The other two football pyers look at Dante shocked. The first boy is wearing the school Letterman jacket with a solid red t-shirt, blue jeans, and white tennis shoes. He has pale skin with dirty blonde hair that's styled in a parted comb over with blue eyes. The boy next to him has ginger hair that's styled in a messy mop cut with brown eyes. He is wearing a Letterman jacket with a bck long-sleeve thermal shirt, a gray t-shirt, and bck tennis shoes. Delorian enters Dante's personal space and looks him over angrily. Dante looks him fearlessly in his eyes.

  “You’re going to pay for getting me detention!” Delorian shouts.

  He then shoves Dante into Yorkshire who grabs his arms and secures them behind his head in a basket hold.

  Delorian walks over to Dante and starts punching him in the stomach. Dante grunts before hitting Yorkshire in his face with his head forcing him to be released. Dante then puts up his dukes and punches Delorian in both sides of his face. He sends him to the floor with one final punch to his nose. The other football pyers rush over and attempt to jump Dante but are soon bested in the same way Delorian was. Once they're on the floor groaning Dante takes a few moments to wash his hands. Upon finishing he goes and squats beside Delorian.

  "You wanted a faggot and that's exactly what you got," Dante says fiercely before standing up and looking at his reflection one final time.

  "You're still that shimmering sapphire girl," Dante says with sass snapping his finger and leaving the bathroom.

  Natalee is sitting at a table alone writing in a notebook. She then starts ughing at what she’s writing when Kathy comes and sits down across from her. Soon irritation takes hold of her face.

  “What do you want Kathy?” Natalee asks annoyed closing her notebook.

  “I just came to check up on you. I saw you sitting over here all alone. You’re my sister and I want to make sure that you’re okay.”

  “We’ve been over this Kathy, I’m fine! Now get on back to your boyfriend and best friend!” Natalee snaps.

  "Natalee if you ever want to talk, I just want you to know and remember that I am here," Kathy says sweetly.

  This earns her a smile from Natalee. When she leaves Natalee reopens her notebook and resumes writing and ughing.

  Kathy returns to her table and sits beside Algier. Algier looks at her concerned.

  “Is everything okay sweetheart?” Algier asks.

  Kathy sighs heavily looking in Natalee’s direction.

  “No, I’m worried about Natalee. I can’t say for sure what it is but it’s something serious.”

  Algier looks in Natalee’s direction.

  "Well, you know she is a teenager, and although I'm an only child from what I've observed multiple times teenagers don't like hanging out with their siblings. Maybe you should give her some space." Algier says looking back in Kathy's direction.

  "That's the problem," Kathy says looking over in Natalee’s direction.

  Algier takes her hand into his and squeezes it.

  “Everything will be okay, I promise.”

  A little while ter the bell rings and the students leave the cafeteria. Kathy, Tiffany, and Algier are walking down the hallway.

  “So Tiffany who are you going to the homecoming dance with?” Algier asks looking at her.

  “No one. I don’t need a date to have a good time.” Tiffany says confidently with her hands in her pockets.

  "You've always been a loner. Hopefully, that can change." Kathy says.

  “I’m fine y’all. There’s no need to fret over me.” Tiffany says grinning and giving them a thumbs up.

  Over at Lady Alpha Middle School Bossier and Tron are sitting in css listening to their teacher lecture at the chalkboard. The walls are white with bck baseboards. To the far left are two rectangur windows with blinds that are pulled up revealing the neighborhood. On the walls are mathematic formu posters, posters of different literary genres, and science posters. At the front of the cssroom is an oak desk with a green cushion behind it. Behind the desk is a green chalkboard with math equations on it. Bossier and Tron are sitting beside each other in the middle row. Their teacher Mr. Wheatley is sitting at the front of the cssroom behind the desk.

  Mr. Wheatley has fair skin with gray eyes and white hair. He is in his te thirties. He is wearing a white-colr shirt, bck scks, and bck dress shoes with a bck tie. On his face is a pair of bck rectangur eyegsses. On his left wrist is a bck watch.

  Tron is wearing a brown long-sleeve shirt, bck jeans, and bck tennis shoes.

  “So, are you still nervous about the audition?” Tron asks gncing at Bossier.

  "Absolutely but it's a good nervous. I really hope I get the role. I have never been the female lead in any school production since I've been here. Hopefully, this audition will change that. I'm sure Mr. Remington will make the right decision" Bossier says executing the math equation.

  “Yeah, I hope you get it. Maybe that could give us more time to spend together. I never get to see you outside of school. Your mother is really something else when it comes to me.” Tron says sadly getting Bossier’s attention.

  “She’s still stuck in her childhood mindset when it comes to skin color. You just have to give her time.”

  "I hope you're right," Tron says sweetly.

  Lynn is in css sitting in the back row. She has tears streaming down her face as the events from earlier constantly repy in her head. She sniffles while reading a passage in her literature textbook. She wipes her eyes and resumes reading.

  "I have to do something about Daddy Vernon," Lynn whispers to herself.

  The day moves forward eerily and Dante is in Calculus when the P.A. comes on.

  “Dante McFarlin please report to Principal Sumpter’s office immediately.” a male voice says authoritatively.

  Dante’s cssmates begin whispering and chatting.

  Dante grabs his backpack gets to his feet and leaves the cssroom. When he gets to the administration office, he goes to the reception desk. The walls of the waiting area are brown with bck baseboards. The desk is gray and rectangur. Behind it is a male. He has pale skin with blue eyes. His gray hair is combed back. He has a mole on his left cheek.

  He is wearing a white polo shirt, gray scks, and bck leather dress shoes. When he sees Dante he is shocked by his appearance.

  “I’m here to see Principal Sumpter.”

  The receptionist picks up the telephone.

  “Principal Sumpter Dante McFarlin is here in the waiting area.”

  “Send him back.” Principal Sumpter says in a Virginian accent.

  “Yes sir.” the receptionist says before hanging up.

  “Principal Sumpter says to go on back.”

  Dante walks to the end of the hallway and turns left.

  When he enters the office, he sees the four boys who attacked him. He instantly becomes irritated while shutting the door.

  Principal Sumpter's office walls are gray with bck baseboards. On the walls are degrees and certificates. In the middle of the office is an oak wood desk with his namepte on it. Also on the desk is a bck desk mp, a utensil cup, and a small potted pnt. Behind the desk is Principal Rudy Sumpter. Principal Sumpter is in his te fifties with fair skin, green eyes, and cold bck hair. He is wearing a gray suit, a white business shirt, a bck tie, and bck leather dress shoes. Dante goes and sits in the opposite bck cushion chair across from the antagonistic quartet.

  “I reckon you know what this office call is about.” Principal Sumpter says angrily csping his hands together.

  “I most certainly do sir and I just want to inform you that I did not provoke them. It was the other way around and the end result was self-defense. That’s why those boys look the way they do.”

  They all are wearing looks of fear.

  "From the bruises on their faces, I'm having a hard time believing that. You have no superficial wounds to refer to this defense that you're trying to sell me."

  “Sir I was in the restroom washing my hands. When I finished throwing my paper towels away, I turned around and there they were. I didn’t incite anything. Delorian and his friends were the instigators.”

  “I’m suspending you for two days.”

  Dante looks at him in disbelief.

  "Understood sir," Dante says coolly before looking down at his p.

  “You knew today was celebrity day and you came dressed like this? Boys are supposed to dress like boys and girls are supposed to dress like girls. You doing this triggered them and that’s what ignited them to defend themselves.” Principal Sumpter says getting Dante’s attention.

  “They were triggered?! I was a red target for these imbeciles and they’re the ones who get acquitted?! You know you’re right it is celebrity day. With that said there is no stipution on who a student can or cannot portray. These jerks were looking for a one-sided fight and got the surprise of their lives. Homosexuals are always ridiculed but today I was and will forever be the victor of my oppressors. I’m not apologizing for dressing like this nor will I apologize for defending myself. Now I will resume my school day and take my flimsily unfounded suspension." Dante says looking Principal Sumpter in the eyes.

  “You attacked these boys and an apology is most certainly due. Now please apologize or your suspension will be extended!”

  Dante looks over at them enraged.

  "I 'm sorry," Dante says before giving his attention back to Principal Sumpter.

  “You all can return to css now.”

  The five boys leave his office.

  When they enter the hallway Dante returns to Calculus fuming. As he walks Delorian and Yorkshire jog to opposite sides of him. Delorian is on his right and Yorkshire is on his left.

  “How does it feel to know that normal people will always prevail?” Delorian asks tauntingly.

  "Just so you know Delorian's not done punishing you," Yorkshire says inches away from Dante's ear.

  When they get to Calculus Dante walks to Mr. Loughlin’s desk.

  “Mr. Loughlin I will be suspended for two days after this. During that time, I want to make sure I’m current on all of my csswork and homework.” Dante says dryly and Mr. Loughlin hands him four front- and back-page packets.

  “You can turn them in after your suspension has been absolved.”

  Dante nods his head.

  "Thank you so much, sir."

  Dante then walks to his desk puts his assignments in his backpack and resumes his assignment.

  Letha is at work in her office going over some invoices. She is wearing a bck short-sleeve dress with bck pointed-toe sling-back heels. Her hair is styled in a flip. Her face is made up of powder, bck eye shadow, bck eyeliner, and dark red lipstick. On her left wrist is a silver watch. As she's comparing documents a knock comes on her door. When the door opens her boss Fletcher Whitestone comes in.

  Fletcher is thirty-nine years old with caramel skin and honey-brown eyes. His bck hair is styled in a parted comb over. He is wearing a navy blue suit, a white business shirt, a bck tie, and bck leather dress shoes. On his left wrist is a diamond watch.

  "How can I help you, Mr. Whitestone?" Letha asks formally.

  “I just came to chat with you," Fletcher says closing the door and walking to her desk.

  “About what?”

  "There's a murder case that will be relocated here soon. If you ask me, I think that the boy should be exonerated. I mean New York is liberal but he's colored. There's a taste of prejudice everywhere, no matter how progressive a state is especially in this country." Fletcher says sitting across from Letha.

  “I agree. I am curious to see how this case turns out. I hope whoever is representing him will get him off.” Letha says csping her hands together.

  “That is if the prosecution doesn’t eat the defense alive.”

  “Who will the prosecution be?”

  “I think it’s going to be Savannah Lancaster.”

  Disgust instantly consumes Letha’s face.

  “That white washed-up trash hussy. All she cares about is getting colored people put away on heinous trumped-up charges.”

  “I’ve personally seen her in court. She only deals with facts. Skin color does not py a part in her brand of justice.”

  “Well, whoever the defense is I hope they’re ready for all the bullets she has to fire with.”

  “So do I. I also received word that someone visited you here recently.” Fletcher says

  Fear quickly usurps anger inside Letha.

  “Yes sir. It was my former paramour coming to discuss a family matter.”

  “Alright. You know I don’t mind personal visits as long as they don’t disturb my building.” Fletcher says before standing up as does Letha.

  “Absolutely sir. These invoices will be on your desk after lunch.”

  "That's what I like to hear," Fletcher says before leaving.

  Letha exhaled heavily before sitting back down and resuming her work.

  Algier is in biology reading a paragraph when a crumpled piece of paper nds on his desk. He looks to his right and sees Delorian looking in his direction.

  “What do you want Delorian?”

  “What the hell made you think dressing up as a mobster was for you?”

  “Because I like what this one particurly stood for. A better question is how did you get those bruises?”

  An angry expression covers Delorian’s face.

  “You don’t worry about that colored ass. Oh, and for the record I’ll be taking that sweet piece of vanil wafer of yours to homecoming on Saturday.”

  “She’s not interested in you. You need to go with someone that matches your caliber.”

  “Kathy St. James is of my caliber. You’re the one who doesn’t deserve her.”

  "No that's where you're wrong. I absolutely deserve her and she deserves me. You are just a boy who wants another notch under his belt. Well, I'm gd to tell you that she won't be on that disgusting list." Algier says sharply before resuming to read.

  Kathy and Tiffany are in biology when Tiffany looks over at Kathy.

  “Hey Kat what are you going to wear to homecoming?” Tiffany whispers.

  “Something beautiful and you?” Kathy whispers back.

  “I’m not sure yet. I’m going dress shopping after school today.”

  Kathy quickly looks regretful.

  “You dress shopping alone? I can’t wait to see what you conjure up. But yeah, I need to be able to have an escape from that pce.”

  Tiffany shakes her head understandingly.

  "I like getting dressed up sometimes and you'll be gd to know I love dresses. As for your car, I hope you snag a nice one."

  Kathy raises her eyebrows nervously.

  “So do I and I can’t wait to see your dress.”

  The two teens resume working on their poems.

  It's twelve thirty and the student body is in the cafeteria. Kathy, Tiffany, and Algier are sitting outside at their usual table. Kathy has a chicken sad with a bottle of water, Tiffany has a pte of nachos with a diet co and Algier has a slice of pepperoni pizza with two cinnamon sticks and chocote milk.

  “So, how’s your day going so far baby?” Kathy asks before pcing some sad in her mouth.

  "It was frustrating in biology. Delorian Porter was going on about how he was going to ask you to homecoming. I responded by telling him to be with someone of his own caliber. He then rebutted that you were of his caliber and that he deserved you. It was so nerve-racking and btantly disrespectful." Algier says irritably.

  Kathy rubs his right shoulder and pces her chin on his shoulder.

  “You deserve me one hundred percent. Delorian Porter does not. He should be with someone like my sister Galleria. They both are arrogant and self-serving. They are perfect for each other.” Kathy says making Algier and Tiffany ugh.

  “By the way Al I was going to ask you if you could take me to a car lot. I was going to buy a car today after school.”

  Algier looks at her cleaning his mouth.

  “Absolutely.”

  The trio spends the remainder of lunch ughing.

  Natalee is coming out of the girl's restroom when she runs into Galleria and Linda. Linda is wearing an ice-white leather beret, a long-sleeved mint green turtleneck, a white wavy skirt, and mint green leather go-go boots. Her hair is falling seamlessly down her back. Her face is made up of powder, bck eyeliner, and gloss. In her ears are silver diamond studs. On her back is a white backpack.

  "Watch where you're going weirdo," Galleria says rudely looking her in her eyes.

  Natalee stares her down momentarily before resuming her trek. Galleria looks back at her disgustedly before she and Linda resume their walk.

  "She seemed very troubled," Linda comments as they enter the girl's restroom.

  "That girl is not troubled she's an attention-seeking whore."

  When they get to the middle sink they scream in horror.