Mrs. Jenkins Residence
The front door slammed shut.
Hard. Violent.
"Do you want to remove the door entirely?"
Mrs. Jenkins didn't even look away from the television.
Andre stormed past the living room.
No greeting. No pause.
Just anger.
His steps hit the stairs sharply as he went up.
Mrs. Jenkins frowned slightly.
"…Was that blood on his shirt?"
She muted the TV instantly and stood.
Upstairs
Andre's door was half-open.
She pushed it gently.
Andre stood by the window.
Back turned. Fists clenched.
Still.
"What happened to you?"
Silence.
Then
"Leave me alone."
Mrs. Jenkins blinked slowly.
"…Excuse me?"
"I said leave."
But she didn't.
Instead
She stepped in. Closed the door behind her.
Folded her arms.
"If you want to be alone…"
A pause.
"…then start by telling me everything."
Silence stretched.
Then
Andre exhaled.
Sharp.
And suddenly
He spoke.
Everything poured out.
The party. Esmeralda. Carlos. The humiliation.
The beating.
The rage.
Mrs. Jenkins studied him carefully.
"Well first of all who's the mother fucker that ruined this suit. And then why the hell will you come back to this house all beat up"
A pause
"My dear if you are not strong, don't be scared I've got you. So get your sorry ass in the car, we are going to get vengeance."
Andre scoffed immediately.
"Do I look weak to you?"
Her gaze sharpened.
"No."
A step closer.
"Which is why what you did… was weakness."
Andre's eyes narrowed.
"I wasn't weak."
A beat.
"He had openings. Blind spots. I could've killed him if I wanted."
Mrs. Jenkins didn't react.
"Yet you didn't even retaliate."
"I was under Azazel's order."
His tone hardened.
"And you know that. Don't pretend."
She tilted her head slightly.
"There's a difference…"
She stepped closer.
"…between choosing not to fight…"
Another step.
"…and choosing not to defend yourself."
That landed.
Hard.
Her voice dropped.
"No one under my roof…"
A pause.
"…is allowed to be helpless or to be a weakling"
Andre said nothing.
But something in his expression shifted.
Just slightly.
Mrs. Jenkins' tone became final.
"You are under my supervision."
Her eyes locked onto his.
"So hear this clearly."
A beat.
"Anyone who steps in your way"
Her voice turned cold.
"…you have my permission to stomp their head into the ground."
Silence.
Andre stared at her.
Then
Slowly
A smile formed.
Satisfied.
"…Okay."
Mrs. Jenkins raised a finger immediately.
"But don't kill anyone."
Andre's smile faded slightly.
"…Do I look like a killer?"
She rolled her eyes.
"I don't care but just so you know, prison is hell real."
A pause.
"I heard you were a killer. Let's not confirm it."
Andre scoffed quietly.
"I won't kill anybody."
Then muttered
"…sorry I ruined the suit."
Mrs. Jenkins smirked.
"Its ok."
Next Day
Emirates Academy
The atmosphere was different.
Off.
Eyes followed Andre the moment he stepped in.
Whispers spread instantly.
"Isn't that him?"
"The one Carlos beat up?"
"He should be in the hospital…"
"…He doesn't even have a scratch."
"I saw blood yesterday, I swear!"
Andre walked through the crowd.
Head slightly lowered.
Hands in pockets.
Calm.
But inside
There was irritation.
A quiet burn.
"Hey."
A deep voice called from behind.
Andre stopped.
Turned.
Buck.
One of Carlos' gang members.
Andre's eyes sharpened instantly.
His bag dropped from his shoulder.
Ready.
Buck raised both hands.
"Relax."
A small smirk.
"I'm not here for trouble."
A pause.
"I wasn't part of what happened yesterday."
Andre picked his bag back up slowly.
"…What do you want?"
Buck stepped closer.
Calm.
"Going to class?"
Andre nodded once.
Buck gestured forward.
"Let's walk."
A beat.
Then they started moving.
Silence at first.
Then
Buck glanced sideways at him.
Andre noticed.
"…What?"
Buck smirked slightly.
"I'm trying to figure you out."
A pause.
"You took that kind of beating…"
"…and you don't have a single injury."
Andre didn't respond.
Buck continued.
"And the funniest part is that you're strong."
A beat.
"But you acted like a weakling."
That stopped Andre slightly.
Then
He exhaled.
"I was under orders."
Buck nodded.
"Yeah… I get that."
A small laugh.
"Carlos does that sometimes."
A pause.
"I thought he finally met someone who could end his run."
He looked at Andre again.
"But you ruined it."
Andre's eyes flickered.
"Careful."
Buck chuckled.
"I'm just saying."
Then
Casually—
"Your girlfriend… Maria."
Andre's expression changed instantly.
Sharp.
Focused.
Buck noticed.
"Carlos would've crossed the line yesterday."
A pause.
"Well your friends will tell you about that."
Andre stopped walking.
Turned to him fully.
"First of all"
His voice dropped.
"She's not my girlfriend."
A beat.
"But if anything happens to her"
His eyes darkened.
"I will destroy your entire gang."
Buck stared at him.
Then
He smiled.
Wide.
Satisfied.
"Now that…"
A small laugh.
"…is the energy I was waiting for."
Andre didn't respond.
Buck continued walking.
"So she's single?"
Andre blinked once.
Then
"…You like her?"
Buck tapped his shoulder casually.
"I'm interested."
A pause.
"But she probably thinks I'm one of the bad guys."
Andre gave him a dry look.
"You are."
Buck laughed.
"Fair."
Then leaned slightly closer.
"So… put in a good word for me."
Andre shook his head lightly.
"…You're unbelievable."
A beat.
Then
"…I'll think about it."
Buck grinned.
"That's all I need."