"Should I intervene?" Devon was getting dizzy because she deeply believed that her desk partner was a good boy, and getting into trouble because of Brucks the bully wasn't something anyone deserved. Slightly, without him noticing, Devon moved her head and looked at Jackson with sympathy.
Besides, since she had never had a friend before, she wondered if it would be ideal to get too involved in these kinds of things. She didn't want to ruin a relationship that was just beginning to bloom.
Jackson, who kept his eyes closed, thought: "Is it just my imagination, or is Devon getting more concerned as classes go by? I hope she doesn't get involved in this; it would be too boring."
The only reason he was so interested in Devon was because of her personality. She was the only person besides him who seemed very similar in many aspects, and he discovered that in less than a day living alongside her.
While Jackson was thinking of strategy number one thousand five hundred ninety-two to hit someone without fracturing too many bones and without getting into trouble, the fresh air of the classroom made Brucks have a little more patience.
"No, I shouldn't do it in that place. I can beat him to death in the emergency stairs. His screams could attract attention. Also, if for some reason someone else sees us, I could get into trouble if a teacher gets involved. It would be obvious for them to blame me for hitting him; after all, I'll make sure to break some of his teeth so he stops bothering me."
While Jackson was distracted and Devon was focused on the teacher's words, class ended.
"Hey, you know what's going to happen, right?" Brucks stood up from his desk and walked toward Jackson, wrapping his left arm around him. They looked like friends, and that was the impression many had from afar, but Devon knew what was really happening.
"Take your hand off me…" Jackson sighed again; his patience was running thin, and that was never good if he still remained in this place.
Devon really began to feel sorry for him; even though he was a big person, he would have to suffer if someone wanted to seriously hurt Jackson.
"Did you just threaten me? Damn it, you're a really annoying guy. I know a good place where I can shut you up and make you scream like the bitch you are for as long as I want." Brucks's eyes reddened with anger.
Devon was about to notify a teacher, but Jackson turned around and said: "Will you wait for me?"
"Yes, of course." Devon nodded slightly.
When she was thinking about what to do, she saw Jackson leaving the classroom while playing on his cell phone, so she stood up and tried to be discreet while following them. Her bag was light and compact, so she could keep up with him.
"Hey, Devon, where are you going?"
"Home."
Devon in the end didn't dare mention this to a teacher; if for some reason she ruined this, she could cause trouble for Jackson.
…
"Damn it, the battery is dying…" Jackson complained as he eliminated a level-three-hundred monster on his cell phone.
As for Brucks, it took him less than five minutes to find the right place. It was a dark alley; even though there was still some color in the sky, it was clear.
What didn't cross Brucks's mind was the following question: why would Jackson, a boy who didn't look muscular at all, agree to follow him for half an hour in search of an alley to be beaten? Something didn't add up in this whole revenge process, but Brucks didn't think about it—maybe he thought the one he was about to hit was an idiot.
Jackson, who was being the victim of bullying, was calm, his eyes fixed on the screen of his cell phone as it moved in a completely abnormal way, checking numerous statistics of his video game.
"No one comes here. How do I know? Well, my brother is actually part of a gang and this is their territory. When it's night, he and the other gangsters gather here; the purpose of many is to make some plans and deals."
Brucks sat on the small wall at the end of the alley.
It was a bit spacious, and behind the short wall there was an abandoned building. The wall was there only to keep animals crawling from the mountain away from the residential streets.
Devon, who had followed them, leaned behind the wall of an abandoned warehouse. Right behind her were Jackson and Brucks. Right now her heart wouldn't stop beating rapidly—she herself didn't know how she ended up here when this problem had nothing to do with her.
"Why can't I hear what Jackson is saying? I don't know what he's going to do. Should I call the police? If this bully is telling the truth, this is gang territory, and even if Jackson knows how to fight, he'll be in trouble…"
"That's why Brucks is so confident. His brother is a gangster!"
"Now, what will I ask you to do? Hmm? How about you kneel first?"
Devon couldn't see what was happening.
Because if she peeked, Brucks would surely see her.
"I'm going to take this slowly." Devon looked at the screen of her cell phone without knowing who to call.
"I want to hear an apology, Jackson. You know what you did in the morning and at noon."
"Aren't you going to kneel? Maybe you should try some of my punches then!"
Then footsteps were heard. There was a pause before a scream came from the alley.
"Ahhhh!"
"Oh no, it started!" Devon panicked: "I should call someone. The police! Yes! Wait, no… Should the police be involved? What about the teachers? But I don't have any numbers!"
"Don't hit me, please."
Crack!
"Ahhhhhh!!!"
The screams and sounds of blows continued coming from the dark alley.
With no other option, Devon took her phone out of her bag and was about to start calling the police.
"Brass knuckles!? Are you crazy!?"
Brucks brought a weapon! This is serious! Devon was sweating, and that made her hand slippery.
"Stop! Are you serious!?"
"Aaaahhhh!"
"Forgive me, I won't do it again!"
On top of the trembling, as soon as she tried to unlock her phone, Devon dropped it.
"Oh no!" She immediately picked it up.
"Wait, Brucks will see me…" Devon turned her head toward the alley, and at that moment she saw Jackson playing with a knife in front of a Brucks lying on the ground.
"Devon?" Jackson was surprised; he didn't think she would actually follow him.