I wasn’t alone. I don’t know if I just didn’t want to see it. Maybe I thought the Hillside Vipers ruled North Side High. I was wrong.
It was quite simple. I had customers. So I had enemies. The Church Street Pit Bulls started making themselves known. They weren’t happy.
I was sitting at a lunch table and actually studying. Someone sat down across from me. I thought it might be someone who wanted to do business. When I looked up I saw a huge boy. He was so big and black. I’d never noticed him before. His eyes narrowed just as I noticed his dog collar. “Get out or the Hillside Vipers will pay.”
“But I go to school here.” I tried to sound tough, but it came out weak.
“You know what I mean.” He stood up and stepped behind me. Before I could move, he had me pinned down on the table. I could hardly breathe. His fish breath whispered, “Only room for one seller in this school!” I felt my face get warm. I couldn’t speak. I could hear people starting to yell. He leaned in one more time. “Tell BB I could have killed you. If you don’t stop selling, then next time I won’t be so nice!” He squeezed me one last time. Suddenly he was gone.
I felt myself pass out.
I must have been out for a few minutes. When I came to I was still slumped over my table with my head on my book. “You okay?” Billy’s familiar voice made me turn my head. He was standing near me with a small crowd gathered around him. He didn’t touch me. He just looked at me with a told-you-so look.
“Yeah. I’m fine,” I whispered. My voice was scratchy.
I sat up and watched Billy lead the crowd away.
“Mr. Young?” A man’s voice I recognized as one of the intake counselors was behind me. Mr. Beck had helped me get back into school. He just came up to me like he hadn’t seen a thing that had happened. So I sat up as straight as I could and pretended I was okay.
“Yes, Mr. Beck?” His pale skin gave away the dark circles under his eyes. But he tried to smile. “You have a visitor.”
“What?” I asked. I stood up and packed my books into my bag. I followed Mr. Beck out of the cafeteria. I had no idea who would be visiting me at school.