Meanwhile…


    Luke stood in front of the school infirmary with a slight smile on his face. Smacking his lips, he slid the door open without even knocking. The very few people inside turned their heads to the door, only to frown upon seeing the familiar face standing by the door.


    "Hello." Luke raised a hand, closing the door behind him. He looked around to see if there was anyone inside the small infirmary, and fortunately, there were only those three bullies: Wyn, Ja, and Emyr inside.


    "What the hell is this guy doing here?" Wyn, the long-haired student, snorted. His eyes gleamed with malice, and he wasn''t even concealing the fury in them.


    "He''s probably here to make fun of Ja," said Emry with a sneer.


    "Hah…" Ja, who was now with an arm cast,ughed in ridicule. Unlike the two, Ja, who was kicked off of the stairs, peered at Luke with murderous intent. "I''ll kill youter."


    "Woah, woah!" Luke raised his hands in surrender, blinking with misced innocence stered across his face. "I know we started on the wrong foot, but I''m here so we can start over again!"


    "Hah! This fucker thinks we''re fucking born yesterday, huh?" Wyn snorted, standing up ever so slowly while balling his hand into a fist. "Since we''re in the infirmary, it should be better if you are here for a reason —"


    Luke smiled, shutting Wyn when he raised a stic bag filled with snacks. "Peace offering."


    "Oy, do you think you can bribe —" Emyr, who just stood up, couldn''t finish his sentence when Luke threw the stic bag full of snacks he bought from the canteen. He caught it on instinct while Luke shoved his hands inside his pockets.


    "Let''s be friends," Luke offered, walking towards the bed where Ja was reclining. He stopped on the side of the bed, unfazed that he was now at arm''s length from Wyn and Emyr.


    Ja was visibly upset by Luke''s arrogant air. However, he held it in. He had been a delinquent since young and was raised in a violent neighborhood. Thus, he could read people and he could tell this pretty boy was one of those who fell on the psycho part.


    After all, Luke kicked him down the stairs without batting an eye; Ja saw theck of remorse in Luke''s eyes when he raised his foot and while he was falling. It wouldn''t be surprising if Luke would stab him if he said so.


    "Do you think we''re dumb?" Ja scoffed, keeping his calm, but his voice reeked of sarcasm.


    "I know you''re pretty smart. That''s why I am here. I wouldn''t be here if I know you think with your fist." Luke''s lips stretched from ear to ear until the corner of his eyes creased. "That''s my peace offering since I''ve thought long and hard about it. I think you guys are pretty cool… unlike that damn Maxen."


    "Tch! After siding with him, you''re switching sides now? Oy, do you think we can trust someone who changes sides faster than a switch?" Emry barked through his gritted teeth, yet kept the snacks in his arms.


    Luke rocked his head. "I did side with him because I thought we''re friends. However, I stood up for him, but he didn''t say any word of thanks. Instead, he made me look nosey. So rude!"


    "Hah…" Wyn let out a dryugh. "That''s because you''re nosy."


    "Well, I am, pretty much. But only to those I consider my friends," Luke agreed without a second hesitation. "But well, it was obvious he doesn''t see me as one. That''s why I was very upset about it. So, I remember how you two held yourself back to help your friend."


    Luke darted with eyes between Wyn and Emyr and smiled. "I think that is pretty awesome."


    "Hah… is this guy crazy?" Emyrughed, looking back at Luke in disbelief. However, Wyn simply looked away, obviously ttered by the praise.


    "That is why I want to be part of your group." Luke pped excitedly.


    "Hahaha…" Jaughed and shook his head before the two followed. They looked at Luke from head to toe, shaking their heads continuously. Seeing their reaction, Luke raised his brows and cocked his head to the side.


    "You want to be part of our group?" Ja repeated with a tinge of mockery in his voice. Luke nodded without a second hesitation.


    "Look at this guy." Ja adjusted his seat, leaning back against the headboard of the bed. "Do you think what we do is as simple as skipping sses to go and y some arcades?"


    "Hah… this guy is really crazy," Emyrmented, acting all big and tough.


    "Wait until you get punched in the face and get that pretty face ruined," Wyn added, shaking his head slightly.


    "Our business isn''t as simple as what you think, pretty boy —" Ja was cut off when Luke spoke in a knowing tone.


    "I''m not looking down on what you guys are doing. Who said I don''t know what you guys are capable of?" Luke blinked almost innocently. "Aside from bullying those weaklings in this school and exploiting students, I think I''m pretty much aware of your connections with the local gang."


    His lips stretched even wider. "Last year, you were involved in a gang fight from another school. During the fight, someone got stabbed and died. When the police came, you," Luke paused as he cast Wyn a look. "You are one of those unlucky ones who was arrested while the others fled."<novelnext></novelnext>


    "Although these two managed to get away, they were suspended for the entire school year because of many reasons. I always do my research!" Luke grinned from ear to ear while the three of them looked back at him in surprise.


    "Did that Maxen —" Emry was once again cut off by Luke as thetter answered even before he could finish his question.


    "No, he didn''t." Luke shrugged. "As I''ve said, he doesn''t see me as his friend. If I didn''t do my own research, I wouldn''t even know about this!"


    Luke kept his grin as silence descended on the four of them. Honestly, Luke didn''t do his research about these three. However, he ran a background check on Maxen. Therefore, he uncovered these things.


    Not that Luke had superhuman memory to remember all the little detail. It was just that he had taken a particr interest in this area, since it might endanger Cosette. That was why he remembered the names of those involved in the gang fight that Maxen had managed to get away from a year ago. If Maxen didn''t, he would''ve also ended up in the juvenile like Wyn.


    "If you make? another trouble, the school will have no choice but to expel you. I don''t know if that even scares you guys since you''re here to kill some time," Luke continued after a momentary silence. "But if you hang out with me, not only you''ll be safe from expulsion, I know ways to have fun that don''t require risk… at least, less risk. Not to mention, I can teach you how to earn money and make a system so no one gets caught."


    The three furrowed their brows as they studied Luke''s unchanging smile. Thetter knew a lot and yet he didn''t show the slightest vestige of fear. That only shows Luke knew his stuff and wasn''t scared of getting beaten up right here and now.


    "So." Luke raised his brows, taking his hand out of his pocket, and balled it into a tight fist. He offered it to Ja, smiling from ear to ear.


    "Friends?"


    ******


    The first day of school went by, almost like a blur for Cosette. There didn''t do much for the entire day since the first days were mostly just a warm-up. Tomorrow was the real start of ss, and this school year, she aimed to get better grades since Maxen wouldn''t skip sses anymore.


    "Bye, Cozie!"


    Cosette waved at Sarah, Far, and Amie, who were on the other side of the school gates. She watched the three walk away in the opposite way where Maxen and Cosette''s usual route.


    "Let''s go."


    She snapped her eyes to her left and nodded, smiling at Maxen as thetter sauntered off. Cosette skipped her steps to follow him until she was walking beside him.


    "Maxen, why are you so cruel, hmm?" she frowned, ring daggers at him. "How can you leave your girlfriend behind? You now have longer legs, so your one step is like two steps for me."


    Maxen cast her a side eye but didn''t react. Yet, he still slowed down even though she was simply whining and using this as an excuse to spend more time walking.


    "Hehe…" Cosette giggled, slowing down even more, eyes ahead. Noticing that they kept slowing down until their pace was as slow as a snail, Maxen was about to open his mouth when she suddenly spoke.


    "I wonder where did Luke go?" she murmured. "He said he ns to top the ss, but he skipped on his first day of school."


    Maxen pressed his lips into a thin line, recalling that he secretly searched for Luke earlier when Cosette was cleaning the ssroom with the girls. He was worried Luke was ambushed, but when he found Luke, he saw him hanging out with Wyn, Emyr, and Ja as if they had just be the best of friends.


    A shallow breath slipped past Maxen''s lips at the thought. ''I don''t know what''s going on inside that guy''s head. Maybe he finally lost it.''


    "He''ll be fine." Compare to his inner thoughts, Maxen reassured her calmly. "You know him, and he just does whatever he wants. He probably thinks since it was the first day, nothing important will happen, so he went out to y."


    pA n,dan(-)0ve1.c0m Cosette blinked twice before she nodded in agreement. "Make sense." She smiled, not putting any thought to it since Luke was a free spirit, and she couldn''t expect him to linger around her all day long.


    "Anyway." She then jumped beside Maxen until her shoulder bumped against him. "What Fay said, did you really…"


    "Yes, I had a lot of free time." Maxen arched a brow as he answered quickly, taking her by surprise, which made him smirk. He knew she would ask this and tease him, so he prepared himself all day long. Maxen shoved his hands inside his pocket and slowed down, bending over to whisper in her ear.


    "Do you know who I was thinking?" he grinned triumphantly, straightening his back, pleased to see her beet-red face. Maxen winked, resuming in his steps, while Cosette was frozen on the spot.


    When Cosette realized he outyed her, she ground her teeth and red daggers at his back.


    "Maxen Cloven!" she yelled, stomping her feet to follow him.