Page 4 of Black Hollow: Awakening

“Exactly. They are that loaded,” Danny stated firmly.

“I’d be afraid to leave the house with that,” Will declared, his eyes drifting to Blake.

The girls sitting behind him were whispering amongst themselves, staring at his back. Sandra Stevens walked into the classroom. She smiled broadly and walked confidently over to Blake to take the seat next to him.

…And she hurried away half a minute later, unable to bear Alden’s disapproval.

“He’s an asshole,” Will concluded.

“Yep,” Dan confirmed. “But a handsome asshole.”

“Yeah. Damn it.”

For a moment, they both stared at Blake with their mouths agape.

“It’s weird,” Danny said suddenly, frowning. “I’m not usually into effeminate guys.”

“What are you talking about? He’s not effeminate.”

“Totally is.”

Blake glanced over his shoulder, glaring at them menacingly.

“Quiet,” Will hissed. “I think he heard us.”

“Are you kidding me? I can barely hear myself.”

After surviving two hours of literature, they had separate classes but met up afterward to get some fresh air. Together, they started walking along the sports field.

“…a tragedy. Homework should be banned,” Danny was sermonizing. “On what grounds do they…”

Suddenly, Will felt a blow to his back. He nearly lost his balance. He turned to see a basketball that, after a close encounter with his spine, had bounced a little farther away. A group practicing nearby was cackling unpleasantly. One of its members ran up to Will.

Liam Warren. Captain of the basketball team, well over six-foot-three. Dark-skinned, muscular, quite handsome, with dreadlocks that reached past his shoulder blades. And a personality just as insufferable as Blake’s.

“Sorry,” he said casually. “Can I get my ball back?”

Will pressed his lips together. He imagined himself hurling the ball straight into Warren’s face, but he wouldn’t be able to actually do it. Besides, Danny had already picked up the ball and tossed it to Liam.

“Thanks,” Liam said. “Later.”

And just like that, he was gone.

Will and Dan walked on, still hearing laughter behind them.

“What a dick,” Will hissed.

“Come on, it was an accident.”

“An accident? Seriously? How many times did he hit us with a ball last year? I don’t even want to count. You know why he does it?” Danny didn’t bother to answer, so Will continued. “Because he can. Because he thinks no one will stand up to him. I bet if someone finally did, he’d run off with his tail between his legs.”

“So why don’t you do it?” Dan asked, almost challenging him.

“I would,” Will replied cautiously. “I mean, with you.”

Danny laughed mockingly.

“Uh-huh. Nice. So you want me to have the courage that you don’t? ” Will reacted to this with an uncertain smile. “Besides, it’s a terrible idea. I’d rather have a few bruises than get on the bad side of Liam and his buddies. You should drop it, too.”