Poisonous Sweethearts (Rough Draft Story)

(This one’s a long one, so brace yourselves!)

“Give it back!” cried Vivian.

“Make me!” teased the other girls wickedly.

Vivian was up against three classmates, who were tossing her notebook around like some kind of toy. In their twisted game, they tossed back and forth until it stopped with the middle girl catching it. This girl wore a bright red ribbon in her fair hair and had dark green eyes like two big emeralds, but behind that angelic face was an evil snake. Her name was Alisha.

“Give it back, Alisha!” pleaded Vivian. “I need it for class!”

“Oh? You need this? Why, sure.” Alisha hands the notebook to Vivian.

Vivian reaches out, but then Alisha tosses the notebook into the trash can. Alisha plays innocent. “Oh, I’m so sorry, dear Vivian! Guess you’ll have to dig through the garbage now. And you know no one will want to be friends with a girl like that.”

“Alisha, class is starting soon. We better get going,” said Frieda teasingly.

“Ah, you’re right. We can’t be late for class,” said Alisha. “Bye-bye, Vivian. Good luck getting your notebook back.”

Alisha waves at Vivian mockingly while she and her friends leave the halls. Vivian lowers her head and lets out a sad sigh before going to the trashcan and putting her hand in.

~~~

First Period was about to start as the students made their way to their assigned seats. Vivian made it just in time and ran straight for her seat. Alisha and her friends smiled cruelly at Vivian and covered their noses when she walked past by them. Some students twitched their noses at Vivian when their teacher walked in.

He announced, “Class, I want you to meet your new student, Basil. Now, he’s been in the hospital for some time and has been homeschooled the past semester, so I want you all to be nice to him. Come in now, Basil.”

Entering the classroom was a boy with a distant look in his eyes and wore a beanie hat over his black hair. This boy walked with a crutch in each arm while looking back at the students. The students stared at him curiously while Alisha and her friends whispered.

“He isn’t as cute as I thought he would be.”

“Should we give him our ‘greetings,’ Alisha?”

“Not yet,” replied Alisha unamused. “It’s much too soon. Besides, he’s one of those quiet, goody kids. You can tell by the look in their eyes.”

“Take your seat right here at the front, Basil,” said the teacher. “This should be easier for you.”

Basil took his seat in the front row, which was closest to the door in case he needs to leave early. Alisha sat at the other side of the front row and glance at Basil, who lowered his head. “Looks like I won’t have much trouble with him,” thought Alisha. “It’ll be like he doesn’t even exist.”

The teacher starts his algebra lesson while the students took down notes, doodle, or sleep.

~~~

After class, the teacher left for his next session and the students gather their books and chat with their friends. Vivian, a nervous girl with curly ginger hair and big brown eyes hiding behind her round glasses. She was packing her books when Alisha and her friends came up to her.

“God, what is that awful smell?” asked Alisha as she covers her nose.

Frieda joined her. “Augh! You’re right! Something reeks of trash!”

“Must be four-eyes over there! She does enjoy digging through garbage,” mocked Jen.

The students around them laugh and those sitting near Vivian pinched their noses and turn away from her. Vivian bit her bottom lip nervously as she quickly gathers her books and rushes out of the classroom. However, before she could leave, Alisha extends her leg out causing Vivian to trip over and fall flat on her face. Her books spilled everywhere and her round glasses fell off. The whole classroom laughs at poor Vivian while Alisha and her friends laugh the hardest.

“Oops. Sorry, Vivian dear.” Alisha giggles while her friends snicker.

They watched Vivian pick up her things when the new kid, Basil, came in and bend them to help. Vivian saw a glimpse of his face: it twitches with pain just from bending down yet still carries composure. She heard a faint cracking sound coming from his knee and saw his hand reaching out with great effort just to reach her papers. He gathers them one-by-one before handing them to Vivian. “Here you go.”

“T-thank you...” said Vivian and takes her stuff back.

“No problem.”

Alisha watches them with Vivian getting up first and sees Basil struggling, so she helps him up on his feet. He smiles at her for the first time and said, “Thank you. Would you like to join me for lunch? I could use some help.”

“Huh? Oh, um, sure.”

There was something about Basil’s smile that made Vivian blush, which Alisha noticed. She bites her pencil irritably while she watches the two students leave; however, just before they left, Basil gave a small glare at Alisha, knowingly what she did. For some strange reason, it gave her a chill up her back and Alisha couldn’t help but blush embarrassingly. It was as if he was saying to her, “You’re no match for me.”

~~~

For the past few days, Basil has been eating lunch with Vivian, who helped him carry his lunch. Vivian saw a whole different side of Basil that made her smile more, which annoyed Alisha more than usual. She couldn’t even go near Vivian with Basil around. He was always with her, giving her wise words of comfort and never giving Alisha the satisfaction. There was something different about Basil, but that didn’t stop Alisha from doing what she does best.

Sixth period had just ended and the students are getting ready to go home. While waiting for the school bus to pick them up, Alisha sat on her boyfriend’s lap with her arms around his neck and giggling. Soon Vivian and Basil come out and Vivian looks up at Alisha. Alisha smirks mischievously and turned her boyfriend’s face to her and pressed her lips on his deeply. Vivian bit her lip enviously when Basil brought her back to reality with his sincere smile.

“Look here,” he says and holds out his hand.

Vivian looks down at his empty palm, then he closes his fist. With his other hand, Basil snaps his fingers twice and then opens his hand to show a strange-looking coin. The coin looked like the lens of a kaleidoscope, sparking Vivian’s curiosity. Her eyes widen as he rolls the coin through his fingers and the sides change colors. Red, green, purple, blue and then yellow. And then he moved the coin to his other hand. Violet, aquamarine, black, and then neon red.

“That’s so cool. How’d you do it?”

“Dad taught me. Wanna try?”

“Okay!”

There was something about Basil touching Vivian’s hand so formally that frustrated Alisha more. Alisha frowns for a moment before whispering something in her boyfriend’s ear. Luke, the school’s quarterback and arrogant jocky, listens to Alisha while his hand rested underneath her skirt.

Vivian and Basil sat together waiting for the bus and playing with the coin when Luke got up and approached them.

“What is the hell is this ugly thing in your hair? It’s so old-looking!” Luke snatches Vivian’s hairclip, pulling her hair in the process.

“Ouch! That hurts!”

Luke had pulled off strands of Vivan’s ginger hair and examined the misshapen hairclip, which Vivian had received from her grandmother years ago. Luke and his mischievous friends gather around to see the hair clip. They grin wickedly and then Luke throws the hair clip on the floor and stomps on it.

“No! Stop it!” begged Vivian.

She quickly stood up, but the two boys grabbed her arms and restraint her. Everyone around watched while Luke and his friends bully Vivian. Alisha was pleased by this and, like the other students, laughed. They broke her favorite hair clip, knocked down her school bag, and then pushed Vivian on to the rough concrete floor. Her round glasses fell off and one of the boys kicked her bag on to the roadway in front of the school’s entrance. Luke was pulling Vivian’s hair while Basil stood behind him.

He lifts and aims his crutch at Luke’s leg before thrusting in hard and hit the back of Luke’s knee. The jock let go of Vivian’s hair while the other boys charged at Basil. Basil planted his feet, held a crutch in each hand, eyes forward, mind calm. His eyes search for openings as he used his crutches like swords at stab at the boys’ weak points. Even with the damages Basil received from the bullies, he still stood firmly with a painful stiff look of determination. Everyone witnessed his ruthless attacks and knocked down all of Luke’s friends, who were all trained football players.

Basil glares down at the boys before going over to Vivian and picked up her glasses that fell on the floor. He used his shirt sleeve to wipe the lenses before giving it back to Vivian. “Are you okay?”

Vivian looked up at Basil and started crying. He reaches out his hand to her, which she took, gets up, and then hugs Basil tightly. Basil stiffened, both in awkwardness and in pain.

The students were surprised to see a cripple act so boldly and with no fear or hesitation. Alisha, too, felt Basil’s brave force and her heart pounds with an unknown excitement mixed with fury.

Luke groans as he stood up and growled, “What the hell, man?! You can’t do that!”

Basil turns to Luke and planted his crutches on the concrete and stood proudly. “Back off before I call the teachers.”

“Fuck the teachers!”

“Alright. Before I tell the coach.”

Luke finally went silent while his friends went to his side. Luke wanted to punch Basil’s face, but he knew of the consequences for beating a “defenseless” cripple. He then gave a quick glance at his girlfriend, who signaled him back after the bus arrives.

“Whatever.” Luke grabs his backpack and walked away with his friends.

The bus door opens while students gather inside. Vivian went to pick up her things while Basil helped her out. Alisha watched them irritably, but she hadn’t realized she was staring at Basil’s ass. She bit her bottom lip, then gasps and blushes deeply. She quickly shook her head before getting on the bus anxiously.

~~~

The next morning came and students entered the school like sleepy zombies. Alisha was gossiping with her friends as they all giggle gleefully. She played with her golden hair when somebody approached her. Alisha heard the metallic sound of crutches and the light steps of a certain boy.

“Was that funny to you?” asked Basil as he glares at Alisha.

Alisha looks up at Basil and continues to play with her hair innocently. “Hm? I don’t know what you’re talking about. You have to be more specific.”

“Yeah! Be specific, newbie!” snickered Alisha’s friends.

Basil ignores the harpies and stares straight at Alisha. “If you want to hurt somebody, find a masochist. At least they’ll enjoy your stupid games.”

“This has nothing to do with you, newbie,” said Alisha bitterly. “If you want to play hero, go find a different quest that doesn’t involve lecturing me.”

“Oooh!” chirped the harpies while Basil rolls his eyes.

“Would you just stay away from Vivian, alright? She’s a sweet girl who wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

“Or fight for herself. She depends on a cripple to fight for her”

Alisha and her friends laughed while Basil glares at the one who made the joke. “You want broken hip bones? ’Cause I’ll do that to you if you don’t shut your big, fat mouth, ya harpy.”

The girl went silent and so did the others, but one of them asks curiously. “Y-your hip bone is broken? How?”

“Long story. Anyways...” said Basil as he turned to Alisha once more. ”...Will you stop messin’ with Vivian already? She’s had enough, alright?”

“Why? You like her?” asked Alisha with a teasing smile on her face.

“Yeah, duh.” Basil replies, thinking how childish this girl was. “Ain’t that obvious?”

“Oh, so you like ‘like’ her?”

Alisha and her friends giggled while Basil looks at them with a bored expression. He let out a sigh and said, “Will you take this seriously, Alisha?”

“Nope. I love to mess with Vivian.” Alisha giggles as she took a step closer and grabs Basil’s shirt collar and pulls his face closer to hers. “And I’ll ‘bully’ anyone who gets in my way. No exceptions.”

“Not even me?” asked Basil as he narrows his eyes at Alisha.

“No, especially you.” Alisha stares up at Basil’s dark, distant eyes, as distant as the night sky. "In fact, you might be more fun to mess with than Vivian."

"I'd like to see you try."

Alisha could easily see Basil's confidence and the challenge excited her. She slowly releases her grip on Basil's shirt and took a step back. “Now run along. Oh, that’s right. You can’t. Better get going though.”

Basil growls under his breath and grips his crutches tightly before walking away. Alisha stares at Basil and his limping form when the school’s bell ring.

Time for class.

~~~

A few weeks pass, and soon Basil had more friends. Dan and Cody, a couple of jokers who love to play around. They met Basil in their science class, as project partners, and ever since then, they've been inseparable. Vivian got to know them, too, and vice versa; they were a group of four who enjoy each other's company.

Alisha was walking by when she spotted Basil laughing with his friends. She blinks confused and sees Basil without his crutches today, but still limps just the same. She wonders why he doesn't have his reliable crutches and listens in on their conversation.

"You have to come over and play this new game, Basil! It's so addicting!" said Cody.

"Yeah! You, too, Viv! There's this new karaoke system installed and you've just got to play it!" said Dan. "You've got a great voice!"

"Maybe," replied Vivian who giggled.

Alisha never thought Vivian was the type to sing, but she peeks in to see Basil more. The four friends continue to chat when the new principal approached them. They're smiling faces turn into frowns as the principal suddenly storms in.

"You there! Pick up your trash!" demanded the principal to Basil rudely.

This new principal saw the students were lacking in their studies and put up new rules to show discipline. One of them was to never leave trash in the hallways during lunchtime. Basil turned around and saw a small carton of milk next to his heel. It wasn't his, but he asks his friend to pick it up for him.

"Sure thing, bro," said Cody who leans in to pick up the harmless carton of milk when the principal spoke louder. "Not you! You! I told you to pick up your trash! Pick it up! Its students like you that ruin this good school. Do you know how hard the custodians have to work to pick up your trash?! You all keep leaving your trash behind and don't even bother to throw it away. You should all be ashamed of yourselves! All of you! Now pick. It. Up!"

Basil was in a state of shock from the principal's tone; he had never met an adult who talked to him like that before. He stares down at the empty carton. Even he looked scared.

"Pick it up! Pick up your trash!"

Basil looked back at the principal for a moment before turning to his friends. His friends stood silently and fearfully and didn't know what to do. Even Alisha listened fearfully and was as silent as a mouse.

"May I speak now, please?" Basil asks with the utmost respect.

"What? No! Just pick up your damn trash!"

"Principal Jones," started Basil, trying so hard to speak calmly. "I understand you're trying to be more disciplined, but you're talking to me as though I am a delinquent criminal."

His friends, and other students, heard Basil's adult-like voice and listened to his speech. His tone and boldness towards an adult demands respect as he continues:

"I am not a delinquent, yet you speak to me as if I've committed a crime. I have done nothing wrong to offend you or anybody! I am a good student who turns in his homework. I am a cancer survivor! I cannot bend down due to my medical condition, and my good friend here knows of it. Just because I don't have my crutches, doesn't mean I am not wounded, you fool! And if you don't believe me, go to the nurse's office and ask them for Basil Woods's record! Learn who you are speaking to before you treat them like a criminal, Mr. Jones."

Everyone in the hallway was silent, even the principal was speechless. He swallows hard, knowing very well of the grave mistake he's made. Basil glance back at his friend and spoke softly. "Cody, could you pick that up for me, please?"

"Uh... Yeah, sure!" Cody picks up the carton and throws it in the trash bin.

The bell rings and class was starting.

The students rush to their class, feeling a little wiser, while Basil stood firmly in front of the principal. He straightens his tie, clears his throat and finally spoke in that calm adult-like tone. "Ahem, I am terribly sorry, Basil. Um, let me write you a pass so you won't be late for class."

"I don't need one, thank you very much," said Basil bitterly yet with that same tone of respect. "Good day, sir."

Basil leaves with his friends as they grab their backpacks and walked to class. They left the principal alone, who turned his heels and walked away silently. Alisha leaned against the wall and slides down to the floor. Her heart was racing from that intense moment between student and authority. She had no idea Basil was this courageous and knows he does it for the right reasons. But Basil's words stuck out to her.

"He... He had cancer?" Alisha asked herself. "Is that why he limps?"

Alisha had mixed emotions swirling in her chest. And somewhere deep down, she couldn't help but feel jealous of Basil. She wasn't as brave as him. Like any other bully, her arrogance was a mask to hide her vulnerable heart. Alisha wonders how different her life would be if she was as kind and brave as Basil.

"Oh, get a grip, Alisha!" She says to herself. "It's not like it'll change anything now."

She gets up from the floor, picks up her books and went to class, not caring if she was late. To her, this was just another day yet her feelings nagged her.

She hates it.

She hates her feelings and wants to rip them out and throw them away.

To be continued.... Maybe???