It All Started With A Locker

Chapter 5

Hunter's POV (Lunch)

"Let's skip the rest of school; the next subjects are boring," Spencer suggests as he returns from inside.

"Sure, where to?" I ask, heading to the parking lot.

"We haven't been to the warehouse in a while. Let’s go," Victor says, crushing his cigarette underfoot. Spencer and I don’t smoke, but we have tattoos and drink a lot.

"The boss doesn’t like us being there without permission," I frown.

"We’ll be fine; you forgot he’s my uncle’s close friend," Victor smirks, heading to his red Ferrari with Spencer.

"Wanna race, Stone?" I challenge, putting on my helmet.

"You’re on, McCoy, but if I win, you owe me drinks tonight after the fight," he replies.

"If I win, you have to drink a whole bottle of my choice."

"It’s on. Get in, Rivers," he says to Spencer.

***

"You’re buying me drinks tonight, McCoy; I’ll leave you broke," Victor laughs as I dismount my bike.

"F*ck off," I retort, flipping him off.

"This place is deader than my grandparent's funeral," Victor says, standing before the locked warehouse door.

"Okay, genius, you wanted us to come here, and it’s locked. The award for the most brilliant mind goes to Victor Stone," I say sarcastically.

"I knew we’d skip school, so I brought the spare key," he grins, pulling a key from his pocket.

"There are cameras here, you know. I don’t want to go home with a bruised chin; my brother and mother would worry," Spencer says.

"It’s fine."

He unlocks the door and gestures, "After you guys."

"If we get hurt, I’ll murder you," I hiss as I pass.

"Looks the same," Spencer observes, glancing around at the tightly sealed d**g boxes.

"New shipment?" Victor asks.

"Well, well, look who actually has the guts to come here midday," a deep voice chuckles, freezing us. I turn to see the boss standing at the front door with his right-hand man, Victor's uncle.

"Hey boss, we were just looking around," Victor laughs nervously.

"I know; I’m just here to double-check my shipment," he waves him off.

"Aren't you boys supposed to be in school?" Rick, Victor's uncle, asks.

"Nothing important, sir," Spencer replies.

"Such rebels. My g**g is rebellious anyway," he chuckles.

"We should get going; need to be in top shape for the fight tonight, right Hunter?" Victor asks, and I nod.

"See you boys Wednesday night for the meeting. Keep your eyes open; I heard about a rival sighting around town over the weekend, but it’s nothing to worry about yet," the boss says, dismissing us.

"Who’s going to take your place when you resign?" Rick asks as I close the door.

"That was a close call; you’re lucky the boss didn’t shoot after us," Spencer says.

"He’s cool, but what rival was he talking about?" Victor frowns, and I shrug.

"No threat to us yet. Let’s head to the g**g hangout and throw some punches; I’m dying to hit something," I c***k my knuckles.

_____

Trish's POV

The Next Day

"Trish Amelia West, get up!" Lexi yells, and I groan.

What time is it?

"You’ll be late for school! Where’s your alarm?!"

I open my eyes to find my alarm clock missing. s**t, I forgot I threw it out the window yesterday.

"Mason, what the heck? Don’t you know how to knock?" Mia shrieks from the bathroom.

"Shoot, sorry, sis."

"Has anyone woken up Matthew yet?" Lexi asks.

I hate mornings like this.

"Where’s Dad?" I ask, grabbing a Pop-Tart.

"He got called to work. I’ll drop you and Trent off at school, but you’ll have to walk back later," Lexi replies.

After dinner last night, Dad showed Trent his room, two doors down from mine. He transferred from the next city and is the son of one of Dad's colleagues. Dad offered him a place to finish his sophomore year while his parents work overseas for the next six months. Trent stayed in his room all night, and I only saw him come downstairs when I returned from the bathroom around midnight.

"Look who finally came down," Lexi says as I see Trent in jeans and a T-shirt, his muscles accentuated, with jet-black hair combed. "Want some breakfast?" she offers, but he shakes his head.

"No, but it’s 7:47 a.m., and school starts at 8, so…" he shrugs.

“Oh no, we’ll be late! Everyone to the van!” She hurriedly ushers us out the door while Trent chuckles.

“Welcome to Mammoth High, aka school from hell,” I say, introducing it to Trent, who surveys the surroundings.

“It’s completely different, and the best part is no uniforms,” he replies.

Wait, did he attend a boarding school?

“Yes, I did,” he laughs. “So where’s th—”

“Trish!” Grace shrieks, pulling me into a hug.

“Hey, Grace,” I say.

Trent glances at me, then her. “Um… Grace, this is Trent; he’s staying at my house for a while.”

“Hey, I’m Grace,” she introduces herself, and he nods.

“Where’s the office?” he asks, and I spot the three evil stepsisters getting out of a car.

“Grace can show you,” I say, pushing them toward the door. I need to keep Sandra away from Trent; he’s attractive, but I can’t let girls like her near him.

“Hey, Trish,” Jasmine says as I’m about to enter. She’s in a skirt with a long sleeve crop top and Converse.

I ignore her and head to my locker just as the bell rings.

Hunter is already at the locker, pulling out a book. He watches me silently before leaving.

Sure, ignore me. It’s not like I wanted to talk anyway.

“Trish, I’m so sorry, but I couldn’t stop them!” Grace panics as she rushes toward me.

“What happened?”

“We were coming from the office, and a group of cheerleaders saw him and immediately surrounded him. We couldn’t save him.”

“It’s fine. If he wants to hang out with us, he will,” I assure her as she leaves for class.

“Hey, nerd! I saw you with that new guy earlier. Is he your boyfriend?” Ivan laughs, using a straw to shoot paper balls at me.

“Get to class!” yells Mr. Barker, the gym teacher and soccer coach.

Ivan leaves, and I head to Chemistry class.

When I get my lunch, I see Grace sitting alone, so I go over. “Hey,” I smile, taking a seat.

“Hey! Every girl keeps talking about Trent, calling him hot,” she laughs.

I turn to see Trent entering with a red-haired girl chatting with him.

“That didn’t take long,” Grace mutters.

He scans the room until his eyes meet mine, and he walks over.

“Hey, where are you going? Our table is over there,” the girl stops him, pointing to where Ivan is. He looks at me, pleading, and I nod that it’s fine.

“Why would you do that?” Grace whines.

“Unlike me, he attracts attention immediately and doesn’t need to be dragged into my dramatic school life,” I explain.

He sits down, and the girl joins him, introducing him to her friends.

“Hey, nerd and mute girl! You better stay away from the hot new guy. Monica wants him, and we can’t have you wannabes taking his attention, especially you, mute girl,” Sandra hisses, and Grace rolls her eyes.

“Not if you sleep with him first,” I mutter.

“What did you just say, nerd?” Sandra hisses, digging her nails into my hand.

“Nothing, just that the redhead will get him first,” I smirk and point to the table where she now has her hand on his arm.

“That b***h! I’ll deal with her later,” Sandra says before leaving.

“Wait, does she really sleep with guys her friends like?” Grace whispers.

“You have no idea. Last year, they fought over Ted because Monica wanted him, but during a party, she caught him hooking up with Sandra,” I explain, and Grace gasps.

“How did you know that?”

“Jasmine, my ex-friend, told me. She loved gossip. I’m surprised she didn’t abandon me on the first day of school when guys instantly took interest in her,” I chuckle.

“My friends left me the minute they saw an opportunity,” Grace sighs.

“Don’t worry; I wouldn’t abandon you just like that,” I assure her.

“I have an idea: let’s hang out later,” she suggests, and I nod.