❝Like Yeezus, believe us, my Jesus, I'm ballin'
Top five alive but number one callin' ❞
- Still Ballin by Logic ft Wiz Khalifa
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Chapter Eleven: "Raising the Devil"

Theo parked his car and got out, praying that everyone left the house and he could have some peace and alone time.

God barely listens, does she?

He unlocked his door with his keys and entered the house to see Jaxon and Grace arm wrestling while sitting on the couch in the hall with his study books racked up under their elbows.

He stood beside the couch, behind Jaxon as he grunted trying to push Grace's hand.

"Grace beat all of us till now," Jane told him.

"Except me." Eriane chirped as she tried to flex her skinny arm. She was seated on the top edge of the sofa. Theo softly placed his hand behind her back to make sure she didn't fall backwards.

Grace lifted her gaze from Jaxon to Theo and winked. In a second, she applied pressure on Jaxon's hand and brought it down.

"It's not natural for a girl skinny like you to be able to have such strong wrist power man," Dave commented.

"I'm going to get ice cream. Anybody wants some?" Eriane chirped as she jumped off the couch.

"I'll come with you," Grace replied as she got up and fixed her shirt.

Eriane grabbed her hand and led her to the kitchen as Jaxon turned to Theo. "I take it back. I understand why you like to hang out with her. She's fun."

Theo nodded slightly as he left the hall and entered the kitchen. Grace was scooping out ice cream and placing it on a bowl as Eriane stood beside her placing spoons on each. Once six were filled, Grace asked her to take the tray out into the hall. Eriane did as she asked making a face at Theo, for no reason at all, and left the kitchen. Grace raised an eyebrow at him as she put the ice cream box back into the freezer.

"We need to talk," Theo told her.

"About what?" She asked as she leaned against the refrigerator.

"I went to meet -"

"-Jake." She finished for him. Theo frowned in confusion.

"He told you?"

"No," Grace replied, not specifying how she did find out. "Why did you meet him?"

"To ask him why," Theo replied. "He's actually not that bad of a guy, is he?"

Jake actually wasn't what Theo expected at all. He gave Theo a fist bump and then proceeded to apologize about the events of the night.

Grace shook her head slightly. "No, he isn't."

"Well, he told me that the only way his group would leave me and my friends is if they knew that I was a real threat and that I will hurt them if they hurt anyone I like."

Grace nodded her head again. "That's how Jake got to the top."

"Well, I need your help. You clearly intimidate that group...so...maybe you could...teach me?"

Grace frowned. "Was this Jake's idea?"

"Nope. But he did tell me that you were a part of the group once. You must know how I can survive the place, right? Jake seems cool alone but I doubt he is going to be the same around the group."

"He isn't," Grace muttered bitterly as she looked away. "And I don't intimidate the group, they respect me."

Theo raised an eyebrow. "Why the respect?"

"Cause I'm the only bimbo that dated Jake and had the balls to break up with him."

She took a deep breath as silence filled up their conversation. Theo could hear Eriane and Jaxon squealing about something in the hall.

"I'll do it." Grace finally said. "For a hundred and fifty bucks a lesson."

"A hundred and fifty bucks?" Theo asked incredulously. "What are you teaching me exactly?"

"Well...I'll tell you how to dress like a badass, how to act like one and most importantly...I will tell you something about each and everyone in Jake's group that you can use against them in case they try to hurt you." She explained. "For example, you remember Chad?"

"The big bulky dude who stood beside Jake urging him to shoot me?" Theo asked.

"Yeah, I think so. Well...he watches Mickey Mouse when he is bored." She replied, a smile tugging her lips.

"You're serious?" Theo asked. She nodded slightly. "And you're fine with telling me their secrets...why?"

Her smile died. "Let me know if you want my help. I have to go now."

She walked past him to the hall. Theo followed her slowly and opened the front door for her. She waved at the group before giving him a curt nod and then leaving. Theo closed the door behind her and turned to Jaxon.

"Why do you have ice cream all over your hair?" Theo asked. Jaxon lost no time. His hand shot up and pointed to Eriane sitting on the beanbag eating her ice cream. She got up and left the room without a word.

"You're raising the devil. You know that?" Jaxon whispered once she left.

Theo sighed and sat down on the couch beside him. Dave was sitting on the ground in front of them with his back against the wall.

"Grace told me she would teach me how to be a bad boy and dark secrets of Jake's group that would...for a hundred and fifty bucks a lesson." He muttered.

"You can learn how to be a bad boy for free on Tumblr or Pinterest or..." Jaxon began.

"...or you could just ask Grace and pay her the money." Dave butted in. Theo and Jaxon moved their gazes in his direction waiting for an explanation. "Bro, you're clearly rich enough to pay her and...well...Grace needs the money."

"What do you mean?" Theo asked.

"Yeah. What do you know that I don't? How come we haven't gossiped about this?" Jaxon asked, the ice cream on his head beginning to melt over his face.

Dave got up and picked up his jacket and car keys. "Some things aren't meant to be gossiped about, Jax. Theo, I think you should give her the money. Your money. Your choice, man. I'm just saying it's a win-win for both of you." He walked to the front door and opened it. "I'll text you later, Jax."

Once he left, Jaxon pointed his finger towards the door. "That was weird."

"Yeah, it was," Theo muttered.

"Yeah, it wa-as." Eriane chirped in a fake white voice while waving her finger from left to right with each word.

"Go to your room." Theo groaned as he slumped down the couch.

Eriane harrumphed as she turned around and walked. "You girls can gossip but I can't  apparently."

Heyyyyy.
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LOGIC DROPPED ANOTHER ALBUM!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
HE ALSO DID A SONG WITH EMINEM!!!!!!
I'M HAPPY NOW. GOD CAN TAKE ME.

I'm calm now. Somewhat.