The bus ride home is dead silent although the world is so loud. My eyes are so focused ahead that I don't see a thing and would have missed my stop if someone else hadn't got off first. Slowly, I stand and make my way off the bus, lingering there on the street with my hands in my pockets and head bowed.

I just robbed a store. I'm being forced to commit crimes while some freaks are stalking my loved ones all because I was stupid enough to think I could be the hero. This is the consequence of my ridiculous actions. It isn't just me that could lose everything...

I'm going to throw up.

Rushing over to a nearby bush, I do exactly that. All the content of my stomach is upchucked in a second leaving my throat sore and mouth tasting of, well, puke. Groaning, I stand up, run my fingers frustratingly through my hair then kick at the sidewalk. Damn it!

"Calm down, Micah, calm down," I speak in whispers to myself while walking home. Sure enough, the car is there, sitting along the street. It even flashes my lights at me in the form of a taunt that has me growling.

I need to get out of this mess. Fast.

"Micah, how'd tutoring go?" Mom asks when I step in the door. She frowns upon seeing me though. "Is something wrong?"

"Feel sick to my stomach," I answer, which isn't a lie at all. "I'm probably gonna go to bed early."

"Ah, ok, do you want me to make you anything?"

"No thanks." I grab a glass from the kitchen, get some water then disappear up the steps. Mom is probably worried and I feel bad for it but there's nothing she can do right now. This is something I have to handle on my own. I'm not going to put her, or anyone for that matter, in anymore danger.

Think. I have to think. The three buffoon's I have met are exactly that, buffoons. Judging purely on what they are making me do accompanied by how they are going about it, I think it's safe to say they're in some sort of gang, have definitely partaken in illegal actions before. No, I know that they have, caught Clover in the act and I know I've seen Blondie before. Now the question is, if that is the case, why have I only met three? Is it because there are only three or they want me to think there are only three?

I peek out of my curtains to inspect the car down the street. They're smart enough to have tinted windows but I doubt the car is filled with people. Like I thought before, probably two max and I've still only seen the two vehicles thus far. Clover wasn't with us today but one was surely tailing Mom. Was it him? Are they taking turns?

Sadly, only time will tell. I have to put up with this a while longer and try to learn their movements so, rather than sleep, I stay up through the night. The sound of cars lessen longer into the night until, eventually, every sound of an engine has me sneaking a peek out the window.

It isn't until almost 4am that another vehicle pulls up, different than the other two. Blondie steps out of the new car while, as I thought, Clover steps out of the old one. They switch and the car drives off. I'm certain that this operation is a small one, otherwise, they wouldn't be switching with each other like this. That's good to know.

Before I realize it, my alarm is going off. It's no use. I'm already awake. My eyes feel heavy but I can't fall asleep. My body is restless, continuously twitching even when I try pacing my room. There's no point staying home. It won't make me feel better so, even after my mom suggesting I take the day off, I head to school. Beckett and Misty are concerned when they see me, understandably so. I both look and feel like shit.

"Did you get any sleep last night?" Beckett asks as I leisurely take a book from my locker. Ah, it's the wrong one so I put it back and grab another. Yep, that's wrong too. What book am I getting again?

"No."

"Why didn't you stay home?"

"Didn't want to."

"Something really is wrong," Misty whispers to Beckett but, seriously, she knows she can't whisper. Neither of them can. "Did anything happen with Leo?"

"No, what makes you say-" Shit. Leo.

My eyes grow wide when I suddenly remember that I was supposed to text him when I got home. I ruffle my hair in frustration causing Beckett and Misty to stare at me with evident confusion and worry in their eyes. Groaning, I pull out my phone to find no messages from him. Damn, he probably thinks I didn't want to talk. Well, this week is getting better and better, isn't it?!

"Seriously, what's wrong, Micah?" Beckett asks but I'm already walking away, texting Leo as I do.

It isn't a good idea. My head is down, I'm not paying attention so obviously that means I have to run into someone. With a grunt, I stumble back and look at who I just hit to find Rolland glaring back at me. Terrific. This is exactly what I need.

"You should watch where you're going," Rolland says with a cocked brow. I don't respond, choosing to walk around, which obviously doesn't work. He grabs me by the arm to pull me back, even tosses me into the locker.

I'm really not in the mood for this.

"Not only did you run into me but you aren't apologizing for it?" Rolland asks, pushing me roughly next. "You're asking for a beating."

"Touch me, Rolland, and I'm going to break your jaw."

A few of Rolland's goons snicker at my threat while Rolland full on laughs. Not that I blame them, this isn't something I've ever said to them before. Rolland is the type of guy I avoid but he's about to learn how bad it is to be a cocky little shit all the time.

"Ah, he didn't mean that, Rolland!" Beckett quickly jumps in, grabbing my arm in hopes to pull me away. I brush it off then push Beckett back. He's frowning, even silently pleading with me but I'm not really myself right now. I'm angry. I'm annoyed. I'm tired. Rolland just chose the wrong day to piss me off.

"Oh, I know he didn't mean it. Like this twig could do that," Rolland cackles then makes the mistake of doing exactly what I warned him not to. He grabs my shoulder.

My fist connects with his jaw in a second. The resounding smack shocks everyone enough to simply stare while Rolland stumbles back, clutching his jaw. His eyes narrow on me when he realizes what I've done before growling and running at me. I grunt when he body slams me into the locker. Quickly, I bring my elbow down continuously into his back until he backs up. As soon as he does, I tackle him to the ground, desperately throwing punches at his stupid face. Not gonna lie, it feels good to teach him a lesson, not so much when one of his friend decks me in the side of the head though.

I shout and fall to the floor just as teachers come running over to break up the fight. We're all ripped apart from each other with Rolland shouting curse words at me that I only snort at. The other students are told to return to class while Rolland and I obviously sent to the principal's office where he goes on and on about how I started. Not that it really matters, we both get after school detention for the rest of the week anyways.

That could be a good thing, an excuse to give those whack jobs as to why I can't go along with their stupid schemes. At the same time, they'll probably tell me to skip and I'll get into more trouble. I'm tempted to ask if this day can get any worse but I know that will only jinx myself so I'm not even going to think about it.

Once we leave the principal's office and are returned to class, I immediately take my phone back out when the teacher isn't looking. Beckett seems like he wants to talk to me but, when he sees me texting, he keeps quiet. I'm quick to send a message to Leo, apologizing for not texting last night. Again, it's not a complete lie when I say I wasn't feeling good but I do feel bad for having to keep the real reason secret.

Leo is quick to a respond and, of course, he completely ignores the apology in order to ask, are you feeling ok? Are you at home? I can bring you something after school if you need it.

Damn it, he's adorable.

No, I'm at school, feeling fine now, I reply. At least this is making me feel better. Finally, seems like I can breathe again.

You should have stayed home. What if you get sick again?

Guess you'll have to take me home then if that happens.

I definitely will if you need me to, you know that, right? He asks causing me to smile. Beckett is smiling too, which has me glaring at him from the corner of my eye. He shrugs and acts like he doesn't notice the grin on my face but, hey, what can I say, he's a shit actor.

I'm surprised but certainly not unhappy about texting Leo throughout the remainder of the day. We don't share classes together since he's an overachiever and sits in all the AP courses while I am a normie. Too much work to put into AP courses so I rather not. Beckett and Misty, surprisingly, say nothing about the texting. I am assuming it has to do with my obviously bad attitude earlier that Leo is now helping.

The moment I leave school though, that good mood will be gone. I try not to linger on it and continue my day until the after school detention. Leo wasn't happy when I told him about Rolland, even claiming that he'll "finish" the fight the next time he sees him. Can't lie that I find him very attractive but I told him there was no need. I rather do it myself anyways.