Chapter 2: Rule #9

March 2019

The rhythmic ping sounds of hitting traveled through the air. Hands covered in black gloves, a boy squeezed the smooth baseball bat firmly, weighing it on his hands with consideration. Readied himself, he hoisted the bat over his shoulders. His eagle eyes were put to work, and as the ball bolted to his side, he swung!

With absolute precision, the ball floated in a fast line, followed with a couple of claps and cheers. With a lopsided grin, the boy slammed the maple wood bat on the base, to have it bounced back to his hand in a spin, displaying a mix of skill and flair. And as he proudly caught back the bat—

"Yeah! That's my bestfriend! Go Tyty!"

Behind the net, you jumped up and down on the tribune, hands clapping in delight. Shouting from the top of your lungs, you cheered for the boy that's been grinning back at you. Shoulders rolled under his red and white jersey, he adjusted his red NY cap, exchanging a glance with grinning you. Moving to the middle of the base, he stood with poise, ready to take on the next play. Planting his foot on the ground, he gripped the ball tightly on his palm, ready to swing whenever he liked. Creasing his forehead in concentration, he observed his opponent—and after he made sure he's ready, he swung!

Strike!

Throwing his gloves and cap to the ground, he shouted in unbridled delight, "Yeah! Let's fucking go!"

"Language, Cavill!"

"Sorry, coach—Winny! Did you see—"

However, his triumphant boasting came to an abrupt halt as he tried to process a scene unfolding before him. Instead of being met by your admiration, he found you.. with a boy, receiving a pink box with a neatly placed black ribbon at the top. He surveyed in disinterest, but not until he saw your face light up—disinterest quickly turned into interest, his face heating up. Ignoring the ongoing practice, he sprinted towards the tribune and shouted, "Hey! Em remember rule number—!"

Just when you redirected your attention back to him, a ball struck him square in the eye. The sound of your voice shouting in the distance echoed through the field as Tyler tumbled down to the ground. Cursing and groaning in pain, he put a hand over his eye—with another supporting his arse that's been flat on the ground. His eye began to sport a shade of blue, however in between his minced eyes, he noticed a faint silhouette.

A boy, notably tall for his age, strolled along the path to him. He got closer.. and closer.. until the silhouette became clearer. 'Damn, bet his eyes still bluer than mine even right now,' Tyler thought. Just when he's about to muster the strength to rise on his own, the boy extended a hand. Tyler observed in suspicion, but then he shrugged off whatever ill prejudice he had—and took the hand hesitantly—to be taken with great strength. Regaining his composure, Tyler found himself face to face with the boy, who smiled and said,

"So—"

"How's your girlfriend?"

Said the boy with blue eyes. His arm circled around Tyler's shoulders, dragging him to the cafeteria. Strikes of blonde hair bouncing over his shoulders, oh how the teachers would love to cut it, although they'd always push the thought since he'll always have his way to charm them. Or maybe they're just afraid one of the biggest benefactors in River High would cut the flow instead.

Cutting is one thing, as for the girls? It's another story. Since the moment he walks through the hallway, they're already making scenes on what to do with that loose flowy hair. And both of them in one frame? Da Vinci cried he missed the scene.

Tyler gives him a side eye as he snarls, "For fucks sake. That'll never happen—just shut up if you're bored and oh—maybe the short holiday just makes you want to pick a fight huh? You're welcome to try again." Despite Dominic being like a brother to him, his displeasure is completely shown in the way his face scowls. What's drawn in Dom's face is the exact opposite though, as his thin lips form a lopsided grin as he chuckles,

"I can make her mine then?"

In a blink, Tyler traps him in a firm headlock as he murmurs over Dom's ear, "Over my dead body, asshole." and releases him just to drag him forcefully through the cafeteria door. Dom laughs out loud, driving more attention to them. The wide room was packed with students, all busy taking their food, eating, talking. But not until both come across them. All eyes stealing glances, mouths forming into smiles, boys offering them places to sit. At this point, people might think they own the school.

But they already know where they're going for—well, more like who they're searching for. Their eyes scan the whole room for this one.. special person. Tyler releases his arms on Dominic to put his hands on his pockets, ‘for concentration’ he thought, but maybe because he's quite aware of how hot he looked like doing it. Dom narrows his eyes and searches through the corner..

Voila.

He gestures Tyler with his head, signing to follow him. Tyler nods the same time he saw what he meant, and they both stride.. until they're behind him.

The other blonde.

Dominic crosses his arms over his chest as Tyler nods and grins to the girls sitting across the boy. The both of them hover over him without him knowing, one raising an eyebrow, one chuckling and shaking his head in disbelief—still, both eyes piercing through his back. Watching the scene, the girls giggle, putting the blonde boy's love speech into a halt. As if the boy finally senses the menacing aura, he turns his head slowly..

"..I can explain,” he grins in guilt, crouching his shoulders like a hunchback.

Tyler grabs his shoulder with one hand as he says, "We don't need your explanation, Wyatt.”

Then Dominic grabs the boy’s other shoulder with one hand as he lazily demands, "What we need, is your loyalty.”

Liam jumps from his chair in disagreement and swiftly turns to them, "This is different bro! You know I'm in love!” Then he turns to Eve with a funny smirk plastered on his face and gives her an air kiss.

“So much for your ‘Bros before Hoes’, Wyatt,” Dominic complains as he folds his hands in front of his chest.

Tyler runs a hand through his hair and lets out a sigh as he mumble under his breath, "Ran as the bell rings just to see his girl? Yeah, you're doomed man—" Realizing how he gave his critiques in Eve's face, he gives an apologetic nod to Eve and adds, "no offense, Eve.”

Surprisingly, not like this morning, Eve laughs lightly and agrees, "So you're here to take him? Please do." Liam turns to her dramatically like someone just gave him a Trojan Horse and breaks his heart. "Sorry, baby I just can't stand Emily's face!" she shouts. That's when she transfers the attention to you, still keeping the excuses going, "She’s one second away from killing us, babe!"

Tyler darts his eyes to you and winks at you, to have you chuckle as a response. Nodding your head to Tyler and Dom as an approval, you agree, "You're damn right Evie. Thanks to these gentlemen right here, now I can eat in peace,” acting nonchalant, you dart a sideways glance to her before continuing, "but you're welcome to join your boyfriend though, no hope in you either anyway.”

Eve gives a suppressed laugh and dangles her arms around your left arm, she laughs, "Aww don't be jealous Emily~” to have you give her a glare from the corner of your eyes, rolling your eyes while continuing your feast.

"Let's just separate the two for now. It's for the best," Tyler assures, nodding. Dom leans on the wall, getting impatient as he plays with his lighter,

"Last chance to redeem your sins, Wyatt.”

Liam looks at all of you in irritation—but not until his eyes land on.. you.

His green eyes lit up.. and you only saw him this excited when he told the boys Eve likes him back. Too accustomed to the scene, you confidently mock him, "Look Eve, your boyfriend just did it again, he thinks he has the upper hand to change his bullying situation and turn it on me—"

With a smug face, he rests a hand on Tyler's shoulder, reassuring him like he's about to tell him the most confidential secret this country has ever had.

"Why can't he just accept the fact that he's so bulliable—" you mumble between chewing your gyoza as you see him whisper those inaudible—must've unimportant knowledge he ever had to Tyler. "I mean—what could he possibly think he has against me for today? All he ever do the moment he got here is flirt with you, babble around his annoyance for Ms. Liza—" you rant and rant about her boyfriend—

But you found Dominic already listening in eagerness too. You stop your chewing as you watch Tyler—his eyebrows knitted, making you wonder what the hell was that about. You start to lose your confidence as you falter.. "And ask you about what you're about to do this weekend—" and falter.. "just so he can ask you out on another—"

Then it hit you.

And when it hits, it hits like you first crashed dad's car on your own fence.

Now, Tyler's eyes on you. His eyes ablaze, tongue protruding on his cheek, pissed.

Shit this must be about—

Fuck Liam. Screw Tyler. I hate this life.

You're wondering what's with Ty's over dramatic reaction? Oh let me indulge you. Starting with the rule I regret I've ever agreed on.

Now you're in an empty classroom, chairs and tables stacked on each other in the corners. For the look of it, this must've been abandoned for a long time—but that's not what makes this room eerie. You notice a chair in the center with someone sitting on it. Their hands aren't bondaged, but still, the person sits there in obedience—no, more with fear. Face stricken with panic, feet tapping on the floor in anxiety, sweat trickling down his temple..

Your date for this weekend.

Rule #9: Every potential SO must go through a screening—*sigh* interrogation\, process.

From the darkest corner of the room, a silhouette surfaces, holding a wood baseball bat over his shoulder. A baseball bat you. know. so well. As he strides through the room, he slams the bat on the floor, dragging it, making an unpleasant screeching sound. Two more shadows follow him from behind, their blonde hairs glinting in the sunlight. Getting near to the chair, a deep voice emerge between the deafening silence,

"Well, well, well."

It's Tyler.

His lips form a sinister smile and he plays his baseball bat rhythmically onto the ground, roaring, "You heard the rumors, but you still do it anyway—you must've had pair of balls made of steel, huh?"

Your date—your poor date still keeps an upright posture. However, you can see his hands tremble as he swiftly hides them between his thighs. The three of them walk in arrogance and elegance. If you're not so annoyed maybe you'd call them the Angel of Death, but the nickname might be too noble for them.

They finally arrive in front of your date. Tyler tilts his head to the side, eyeing him head to toe with mocking eyes. He slams the maple wood bat on the ground—to have it bounced back to his hand in a spin. Using the trick you knew all too well. But instead of stopping, he slams it again to the porcelain floors, letting it bounce back, catching it, and spinning it. He spin.. and spin.. and spin—each spin getting closer to your date—and when he finally catches the bat—

SLAM!

Before swinging the bat to land on the floor just a millimeter from his groin. You jump at the sound, face painted in concern as you let out a desperate shout. The other two broke off into cheers, proud of their friend, but as for your date..

Eyes goggle in shock, your date ends up fainted in his chair.

"Geez! Do you have to?!" you hurriedly run to your date as the boys throw their heads in the air, disappointed. Pushing them out of the way, you kneel in front of the chair. "Nate—Nate! Wake up!" you worry, slapping your date's cheek, trying to wake him up. You rack your brain on how to apologize to Nate when he wakes up—how to keep a secret from anyone so you can go on a rescheduled date with him—

"Guess your date's canceled," Tyler rolls his eyes and lets out an exaggerated sigh.

Liam agrees and joins, "Haven't even got to interrogate—"

Before you kick your foot to the floor, confronting them. You glare at them one by one with fire blazing in your eyes. First to pursed-lipped Liam, then to Dom as he raises his hands and claims, "I'm just here for the fun part," as you roll your eyes, and lastly.. to grinning.. very-satisfied-with-your-reaction Tyler.

"You’re a punk or something?!" you yell at him, holding yourself from punching the guy's face.

He swings and hovers his baseball bat over his shoulders like it's the most precious to him, implying, "Well it's the rule, ain't it? Anyway, he made it clear to me either, No. Boyfriends. remember?"

Your nose let out a hard huff at him in defeat as he laughs. Satisfied, he tilts his head—when he notices how the sunlight already dimmed through the windows. Alarmed, he checks his watch in a hurry, blurting out,

"Ok I have to pick up my girlfriend at 7. Need to make a good impression—right bross?"

He turns his head to the boys, a smug face planted on his face—but not until he sees the boys'. The room goes silent as he realizes what just slipped. Liam and Dom's eyes round in horror as they dart their eyes to him.. and then to you. Colors drain from his face as he puts down his watch slowly.. to reveal your face—

Red. Nose flaring with fire. Eyebrows lifted to the max, eyeballs about to pop. Grinning like a maniac—

"YOU HAVE A GIRLFRIEND WITHOUT TELLING ME AND YOU DO THIS?!"

The room stays the same. But the most significant change darkens the corners of the room. Making it become way more sinister horror movies should learn a thing or two. The person on the chair changed into a girl.

His new Succubus.

You stride to her, feet hovering over the floor. You grab the chair's top rail so tight it cracks a little. The boys watch in horror, terror overtook their faces—but not as scared as Tyler for his new girlfriend.

And then there's Eve, just arrived from buying her popcorn specifically for this scene, watching the whole ordeal with delight. You hover over The Succubus as you smile at the poor girl. It almost looked like you're an angel, but not until the camera pans to your blazing eyes.

"So.. Jennifer Check, right?"

Your voice is as light as the feathers, tiny and sweet and patient. Very contrasting with your whole look right now. Taking a quivering breath, the girl answers reluctantly in a tiny voice, "Y—Yes..?"

"Tell me one reason I shouldn't kill you right now."

You give her a big smile and giggle like a maniac. "W—what?!" she replies in a cracked voice and closes her mouth with her hands.

You continue laughing a sinister laugh, giving an amused sigh, "Kidding—I'm kiddingggg, right Tyty? I wouldn't do that~"

Liam faints as Eve rolls her eyes—putting her popcorn aside to check on him. Dominic choked a laugh as Tyler's mouth twitched in a defeated smile. You drag a chair, pushing more weight onto the floor on purpose, creating a screeching sound as you delightfully watch the girl tremble in fear. You sit on the chair, taking a deep breath.. and smile, exclaiming,

"So, first question. What's the most you would be willing to spend on—cars, burgers, shoes?"

The girl thinks with all her might to answer, "S—shoes—?"

"WRONG!"

You leap from your chair—grip hers and shout to her face! At the roar, the others jump to their feet. Eve looks around to see if they get the same reaction then giggles in amusement. Liam can't handle the scene and faints for the second time. Dominic mouths a ‘holy shit’ as he takes a bunch of popcorn from Eve. As for Tyler?

He's already sitting on the floor, smiling in despair.

"How do you see yourself 10 years from now?!" you question, bombarding her.

The girl starts to tremble in fear, answering, "I—I think I want to be a doctor—"

"Think again!" you shout. With each question you raise your voice, with each answer you raise your blood pressure. "Do you want to have children—and if you do, will you change the diapers?!"

Crying, the girl shouts in resign, "I—I don't know—"

You roar, "WRONG AGAIN! Ok girl you fail—!"

"Emilia Winters you did not just ask Questions to Ask Before You Marry!"

Tyler screams in misery and despair as he slaps his hands on the floor. Dom who's been silent this whole time joins his comrade as he crosses his arms and exclaims, "Yeah dude spare the girl she looks like she's gonna—" and The Succubus puke right then and there, "...puke," he trails off, watching the scene in awe as he scratches the back of his head.

Liam wakes up just to ask "What smell is this?" before he finds the girl puke for the second time—

He faints for the third time.

“No no no no—Emily—Em!”

Eve runs a hand through her hair, frustration boiling over as you sprint through the tribune like a bat out of hell. She tries her best to hold you back, but you shrug off Eve’s hand and keep running, eyes locked on the field with a deathly stare.

On the field, The Rivers are already huddled up. Inside the circle, Liam, Dominic, and Tyler are pacing frenziedly, hyping up their teammates. Grinning widely, Cavill throws his bat in the air before catching it, and shouts,

“READY TO HIT SOME LOGS, RIVERS?!”

Their teammates howl excitedly. Before Dom claps his hands with an echoing sound, silencing everyone. All waits in anticipation as Liam inhales before running around the circle to shout,

“Not the brightest but still hit!”

“RIVERS!”

Liam then points to Brad, whose shoulder is already moving up and down with hype, arms around the shoulders of his teammates as he shouts,

“Got no girlfriend but still hit!”

“RIVERS!”

“Not my dad but acts like one—RIVERS!”

Suddenly, an angry sound echoes through the field like a hurricane. Tyler stops in his tracks, recognizing the voice, his eyes widening in horror. Everyone turn to find the source, finally spotting you up on the podium with the mic. Eyes locked, glaring like fire meeting fire, he silently mouths a 'don’t you dare.' But with a smirk, you sneer,

“Hope you suck your date tonight.”

Tyler’s face turns crimson with rage. He cocks his head, cracks his fingers, and storms out of the circle. Wyatt and Hunt try to hold him back, but he ducks under their arms and keeps marching, his eyes never leaving yours. Equally enraged, you shouts to the mic,

“This is for sabotaging my date, asshole! FUCK YOU!” and bolted, letting the mic drop with a thud that made everyone cover their ears.

You both reach the netting at the edge of the field, stopping momentarily to glare at each other, nostrils flaring like two bulls about to charge! Like a game of tag, your eyes focus, each predicting the other’s next move. You finally dart right—and he mirrors you!

You bolt, glancing back to see his fierce gaze from down the field. When you’re almost reaching the end of the net, you notice him already preceding you. Trying to make a sudden move, you turn right to the stairs, and when you look behind you, he’s already leaping over a pipe—and to the tribune, heading up towards you! Just then, a booming voice echoed from the mic,

“Tyler Cavill get your ass down here right now, or you’ll be suspended!”

Tyler freezes, throwing his head back in irritation, and as he does, he notices people around the tribune already recording the fiasco with their phones. Unfazed, he turns and glares at you—to find you already far near the exit gate.

“And your friend up there—who—!”

Still running ahead, you sneak a glance back—and quickly turn back your attention to the front.. before darting into a corner, successfully escaping the field.

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