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CHAPTER 18

  Candice is talking to the four guys.

  CANDICE

  Looks like you grew a few inches, Korn.

  KORN

  Very funny, Candice.

  CANDICE

  On a serious note, what do you want with me?

  KORN

  You know why we're here, Candice.

  CANDICE

  To get your ass handed to you again?

  Korn starts smiling.

  KORN

  Last time I recall, you were the one on the ground, gasping for air and your little boyfriend over there had to come to your rescue.

  Frank begins to smile.

  FRANK

  That's me.

  CANDICE

  You caught me off guard, shrimp. But I know your trick and it's not going to work this time.

  KORN

  It's been five years; I don't tickle people anymore. I just let my fist do the talking.

  TRACEY

  Thank god.

  Korn turns his head to Tracey.

  KORN

  What was that, Tracey?

  TRACEY

  (nervous)

  Nothing, boss.

  KORN

  That's what I thought. Jack, smack Tracey in the back of the head for me.

  Jack smacks Tracey in the back of the head.

  TRACEY

  Owww! WTF, bro?

  JACK

  Just flowing orders, bro. Nothing personal.

  BOY #2 starts laughing.

  BOY #2

  You deserved that, Tracey.

  Tracey looks at BOY #2.

  TRACEY

  At least I don't have a stupid name like "Boy #2."

  BOY #2

  At least I'm not stupid myself. Plus, my real name is John.

  TRACEY

  John? You said it was Boy #2.

  JOHN

  I lied...I do that.

  TRACEY

  Why would you lie about your name?

  TRACEY

  That's what I do. Do you not know me by now?

  Tracey looks at Jack.

  TRACEY

  Did you know his real name was John?

  JACK

  Yeah. I knew a long time ago.

  TRACEY

  What?!

  Tracey looks at Korn.

  TRACEY

  Did you know as well, boss?

  KORN

  Of course I knew. After all, I am the boss.

  TRACEY

  Why am I the only one out of the loop?

  JOHN

  Because I don't like you.

  TRACEY

  That's messed up, John.

  JOHN

  Don't call me that.

  TRACEY

  But that's your name.

  JOHN

  I know what my name is, but I don't want you to call me by my name. You will call me...master.

  If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

  TRACEY

  (irritated)

  Fuck you!

  FRANK

  Look Charlie, these guys suck at working together so much, they're always arguing with each other. No teamwork at all.

  CHARLIE

  I hope we don't turn out like that in the future.

  JACK

  You, shut up!

  FRANK

  Excuse me?

  JACK

  You heard me! For years, I've had to live with the fact of being beaten by you in that embarrassing way. It was a fluke and it won't happen again.

  FRANK

  Oh yeah? I'll do you a favor then.

  Frank stands up and cracks his knuckles.

  FRANK

  I'll make sure not to go easy on you this time.

  Frank begins to walk toward them, but Candice puts her hand in front of Frank, causing him to stop walking.

  CANDICE

  Frank, you don't have to waste your time with these fools. They don't know what they're getting themselves into.

  Frank shrugs his shoulders.

  FRANK

  ...Fine.

  He walks back to his seat and sits down.

  KORN

  Don't belittle us. Just for that, we're going to kick your ass twice as hard. Have any last words?

  CANDICE

  Can I just get a book before we do this?

  KORN

  Since that's the last thing you're going to be able to see in a while, I will allow it.

  Candice looks at Charlie.

  CANDICE

  Charlie, do you still have that book Cindy gave you?

  CHARLIE

  Yeah. Why?

  CANDICE

  May I borrow it?

  CHARLIE

  Sure.

  Charlie takes the manga book out his backpack and hands it to Candice. Frank notices the book is a manga.

  FRANK

  Candice, you don't have to do this. Let's just take care of them ourselves.

  CANDICE

  I know what I'm doing, Frank.

  FRANK

  Whatever...

  KORN

  A manga?

  Korn, Jack, Tracey, and John starts laughing.

  JACK

  What the hell are you going to do with that?

  JOHN

  (sarcasm)

  Watch out guys...she's going to read us to death.

  They stop laughing and start smiling.

  KORN

  Say your prayers.

  Candice looks at Korn.

  CANDICE

  You better start saying yours.

  Candice opens the book and, suddenly, they hear footsteps getting closer and closer.

  TRACEY

  What the hell is that noise?

  Cindy comes rushing into the room and runs over to Charlie with a crazed look and a big smile on her face.

  CHARLIE

  (scared)

  AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Damn it, Cindy! I hate it when you do that!

  CINDY

  Did you read it?! Did you read it?! Did you read it?!

  CHARLIE

  ...Not yet.

  Cindy's face returns to normal.

  CINDY

  But I sensed it being opened.

  CHARLIE

  You sensed it?

  CINDY

  Yes.

  CHARLIE

  How is that even possible?

  CINDY

  Being in tuned with anime so much, grants me the ability to sense the essence of it...and manga.

  CHARLIE

  That's creepy, Cindy.

  CINDY

  IT'S THE WAY OF LIFE!

  CHARLIE

  OK! It's the way of life.

  CINDY

  Thank you.

  Cindy looks at Charlie's hand and then starts looking around him.

  CHARLIE

  Is something wrong?

  Cindy looks back at Charlie.

  CINDY

  Where's the manga?

  CANDICE

  I have it.

  Cindy looks at Candice and gets mad.

  CINDY

  What are you doing with the manga I gave to Charlie?

  CANDICE

  I asked if I could borrow it.

  CINDY

  It's not for you to read.

  Cindy snatches the book out of Candice's hand.

  CANDICE

  Fair enough.

  Cindy gives the book back to Charlie.

  CINDY

  Here, Charlie.

  CHARLIE

  ...Thanks.

  CINDY

  Don't forget to read it; you promised.

  CHARLIE

  (Sigh) You're not wrong about that.

  CANDICE

  Hey, Cindy?

  Cindy looks at Candice.

  CINDY

  What do you want?

  Candice points at Korn and the others.

  CANDICE

  You see those guys over there?

  Cindy looks at Korn and the others.

  CINDY

  Yeah. So?

  CANDICE

  They said manga is stupid.

  CINDY

  (enraged)

  THEY SAID WHAT?!

  KORN

  No we didn't. We just laughed when that guy pulled the book from out of his backpack.

  CINDY

  YOU LAUGHED AT MY MANGA?!

  KORN

  We didn't laugh at the book.

  Cindy begins to charge at the guys. Korn and the others gets scared.

  TRACEY

  Let's get away from this crazy bitch!

  Korn and the others quickly makes their way out the classroom with Cindy behind them.

  CHARLIE

  That's one way to get rid of them.

  Suddenly, from the corner of his eye, Charlie spots someone walking into the classroom.

  CHARLIE

  (surprised)

  She's here.

  Candice and Frank looks at the girl.

  FRANK

  (Whistles) Look at her.

  CANDICE

  Nothing special about her.

  CHARLIE

  Josaline.

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