The bell rang, signaling the end of detention. Jack grabbed his bag and walked down the empty hallway, his thoughts racing. The principal's offer echoed in his mind—a chance to escape Riley and the torment that came with him. But the weight of it felt heavy. Skipping grades wasn't just about academics; it was about starting over.
As Jack rounded the corner to his homeroom, he was greeted by the sharp sound of a throat clearing. He looked up to see Alex Dunphy standing near the doorway, arms crossed, her expression a mix of annoyance and resignation.
"What do you want?" Jack asked, already bracing for whatever she was about to throw at him.
"I'm here because I have to be," Alex snapped, shoving a folded piece of paper into his hands.
Jack unfolded it, his eyes scanning the crisp writing.
**Alex Dunphy is hereby instructed to assist Jack in improving his grades and overall behavior. In recognition of her efforts, she will be considered for the position of Class President next semester. — Principal Anders**
Jack raised an eyebrow, looking at her. "You're kidding me."
"No, I'm not," Alex said through gritted teeth. "Apparently, my chances of getting that stupid title depend on turning you into some kind of model student."
Jack smirked, slipping the note into his pocket. "Guess you're stuck with me, Dunphy."
"Don't get too comfortable," she shot back. "I don't want to do this any more than you do. Let's get one thing straight: I'm not your friend, and I'm definitely not your babysitter. We're doing this because I have to, not because I care about your sad little life."
Jack shrugged. "Fine by me. But don't underestimate me either. I'm not as helpless as I look."
Alex rolled her eyes, muttering under her breath as they walked into the classroom.
Later that day, as Jack sat at his desk pretending to take notes, flashes of memories began to creep into his mind. Not the ordinary memories of school lunches or childhood games, but something darker. Something sharper.
He remembered holding a weapon, the weight of it familiar in his hands. The sounds of chaos around him—gunfire, shouting, and the cold efficiency with which he had handled it all.
Jack clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. The memories came in fragments, but they were undeniable. In his past life, he had been a mercenary for hire—a skilled, ruthless operative who had thrived in the shadows.
Now, he was stuck in the body of a 13-year-old, navigating school bullies and petty drama. It was almost laughable.
Alex noticed his sudden stillness and frowned. "What's with you?"
"Nothing," Jack said quickly, forcing himself to relax.
Alex leaned closer, her voice low. "Look, I don't care what's going on in that thick skull of yours, but if you want me to get you through this, you need to focus. I'm not wasting my time on someone who doesn't try."
Jack looked at her, a small smirk tugging at his lips. "You've got a deal, Class President."
Time skip 5 minutes
Jack was only half-listening to Alex's tirade. She was in full gloat mode, laying it on thick about how her superior intellect and study skills would somehow salvage his academic career.
"You should really be thanking me," Alex said, flipping her hair over her shoulder as they walked down the hall. "Without me, you'd probably be stuck in detention for the rest of your life. Honestly, it's almost heroic how much I'm sacrificing here."
Jack's jaw tightened, but he kept his cool. He didn't like being talked down to—especially by someone who clearly had no idea who she was dealing with. Still, he let her prattle on, focusing on keeping his frustration in check.
And then, BAM!
A kid came hurtling across the hallway, landing right in front of Jack with a loud thud.
"What the—?" Jack's eyes darted to the source of the chaos.
Alex froze, her words cut short as she followed Jack's gaze. Her eyes widened in shock as she recognized the culprit.
"Manny?" she blurted, her voice incredulous.
Manny Delgado, looking thoroughly disheveled, was brushing himself off and glaring back down the hall. Jack traced the trajectory and saw another familiar face—Luke Dunphy, looking equally ruffled but sporting a mischievous grin.
Luke was clearly the instigator, and Jack's instincts flared. He had been keeping his guard up because of Riley, but Riley didn't operate like this. To his credit, Riley rarely got physical in public. His taunts were calculated, aimed at the old Jack, not the person Jack had become.
This was different—sloppier, more chaotic.
Jack stepped forward, watching as Manny and Luke squared off. Their argument was loud enough to draw a small crowd.
"You take that back!" Manny shouted, his face red with indignation.
"Why? It's true!" Luke shot back, his tone playful but biting. "You were the one who called Alex 'niece' first!"
Jack blinked, momentarily thrown off. "Niece?"
Manny pointed a dramatic finger at Luke. "I called you 'nephew!' not her"
Alex groaned, burying her face in her hands. "Oh, no."
Jack shot her a questioning glance. "What's going on here?"
Alex gave a nervous chuckle, her cheeks turning faintly pink. "Uh… family stuff. Don't ask."
Jack raised an eyebrow, not buying her deflection for a second.
"Mellow," Jack muttered, stepping back as Luke launched another verbal jab at Manny. The fight escalated, drawing even more attention from the surrounding students.
Jack felt his irritation spike. He had been trying to keep a low profile, but this circus wasn't helping.
"Enough!" he snapped, his voice cutting through the chaos.
Both Manny and Luke froze, their eyes snapping to Jack. For a moment, the hallway was silent.
"Take this somewhere else," Alex yelled, her tone flat but firm. "Some of us have better things to do."
Luke looked like he wanted to argue, but Alex stepped in, grabbing him by the arm.
"Let's go, little bitch" she hissed, dragging him away.
Manny lingered for a moment, giving Jack an amused smirk before sauntering off in their direction.