Soren decided to sleep at his own house that night. His parents were gradually getting vexed that he wasn’t coming home after school and out sleeping around. When he did come home, however, he ended up creating another argument within his family, where one half of his family was fine with him staying out knowing how contemptuous it gets at home, and the other half calling him negligent and defiant, just like his older sister back when she was a teen.

  Soren left for his room shortly after. He needed to say something. But his mouth was closed shut.

  Marcus had gotten a text from Soren stating that he was going to continue staying over after today. He was glad for that because Diesel was pestering him, wanting to know where her playful guardian was.

  When he had got home without his younger friend, Diesel was quick to notice and started nudging her slimy blob–of–a–body against his school pants, coating it with gasoline residue. He was evidently sad about his pants getting dirtied and smelling like gasoline, but also by the fact that Diesel was wailing out for Soren. Good thing his parents weren’t home yet or else they would’ve heard her.

  Coming from his phone again, another text from Soren was sent, this time regarding the girl that Nylah made them notice. Marcus swiftly picked up Diesel and set her down on a sheet he prepared spread out on his bed, then sat next to her as she started to settle down. Marcus texted Soren saying that they should wait until tomorrow to ask Nylah about the girl, after all, she does know a lot of people in school.

  The two boys continued to text each other back and forth, first about the girl and Nylah, then onto Diesel, and then onto school and life. The older boy was about to send another text, but his eyes were getting heavy from the whole commotion the three had today, and Diesel was already knocked out, so he put his phone down next to his pillow and soon after knocked out too.

  And as Soren was laying on his bed in the dark, he wanted to ask why Marcus was so adamant to keep Diesel, why he decided to take her, and yet the words he wanted to say couldn’t come out his mouth. He already guessed that his older friend was sleeping by now and didn’t bother to continue talking to him. He himself couldn’t sleep though. Even if he curled up into a fetus position waiting for his older sister to enter his room and rid him of all his worries, reassuring him, he still couldn’t go to sleep.

  Besides, his sister wasn’t home anymore.

  All three teens came to school, but this time from different directions then they would usually see each other come from. The sky this time was all monotone with the only color standing out was the bright green of the trees and grass. The tension was amidst the three teens once they gathered together right outside their respective classrooms for the day. Each of them had something to say, Nylah about the girl, Marcus’s congregation with Nylah, and Soren about Diesel; yet none of them said anything, waiting until after school to let everything out.

  Soren and Marcus were alone skipping class again at their favorite staircase, a spot where they never get caught by any deans or staff members, and also the spot where Marcus stepped on Soren’s pet roach. School was going to be over soon so the two boys thought why not skip until then. And this time, instead of Soren being the loquacious one, it was Marcus.

  “You know, it’s a good thing you're staying over today and going forward. Diesel was crying for you yesterday, wondering why you didn’t come.”

  “Aww! I was missing Diesel all day yesterday too, grr,” switching his tone he then said “but my parents were asking for me so I had to go. You know how they are.”

  Marcus looked down, “yeah… kinda fucked up of them to bring up your sister.”

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  The two boys sat in silence now. Soren still couldn’t get his mouth to speak.

  To be candid, Soren’s energy these past few days has been drained and sucked out, all because his two friends wouldn't stop worrying about Diesel. For one, Nylah’s hobo uncle caught them running away from the dismembered body parts, which were then put on the news. And before that, Marcus was being immensely apprehensive about Diesel accidentally killing someone or messing up his home. Yesterday was even worse for him since all that incessant contending between Marcus and Nylah was tiring.

  He really wishes he could ask Marcus why he picked up Diesel.

  A loud, piercing, but familiar voice caught the two boys off guard. And who is it other than Nylah herself.

  “I thought we were going to talk after school?” Marcus shifted his whole body to now look at Nylah on top of the staircase.

  Nylah lethargically climbed down to them, sitting a step above them in the space that the two boys made for her. She wasn’t dressed as usual. She wasn’t ostentatious with her flamboyant clothes style to boost her up. Her bangles weren't on her wrist either and she was wearing normal clothes: ripped jeans and a short sleeved t-shirt, which was a societal norm, or at least deemed normal and not over-dressed to other people. Soren wanted to make a joke on how an exorbitant person like herself can also dress normal, but feeling the atmosphere, he decided not to anyway. The same could be said about Soren and Marcus too.

  “Yeah but I thought I might as well tell you guys now.”

  The two boys gave Nylah her undivided attention.

  “Me and her used to be friends back in middle school. We would hang out a lot and stuff until 9th grade. It was around winter when I started noticing that she would hang around a lot of older guys, and it's not like they were just friends, but more than that. And she would drag me to hang out with them constantly.”

  As Nylah talked, so would her hands, “Eventually, one of the older guys she was dating, got into some drama; it escalated to the point where her life was put in danger too. I was warning her and telling her that she shouldn't be near them and we’re both young to be involved, but she didn't listen to me. So spring that same year I stopped being friends with her.” She clasped her hands together and leaned down towards both Marcus and Soren.

  “That's crazy..”

  Soren looked at Marcus waiting for him to say something.

  “She’s also a senior?”

  “Mhm.”

  Soren scrunched his face with grimace, “and to think our teacher's assistant is allowing her to date him. Well, I don't know if they are dating but having him condone that type of clinginess is kinda…”

  “Oh, no they are,” Nylah blatantly admitted, “i see them after school going on dates.”

  Marcus finally spoke up, “shouldn’t we report him? Like we can collect evidence and get him fired or arrested.”

  Soren nodded in agreement, and then went from looking at Marcus to Nylah, waiting for her answer. She looked tentative at first, giving an unsure look. Nylah was adamant on not getting herself involved with her ex friend, and more so getting herself in unsolicited drama. Even so, she does have a sense of virtue and morals — which she follows very vigorously — so going against them would definitely make her sick to the stomach.

  “You guys got that. I have all the pictures, but you guys got that. I don’t want her thinking it was me and get me in some shit.”

  She had sent all the photos she racked up over the months to Marcus, trusting him the most since he’s more ingenious, and believes he can get her ex friend out of that predicament. Soren could just be his back up just in case Marcus gets himself in some contention or interrogation.

  Each photo was worse than the ones before. It started off a little unsettling, seeing their assistant teacher holding hands with a girl years younger than him, then gradually seeing them kissing and cuddling. Nylah had even sent him some videos she took secretly of them bantering and some where they had full on arguments at night in the middle of the street. It was making Marcus repulsive. Seeing a hidden side of someone amongst you unravel in a manner of minutes makes you go through a lot of denial and confusion. You would’ve never thought they would do that, but everyone’s capable of stuff you’d never thought of doing.

  Guessing off the reaction he saw from his older friend, Soren evidently decided not to bother being curious and see what evidence Nylah accumulated over the months. If it was bad enough to make Marcus want to projectile vomit again, then he’d rather not get a sneak peek.

  “If anything, just call me,” Nylah was looking away, staring at the stickers stuck onto the metal fence of the staircase, with her bag on her shoulder, and fidgeting. The bell was going to ring soon and she dreadedly wanted to leave for her home.

  More so she didn’t want to see her in the hallway.