The Trouble-Makers

"Welcome to the Trouble-Makers," Jack said, clasping hands with Mike and bringing him for what'd I'd call, for lack of words, a 'bro hug.' After talking it over, the guys simply just called Mike over to come meet us at my house, since the guys refused to leave their comfy seats. I just hoped my dad wouldn't come home until late so he wouldn't see all the guys that were flocking to my room. "How does it feel?"

"Freaking sweet, dude," Mike said, shaking his head.

"You got make sure you're still Troubling after we leave," Alex said beside me, pointing a finger at Mike and chuckling.

"Hey, I'll hold down the fort," he said raising his hands up. "I got this, you know me."

Jack smirked at that, plopping back down on his seat. "I'm hungry," he complained, and then rolled his head to look over at me. I at first ignored him but then he coughed loudly, on purpose, to catch my attention.

I threw my hands up in the air at him. "You think I'm going to feed you after you keep snapping at me?" I asked, a playful smile forming on my lips.

I felt Alex stiffen beside me, and I guess I over stepped my boundaries again. But when I looked over at Jack, he didn't look angry. "If you buy me pizza I swear you'll be the number one person in my book. Even higher than Alex."

Alex mocked a face of hurt, placing a hand to his chest. "But Jack," he said in a womanly voice.

"Enough, peasant, I have spoken." He put his hand in the air, as if to hush Alex.

I couldn't help but giggle at this. I would've never expected these guys who acted like such tough and mean guys at school could be so goofy and lame. I actually adored this side to them, I only wished they'd show it more often. And, well, maybe they will the closer I get to them. Guess I'll just have to stick around to find out.

"Fine, I'll order pizza," I said, rolling my eyes.

"Get pepperoni!" Jack shouted after me as I climbed up from my seat, leaving Alex alone and went down the make-shift stairs. Jay was right on my heels, hoping I was about to go get food so he could beg for it.

I reached for the pizza's order out menu and ordered two large pizzas, and like Jack asked, I got pepperoni. I have to admit, I was a huge push over to people I thought nice of. And, well, today I thought nice of Jack which is the only reason I was willing to do this. But I was going to hold this as black mail to him one day.

Jay began meowing at my feet and I reached down to rub his head. Since it'd be about half an hour until the pizza's made it to our house, I began grabbing plates out for the guys and I, and also grabbing a bunch of napkins...they looked like the kind of guys who'd be messy eaters. What was I thinking? All guys are messy eaters, and so I grabbed a few more napkins. I let out a sigh and went to my fridge, looking in and grabbing a 2-liter Pepsi bottle.

"Holy crap, you're loaded with food," I heard Alex chuckle from behind me, and I just grabbed another 2-liter out.

"My dad always keeps this place supplied with as much food and junk as he can," I explained. "He's always hoping one day I'd come home with friends and so we could all pig out and have fun."

Alex leaned against the counter behind him. "You never made friends that easy, have you?"

I walked over to him, setting the 2-liters down on the counter before turning to face him. "Well, it's not that. I just...I never felt the urge to go and hang out with people...I was always independent." I walked over towards one of the cabinets, now pulling out cups. "And, well, when I went out of my way to make friends, I never felt like I really fit in. Or if the people around me liked me. I just felt awkward, so I just got used to being by myself."

Alex sat quietly listening to me, slowly nodding his head. "Yeah, well, when I first moved to America from Britain, I felt the same way. I didn't fit in well, so I kind of just went with the crowd. That is, until I met Jack." He let out a small chuckle, lost in a memory. "He helped me to realize it's cool to be different, and that no one can make you do stuff you don't want to do. But that was before we made the Trouble-Makers."

"I didn't know you weren't born in America," I said, sitting up on the counter beside him. "But that's cool, how you and Jack get along so well. When I first saw you guys I thought you were brothers."

Alex chuckled. "Yeah, I've heard people say that before."

We heard footsteps behind us, and I looked around to see Jack walking towards us. "You guys order the pizza?" He looked between Alex and I, letting his eyes rest on Alex. Again, a secret message.

"Yeah," Alex said, his voice smooth.

"The pizza should be here soon, anyways. Call the guys to come down here because there's no way I'm letting you guys get pizza stains all over my room," I added, and Jack did a 180 to go back upstairs.

"You know, Jack does like you," Alex said, and that caught my attention. I turned towards him. "I mean, he doesn't show it well, and I know he can be a prick sometimes, but he does like you." I didn't say anything to that, I just looked straight forward again. I don't understand why I lost my voice at moments like this. "All of us really do like you. That's why we were so upset when you joined the clique, we knew you were a nice girl and we didn't want them corrupting you." Alex shrugged his shoulders. "But maybe making you a target wasn't the best way of doing things. But I'm serious about becoming a Trouble-Maker, you should consider it."

This time I didn't have time to respond because the door bell went off, so I just ruffled Alex's hair in response and I ignored his protest. I jogged over to the door, grabbing out money my dad left in the drawer for if I ever ordered take-out.

I soon returned to the kitchen, but now it was full of boys. I don't know when it turned into my job to be a babysitter for them all. Setting the pizzas down, I opened them both up figuring the boys were going to tear through them quickly.

***

The next day at school I felt the most comfortable I did all week. The Trouble-Makers weren't 100% accepting me yet, but they weren't treating me as a target and they had my backs. I had friends I could finally talk to without feeling awkward, although the only one I was almost completely comfortable with was Alex. But with the exception into this new group, of course I also gained the resentment of almost the entire school..the clique included.

The bell rang for lunch, and Alex and I stood up for lunch. The more I hung around them, the more I was used to being the first to get of the classroom. But I didn't mind it, school was never something I was fond of anyways.

Once in the hallway, I slowed down and Alex walked beside me. He never brought anything to History class, and I usually just copied all of Jaime's notes in English.

"How come Vic never joined the Trouble-Makers?" I asked, nonchalantly. I was just curious, since Mike was now officially a Trouble-Maker.

Alex shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know, why don't you want to be one? Sometimes people just don't want to be a part of the group, which is understandable because we pretty much make an enemy out of everyone." Alex sighed. "It's not like we want everyone to hate us, but, well, it's...fun." A crooked smile went on Alex's face.

"I guess that-" I was cut off as someone bumped shoulders with me, causing me to stumble backwards and drop my books. I looked behind me, shocked and people moving around in the hallway stopped to watch what had happened. Alex crouched beside me almost immediately, helping me get my books back.

"Oops, my bad," Kellin said, pushing his long black hair out of his face. A smile graced his lips and his eyes sparked a challenge in them. "Accidents happen." So this is how the clique wanted to play.

Before I could say anything, Alex left my side and grabbed the collar of Kellin's shirt and threw him backwards against the wall. "You think that's funny, pretty boy?" he growled, grabbing his shirt again and holding him against the wall. "Do it again, do it. Make a wise crack, I dare you."

By this time, the hall way had cleared a space for bystanders to watch what was happening. Some were egging on Alex to punch him, others were shouting at him to stop. But no one got up to intervene...so I did.

"Alex, stop this," I said, going over to his side.

"Yeah, Alex, listen to your little girlfriend," Kellin mocked, but his stupid smile was wiped off of his face when Alex pushed him harder against the wall.

"This is what he wants, Alex, he wants you to punch him so you can get suspended. Don't do it," I said, grabbing one of his arms. I heard foot steps running down the hall behind me and suddenly Jack was by my side.

"Wow, Kellin, I thought after getting put to sleep by me you'd leave us alone. Do we need to teach you another lesson?" Jack asked, tilting his head to the side. I felt my skin begin to crawl again. I hated this side of the Trouble-Makers, the ones who were only hungry for blood.

"Alex, listen to me. This is what he wants, please stop," I pleaded again, tightening my grip around his arm.

Alex's gaze was intense, staring down at Kellin. His breathing was heavy, blowing out of his nose, but it began to slow down and he finally released him.

Finally free of Alex's grasp, Kellin ducked out and disappeared into the crowd.

"Yeah, run like the little pussy you are!" Jack shouted after him, and then I heard Jaime's snicker from the crowd as he made his way towards us with Mike at his side.

"Well, well, you put on a show," he said, slapping Alex's back. But Alex didn't respond, still staring at where Kellin was standing.

"Come on, Alex," I said, curling my fingers against his hand, causing him to turn towards me. "Let's go."

Notes