Chapter Seventeen

The next morning is intense. It doesn’t take long for word to get out about the incident at the mall, according to texts from the group, but Ian’s the only one talking and wants to whip everyone into a frenzy. I have a theory, and I don’t like where it’s leading me. I have a feeling Ian is trying to expose me and get me into something that is liable to get me into some real trouble.

I don’t have any real proof, but I think he’s gonna slip up sooner or later.

I also think it’s way more personal than I’m aware of, and that scares me more than anything. The game he’s playing—being in my corner one minute, then being my sworn enemy the next minute—there’s something else going on, and I need to pay more attention to him when he’s around me. If I play my cards right, he may give me the answers I’m looking for.

The game later in the evening comes with its own level of intensity, but me being thrust into the spotlight as the side show is not what I had in mind. I did what I could to manage my emotions, but it takes longer than usual to clear my head before I can even think about entering the building.

I get out of Storm and take a deep breath. The kids are already staring. Girls smile at me, while the boys give thumbs-up signals… Huh? What kind of information was shared overnight? Even the quick conversation with Zahra at my locker didn’t provide much clarity, as she, Kyle, and Kendyl couldn’t decipher much.

By the time I get to English and sit down with Kyle, the curtain has been raised on why everyone is buzzing.

“Uh, Yasir, you’re gonna want to see this…” He holds his phone out to me, and I can almost see the sweat roll down his forehead.

A video that had gone viral on social media of me and Vonte going at it, with a lot of shares and comments comparing me to boxing champ Canelo Alvarez.

Fuck. This is not good.

Anyone could possibly have seen that video. What if I gave whoever-they-are a way to find me after Nana went through so much trouble to keep me hidden?

I bend forward and bang my head against the desk a few times, sighing deeply and breathing slowly despite freaking out on the inside. I mean, it’s high praise to be compared to the undisputed Super Middleweight champ and best pound-for-pound boxer on the planet, but this isn’t what I need in my life right now. If it goes viral, it’s only a matter of time before word gets back to my people in the A…including Nana. “So the secret’s out, huh?”

“Yeah, champ. You’ve been trending all morning,” Kyle says, seeming relieved with my response. “I’m surprised a few boxing promoters haven’t been lighting your phone up,” he teases as he taps fists with one of the other boys in class. “I guess I need to see about having you as my bodyguard when I get to the next level. No one will want to mess with you after that performance.”

“Bro, you don’t understand. This is not good.” I’m rubbing my hands together with every ounce of nervous energy I have in my body. I shake my head as more notifications rattle off faster than lightning, adding to my anxiety levels big time. “I’m trying to keep a low profile, and this is gonna blow things way out of proportion.”

“Don’t sweat it, bro. There are perks to being the ‘it’ thing. Ask Ian.” Kyle chuckles. “Man, he’s liable to be hotter than fish grease by the time he gets wind of this news.”

I don’t give a damn about that right now. I may have put a larger target on my back than I planned. All the fears that Nana had when I was growing up—what the hell have I done?

“Bro, I still don’t get it. Why did he have our backs at the mall? He’s been trying to bury me since I got here, and in the course of one night, we ended up on the same side?” I’m struggling to figure out what part of the high school survival manual I’m supposed to read that will explain how to deal with this. “Make it make sense, for real.”

“Look, bro, it’s like having a big brother growing up. He may give you the blues, teasing you at every corner, but the minute some of the boys from the neighborhood start bullying you, he and his boys will lay waste to everyone in sight. It doesn’t exactly make sense, but that’s the way it goes.”

“You’re right, it doesn’t make sense, but I’m an only child, so it probably won’t ever make sense to me,” I say. “It’s fine if Ian tries to take me down or whatever, but outside forces don’t get the luxury. Got it.”

“Yeah, but trust me, he’s still not your biggest fan,” Kyle advises. “Don’t drop your guard around him, even if he’s still trying to be civil. Besides, after last night, I think a lot of the boys are starting to get a little tired of always having to back him up when it isn’t necessary. What we can’t do is constantly clean up messes we didn’t create.”

“I’m not anyone’s cleanup crew, so you don’t have to worry about that out of me.”

“Speaking of messes, I’m gonna need you to stay home for this next game, bro,” Kyle leans in to whisper to me. “Those boys got embarrassed last night, and they’re gonna want payback. We can’t have your back when we’re on the field and in the locker room during the game.”

If he thinks I’m gonna sit on the sidelines, he has another thing coming. “That’s not gonna fly, my boy. Who’s gonna keep an eye on Zahra and Kendyl? They’re exposed, too, and someone’s gotta be there to handle that.”

“You’ve got a target on your back, Yasir.” Kyle checks his phone and nods at something on the screen.

Yeah, nah, that’s not what’s gonna happen. I look at my dawg, flexing my fists to calm down as best as I can. “Who else is going to look out for them? I promise, whoever you’re thinking about, I trust them as far as I can throw them.”

“Well, whether you like it or not, lover boy, who we have in mind is the better option, and they don’t mind getting caught up if the need arises,” Kyle remarks. “I know you took them down on your own, but they’re gonna be out for blood, for real. We can’t tell you what to do, but I’m just saying.”

“I’m not leaving Z, not after what happened last night,” I deadpan. “They know we’re together, and I’m the only one who actually traded fists. The others will try to deal with you on the field, so you have to worry about that. Let me worry about the sidelines and the stands.”

Kyle shrugs. I’m guessing he no longer wants to argue the point now. “I don’t think anyone will be able to get past security to even get to the girls since they’ll be on the sidelines with us. The Grove still takes care of their own. If you’re so insistent on being there, then you’re gonna need backup. I just got word my cousin Quentin and his boys will be in town early for my party to come to the game. They’re in the League, so they definitely have a presence. Maybe those extra pairs of eyes will help settle you down.”

I tap my fingers against the desk, considering Kyle’s alternative. If he trusts his family, then I guess I can try to trust them. “Okay, let’s rock with that. I’m good.”

“Good, that settles it.” Kyle checks his phone again as another notification comes through. He can’t stop laughing at the reference he saw from the video. “We will have your back once we bury these boys again. Besides, superstar, me and some of the boys might have to be your bodyguards to keep the masses away.”

I suppress my laughter at that remark, but I wonder whether things are getting too far out of my control. It’s one thing to keep things self-contained at Oakwood Grove; it’s quite another to deal with the outside variables. One thing I know for certain: no matter what, I’m not gonna miss the game tonight, under any circumstances. Zahra’s going to support her friends, and I will be there to protect her.

…

Being a fan in the stands of either team during this game is torture, for real, considering the sheer number of big hits the players from each team are taking. Neither team wants to give an inch, and if any of the star players are injured, they never let on to any of the coaches or medical staff.

“Kyle Channing breaks away for another long gain!” the announcer’s voice bellows from the press box. “Oakwood Grove is inside the twenty-yard line!”

The Oakwood Grove fans are roaring, hoping for another score to break the tie, and I’m blending in with the crowd to keep from drawing too much attention to myself. I’m sitting in the stands, looking on with the rest of the Oakwood Grove fans at the carnage on the field. The battle of attrition has claimed casualties on both sides, but it has somehow spared the most important pieces on the field to keep the contest heated and even. I have no choice but to remain as helpless as the rest of the spectators and hope that the clock winds down as fast as possible.

As Kyle promised, his cousin Quentin and his friends added an extra layer of protection in case anyone got a little aggressive away from the field. I nod in their direction, grateful that I won’t have to handle things on my own, despite the bravado displayed earlier in the day with Kyle. He has enough to worry about out there.

I cringe at yet another hit on Kyle as he tries to break free into the open field. He manages to get closer to the goal line, but he has to be carried off the field as he holds his midsection. Several scuffles break out in the aftermath as the officials attempt to settle things down.

The announcer tries to be the voice of reason as I notice several people trying to jump the protection fence to get on the field. “Ladies and gentlemen, please refrain from entering the field and allow the officials and coaches to restore order or you will be removed from the stadium.”

Yeah, this is gonna be a wild game, and it hasn’t even gotten to halftime.

Zahra got pulled in for emergency duty to help with the medical equipment and hydration tents near the cheer section. I keep a closer eye on that than the field, making sure that Zahra and Kendyl are as safe as they can be. I also sit as close as allowable in the stands and rely on silent hand gestures between me and Zahra to maintain the connection despite the higher-than-normal crowd noise that has drowned out any other communication.

I want to enjoy the subtle flirting between us, but with the heightened animosity I sense in the immediate area, I’m focused more on trying not to alarm her with my facial expressions. My phone rings, and when I see it’s Zahra, I look out on the sideline, noticing her making the hand gesture to pick up the phone. Her brow is furrowed, and she’s bouncing her knee while she leans against the fence.

“I can feel you, Yasir. I need you to calm down, please,” Zahra says, taking her hands and turning them palms down and pushing downward, giving me the cue that I need to settle down.

“How are you able to feel what’s going on with me, Z?” I cock my head in disbelief. We need to have some deeper conversations so I can understand her intuitive nature. “I’m calm. I don’t have a choice but to be. It’s not like I can do anything at the moment but play sentry.”

Zahra blows a kiss, flashing a smile that takes my anxiety levels down a few notches in mere moments. I maintain eye contact with her through the next few minutes in the quarter, ignoring the outside noise in the process.

“That’s better, cuteness. You’re much more relaxed now.” I watch as her body relaxes, too. “Keep that energy until the half and I’ll see if I can steal away to see about you.” Zahra grins as she makes herself busy on the sideline.

I stand for a minute to stretch my legs. “I’m gonna grab something to drink, but I won’t be long, promise. I don’t want to leave you out of my sight.”

“Hurry back, please. We’ll be here.” Zahra waves before she gets the other girls together to reset the cups on the table.

I climb the stairs to make my way to the concession stand, passing by a group of boys I don’t immediately recognize. The way they’re staring at me, I wonder if I owe them money or something. Whatever, I’m gonna get something to drink, so I ignore them as I hit the breezeway to stand in line.

I stand in place for a good couple of minutes before I have the urge to hit the restroom. I check around to see if anyone from Beach Creek has been trailing me or not, then make the quick walk to the restroom to handle business and get out. Times like these I wish Dante and the Squad were here to have my back. Not that Kyle and the others don’t, but they’re on the field taking care of business. I sigh in relief as I enter an empty area, giving me the chance to slip in and out without any further issues.

I step over to the sink so I can clean my hands and get back to the concession stand and back to my spot. I don’t want Zahra to worry. I peer into the mirror for a few moments, keeping my focus trained on anyone who would come into the restroom. Thank the gods I could finish and leave; I have a taste for some nachos that needs to be handled as soon as possible.

I saunter out and… Well, damn. The four boys I passed on the stairs are all leaning against the opposite wall, staring me down hard. They have menacing expressions on their faces, looking like they have nothing but pain on the menu, and I figure to be the main course.

That exit gate is looking really good right now, and I do a quick calculation in my head, wondering how fast I can get to Storm to at least get a tire iron, anything to make this a somewhat fair fight. My gaze darts from the exit to the group, back and forth as I continue to weigh my options. I have no way to get at Quentin or the rest of my backup, so I’m left with no choice but to go with door number one.

In the next second, I break for the gate, opting for a power walk to keep anyone from noticing I’m in danger. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see the other boys chasing me, matching my pace with the same energy and speed.

I make it to the curb that leads to the parking lot, scanning for anyone who might be in harm’s way. Once the coast is clear, I switch up, going from power walk to a brisk jog, still trying to keep the chase as low-key as possible until the last possible moment. I continue to glance behind me, noticing my would-be attackers are still in pursuit.

I make it to Storm, unlocking the doors and jumping into the back seat to snatch anything I have in the cargo area to defend myself. I lose sight of the boys while scrambling, and by the time I find something to pull, two pairs of hands grip my ankles and yank me to the ground. I try to turn on my back to get into a defensive position, but I feel a fist to the back of my head and another fist to the small of my back.

I grab for my back first, the pain shooting through my legs with a severe tingling sensation that borders on the inability to feel anything. I manage to turn over, with my back against the ground, to get a good look at the boys. One of them tries to kick at my stomach, but someone pulls him away as the others laugh at my vulnerable state.

“So this is the one whose hands are supposed to be deadly? He don’t look like much,” one of the boys scoffs as he balls his fists. “How Vonte let this fool get the drop on him, I’ll never know.”

So these boys are linked up with Vonte? Yeah, I should have known he might have had something to do with it, but I’ll have to deal with him later. Right now, I need to get out of this without having to go to the hospital.

While I want to keep loudmouth at bay, my fight-or-flight instincts are in full-tilt fight mode. I turn to face the group, scanning to figure out the best way to defend myself. I try to sound like I’m not panicking, dropping as much bass in my voice as I can muster. “I guess you’re gonna have to find out for yourself if these hands work or not, huh, bro? Your boy couldn’t handle the smoke, so I guess you need your own lesson.”

“Say less. Come on, boys, time to have some fun.”

I slip by one of the boys, ducking a swing from the second boy trying to double-team me, dropping an elbow on the center of his back with enough force to hear a crack and that boy yell out in pain. I circle back to the first boy who rushed me, but I catch a punch to the ribs before the boy drives me into the side of one of the nearby cars.

I take a few more shots to my ribs before I find an opening. A swift left hook to the boy’s temple drops him to his knee. I look to my left, ducking another swing from the third boy but catching something hard and metal against my knee. I howl in pain as I crash to the ground, grabbing my leg while looking up at my attackers, wondering what they might try to do to me.

In the middle of the fight, I hear a gunshot ring out.

And then a couple more after that.

I freeze instantly. I don’t feel any pain from being hit, but I can’t figure out which one of them has a gun. I better figure it out fast before I do get shot.

Darkness overtakes my sight as I fight from getting overtaken. The only thing I can hear is the boys’ muffled screams and a series of crashes. I attempt to push through the darkness so I can see what’s going on, but the more I push, the darker the shroud becomes.

I shout against the confines of the shroud, but the silence that greets me is consuming. I continue to claw at it, but it doesn’t help, and I scream out in utter frustration. I have no control, and it’s pissing me off. I’m in the middle of a fight, but I’m not in the fight.

Before long, the shroud lifts, leaving me with a scene out of a horror film. I clasp my hand over my mouth as I take inventory of the four bodies on the ground. Blood is everywhere, and none of the bodies move. I’m too scared to check to see if any of them are still breathing, fearing that I’ll leave fingerprints and the cops may try to pin the crimes on me. My first instinct is to leave quick before someone else enters and draws their own conclusions.

Then I come to my senses.

I can’t leave them here like this, either.

I pull out my phone and call 911 to report the assault as I step over the bodies to get to Storm. I do my best not to sound calm, insistent on making it clear to the operator that the people I see on the ground need immediate help.

I know I finished what was started, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t have a heart.

But I’m not gonna stick around to make a statement, either. That’s begging for trouble.

I open the driver’s door and check around before I sit in the seat. It takes every ounce of energy I have to look like I’m not freaked out over what just happened…and I have no way of knowing what I did. Going back to the game is a no-go, so I push the ignition button and head out of there, determined to put as much distance between me and that stadium as I can. I send a text to Zahra, praying she gets it before she realizes I haven’t gotten back from the concession stand.

I check the rearview mirror once I reach the exit to the parking lot, stopping long enough to wipe the remnants of blood from my cheek with the towelettes I have in the middle compartment. I bang my hands against the steering wheel instead of screaming at the top of my lungs. Fear mixes with confusion, and I still can’t figure out what happened.

My senses are on overdrive from the fight, and I hear the distinct screams of the people who’d happened upon the boys. I…I’m not sure if I killed them or caused critical damage. I block out the frantic voices and continued screams as I push the accelerator and peel out of the parking lot. I need to get home and get myself together before I go back to campus to pick Zahra up.

I wish I could chalk this night up to a horrible nightmare, but…I was awake for every second of it, and I was helpless to stop it.

Even more terrifying? I didn’t want to stop it.