Page 73 of Delinquent (Academy of Misfits 1)

This can only be the work of one person…Monk.

“That motherfucker!” I scream, storming around the room and ripping off the remaining pictures with unbridled fury. “I’m going to kill the bastard!”

Blown up images of Ford, Sonny, Pink and Kate are also strewn about the room, all of them doctored, all of them having a nasty slight or comment inked across them. The humiliation is just too fucking much. Not only has that bastard done this, but he’s got my sketchpad. He’s got my damn sketchpad. That pulls me up sharp.No, no, no, no, no.

Twisting on my heel I storm out of the room, Ford and Sonny calling after me. I’ve never felt such rage. How dare he? How fucking dare he? I can take the jibes, the food missiles, the fucking threats even. But this? This goes beyond that.

This fucking hurts…

Those pictures are like a personal diary to me. They’re my fucking soul spilled out onto a page for everyone to see. That fucking bastard Monk.

Then I remember that he’s no longer the leader of the HH crew, Camden is, and though this stinks of Monk going rogue, ultimately Camden is responsible. Hasn’t he done enough fucking damage?

“Asia, wait!” Ford shouts, running after me as I leg it back to the annex. He catches up to me just as I get to the lobby of the main building. Standing there waiting is Monk and the same six guys who jumped me that first week I arrived. Pink and Kate run into the lobby behind them. Pink is teary-eyed, her mascara black ribbons down her face. Kate looks pale. Haunted.

“I see you found our new gallery. What, don’t like the artwork?” Monk sneers. His pack of wolves burst out laughing behind him.

“You,motherfucker, are dead!” I seethe, my fingers curled around the paper in my hand.

“Is that a promise?” he asks, leering at me.

“Prick, you’d better start running because I’m more than happy to finish what I started,” Sonny bites out, stepping up beside me.

“No! Not this time,” I snap, “This is my fight, Sonny.Mine!”

Pink is sobbing now, and I wonder why she’s so distressed. Then I look at what she’s holding… My sketchbook. “I’m sorry, Asia.” She holds it up, all the pages have been ripped from the binding, it’s empty. “I thought you’d got back early because your bedroom door was open. It’s a mess, there’sshiteverywhere. Kate found me trying to clean it up. I didn’t know. I would’ve tried to stop them…” she rambles.

Shit? As in my stuff thrown about or real,actualshit? I’m not sure I want to know. All I want are my drawings. “Where are they, arsehole?” I bite out, rounding on Monk. I take several steps forward, but Ford’s hand clasps around my arm holding me back.

“Not here, Asia. Not now,” he warns me.

“Get off me, Ford!” I shout turning on him.

“Oh look, trouble in paradise,” Monk says, drawing more laughter from his gang.

“Fuck you, prick! This isn’t over,” Sonny snaps, his whole body is vibrating with anger. Just like mine is. Just like Ford’s is too.

More people arrive, the lobby filling with students. Amongst them are Bram and Red looking far too delighted by what’s going on. A look is exchanged between Bram and Monk. It doesn’t go unnoticed. Ford’s grip tightens on my arm and I hear him swear under his breath. Is this a joint endeavour? It wouldn’t fucking surprise me. I yank my arm out of Ford’s hold, turning on him.

“Is that why you came today, pretending to be my friend when in reality your bastard crew helped Monk set this up?”

Ford looks shocked. “No! Fuck, Asia, no!”

He seems sincere, but I don’t know what to believe. Bram and Red exchange glances, then start to back up into the crowd. It’s too late though, Ford is already on them both. He grabs Bram by the collar yanking him out into the open space.

“Stay the fuck there!” he orders Red, who stills, her eyes wide with fear. Kate and Pink step in behind her, preventing her from leaving.

“What the fuck did you do?” Ford is eerily calm. His voice low, threatening.

“Only what that bitch deserved. Wasn’t like you were going to do it… too busy thinking more about your cock than the rest of us,” Bram blurts out, hate seeping from every pore. He looks at me then. “Fucking whore!” he spits.

Ford lifts his arm, pulls his fist back and punches Bram on his cheek, sending him sprawling. Red screams, pushing past the bystanders. She drops to her knees beside her boyfriend who is currently groaning and clutching at his face.

“You’re out,” Ford snaps, those two words gutting Red and Bram like a knife would a fish.

“Ford,” Red begs, her eyes wide, lips trembling.

“You knew about this?” he questions.

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