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2: Beloved Sister

  At first I freeze up, but last Friday's events and several missed calls from an unknown number yesterday evening surface in my mind. The situation becomes clear.

  "Sorry dude. I just had terrible stomach pains, couldn't get out of bed at all," I reply and reluctantly shake the blonde's hand.

  The Jerk, as I've long nicknamed him, is called Zack. For two years now, he's been trying to play something resembling close friendship with me. He's considered the school's "king" who can get away with absolutely anything. His parents own businesses with combined annual revenue exceeding $50 million and have enormous influence over the principal. Because of this, people are always shocked that he hangs out with such a wild guy like me who dumps juice on jocks.

  Our "acquaintance" happened in sixth grade: he bullied Sharon to tears, which led to us having a brutal fight. As a result, I bloodied his face, and he dislocated my arm.

  After being discharged from the hospital, we pretended to see each other for the first time. Since Zack never approached Sharon again, the incident was soon forgotten.

  Our life paths should have diverged there, but two years ago he suddenly sat down next to me and smiled while apologizing for the past. To emphasize the seriousness of his intentions, he handed me "compensation" of $1,000 and casually asked to tell him more about Jane. It was incredibly amusing.

  Of course, I couldn't care less about his desire to start a relationship with her, but I decided to play along because the process was entertaining and there was general benefit in associating with the "king."

  Like Jane, he's a year older than me and often sees her in shared classes. But there's no progress whatsoever, even with my not-so-stupid advice. Credit where it's due—Zack doesn't lose hope and always asks how to "properly" behave.

  "Bro, you have no idea what fun you missed. And how badly you let me down too. Man, I prepared that gift for you with all my heart," he said with fake sadness.

  "What do you mean?"

  "On Saturday, I showed your photos to an interesting lady. She literally screamed for me to introduce you. We agreed that I'd get you properly drunk on rum, lead you to the pool where she'd stick to you, and you'd go spend a hot night together. But you didn't show up, and... I had to spend the hot night with her MYSELF. John, damn it, I had a girlfriend! Well, had. Your stomach ache killed my relationship," he said ironically and burst out laughing.

  I never like hearing such garbage. In these moments, I feel like borrowing Sharon's baseball bat and bloodying his face again. But I hold myself back, aware of the consequences.

  "Oh man... yeah, I really messed up there. Sorry, I'll be more careful next time," I replied and laughed with him. Actually, I won't.

  At this moment, I notice Rob entering the classroom and standing at a distance, watching our conversation with interest.

  "I'm afraid, dude, there won't be a next time, and that breakup was a sign of fate. Today everything changes, we'll finally become one family," Zack said dreamily.

  What nonsense is he talking about? I thought, unable to hide my amazement. Zack caught my facial expression and sighed dejectedly.

  "Dude, don't tell me you forgot about this too. Today's the day I make your sister an offer of marriage that she can't refuse. Our families will be bound by blood ties, I'm already picking out the wedding venue. Specifically, I plan to do it right now, before she gets absorbed in this boring studying. I specially waited for you to arrive—as her brother, you must be present for this momentous occasion. Refusal is not accepted!" he stated strictly.

  He naturally speaks loudly, so everyone in class turned toward us with shocked and expectant faces.

  Well, this kind of shit is new in my life.

  "Okay man!" I said, standing up from my desk. I can't and don't want to change anything, might as well enjoy the trashy show.

  "That's the spirit I like to see," Zack patted my shoulder. "First—check out the gifts I prepared for her."

  Zack snapped his fingers at one of his, as I call them, suck-ups. The guy stepped forward and displayed a giant bouquet of pink tulips, three times larger than Rob's bouquet, and a golden box of chocolates. Zack himself pulled a bright box from his pocket, opened it, and showed a sparkling diamond ring with an astronomical price one can only guess at.

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  I examine each gift carefully.

  "The chocolates aren't dark chocolate, are they? Jane hates that, she likes sweet stuff."

  "I have that written down, it's milk chocolate," Zack said cautiously.

  "Great, let's go."

  Zack smiled, directed his suck-ups to the exit, and moved with them. I decided to lag slightly behind and walk at a distance.

  In the center of the classroom, I managed to draw level with Rob.

  "So, how did it go?" I asked.

  "N-not sure... She said she needs time to think, but called the flowers wonderful," he answered somewhat uncertainly. "Better you tell me, what's going to come of all this?"

  "Nothing good."

  I know Jane's character well enough to predict her extremely negative reaction. But what exactly she'll do—I can't say.

  "As expected. Hope it ends quickly."

  "I have no doubt about that," I waved to him and started catching up with Zack's group.

  Due to sudden crowding in the hallway, I fall significantly behind, but I know where Jane's first class is. I manage to rush into her classroom at the height of the most interesting part.

  She stood near the blackboard surrounded by Zack's minions and Zack himself, who was down on one knee. A large crowd had already gathered. Everyone watched intently, talking among themselves and recording on their phones.

  Jane is a very beautiful girl of average height. She has gray-blue eyes and long hair dyed dark purple. Today she's wearing a purple shirt dress matching her hair color and dark stockings.

  She's universally recognized as one of the three most popular girls in the school and has no less authority among the teachers because of her perfect grades. It is not least because of this that they turn a blind eye to my terrible academic performance...

  In total, more than twenty guys from school tried to start relationships with her, but at best they only got ignored.

  Seeing her extremely gloomy and contemptuous expression, I understand—everything will be worse than I expect.

  "Accept my hand and my heart, oh beautiful Jane Kelly!" Zack says solemnly and extends the ring to her. Simultaneously, two suck-ups bring her the bouquet and chocolates.

  The classroom is silent for several seconds as everyone waits for her reaction. Jane rolls her eyes, snorts... suddenly snatches the bouquet from the suck-up's hands and swings it to hit Zack in the face.

  "What are you smoking, idiot?" she replies haughtily. "If you hoped to impress me somehow, then congratulations, you succeeded. Now in my eyes, you're an even more miserable nothing."

  She hits him with the bouquet again. I can't see Zack's face and emotions, but that's not necessary.

  "Your love is a pathetic, withering flower that bloomed in a pile of shit. However, if even a drop of your words about your feelings is true, then please, make it so I never see your twisted face up close again."

  Jane throws the bouquet out the window and turns her gaze to the crowd.

  "What are you staring at?" she shouted menacingly.

  As if by magic, the words instantly took effect and all outsiders rushed from the classroom. In less than half a minute, the only extra people remaining were me frozen in stupor, Zack, and his entourage.

  I fall into her field of vision and Jane's expression immediately turns to anger. I don't have time to blink before she runs up and gives me a stinging slap.

  "What the hell are you doing here?!" she says furiously. "I'm tired of repeating that you should leave city to uncle's. That's it, this was the last straw—don't come home today. I won't let you in, and if you break in, I'll throw you right back out. Get out!"

  I barely dodge a second slap.

  "What did I do to you that you're so coldly throwing me out on the street?" I replied in her style.

  "Shut up and obey, or you'll only make things worse. Today you shouldn't be in the city, period," after cutting this off, she moved to her desk, no longer paying attention to me.

  Well screw you then.

  I leave her classroom with a slightly dampened mood. She hasn't set such conditions before, I'll have to think of something.

  Five minutes remain until class. Returning to my classroom, I notice everyone actively discussing the new event of the month. Rob immediately jumps up and bounces over to me with bulging eyes.

  "Is it all true?!"

  "Something's clearly exaggerated, but yeah. Listen, I need to figure something out with math, we'll talk later."

  He nods and lets me pass.

  I collapsed at my desk. Jane's callous attitude upset me a little and filled me with anger because it created a new headache regarding housing. To avoid taking it out on some random person, I try to switch my attention to something else... and notice a strange piece of paper inserted in my notebook.

  I pull it out puzzled and unfold it. There's just one phrase, in unfamiliar handwriting:

  MEET ME AT 10 IN THE ABANDONED WING, MUSIC ROOM.

  I put the note down and look around the classroom, trying to understand who could have slipped it in. But no one catches my eye. Interesting...

  It could be a mistake or a prank, but the designated meeting place ruins that theory. The note is actually addressed to me.

  The abandoned wing is a restricted area, strictly off limits, and rumor has it that it's an easy place to die. This place is my favorite in the whole school, you can quietly skip class there without worrying that anyone will see you. Besides me, maybe seven people at most risk going there. Today, I wanted to go there anyway, instead of second period PE.

  The question "who is it?" started breaking my head, I couldn't name a single person with certainty. Well, it's still a long time until 10. Better to at least copy some homework so I don't waste Sharon's efforts.

  I reach into my pocket for my cell phone... and remember it was left lying in my room. All the solution photos are in my chat history with Sharon.

  Well, seems like fate. I'll get to the spot a bit earlier, just in time to cool off from Jane.

  I get up from my desk, throw on my backpack, and run out of the classroom, passing the indignant teacher in the doorway.

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