Adam Gold didn't have to weave amongst people to get through the busy hallway, they moved for him. He casually made his way past the rows of identical lockers, and exited through one of the school's side doors at the end of the hallway. Once outside he removed a battered cigarette pack from the pocket of his ever-present leather jacket, and lit up. He leaned against the old brick of the school and closed his eyes as he let the familiar nicotine sooth him. He had just propped one denim-covered leg against the wall, his combat boot digging in to the brick, when he heard movement in the hallway behind him. The sound of the door opening beside him ruined his peaceful moment. He lazily opened his eyes,
"What do you want, dearie?"
"Don't call me that, it's weird," Regina snapped, stepping into the crisp autumn air. She wrapped her bare arms around herself.
"So I heard a rumor today… it seems you didn't have quite as tight a grip on your power as you thought," Gold said, a cocky grin beginning to spread across his face. The cheerleader grimaced at him, her upper lip curling in a snarl.
"It's a temporary situation. I still have more influence over this school then they realize."
Regina reached out and plucked the cigarette from his hand, taking a drag. He frowned as he watched her, declining to take it back when she offered. She flicked the butt away as he stood up from against the wall.
"I thought you were trying to quit," he stated idly, not really caring about her answer either way.
"I only do it when I'm stressed," she responded shortly, "Besides, you know my poison of choice."
"Indeed I do, speaking of which, will you be picking up on Friday?"
"Of course"
Gold nodded slowly
"It's the usual price. I'll see you at the spot."
As he reentered the school, he made his way towards the gymnasium. He passed by the locker room, and went right into the gym, heading for the bleachers. The gym teacher had long given up on trying to get him to change for class. He sat down and leaned back on the long benches, surveying the other students as they entered from the locker rooms. The freckle-faced kid owed him money, and he'd have to see if that tall girl in the corner wanted another dose. So many clients, so little time. His dark eyes continued to roam the growing crowd of students, until one brown haired figure caught his eye. Ah yes, there she was.
Belle French. He hadn't had a class with her until gym this year, and he was… intrigued to say the least. On the first day of class she was chosen as a captain for dodgeball, and he had looked on from the bleachers with curiosity as she chose the least athletic looking kid in the class first. She had filled her team with tall lanky kids, small, awkward looking girls, kids with glasses, and a couple of muscular jocks. He had never seen another student at this god-forsaken school be so inviting and accepting of her other peers. He had never actually spoken to her until today, when she had bumped into him in the cafeteria. The way she stuttered and acted so nervously around him confirmed his thoughts. She was too pure for someone like him; it was best to admire her lovely form from a distance.
The sound of her laughter pulled him from his thoughts, and he looked across the gym to see her doubled over and smiling at something her tall, skinny, longhaired friend said. She wore the standard gym uniform of a t-shirt and shorts, which showed off her pale legs. She was sporting a pair of tall, striped socks that stretched up from her spotless sneakers. Then the shorthaired, pixie looking girl came over and unknowingly blocked his view. Clenching his jaw, he brushed his shoulder length hair out of his face, and casually turned his head and surveyed the rest of the gym. Two figures approached him,
"You checking out the merchandise, Gold?" a tall, jersey wearing figure asked.
How barbaric, he thought to himself. He didn't particularly like Gaston or his slightly smaller friend Whale. Both were players on the varsity football team, Gaston being a linebacker because of his size and Whale the first-string kicker. In Gold's mind they were utter morons, but business was business.
"No Gaston, 'I'm not checking out the merchandise'. Unlike you my mind is able to focus on more than my baser instincts" Gold answered snidely, looking away from the football players.
"You sure about that? Because I could have sworn I caught you checking out our girls."
"Please," Gold scoffed, playing nonchalant, "I don't know who "your girls" are and I don't care to know. There's no one worth my time in this town anyway."
"You're making fun of us now?" Whale accused, stepping forward.
"You're just jealous because no girl would go for a scumbag like you" Gaston sneered. Gold answered with a sneer of his own, remaining seated in the face of the two brutes.
"I assume if you're insulting me, that you've finally kicked your weed habit?" he questioned, dark eyes flashing. The two larger boys paled.
"Hey man, don't take it like that."
"We were just being protective of our girls, that's all!"
Gold smirked at their groveling. Suddenly David Nolan came jogging over. The blonde haired, blue eyed, all-American quarterback approached the group and cautiously looked between them.
"Everything cool over here?"
Gold rolled his eyes. Always the peacemaker, he thought. Of all the football players, he supposed he hated David the least. They had a mutual understanding, and David had always been less of a jerk to people in general.
"Everything is fine" Gold said with a menacing smile "In fact, I was just leaving. I have some business to attend to."
He stood, glancing between the three football players as if asking them to challenge him. None of them did. He grinned as he stepped of the bleachers, his heavy combat boots echoing through the large room. Gym was a waste of time anyway.
Belle was discussing their latest history project with Mary Margret when she suddenly felt arms wrap around her from behind.
"Gaston please, we're in school!" she said, giving him a smile while trying to squirm out of his embrace.
"You know I just can't help myself sometimes" he responded with a sly grin. Ruby was giggling as Whale kissed her on the cheek and Mary Margret was discussing something with David, their hands clasped together between them. Suddenly Mary Margret looked at all of them.
"What were you doing talking to Adam Gold" she questioned, quirking an eyebrow. David looked at his fellow teammates, who both looked away.
"We just had… a science question. We're in the same class."
"Right." Mary Margret responded, rolling her eyes.
"Well be careful, the Coach might think you're going to him for another reason. You don't want to risk being kicked off the team, do you?" Ruby said to all three of the players.
Belle remained quiet, silently contemplating her earlier encounter with Adam Gold. She had never talked to him before; she'd only seen him loitering in hallways and quietly talking to random students outside near the sports fields. People were afraid of him. But after her brief encounter with him, when he seemed so polite to her, she wondered why that was.
The shrill sound of the gym teacher's whistle focused Belle's attention. She and her friends followed their boyfriends to the center on of the gym. Belle glanced back at the bleachers but they were empty. She'd have to contemplate Adam Gold another time.