“My parents won’t be home. So, if you want to come over, that would be…cool.”
Justin grinned as Amanda Williford flirted with him. Walking into school that Monday morning he hadn’t known what to expect. He’d half expected Britney to tell everyone that she’d broken up with him and he’d been right. She’d taken no time spreading the rumour around that day. What he hadn’t expected was the numerous girls trying to hook up with him now that she was out of the picture.
“Here’s my number. Give me a call whenever.” She ripped off a piece of her loose-leaf paper, scribbled the number down and handed it to him.
He took the sheet and watched her as she left. As soon as she turned the corner, he grinned and opened his locker. Breaking up with Britney had been the best thing he’d done in weeks. He traded the books in his hands for his basketball before closing the locker door, twisting the lock and slipping on his backpack.
He walked down the hall, bouncing the ball as he went by and exited the building. The sun was warm on his face and his arms as he bounded onto the courtyard, the usual hangout spot for his friends.
“’Sup?” He greeted his friends and they nodded back before getting back to their conversation.
“So he was the fucking DJ,” Kyjuan announced.
”You’re joking,” Stilts responded incredulously.
Kyjuan shook his head. ”Nah, man. That was Chris Kirkpatrick.”
“I knew that music was whack for a reason,” Murphy Lee said in disgust.
Nelly snorted. “Y’all were bumping to that shit just like everybody else. Don’t front.”
It took Justin a couple of seconds to realize that they were talking about the DJ at the club. “Hold up! Y’all know the DJ?”
“He goes to this school, Sherlock,” Murphy Lee answered.
Justin took in this new information quickly. The guys in the washroom at the club had been right.
“You guys have a problem with him?” He asked noting the disgruntled tones of the other guys.
“He’s a fucking punk,” Kyjuan glowered.
“Kyjuan and Murphy Lee scrapped with a couple of Kirkpatrick’s buddies last summer,” Nelly said in explanation.
“Let’s just say we don’t like each other,” Murphy Lee added curtly.
“Well, well. Look who’s walking up and all alone too,” Kyjuan said, looking past the other guys and down the walkway.
They all turned and watched as Chris made his way up to the school. He must have been aware of the group of guys less than ten feet away from the door, but he gave no noticeable sign that he was.
“Fag,” someone behind Justin called.
Chris tensed up but kept on walking.
“Not so tough without your little boys to run behind,” Kyjuan called over to him before he reached the doors.
Chris stopped and turned. “You know what? Fuck you. Keep saying shit to me and see what happens.”
Kyjuan laughed. “Sure, Kirkpatrick.” He walked up to Chris until they were standing only inches apart. “I don’t like you. I don’t like your kind. You think deejaying at some club’s gonna get you out of the gutter? Not gonna happen, boy.”
Chris stopped himself before he could ask how Kyjuan knew about the club. He glanced over at the other guys. Most of them were smirking as they watched the scene, a few looked uninterested. The token white kid looked uncomfortable.
“Last time I checked, you still had one foot planted in
the gutter – with your mama,” Chris said calmly.
He saw the fist form before it flew and he quickly jerked back before it could make contact with his face.
He stepped back to get momentum and shoved at Kyjuan’s chest. Kyjuan, already unbalanced by the missed punch, slipped back but caught himself before he fell.
Suddenly a few of the seated guys were up and ready to jump in. Justin got up, not knowing what to do. He glanced over at Nelly who was standing beside him. Nelly must have felt his gaze on his face because he turned to Justin and shook his head. “If he wasn’t my people…”
He walked over to Kyjuan and grabbed his arm before he could reach for Chris again. “Kyjuan, ‘nuff of this shit. You ain’t got beef with Kirkpatrick, just some of his camp.”
Kyjuan shrugged Nelly’s hand off his arm and sniffed. “He just got on my shit list.”
Justin found himself backing Nelly up. “You messed with
him first, man. Just let it go.”
“You haven’t been with us long enough to tell me shit,” Kyjuan spat out.
“Get outta here Kirkpatrick, before we change our minds.” Nelly spoke to Chris but his eyes were still on Kyjuan.
Chris had been watching the group argue amongst themselves. He hadn’t been sure if they were all going to jump him or not, he just knew that if that was their intention he wasn’t going to run. He’d watch them beat the living pulp out of him before he’d run.
Justin watched Chris stand there, as if he was waiting for something to happen, and wanted to scream at him. Wanted to tell him to get out of there or he was going to get his ass kicked. He stared at Chris, willing him to leave with his eyes.
Chris was looking them all over with disgust, when he caught Justin’s eyes. The white kid still looked uncomfortable but there was something else in his eyes. Like he was -- like he was pleading with him. Chris shook his head and turned away. He was imaging things. With one last shake of his head, he completely turned his back on the arguing men and walked into the school.
Justin almost let out a sigh of relief until he caught sight of Kyjuan’s face and heard Murphy Lee’s angry voice enter the argument.
Murphy Lee was standing beside his brother and they both faced Nelly. “You let a little milk in the pack and you get soft, Cornell.” Murphy Lee’s voice dripped with disgust as he used Nelly’s given name. He knew Nelly hated it.
He turned to Kyjuan. “Forget them. Let’s go.”
Kyjuan scowled at Nelly and Justin before he followed his younger brother down the school walkway.
“Well that went well,” Justin announced.
Nelly snorted and the other guys shifted around looking uncomfortable and unsure. Nelly was their leader but Kyjuan and Murphy Lee were their friends too.
“Such fucking drama queens,” Nelly muttered. “Bettah go calm those shits down. Peace.” He lifted his hand in farewell and jogged over to where his friends were walking down the path.
Justin sighed and decided to go back inside. Lunch was almost over anyway. “See y’all later.” He said over his shoulder to the other guys before heading back inside.
The bell rang as soon as he stepped inside the school. He didn’t bother going back to his locker; instead, he turned and made his way to the south stairwell. Not far in front of him, he could see Joey -- well Joey’s back but Justin would recognize Joey anywhere. Joey just had that kind of -- aura or glow or whatever to him.
He made his way over to Joey and was almost upon him before he noticed that Joey was talking to Chris. He was about to turn away when Chris noticed him. The look on his face was anything but friendly.
“I’ll see you later,” Chris said abruptly to Joey and headed for the stairs.
“Yeah uh, alright,” Joey said in confusion, wondering why Chris had left so suddenly. He turned around and suddenly knew why. Justin was standing right behind him. “Hey man. What’s up?”
Justin glanced at the stairs before looking back at Joey. “Nothing much. Your friend doesn’t seem to like me much. Did he tell you what happened?”
“Yeah, he just did. He’s pretty pissed.”
“I guess, I can’t blame him for that.”
“You think?” Joey snorted.
Justin shrugged. “So, you guys are…friends?”
“Yeah we’re…friends,” Joey said mockingly.
“I’m just surprised that’s all.”
Joey was about to respond to the statement when the bell rang. “I have class. Do you have a point?”
Justin raised both brows. “What’s up your ass?”
Joey shook his head. “It’s not you, man. It’s that whole fucking statement. I’m tired of people giving me shit because Chris and I are friends. Look, I can’t be late for class. Are you going this way?”
Justin nodded and followed Joey as they headed up the stairs. ”I wasn’t trying to insult you or any shit like that. It’s just that I’ve never seen you with him before, so I was curious.”
Joey shrugged. “Well, Chris isn’t always around, so we don’t really hang out that much here.”
“How do you know him?”
Joey tightened the strap on his bag and peered at Justin. “Why do you care?”
Justin blinked, caught off guard by the quick question. “I don’t.”
“Good.” Joey opened the door to the fourth floor hallway. He was going the same way as Justin, so Justin walked beside him.
Joey stopped a few feet away from his classroom. “Look, I’ve known Chris a long time. He’s a good guy and my loyalty’s to him.” He looked at Justin seriously. “If we’re going to be friends that’s something you should know.”
“Joe, I don’t care if you’re friends with him or not. I don’t even know the guy.”
Joey nodded. “I’m having a party this weekend, if you want you can come. But Chris is going to be there and I don’t want any shit happening, ok?”
Justin frowned. “Shit, what do you think I’m going to do? Bring in my posse, so that we can beat him down?’ he said mockingly. “For the last time Joe, I have nothing against the guy. My friends opinions aren’t necessarily mine.”
Joey shrugged. “I just want to make sure we’re clear. Chris would be pissed if I brought his enemies to him.”
The warning bell sounded and Joey turned to go. ”Oh, before I forget.” He reached into his pocket, removed a piece of paper and put it in Justin’s hand. “Those are the directions. It’s on Saturday. You don’t need to tell me if you’re coming or any shit like that just show up but bring beer or I won’t let you through the door.” Joey said, a small smile dancing on his lips.
Justin nodded and watched as Joey walked into the classroom. Why was a guy who was hated by his friends and seemed to have a bad attitude inspiring such loyalty in someone like Joey? Why the hell did he care? Justin blinked back the thought. It was the challenge of the guy that made him interesting. The challenge of what, Justin wasn’t sure. But he’d rather not look any deeper into the feelings this Chris guy was arousing in him.