1. Run in with the Enemy

ONE WEEK EARLIER...

Logan

I fling my bookbag over my shoulder, then make my way out the front door. I try to walk fast, nearly running, so my mom doesn't catch me.

She keeps forcing me to sit at the table and scarf down breakfast every day, and I am over it. Also, I have no desire to let the family chauffeur drive me to school. I'd rather take the bus with everyone else. The last thing I need is for people to think I am too good for the public school bus.

"Logan, wait."

Damn, I was so close to escaping!

"Yes, mom," I sigh and look at my mother, who is leaning against the couch. She narrows her eyes and looks me up and down as if studying me carefully.

To be quite honest, my mother kind of terrifies me. She is what you call it...sort of rough around the edges. Even my father is scared of her. The only person who isn't afraid would be my little sister Mia. She is their little princess, after all.

"Where do you think you are going?" mom asks. Her green eyes always look cold, like a pair of frosty emeralds.

"School?"

"Yes, I know that, smartass. I mean, why are you not eating with us?" she asks sternly.

"I will skip breakfast this morning. I'll be late for the bus if I sit down at the table, mother." I try not to sound irritated since I know it may make her angry.

She winces. "Don't call me 'mother.' It feels so...impersonal. And you could tell Barry to drive you to school. I keep telling you this for the hundredth time. So no need to miss family breakfast for the sake of catching the bus."

"And I told you I like riding the bus with other kids for the thousandth time."

Mom sighs. "Sweetie, you don't need to feel like having a chauffeur is a bad thing. We have enough money to afford one, so why not use it? It's as if you are ashamed to be born into a rich family. Quite ridiculous, don't you think? A lot of kids would kill to be in your position."

"You know money is not the reason why I am ashamed of this family, mom. Did you forget about our family business?" I grin. My mom hates it when I talk about the secrets of our infamous family. She tried to get away from it all by cutting ties with my grandfather, but it wasn't possible. Both of my grandparents are powerful people, and none of them would let us go.

But...that's a story for another day.

"I have to go, mom, or I'll miss the bus," I said curtly, then ran out before she could say anything else.

"What's up, nerd? Sleep well last night?" Felix slaps my back as I sit down next to him.

"Yea. Mom almost made me miss the bus," I say irritably.

Felix frowns. "I don't understand why you even bother to sit in this smelly bus. You could be arriving at school like a king. We could both be arriving like a king, but of course, you are a shitty friend, so you make me ride with all these assholes with you. Jeez, can we just trade family already?"

I chuckle. "Trust me, Felix. You do not want to trade with me."

Felix is my best friend. We met in elementary school and have stuck together like two peas in a pod since then. I tell him everything except for some things about my family background. I was taught not to trust anyone with that information. Not even my best friend. Luckily, I'm very good at keeping secrets.

"Anyway, Becky Greenwalt is having a party tomorrow night. Are you going?" Felix waggles his eyebrows.

"No, I'm good. I need to work on my research paper."

"Dude, it's Friday night. You can work on it on Sunday. It's not even due till next week. What the hell is your problem? Let's just go to the party!" Felix punches me on the shoulder.

"It's just not my scene. What can I say?" I shrug.

"Not your scene? Come on, live a little."

"No one wants to hang out with a faggot like you anyway."

I hear a harsh voice speaking to me, and my mouth fills with bitterness.

Frances Walter, my enemy.

Francis had been bullying me since middle school because of an incident between us. It was my fault, and I guess he holds a grudge pretty well because he still hasn't forgotten about it.

He constantly calls me names, tries to hurt my feelings, and gets pissed off when I don't react.

"Seriously, Francis? Fag? You are calling me a Fag? How original." I roll my eyes.

"That's what you are, aren't you? Or do you prefer I call you a twink?" Frances barks. "I bet you and your butt buddy Felix have lots of fun over the weekends, don't you? That's why you don't come to parties, right?" Francis grins.

"I am not gay, Francis. And you're being unnecessarily offensive right now, calling him names is not necessary," Felix comes to my defense and I wish he hadn't because I don't want him to be under Francis's radar.

I don't mind all the name-calling. I am used to it. I came out of the closet during my freshman year, and so far, Francis is the only one who has a problem with it. And I know it has nothing to do with my sexuality. Francis just hated me, point blank.

"Oh, look at you trying to defend your boyfriend. That's very sweet, Felix, but stay out of this conversation. This is between your butt buddy Logan and me," Francis says.

"Well, you did drag Felix into it by calling him my butt buddy." I remind him. "Why don't you turn around and sit properly before you get yelled at by the bus driver, Francis? I'm only warning you because I care about you. I don't want you to get detention again."

"I will make you regret using that condescending tone with me, Logan," Francis said with gritted teeth, but he turned around and sat back down.

I snort. Francis was all bark, but at the end of the day, he was scared of detention.

Felix I and I didn't talk to each other until we got off the bus because we didn't want Francis to hear. But I could tell Felix was upset about the whole thing.

We separate after we arrive at school since we had different classes. He has English, and I have Math.

Next up is the gym class. I grab my gym bag and head to the locker room. I always like to get there early so I can use the restroom to change there.

Some guys from our football team are already there, so I smile and say hi. Their eyes narrow.

"Hey, fellas. Getting ready for the game next weekend?" I comment.

"Yeah." one of them grunts. I think his name is Thomas. He avoids my eyes as he reluctantly starts to change his clothes.

I can't help but smirk. No matter how much they say they accept me as I am, they still feel uneasy around me. When they are in the locker room with me, they hesitate to change their clothes. I'm pretty sure they think that, just because I'm gay, I would stare at their junks the whole time.

Which is why I walk straight into the shower to change my clothes, so they don't think I am gawking at them.

I touch the door to the shower and am about to get in, but pause as the locker room door bursts open.

Everyone Stops talking for a moment. The room suddenly becomes eerily silent as if everyone decided to stop breathing. I look at the kid who just walked in and realized why everybody was acting like this.

Danielle Ortega has entered the room.