Chapter 2

It was Friday. I woke up, got dressed, ate breakfast, and left with my dad again. Yani was at the usual spot in the main hall of the school. She kept talking about how her fourth period physics teacher was still such a bore but also lamented about how it was too late for a schedule change. I told her to role with it--that the year would fly by like nothing. She scowled, sighed and reluctantly agreed with me.

My first four classes before lunch were the same as usual, save for new lessons, of course. Lunch didn't suck as much on this day, leading to Yani, for once, enjoying her meal. Oscar and I hung out in graphic design like always, and we were assigned as partners to create a logo design for an imaginary company.

PE was the class after graphic design. There are four coaches there, but I just so happened to get the guy who was a bit of an ass. I barely know anyone in that class and never bothered trying to make friends. Yes, I have to talk with some people, but it was simple interaction. The only person I could recognize from my interests was Eli, who was assigned with another coach. He was the only guy I couldn't and never will talk to.

Today, the only thing we had to do was go outside and run some laps around the field. I usually like to change in the stalls in the boys' locker-room because I don't like taking my pants off in front of other people. I mean, I could, but I don't feel too courageous when in PE.

After everyone was changed, we had to go outside and run laps. A lot of students decided to just walk it, which was generally fine. My coach, however, made it clear that he did not like that even though it was allowed by the rest of the coaches. So, in order to not piss off the giant, most of the kids in his class ran, including me. It didn't take long for my chest to start burning and I desperately wanted to stop and stroll. But, when I looked over where my coach was, he was staring right at me. That couldn't be a coincidence. Feeling pressured, I kept running. Eventually, I just couldn't handle it anymore and had to stop dead in my tracks. Other students passed me, and some even asked if I was feeling okay. I just nodded and waved them off to continue today's activity.

I leaned against the chain link fence surrounding the perimeter of the field, and rested. Maybe running would be easier, if it wasn't hot as hell. Either way, I would have to walk until my chest stops aching. As I walked, a taller figure jogged past me and I recognized them as Eli. His skin was already sheen with sweat and his t-shirt did wonders to show off his toned upper body. I found myself staring at him as he ran ahead of me. A few seconds later, he slowed down to a walk to rest up. I managed to catch up with him as I continued at my pace and was about six feet apart from him. His dark hair was pushed back away from his red tinted face, and his expression was calm. Barely anyone notices past his death glares, but I saw the warm, brown color of his eyes. Just the way his face was, was absolutely charming.

Eli finally noticed me and suddenly his facial expression changed from calm to intimidating within the span of a millisecond. I immediately looked away from him. As much as I admire his face, his glare still feels like daggers. After a few moments of awkward silence and the sound of wind blowing, Eli huffed and started running again. I watched him leave for a couple of seconds before occupying my mind with other things.

I finally got back to running and continued the laps. When the coaches called everyone back in, my coach glanced annoyingly at me and I managed a little smile. All of the boys walked back to the locker-room to shower and change. The guys before me took the showers so I, along with others, had to wait a bit with our towels in hand. (I could just change, but I hate feeling sweaty in not sweaty clothes...)

A shower was available and I took it. All I did was rinse off and then hop out with a towel around my waist. Like always, I went to my locker to grab my other clothes, then made a B-line to the bathroom stalls and started changing behind a stall door. Since I was one of the last ones in, most of the guys were already leaving the locker-room. Usually, I'm the very last guy to leave. Maybe that's why my coach doesn't like me--because I take forever to do anything.

I finished up changing and folded up my towel and dirty clothes. Just as I was about to leave, I heard the locker-room door creak open then slam. Footsteps echoed throughout the room and, judging by the sound, it was only one person who came in. Peeking through the crack in the stall door, I saw Eli pass by, heading for the showers. Thinking about it, I've never seen him in the locker-room at this time. He's always one of the first guys to come in and then leave. I wonder why he came in late this time...

Now I felt awkward standing around and listening to one of the showers running. I didn't want to come out of the stall. I still need to throw my dirty clothes in the laundry basket, which is almost next to his locker. With my luck, as soon as I come out, Eli would finish and leave the showers. I don't want to be alone with someone like him. I know he wouldn't do anything to me, but the tension would just kill me.

While I was stuck in thought, Eli had finished showering. Still hidden in the restroom stall, out of curiosity, I peeked through the crack in the door. I wasn't expecting him to be wearing a towel around his waist instead of being changed. Ooh, this just got way more awkward for me...

He was idling by his locker, probably getting his clothes in order. He tossed aside his PE clothes in the laundry basket, then, without a single care in the world, removed his towel.

OOooH, this is absolutely FUCKED.

I reeled back in the stall and covered my mouth in shock and embarrassment. Wait, why am I embarrassed?? Eli is the one being god damn nude. Why did I have to be here? I should've left while he was showering..! But, like my well-known nickname described me, I went ahead and looked back with a blush on my face. Shiiiit, he's so tall, and muscular, and god damn how did I not notice how he has such a nice ass?

I don't know why I felt so compelled to do what I did next, but I could already feel the wrongness of it. Despite my common sense, I screwed it over by taking out my phone, poking it out of the stall just enough, and taking a shit ton of pictures of Eli. This was wrong. This was fucking illegal...I think. I take Government & Law next year, so I don't know, but I'm pretty sure this is illegal...!

After I took enough pictures, I receded back into the stall and waited quietly for Eli to change and leave. When I heard his footsteps grow fainter and fainter, and the locker-room door opened then closed, I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. I looked down at my phone, went to my photos and stared in shock at what I did. A shit-ton was an overstatement, as I had only taken about eight pictures, but my god, it was too much. One photo had him slightly turning and I almost got a front shot. Holy crap, I can't believe I just took candid, nude photos of one of the scariest bastards in this school. If I wasn't punished by the law, I'd be utterly fucked when he comes to kill me. I just can't let anyone know about this. My phone is never going to leave my sight until I get rid of these photos at some point.

Jesus, I'm fucked up.

•••

Yani was kind enough to drive me home in her car when my dad texted last minute that he had to work an extra hour. My mom's car has been having engine problems so she can't pick me up when she's available.

As Yani was driving, she asked me, "Hey, would your parents mind if I take you to the mall with me right now?"

I gave her a puzzled look but answered her, "No, I'm sure it's fine."

"Sweet," she said as she suddenly took a different turn that took us to the mall. I had a feeling that she still would've turned, regardless if I said yes or no.

We managed to find a parking space after a few minutes of slowly cruising between aisles and entered the mall through a Macy's store. Yani and I walked through the department store in favor of something different. The mall was considerably packed at this time, but we could still get around. I wasn't sure what Yani was looking for but I followed her wherever she went. From a Forever 21 to Victoria's Secret.

"Yo, why pay thirty bucks for a thong that's practically string?," I questioned her as I picked one up.

"It's not just string, gringo. They're also pretty comfortable," she said, then grabbed at the one I was holding with an interested look in her eyes.

"They should make a Victoria's Secret for, like, gay men," I commented, looking around at the store.

"Should it be called Victor's Scandal?"

"Oh my god, yes!," I exclaimed excitedly, "That has to be a thing! I'm gonna open up a store after college called that and give this place a run for its money! And the thongs won't be overpriced as shit!"

Yani shook her head and laughed at me.

We walked around some more and already Yani had a couple of bags from two different stores with her. She let me check out a GameStop and I only looked at games to lament about the fact that I don't have the money for new ones. Still, I saw some interesting ones that I put on a mental list.

We walked some more, grabbed some lunch at the food court, and walked some more. I usually don't like going to places like Journey's, for whatever reason, but this time I entered the store because I saw a cool pair of shoes with aliens on them. Yani followed me in and decided to browse despite that this place wasn't her taste.

As I was trying to find the alien shoes in my size, I heard a familiar voice talk a few racks away. I peeked through a metal rack to see a familiar head of blonde hair. His smile was as cocky as ever and I almost gagged. Wesley stood talking to one of the female employees, whooing her over with his sly words and sex-machine charm. Sarcasm at sex-machine...

I shook my head and tried finding Yani again since there were no alien shoes in my size (I wouldn't have been able to buy anything anyway). As I was weaving my way past display tables and clothes racks, I spotted one of Wesley's buddies in the corner of the store. His back was turned towards the rest of the store and he was doing something. Getting a better angle, I saw that he was trying to steal a T-shirt, meticulously trying to take the ink tag off.

It dawned on me that Wesley was distracting one of two employees. The other was a guy who was managing the register. I knew I couldn't let them shoplift, but there was no way I was directly involving myself. Instead of jumping in and being some hero, I went up to the male employee and asked him, "Hey, there's a sweater that I'd really like to check out in the corner over there. Can you help me?" I pointed to the corner where Wesley's buddy was. The sweaters were up on the wall out of reach, so employees would have to be the ones to get them down.

"Sure thing," he said, and followed me to the corner. As soon as we got there, I noticed Wesley's buddy tensing up. Just in luck, the stick that employees have to use to get clothes down was behind the guy. The employee excused himself as he reached over but then saw what Wesley's buddy was doing. Before the employee could scold him, the guy shoved past him and ran, dropping the T-shirt on the way. The employee rushed and grabbed the shirt, then yelled for the female employee to call security just in case.

The girl nodded nervously and rushed to a backroom, leaving Wesley in mid sentence. The blonde man frowned and then glanced over at me. Suddenly, his cool demeanor faded and his eyes blazed with utter hatred. He knew. Somehow he knew I had foiled his little plan to shoplift. I didn't do anything, but Wesley is the kind of guy who doesn't need a real reason to hate someone with a fiery passion. Even a glare can set him off. He can't do anything to me here, though. So, obviously defeated, he storms out of the store, knocking over a few shoes on display on his way out.

The male employee came up to me and said, "Thanks for helping me stop that kid. If you hadn't asked me to help you, he would've gotten away."

"No problem," I replied with a smile.

"Did you still want a sweater?"

"Nah, none of them are my taste actually, but thanks anyway! Have a good day, man!" I gave him a little solute and walked away towards the front of the store, where Yani was now waiting for me.

"What happened?," she asked me as we walked together.

"Justice," I answered boldly.

Yani rolled her eyes at me and said, "For real, gringo, what happened?"

"Wesley Collins was trying to shoplift with one of his friends and I helped stop them."

"Well, look at you being a hero," she teased me, nudging my arm with her elbow.

I laughed and shook my head. "C'mon, let's get out of here." Yani didn't waste any time navigating her way back to the Macy's store. We left the mall and got back to her car. She was happy to have new stuff, and I was kinda proud of myself for having stopped a shoplifting, no less a shoplifting attempted by Wesley. But I had a feeling he would get back at me somehow.

And, eventually, he did.