Meet the bullies

Sky

As promised, I guided Victoria through the school, pointing out the places to avoid, the people she should steer clear of, the tangled web of who-dated-who, and the best spots to chill. I unraveled the common histories of key figures in the school, weaving together a map of alliances, betrayals, and power plays—everyone's story but mine.

Just as I was mid-sentence, something slammed into me with such force that I crashed into the wall, my shoulder taking the brunt of the impact. A sickening jolt of pain shot through me, and for a brief moment, I saw white. My shoulder was definitely dislocated. The sharp agony clawed at my nerves, nearly forcing a howl from my throat, but I clenched my teeth, swallowing the pain.

Dazed, I looked up from the floor to see Loui standing over me, a sneer curling his lips.

"My bad, hoe brother," he mocked before letting out a sharp laugh. His group echoed his amusement like a pack of hyenas, their cackles grating against my already frayed nerves.

I didn't react—not in the way they wanted me to. Instead, I braced myself, took a breath, and slammed my shoulder back into place against the wall with a force that made stars dance in my vision. A strangled grunt fought its way up my throat, but I swallowed it down. My jaw tightened as I turned back to Loui, meeting his gaze without a word.

Victoria's voice pulled my attention away. "Are you okay?" she asked, eyes wide with concern.

"Yeah," I muttered, rolling my shoulder despite the dull, lingering throb.

She looked like she wanted to say more, but I cut her off before she could. "We need to head to the buses. I'm in Bus 2, and you're in Bus 1."

Without another word, I left her standing there and joined the line for my bus. The parking lot buzzed with excitement, students chatting and shoving their way into their designated rides. The line moved quickly, and within moments, I stepped onto Bus 2, heading straight for an empty seat.