Candice is talking to the four guys.
CANDICE
Looks like you grew a few inches, Korn.
KORN
Very funny, Candice.
CANDICE
On a serious note, what do you want with me?
KORN
You know why we''re here, Candice.
CANDICE
To get your ass handed to you again?
Korn starts smiling.
KORN
Last time I recall, you were the one on the ground, gasping for air and your little boyfriend over there had to come to your rescue.
Frank begins to smile.
FRANK
That''s me.
CANDICE
You caught me off guard, shrimp. But I know your trick and it''s not going to work this time.
KORN
It''s been five years; I don''t tickle people anymore. I just let my fist do the talking.
TRACEY
Thank god.
Korn turns his head to Tracey.
KORN
What was that, Tracey?
TRACEY
(nervous)
Nothing, boss.
KORN
That''s what I thought. Jack, smack Tracey in the back of the head for me.
Jack smacks Tracey in the back of the head.
TRACEY
Owww! WTF, bro?
JACK
Just flowing orders, bro. Nothing personal.
BOY #2 starts laughing.
BOY #2
You deserved that, Tracey.
Tracey looks at BOY #2.
TRACEY
At least I don''t have a stupid name like "Boy #2."
BOY #2
At least I''m not stupid myself. Plus, my real name is John.
TRACEY
John? You said it was Boy #2.
JOHN
I lied...I do that.
TRACEY
Why would you lie about your name?
TRACEY
That''s what I do. Do you not know me by now?
Tracey looks at Jack.
TRACEY
Did you know his real name was John?
JACK
Yeah. I knew a long time ago.
TRACEY
What?!
Tracey looks at Korn.
TRACEY
Did you know as well, boss?
KORN
Of course I knew. After all, I am the boss.
TRACEY
Why am I the only one out of the loop?
JOHN
Because I don''t like you.
TRACEY
That''s messed up, John.
JOHN
Don''t call me that.
TRACEY
But that''s your name.
JOHN
I know what my name is, but I don''t want you to call me by my name. You will call me...master.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
TRACEY
(irritated)
Fuck you!
FRANK
Look Charlie, these guys suck at working together so much, they''re always arguing with each other. No teamwork at all.
CHARLIE
I hope we don''t turn out like that in the future.
JACK
You, shut up!
FRANK
Excuse me?
JACK
You heard me! For years, I''ve had to live with the fact of being beaten by you in that embarrassing way. It was a fluke and it won''t happen again.
FRANK
Oh yeah? I''ll do you a favor then.
Frank stands up and cracks his knuckles.
FRANK
I''ll make sure not to go easy on you this time.
Frank begins to walk toward them, but Candice puts her hand in front of Frank, causing him to stop walking.
CANDICE
Frank, you don''t have to waste your time with these fools. They don''t know what they''re getting themselves into.
Frank shrugs his shoulders.
FRANK
...Fine.
He walks back to his seat and sits down.
KORN
Don''t belittle us. Just for that, we''re going to kick your ass twice as hard. Have any last words?
CANDICE
Can I just get a book before we do this?
KORN
Since that''s the last thing you''re going to be able to see in a while, I will allow it.
Candice looks at Charlie.
CANDICE
Charlie, do you still have that book Cindy gave you?
CHARLIE
Yeah. Why?
CANDICE
May I borrow it?
CHARLIE
Sure.
Charlie takes the manga book out his backpack and hands it to Candice. Frank notices the book is a manga.
FRANK
Candice, you don''t have to do this. Let''s just take care of them ourselves.
CANDICE
I know what I''m doing, Frank.
FRANK
Whatever...
KORN
A manga?
Korn, Jack, Tracey, and John starts laughing.
JACK
What the hell are you going to do with that?
JOHN
(sarcasm)
Watch out guys...she''s going to read us to death.
They stop laughing and start smiling.
KORN
Say your prayers.
Candice looks at Korn.
CANDICE
You better start saying yours.
Candice opens the book and, suddenly, they hear footsteps getting closer and closer.
TRACEY
What the hell is that noise?
Cindy comes rushing into the room and runs over to Charlie with a crazed look and a big smile on her face.
CHARLIE
(scared)
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Damn it, Cindy! I hate it when you do that!
CINDY
Did you read it?! Did you read it?! Did you read it?!
CHARLIE
...Not yet.
Cindy''s face returns to normal.
CINDY
But I sensed it being opened.
CHARLIE
You sensed it?
CINDY
Yes.
CHARLIE
How is that even possible?
CINDY
Being in tuned with anime so much, grants me the ability to sense the essence of it...and manga.
CHARLIE
That''s creepy, Cindy.
CINDY
IT''S THE WAY OF LIFE!
CHARLIE
OK! It''s the way of life.
CINDY
Thank you.
Cindy looks at Charlie''s hand and then starts looking around him.
CHARLIE
Is something wrong?
Cindy looks back at Charlie.
CINDY
Where''s the manga?
CANDICE
I have it.
Cindy looks at Candice and gets mad.
CINDY
What are you doing with the manga I gave to Charlie?
CANDICE
I asked if I could borrow it.
CINDY
It''s not for you to read.
Cindy snatches the book out of Candice''s hand.
CANDICE
Fair enough.
Cindy gives the book back to Charlie.
CINDY
Here, Charlie.
CHARLIE
...Thanks.
CINDY
Don''t forget to read it; you promised.
CHARLIE
(Sigh) You''re not wrong about that.
CANDICE
Hey, Cindy?
Cindy looks at Candice.
CINDY
What do you want?
Candice points at Korn and the others.
CANDICE
You see those guys over there?
Cindy looks at Korn and the others.
CINDY
Yeah. So?
CANDICE
They said manga is stupid.
CINDY
(enraged)
THEY SAID WHAT?!
KORN
No we didn''t. We just laughed when that guy pulled the book from out of his backpack.
CINDY
YOU LAUGHED AT MY MANGA?!
KORN
We didn''t laugh at the book.
Cindy begins to charge at the guys. Korn and the others gets scared.
TRACEY
Let''s get away from this crazy bitch!
Korn and the others quickly makes their way out the classroom with Cindy behind them.
CHARLIE
That''s one way to get rid of them.
Suddenly, from the corner of his eye, Charlie spots someone walking into the classroom.
CHARLIE
(surprised)
She''s here.
Candice and Frank looks at the girl.
FRANK
(Whistles) Look at her.
CANDICE
Nothing special about her.
CHARLIE
Josaline.