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Chapter 3 - Uneasy Alliances

Uneasy Alliances

After the fight in the schoolyard, the supervisor wasted no time. He dragged Peterson, Jean-Daniel, and Wilkens into his office and made them sit on a long wooden bench, side by side, under the scorching glare of the midday sun pouring through the window.

He didn't yell at them because He didn't need to, His voice was sharp and cutting, the kind that made you sit straighter without realizing it. He stood straight and look at each of them straight in the eyes. "Three boys, Same problem, What's going on in you boys head, You think this school is the street?" He gave each of them a warning slip " Next time you'll be in a big trouble if this happen again" then pointed toward the yard. "Think about what you're doing before you ruin your futures."

Back on the bench outside the office, silence hung thick in the air.

They all took a kick glance at each other 

"I didn't even get the chance to throw a punch, I shouldn't be punished at all " Peterson muttered, breaking it first.

"You were going to," Jean-Daniel replied. "I saw it in your stance dude."

Wilkens hugged his torn backpack to his chest. "My glasses are cracked. And its all your fault Jean-Daniel, I'm gonna have to make time to buy another one, Again!!"

Jean-Daniel rubbed the back of his neck. "Okay… I'm sorry bro. I was mad. Didn't mean to go that far."

Peterson raised an eyebrow. " Are You always that angry you knuckle head?"

"Nah," Jean-Daniel said with a faint grin. "Only when the heat's messing with my brain."

Peterson reply " Why didn't you ask Bòyò to lend you his water bucket to cool yourself off!! "

"Note: Bòyò is a street vendor he also takes care of the schoolyard when its dirty and the director always show his appreciation by letting him sell his merchandise in the schoolyard closed door. Also he gave him some money for his hard work. "

They all chuckled, just a little. The tension eased. The hostility drained, replaced with something new. And Curiosity.

"You guys ever hang out?" Jean-Daniel asked.

"Not really, we barely know each other " Peterson answered. "Not until now tho."

"Well, how about that" Jean-Daniel said, "maybe we should hangout sometime. We already fought. That means we've passed the test."

Wilkens laughed quietly. " and What test is that?"

"The dumb teenage boy test, we should've known better , well to be more correct I should've known better and I'm really sorry Wilkens, I mean it ." Jean-Daniel smiled,

But the smile didn't last long. His expression darkened.

"Look… real talk," he began talk once more , his voice dropping. "Things been rough at home. My mom is sick. No she has no job, Rent payment is late. I got two little sisters who cry every night 'cause they're hungry."

He looked up, his face a little serious now and sad at the sametime. "That's why I started doing side work. For this group in the neighborhood, Nothing crazy really, Just running errands, Watching corners. Sometimes I get a little extra for helping with deliveries , I know this isn't you guys concerned."

Peterson and Wilkens sat quietly, absorbing every word.

"At least I get paid," Jean-Daniel continued. "It ain't much, but it's something. If y'all ever want in, I can put in a word. It's not for everyone, but it helps when you got nothing."

Peterson's jaw tightened. He didn't respond, Wilkens looked away. The principal waived them to go back to class without saying a word and they understood .

As they walked in the schoolyard heading to class, Just then! a loud voice shouted across the yard.

"There he go! That's him!"

A group of teens walking towards them, four of them, all older. They wore red braided bracelets and had matching designs carved into their backpacks. Their eyes locked on Jean-Daniel.

" You thought you were slick, avoiding us like like a plague huh! We didn't forget what you said to our boy last week!" one of them barked.

Without warning, they charged. Jean-Daniel barely had time to react.

Peterson took a fighting stance, he clenched his fist. 

"Well I guess trouble always find us somehow" Peterson said.

Wilkens froze amd his face paled because this was unexpected .

The fight was coming.

And this time, it wasn't just about schoolyard pride.

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