"The original bad boy . . . isn't a gentleman."

19| She Punched Me, I Punched Her

The moment I said Lionell's name, I knew.

I screwed up big time.

What kind of an idiot goes up to the murderer and says 'hey, I witnessed you kill your poor friend because he fell in love?'

Oh yeah, I'm that idiot.

Since childhood, I have been the type of kid who couldn't keep a secret to save my life. For instance, I ended up asking Leo about Skylar. Of course, I  did well hiding my mom's birthday surprise. The only reason she didn't find out was because we never saw each other. She was busy at the restaurant all day with dad or I was too busy decorating our new dinner.

Anyways, coming back to the terrible situation I shoved myself into, I think I should move to another planet.

Isn't NASA planning on sending astronauts to Mars?

Maybe I could hop on the--

"Sean, let go." Leo, Arsen's worst friend, tugs on Sean's hands, which maintain a tight grip on Ben's throat. They can't be serious! Did they plan on sending Sean after me? Since I knew their little secret, they were probably planning to send me to Lionell.

I swear I'll haunt them if they kill me.

Gulping hard, I sneak a glance at Arsen, who busily munches on his fries. I don't suppose he wishes to participate in the matter at hand. I'm not sure if he remembers me. He better. Maybe he doesn't care. To be honest, I don't know what's up with him.

Has the amnesia not gone away, yet?

Trust me, if it hasn't, no one can save me from the ruthless rebels.

After Arsen's countless warnings, I still managed to dig my own grave.

Leo pries Sean off Ben, earning a series of curses from the boys ready to fight. Once there's distance between Ben and Sean, the girls and I sigh in relief. No one's dying, today. Ben swallows hard and fixes his collar. By now, one of the janitors has brought the vice principal.

"Everything alright?" Mr. Donovan asks.

"Of course." Ben forces out a smile.

"Good. Get back to your seats," the vice principal says with a smile. We know he's avoiding the start of a war, but he doesn't know who he's dealing with.

Isa, Danie, and I step away from all the guys.

Leo and his friends glare at me, confirming my days on earth was coming to an end.

"Dang it, Sean didn't break his legs," Isa mutters, breaking me out of my thoughts. Danie and I blink at her in disbelief. "I mean, I'm thankful Ben's alright. I didn't wanna help clean any blood--" She stops abruptly as Ben joins our squad.

"What a loser. Unlike me, that guy needed backup," Ben huffs. Unluckily, behind my friend's back, Sean's approaching us with a grumpy expression. Ben lets out an exaggerated sigh, not knowing what's coming for him. Before we can warn him to shut up, he continued, "He's lucky I don't hit girls or otherwise . . ."

And I thought I was the stupid one.

Isa, Val, and I flinch as Sean stops in his tracks.

Ben must have a death wish because you don't say those words to a guy triple your size. A guy who can squish you like a lemon with his bare hands and make lemon soufflé out of you.

"Ten bucks on a broken nose," Isa says quickly.

"Twenty on bruised eyes," I mumble.

"What are you two talking about?" Ben asks, furrowing his eyebrows.

"You asked for it," Danie mumbles.

Sean taps on Ben's shoulder three times before withdrawing his fat hand off my friend's head. Ben swallows hard and his eyes scan over our faces.

"He's right behind me, isn't he?" he whispers.

Sean turns him around.

"No, I'm right in front of you!"

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"All my friends are heathens, take it slow . . . "

"Ben, we warned you--" I started.

"I'm just a sucker for pain. More pain. Got me begging, begging, begging--"

"Dude, stop singing. Your voice is horrible!" Isa says finally. Ben's been singing every pain and betrayal related songs after Sean punched him four or five times. At least, the vice principal saw it and caught him before he beat the life out of Ben.

We sat in one of the school's off-limits stairways, skipping last period and cleaning Ben's bloody face. It was a unanimous decision. Isa, Danie, and I were a little terrified to face the ruthless rebels in gym class.

"What made you think you could tackle a sumo wrestler without backup?" Danie asks sniffling. Seeing him hurt apparently brought tears to her eyes. Don't get me wrong, it pained Isa and I to see our friend's condition, but we kind of saw it coming.

"I took karate lessons when I was five," Ben tries to reason.

"So?" She snaps.

Isa and I stay quiet, pressing the ice on Ben's shoulders.

"Look, I didn't know your partner was Sean, the Sumo Wrestler. Not that it matters, anyways," Ben says, catching her hands as she dabs at the blood with cotton (we stole a first aid kit from the nurse's office). "I'll tackle anyone who hurts you."

Isa pretends to gag and I smile at Ben.

The time has come.

He must confess to Danie about his feelings and how he's been getting himself hurt for her.

"What?" Danie whispers.

"We're gonna find more bandages, okay?" I mutter, gripping Isa's arm.

"What?" She frowns. "No, I'll stay here." I glare at her and nod my head towards the couple staring at each other. She finally registers the situation and cheerfully says, "Fine. You owe me some moolah, by the way."

I roll my eyes and drag her out of the stairwell.

"What if Danie rejects him?" Isa says once the coast is clear. We stroll down the hallway, pretending we're not skipping class.

"What if she doesn't?"

"In that case, we seriously need to start looking for boyfriends."

"Sean?" I suggest playfully.

"Arsen?" she retorts wiggling her eyebrows.

I try not to grimace. "Leo?"

"Arsen," she repeats.

"You can't find anyone else?"

"No idiot, look, it's Arsen . . . and his girlfriend, I guess." She pointed down the hall to where I capture a fascinating scene. Isa and I edge closer and hide behind the lockers to watch the drama. Who could've thought school would be so interesting all in one day?

A blue haired girl--one of his hookups, undoubtedly--yells at Arsen about him being neglectful of her.

"Stop sleeping with other girls behind my back!" she begs.

"Look, you knew what you were getting into," he responds somewhat irritated. Her hands cling to his collars as she forces an unexpected kiss on his lips. I don't know, but I felt a jab at my chest at their proximity. Did kissing him when he's fully conscious feel the same as kissing him when he's fully asleep? The memory of me kissing him randomly as a scare suddenly feels more serious and intimate. A part of me wants to know how it feels to kiss him and have him kiss me back.

Earth to Val!

What am I thinking?!

I might be dying soon and all I want to know is how it feels to kiss Arsen while he's fully awake?

The couple's kissing had long since stopped and now the fighting continues. Blue screams at him to listen to her, but he pays no heed to her words, turning to leave.

I barely have time to register the girl swinging her hand in a closed fist directly at his right cheek.

Isa covers her gasp with her hands.

I continue staring as Arsen retaliates with a punch to Blue's nose.

"Arse" fumbles out of my mouth before I can stop myself. That's exactly what he is. His parents named him right. Clearly, the four of us in the hallway heard my outburst. Tears burn down Blue's cheeks and shame-faced, she slips out of there. I step out of my hiding spot with Isa following behind me. Arsen shows no surprise in my presence. "You did not just punch a girl," I mutter through clenched teeth.

"She punched me, I punched her back! That ought to teach that slut a lesson," he says, swiping his thumb across the corner of mouth. I saw a trace of crimson before it disappeared.

"Let's go before he kills us," Isa says loud enough for him to hear.

"Good idea. I'm definitely in a killer mood today," Arsen says.

"Can I talk to you for a second?" I ask evenly. Isa frowns and tugs at my elbow, earning a glare in response. "Go on. I'll catch up at the library," I assure her. Begrudgingly, she leaves, but not before giving me a look that says I have to spill everything when we meet next. The only reason I sent her away's because I don't want her in any trouble. I must know if my death is lingering close by. The little stunt at lunch shook me badly.

"Go away," Arsen says. "I don't even know you."

"Stop the nonsense. I know you're fine. You just can't handle us being friends all over again," I say bitterly, hoping my words are true. That way, I'd know he's simply lying about amnesia. Arsen blankly gazes into my eyes. "Look, I'm not here to beg you to be my friend because I clearly scared you off last time. All I want to know is when your friends are going to kill me." He keeps staring at me, which concerns me because I don't know if the memory loss is honest or not. "Lionell died, remember?" I try to help him remember. "I saw it all and your friends know that. The ruthless rebels are going to murder me in my sleep probably and you can't even remember your own best friend?! For the sake of our old friendship Arsen--"

His hand quickly grasped mine and he pulled us both out towards the staircase.

"For the love of god, shut up, Valerie!"

I beam at those words. "I was right! You're faking amnesia to get rid of me, which isn't gonna happen because--"

"Because you have a death wish," he finishes.

I scowl, snapping my wrist free as both of us stand in the empty stairway. "I was pissed off and when that happens, I spill out things that should be kept secrets. You should know as much."

"Yeah, I do. I just didn't know you'd spill out your brain cells too!" He says infuriated.

"What?"

"Valerie Cruz, you're an idiot. I work so damn hard to keep the guys away from you, but you're attracted to them like addicts to cocaine," he says, making me seem extremely moronic. "Are you suicidal? I promise you I can end your misery in a less torture of a method than that of my friends'." I take deep breaths as he continues, "Who in the world goes up to the murderers and says, 'hey, I witnessed you kill your friend. Why don't you kill me next because I can't keep my giant ass mouth shut for a second!'"

"They're really gonna kill me?"I say in a tiny voice, feeling tears pricking my eyes. I hoped for him to find me a way through this mess.

"Has it even occurred to you that they can do worse?!" he snaps, slamming his hands flat on the wall behind me, caging me in his arms. The tiny bit of hope left my body, allowing terror to settle down. Arsen's words hit home-run. It dawns on me that in NYC, crimes like murders, rapes, etc. are an everyday thing. I could easily fall a victim of that.

"Help me."

Those two words of desperation melt away some of his anger. Arsen leans away, allowing me to breathe in rusty air mixed with his strong scented cologne, but he doesn't let his eyes leave mine even for a second. Behind him, someone's footsteps stomp against the bottom of the stairway. Someone's coming up.

We hear the static of a walkie talkie, which clarifies it's one of the administrators.

I reach for Arsen's sleeve to skedaddle out of here. However, he has different plans in mind.

Within seconds, his hands have pinned mine to the wall behind me. His face's buried in my neck, his hot breath burning against my skin. One of his hands caress my hair, pushing my head into his neck.

What in the world is this guy doing?!

"Hey! What are you two doing?! No PDA on school grounds!"

Uh oh.

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