01• Reid.

"There he is..." I shouted, entering the classroom and I strolled over to the blonde-haired guy along with my two friends. "I see you seem to be forgetting about our little deal," I said and stopped at his desk.

"Please, Reid, we can talk things out," He whispered, but I acted as if I didn't even hear him.

I took his course book, glancing at it as though reading its content, and then pronounced his name. "Thaddeus," I smirked glancing at his scaredy face. "Should Thaddeus be disobedient?" I asked his seatmate, whose wish was visible on his face, for me to get out of their class, but that wouldn't be happening anytime soon.

I needed to teach a liar a lesson.

"No—no."

"Good. You might as well get your ass outta here." I ordered and Thaddeus seatmate immediately obeyed.

"Reid---" I didn't allow Thaddeus to complete his statement when I hit his head on the desk with force, and his classmates all made a surprised gasp.

"Do you want to take the punishment instead?" I heard Dylan ask and the class went silent.

"Looks like none of them likes you..." I smirked in satisfaction seeing that Thaddeus already broke his nose.

"Please, Reid. I promise it was a mistake; I didn't mean to go against you." Thaddeus pleaded.

"I had asked nicely you know..." I spoke softly tapping the back of his head. God, I could feel his heartbeat even from his head. "You should've known better than to cross me, Thaddeus. As a department leader, you're supposed to recognize the consequences of betraying someone like me. So pitiful." I spoke with a hint of disdain, my hand closing around his hair, twisting it sharply and Thaddeus gasped painfully.

"I'd be gentle," I whispered, my voice dripping with menace. Then, with a swift motion, I slammed Thaddeus' head onto the desk, the sound echoing through the room. His classmates' muffled screams followed. I bet the noise could be heard in some departments.

I brought Thaddeus' face to me... A sly grin spread across my face, seeing how much I was ruining his face, which had already turned pink with a trace of blood in his nose.

He's no different from me after all; at least his victims will begin to call me a hero. "Just one more," I say tightening my hold on his hair again. I could bet he wasn't going to survive this time.

"What's going on there!" Someone shouted from the hallway.

"Shit." I cussed, releasing Thaddeus' hair at once.

"We gotta go..." Dylan said as we hurried away from the classroom.

"Why are you roaming around?" The professor asked as he watched us walk towards him after leaving Thaddeus's department.

"Sorry..." My other friend muttered an apology as we walked past him.

•••

I got home early that day, as college seemed boring without my best friend, Alvin present. He had been sick for a while now, at least after we got into a small fight, and I hadn't even checked up on him; I should do that today since I had already caused trouble and would be given a suspension.

I walked into the big house owned by my mother, but now it's my stepfather's property; Mrs. Ashwood had willed it to him on their tenth wedding anniversary.

"I'm back!" I announced dryly as I walked over to the staircase.

"Reid!" Mrs. Ashwood shouted, and I stopped on my track, glancing at her.

She was holding a phone when she appeared before me, her hair in a mess, probably making dinner for her family as I rarely joined them at dining because of her and her husband. Even though I had a good relationship with my stepbrother, Abel. I still didn't feel like a family while with them. My mother and Mr. Ashwood's marriage would never be accepted by me.

"What?" I asked sternly.

"It was the college professor who just called me." My mother began slowly, and I rolled my eyes, knowing they already reported me to her. When would Godwin College professors learn to know that my mother had no control over me?

"Did they tell you I almost killed a sucker today again?" I asked sarcastically.

"Will you please be decent for once!"

"Shouldn't Abel's decency be enough for you?" I uttered.

"Not for me, but for your Father! Do you think he will be glad to see you getting expelled for being such an asshole!"

"Not again..." I whispered under my breath.

"For God's sake let him be at rest---"

"Rest my foot!" I spat interrupting her. "Isn't while he was still in sickbed you got engaged to your second husband?" I fired. "Either of us, you're the one to be blamed if he's not happy up there!"

"What's going on?" I heard Mr. Ashwood's voice from the staircase.

When did he appear? I rolled my eyes at him as I walked out of the house, hearing my mother starting to whimper; her husband could comfort her.

I hopped in my car as I pulled out of the curb driving away furiously. Now you know why I don't join dinner... This is a good time to sleep over at Alvin's place. I thought as I continued driving.

It took over twenty minutes to arrive at Alvin's place. Fortunately, he lived alone except when his girlfriend came to visit him.

I parked my car and walked over to Alvin's apartment. I stopped to knock, but there wasn't a response, and I allowed myself in after noticing the door was left unlocked.

"Hey, bruv," I called as soon as I stepped into the living room. "Christ, why's here dark?" I mumbled switching on the light.

"Reid..." I heard the faint voice call me, and when I lowered my head, I saw Alvin lying in his own pool of blood on the floor, his neck bleeding.

"Holy hell! Alvin..." I called as I rushed over to my friend. "What the hell happened?" I asked feeling my heart begin to pound.

"Will---" Alvin's voice was so low that I could barely hear him this time.

"Stay with me, I'm gonna call an ambulance," I said in one breath as I tried to find my phone.

Geez... Did I leave it in my car? "Fuck, Alvin, Alvin!" I called, but Alvin wasn't responding; his head that was on my lap slowly slid away, and I could feel my best friend breathless already.

"Fuck, Alvin!" I shouted again frantically, my hand and white T-shirt soaked with his blood. Then, before I knew it, there were police sirens wailing.