isn't planning something stupid.
"What do you want?" I asked the moment he caught up.
"Welcome to La Pete's High. I'm Joel." He extended his hand with a wide smile like we were suddenly best friends.
"OK."
I didn't take the handshake. Just kept walking toward the cafeteria.
He stood there awkwardly for a second before jogging up again to match my pace.
This time, I didn't stop. I just kept walking. He kept talking like I wasn't ignoring him entirely.
"Hey, are you always like this?" he asked the air, clearly hoping I'd answer.
I didn't.
"Sorry for bothering you," he finally muttered and peeled away.
He left, but my conscience didn't. It stuck to me like gum on a shoe, chewing at the edge of my chest.
But I had to do it.
I slipped one AirPod in, connected it to my phone, and started playing music to drown out my thoughts.
I got a doughnut and a bottle of milk from the cafeteria, then made my way to the front porch—somewhere not exactly isolated, but calm enough. A few people were around, eating or chatting, but no chaos.
Kelsey wasn't in the cafeteria. Or on the field. Mason wasn't around either.
But I could see Kelsey's two friends sitting not too far off at the field, laughing and eating.
She has good taste in friends though; I'll give her that. Both of them were really pretty.
Actually, the three of them—Kelsey and her friends—were probably the prettiest girls I'd seen since I started mentally ranking girls in this school (don't judge, it's a guy thing).
But Kelsey still topped them all.
Just as I took a bite of my doughnut, one of the girls got up and started heading toward me. Her friend called her back, but she ignored her and walked straight over.
She sat beside me without asking.
I didn't look at her. Just unlocked my phone and started scrolling through my playlist, trying to find something better than what was currently playing.
"Hi, Angelus. I'm Sofia," she said, setting her tray down on the grass like we were already friends.
"What do you want?" I asked coldly, not even sparing her a glance.
"I don't have to want something just to talk to you, okay?" she replied casually, tossing a fry into her mouth. She was eating like she had no care in the world.
She wasn't as cold as Kelsey. She seemed… freer. Easygoing. I probably would've liked her—if I wasn't on this strict no-friends policy.
I kept scrolling through my songs, ignoring her presence.
"I just wanna understand something," she continued, clearly unfazed by my silence.
"What are you angry about? Is it that you don't like it here in LA, or… what?"
"Who says I'm angry?" I finally looked up, my voice sharp. "What's your point?"
"It's written all over your face," she said, softly. "And I'm pretty sure it's not shyness. You just don't wanna talk to anyone. Or smile. It's like you were forced to be here."
Her expression softened, like she was trying to figure me out. And that pity in her eyes—that disgusted me.
"What's your point?" I snapped, louder this time. My tone came out raw and harsh, and for a second, she flinched.
But then she smiled again, regaining her composure with a small laugh.
"Damn, you frightened me," she said, half-joking, half-serious. Then her face turned more thoughtful.
"Look, all I'm trying to say is—don't—"
"Sofia, what are you doing with this freak?"
Kelsey's voice sliced through the air like a dagger, interrupting whatever Sofia was about to say. Her shout drew attention from every direction.
It was kind of a relief—not the attention, but the interruption.
Still, I knew what was coming next.
Trouble. From Kelsey.
For "talking" to Sofia.
Or maybe just for sitting next to her. Even though I didn't ask Sofia to come over, I knew I was going to get heat for this.
But I wasn't worried. Last time I checked, I could make her mom or Michael mad at her in a blink. And she can't beat me. But I won't do any of that.
Let her be mad. Let her hate me. That's exactly what I want.
Still, the noise she was making? It was wrecking my peace.
"What's wrong with speaking with him?" Sophia asked.
"He's a loser!" Kelsey snapped, her eyes narrowing in disgust as they locked onto mine.
That was it for me. The disturbance is a bother.
I got up and started walking away. I needed to find somewhere—anywhere—quiet where I could sit and eat without the world staring.
Not that I even had the appetite anymore.
"Hey, you! Where do you think you're going?" she yelled again, loud enough for everyone around to hear.
Before I could get away, she reached out and grabbed my arm, yanking me back so hard I almost lost my balance.
My heart spiked. My head snapped around, rage boiling just beneath my skin. I looked at her, jaw clenched, fists tightening at my sides.
She didn't even flinch. She just glared harder—like she wanted a reaction. And continued:
"I don't wanna see your a** anywhere near my girls ever again, you freak!"
"Kelsey, what are you doing?!" Sophia stood up, voice urgent as she reached for her friend's arm.
But Kelsey ignored her. She had succeeded in drawing attention—and not just a little.
Everyone was watching now. Laughing. Whispering. A few even had their phones out, pointing their cameras at me like I was some kind of circus show.
My chest burned. I could feel the fury crawling up my throat, pushing against my willpower like a dam about to break.
My hands were shaking—but not from fear. I wasn't scared.
I was angry. Angry because I didn't do anything wrong. Angry because this was exactly what I wanted to avoid. Angry because she didn't know anything about me—but she was already judging, labeling, mocking.
And the crowd… they loved it.
I tried to keep it in. I really did. But Kelsey… She wasn't helping.
The events from my former school started replaying in my head—The bullies, their laughs, the mockery, the rejection—All of it came flooding back at once, each memory like gasoline on an already raging fire.
My anger multiplied a thousand times over. My fists clenched. My breathing quickened. My vision blurred with the heat of my rage. My eyes must have been glowing red by now.
"She's not worth it."
"She's not worth it," I whispered to myself, trying to anchor my sanity, to hold on, to remind myself—don't lose control.
I made a promise to Michael… Even if I hadn't, I can't hit her. She's his sister.
I forced the breath down my throat and turned, determined to walk away—to cool off, find a quiet corner, and pretend this day never happened.
But fate had other plans.
Just as I took a step forward, Mason—grinning like the fool he was—stuck his leg out in front of me.
I tripped. Tried to catch myself but failed and fell face-first into the ground.
It hurt—but not half as much as what followed.
Laughter. Everywhere.
Not the whole student body… but enough. Enough to make it sting. Enough to make me remember why I decided not to make friends. Enough to remind me why I stay alone.
I slowly got up and dusted myself off. My fists were clenched again, tighter this time. I looked up at Mason, who was still laughing, giving high fives like he just won a trophy.
Joel didn't laugh. He just looked… disappointed.
But the rest? Even Kelsey and her friends—well, except Sophia. They were enjoying it.
"Calm down, Angelus," I muttered to myself. "Don't fight. This is your first day in school. Just breathe…"
I turned, ready to leave.
But Mason? He wasn't done.
"I bet he's gonna run to mummy and daddy… oh wait—he can't. They can't hear him."
The laughter roared even louder. But I heard none of it.
Just him.
Just those words. Words that went deeper than any punch ever could. Words that told me someone—Kelsey—had told him everything.
I turned slowly, locking eyes with her.
She looked scared now. She knew.
She knew Mason had gone too far.
And that scared look on her face? It only fueled the storm inside me.
"Don't… don't ruin your first day."
I felt a soft hand on mine—gentle, hesitant.
Sophia.
Her eyes were filled with concern. That same pitiful look.
It should've made me snap harder… But somehow, her presence pulled me back just enough.
I took a breath and turned again to leave—thinking that will end there.
But, No.
Mason just had to say it—
"Bad luck runs in your family's blood."