"Good morning, Alexei!"
"Jai. Lennox."
Lennox nods back as Jai slides over to give Alexei space to sit.
"I'm not gonna lie, I'm kinda nervous about this exam. I feel like I should've studied more than stay up and play Apex all night."
"I think you'll do well, Jai." Lennox says, giving him a reassuring pat on the back. "Besides, we just need a 70 to pass."
"You've been doing surprisingly well all semester, Jai. I don't see why this exam will stop you."
Jai smiles and shrugs.
"Thanks guys. Oh! There's Yimirah! I'm gonna go–
Pausing mid sentence, Jai, Alexei, and Lennox all watch as another young man steps up to talk to her.
"Who is that?!"
Turning to his friends, Jai looks for their responses.
"YIMIRAH!"
Looking up, the young woman smiles and walks up the steps, before feeling a hand touch her chest.
"Where're you going, sweetheart?"
Jumping over the large desks, Jai tackles the man to the ground and punches him in the crotch.
"OW, MAN! WHAT THE FUCK?!"
"WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT TO HER?!"
Gripping the guy's face, he repeatedly slams it onto the ground, Lennox and Alexei running over to stop him.
"Jai, bro, you're gonna—
Reaching back, the two look down at their friend, who was heavily breathing. He gets up and brushes himself off, his head hanging down over the unconscious student.
KICK!
The four watch as the student's body tenses up before suddenly relaxing.
Dragging the body down by the feet, Jai looks out of the classroom.
No one in the hall.
Opening a locker, he pushes student in, making sure to stuff his head and hair in as much as possible.
"Finally. He's done with."
"Jai."
Turning back to the familiar yet soothing voice, Jai gives Yimirah a slightly guilty look.
"I'm sorry. I know it sounds predictable, but for some random jackass to touch you, one of the most caring, kindest people, with no respect—this must be how other guys feel when their girl is disrespected."
He looks up at her, his hazel eyes somewhat callous.
She stares back down at him before quickly pulling him in for a hug.
"It's almost like a double win—that creep is gone and since this is a new building, cameras are yet to be installed. Thank you so much, Jai."
The young gamer smiles and hugs her back.
"Glad I could help. But can I ask you for a favor, please?"
"Sure."
"Could you test me on some definitions really quick? Please?" Jai asks, chuckling. "I still struggle with those."
"Of course, hero boy."
Standing in the doorway, Alexei and Lennox watch as Jai and Yimirah make their way back to the classroom.
"Who knew he would've had that much power in him?"
Alexei nods, putting his hands behind his back.
"I agree. I've certainly underestimated him. Good to know he has quite the impressive amount of strength."
————-
"Morning, Kazimir!"
"It was."
"I didn't even add a good in front, already getting starting bullshit this early?" Pierre rhetorically asks, hitting his colleague on the back.
"Alright boys! New uniforms for you both today!"
Looking up, the two young men watch as their captain places fast food restaurant uniforms on the table in front of them.
"What the hell? I don't work at Waffle House."
"Well with that attitude, you do now, Richano. Listen, there are a few employees there that're part of an undercover drug sting. The department is expecting for them to have some of their buddies come in during sometime today to bring in more contraband. You two are responsible for keeping watch of the drive thru and the front as well, meaning you'll both have to act as an employee. On the bottom of your shirts should be a small button in which you'll push when the suspects arrive."
"Gotcha. I'll take care of the front." Pierre says.
Kazimir sighs as he buttons up the fake employee shirt.
"That line is going to be hell. These people in this city can't go inside for shit."
Making their way to their cars, Pierre and Kazimir speed out of the parking lot, racing each other to the Waffle House they were set to cover.
Upon arrival, Pierre quickly backs in and steps out of his car, sticking his tongue out at the younger man.
"You didn't win, you just found a parking spot and backed in quicker."
"Yeah and that makes me the winner."
"No. Whoever arrives at the location first is the winner."
Pierre snarls and holds his middle finger up.
"Suck my dick, bastard."
"I'm straight, bruh." Kazimir says, opening a door to the back of the restaurant, coming face to face with an employee.
"Hello, you both can call me Steve. Our manager called out sick and we don't have another one, so everyone will just have to make do. Detective Cizetto and detective Richano, correct?"
"That's us." Pierre says, yawning. "So is this y'all's break room? Place looks sad as hell."
"It just needs to be renovated again, that's all. Anyway, who is working the drive thru and who's at the front?"
"Yo, someone drew a sad frowny face on the wall."
"I'm working the drive thru and that idiot's working the front." Kazimir replies. "I've already worked the drive thru before so I know what to do."
"Awesome! Mr. Ri-
"Nope. That's Detective Richano to you. Damn, look at this plant. It looks like it's about to start crying."
"Do you know how to work the front, yes or no?" Steve asks, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Use a cash register, take orders nicely–
"Yeah, I know how to do all of that. Alright, let's get to it."
Leading the two out of the back, the annoyed employee shows them their respective spots.
"If you two need anything at all, just let me know."
"Yeah."
Walking up to the cash register, Pierre waves his arm in the air.
"Who's next in line?!"
An older couple walks up and gives him a smile.
"Well, aren't you a handsome young man?" the old lady says. "You remind me of my son. He's currently stationed overseas."
"Thank you for the compliment. What country is he in?"
"Colombia."
Pierre gives the woman a smile.
"You're lyin'! That's where I'm from!"
"Hey, small world!"
"Yeah, 'cause I used to live in France, actually before that, I used to live in Manhattan, then my father moved back to France when I was seven. At the age of 14 my father passed away and so my mom took me back to her home country, Colombia. Then right when I was around 17, my mom was killed by her new husband."
"Oh my goodness, I am so sorry to hear that!" the old woman says.
"I never liked that man as being her new husband, anyway. He was useless to her. She deserved the world. This summer, I'm going back to visit her gravesite. Anyway, what can I get for y'all?"
"We'll take the ham and cheese omelette and pork chops and egg breakfast." the old man says. "For drinks make them both a medium."
Punching the order in the machine, Pierre reads over it.
"Okay, omelette, egg breakfast with 2 medium drinks. That's all?"
"That's it."
"Alright, your total is $20.88. Go ahead and swipe when you're ready."
The man swipes his card as Pierre places two medium cups on the counter.
"Here's your receipt. Y'all take care!"
"No, no! You take care! Please! Continue to be a nice and respectful young man. Make your parents proud!"
"Thank you, I will! Okay, who's next?!"
After giving the customer the bag of food, Kazimir closes the window and presses on his headset to take the next order.
"Welcome to Waffle House, order when you're ready."
"There is absolutely no reason as to why you should be talking like–."
"Shut that shit up. It's 10:34 in the morning. What do you want to order?"
"No, absolutely not. See, people like you don't need to be in places like these. Rude and disrespectful."
Kazimir groans and crosses his arms.
"Bro, you're concerned about me and I'm concerned about the fact that you singlehandedly lowered the car just by being in it. Now, can I take your order?"
"I'd like to order at the window."
"Pull up to it."
Sliding the window open, Kazimir leans out of it and sighs.
"What do you want, bro?"
"I need to speak with your manager."
"He called out."
"What do you mean called out?" the man asks, rubbing his chin.
"Calling out is when you kinda pick up the phone and dial–
"I know what it means! What is your name?!"
"Ain't got one."
"So we're playing like this now?"
"You want something to eat or not, dawg?" Kazimir asks, extending his hand to the other cars. "There are other people waiting to order and you're holding them up."
"Nope!" the man says, turning off his car. "Come meet me in this parking lot!"
"Bruh, it's no reason for you to be acting like over fast–
SLAP!
Taking the headset off, Kazimir quickly runs out of the front door and into the parking lot, immediately punching the man into the brick wall.
Using his foot, he repeatedly strikes the man in the face before throwing him up against his car.
"Don't do that again, bro."
Looking up in fear, the bigger man quickly gets back into his car and drives off.
Turning to the rest of the cars, the young detective smiles as a few begin to pull out of the line, frightened of what may happen to them.
"Less work for me then."