Chapter Three: Richie's Lack of Intellect

It's Jay's first lunch, and he spends it beating some kid for lunch money. Amazing how some things will never change. Meanwhile, Virgil sits alone, moping around as if it were his new ritual in life. It probably was. But this time, he doesn't think about HotStreak. He thinks about Jay. The new kid had him confused, it was as if Francis was really there in front of him. As he pokes at his lunch, Virgil remembers looking at Francis's body as it laid there on the concrete ground. Lifeless, unmoving…dead.

"Hey V…" Richie sits next to his distant friend. "Feelin' any better?"

"A little…yeah." Faking a smile, Virgil always did feel a little better in the comfort of his friend's company.

"What's done is done…you have to move on…"

"Yeah…I know…" Jay's large body catches his attention. The man sits across from the mocha teen, next to the blonde.

"I'm sittin." He coldly explains, already sitting.

"Sure…" Richie doesn't want to sit next to him. He could imagine Francis beating him up.

"Those damn girls comin?" Jay really didn't want to talk to them. They actually creeped him out.

"They're in the library today" Richie quickly explains.

Virgil chuckles at the look on his friend's face as he fixed his glasses. "So how's your day goin'?"

"No one'll talk te me…I kinda like it."

Richie shovels food into his mouth. "You're social."

"Shuddup." Jay sneers at the blonde, but glances at the other boy, who snickers. Green eyes return to the geeky blonde. "I don't check out guys." Rich rolls his eyes. No one understands him. "So…uh…are you two…dating?"

The two younger teens look at the man. "No…why?" Virgil is embarrassed and annoyed. Everyone thinks the two are an item.

"Curious…" Jay leans back in his chair. Well…HotStreak was anyway…

Swallowing his grub, Richie looks at the man in the winter cap. "Interested in V or somethin'?"

Jay hesitates at the question, he hadn't expected to be asked that. "…no."

Virgil sees the slight hesitation. …that pause was so reassuring…glad Daisy and Frieda weren't here to hear that… "Anyway…" Richie chuckles as he, too, saw the hesitation.

Suddenly, Jay feels the need to justify himself against this geek. "I am not interested Blondie so don't even st-"

Laughter escapes the light skinned teen at the justification.

"Quit laughin'" Jay is quickly losing his cool. A slight blush grows on the older teen's face. As F-Stop or HotStreak, he never had to deal with teasing. No this was new territory to him. And he didn't like it. He grits his teeth. Again, not happy.

Virgil notices the blush, unlike his laughing friend. He's blushing…

"Quit laughing." Jay crosses his arms, a growl is heard from his throat. Laughter dies down to an awkward chuckle.

Again, Virgil tries to change the subject. "Anyway…"

Another low growl is heard from Jay, creeping out Richie, who now fears for his life. "Moving on…"

Virgil can't help but be amused. Note: Don't tease the new guy…

Feeling the embarrassment again, Jay pulls his dark hat over his now red ears. "Bastard" is mumbled under his breath.

"H-hey…" Richie is unimpressed.

"Sorry." Virgil felt the need to apologizes.

His intelligent friend however…"I'm not."

Jay glares at Richie. "I'm sure you're not…"

"Of course not…it sounds like you like Virgil."

I have history with him…and it's catchin' up wit me…

Again…silence…very reassuring…

"Looks like y-" Richie is cut off with a blow to the cheek, sending him off his chair onto the tiled flooring.

"Shut it!"

Virgil's super hero mode kicks in. "H-hey…calm down." He helps his friend up. "He'll stop." Virgil looks at his friend. "Right Rich?" He had that hinting tone.

"Well duh." Richie mumbles as he rubs his sore cheek.

Jay remains in his seat, refusing to admit he was blushing. "Whatever."

I do not like him…Jay was annoyed by the teasing. Richie takes his seat next to Virgil, not wanting to risk being hit again.

Virgil is entertained by his friend. He wasn't acting too smart today. Even Rich should know better than to tease a guy who acts so much like HotStreak…

"I'm gone." Quickly, Jay gets to his feet and leaves the cafeteria, leaving the two geeks.

Richie giggles. "heehe..he likes you."

"…yeah…" Now it's the mocha teen's turn to be unimpressed. "We're not telling Daisy and Frieda about this."

"Oh yes I am." Richie quickly gets up, and runs to the library to talk to his two yaoi fan girl friends.

"I'M GONNA GET YOU FOR THIS RICHIE!!!" Virgil yells after his friend, ignoring the looks of his classmates. Somehow he knew Jay would cause problems…just not this kind of problem.