As May's hand connected solidly, the resounding SLAP that echoed through the crowded hallways turned many heads. Murmurs flooded eager ears, yet the sound of hasty feet followed as individuals fled to attend to their own errands, knowing better to get involved. The petite first-year has just slapped Altan, not only a boy twice her size and strength, but the most popular senior in school. At least, in his eyes.
       Pulling her arms in defensively, May met Altans fierce gaze with a fire just as passionate. "Get away from me, you creep!"
"Come on, babe," Altan purred, gripping her forearm in a vice, "don't you know who I am...? Girls like you would-"
        "Does it matter?" She spat, wrenching her arm free. Altan glowered as she clutched her arm, eyes glassy. "I said no!"
        A few of the braver passerby's made a start to intervene, but a dangerous glare from Altan urged each one to reconsider in kind. He smirked, palms posting himself against the faded orange lockers as he hovered over her. Frowning, he leaned in, predatory green eyes pining the small girl to the lockers, breathing in the sutble warm vanilla wafting from her hair. "Why do you have to be so difficult?"
        The shrill cry of the ancient school bell interrupted him before he could continue to prod the girl. May shoved him then, strings of curses falling past her pretty pink lips as she ducked away from him. He scowled in annoyance and his eyes tracked the little bob of blonde hair as it dipped and weaved its way into a sea of sour body odour and sweat. Spiked chestnut hair slid through his fingers as he pulled agitatedly, shouldering his bag and storming off.
      "Altan!" Oh great. From the crowd slithered a familiar mop of black hair and squirrelly blue eyes.
      "What do you want, Ian." He grumbled, not even bothering to glance at what could be considered his "friend".
       "Dude, what's your problem? Still trying to get into that chicks pants? You realize she has a boyfriend, yeah?"
       "Mind your own business. She can't keep me away forever, I mean, girls literally worship me. She'll cave, just watch. They always do."
        Rolling his eyes Ian bit into a sandwich, speaking unceremoniously through a mouthful of bread and ham, "Mmph... yeah, yeah, you're the top dog or whatever. Anyways, you comin' over this weekend? My parents are outta town, so yours truly is gonna throw a huge party and trash the place," he stated, sporting a wide grin.
         Barking a laugh, Altan sent a fist into Ian's shoulder, jostling him into some poor passerby. They hurried off. "Typical. Yeah I'll be there. Was supposed to go axe throwing with old man but like I'd pass up a chance go wild with the party animal himself." He said, laying it on thick and watching Ian drink up the praise. He threw a lazy arm around Ian's shoulders, "You know, if my parents weren't loaded, I'd dare say your parties rival mine."
          "Cool, cool. And catch this, Briannas gonna be there. Claire, too. So just be warned... I don't know how much you'll be seeing of me." Ian whispered suggestively through a sly grin.
         Altan entertained Ian's company with light hearted banter for a while before Ian buggered off, sprinting through sheets of rain to the shelter of a sputtering bus. Altan watched him go from the safety of the front-doors overhang. The warm lights from rows of crusty overhead lamps that flooded over his form contrasted the cold feelings of his heart as his facade instantly dropped and his sour mood returned. Ian was no supermodel-thin as a stick with a crooked nose-but he seemed to attract hot chicks like flies, and his ego was laughably easy to feed. Altan could care less about the thought of going to some lame party-it was all a plot for status anyhow, and he'd drop Ian easily should his popularity ever be compromised. What Altan really cared about was the audacity of the clueless brat who dared refuse him. Him!
        Mindless fingers traced the cold edges of his Onyx ring embedded with diamonds, a priceless ring gifted to him by his father at the age of 16, and a sure symbol of status if nothing else. Everyone knew who he was. If it wasn't his natural charisma and athleticism, being captain of the hockey team and top of his class, it was his father. Meral Storm, owner and founder of the biggest holding company in the province, was rich, powerful, and well-known. But she still has the nerve to reject me? The Altan Jay Storm? He thought as he gripped his hood and tossed it over his head, stalking out into the downpour. What a brat.
       Thunder that rumbled angrily in the sky echoed the beating of drums as he placed in his earbuds, blaring loud explicit rap, drowning out the world and letting his rage twirl with the music. Sharp September wind grappled at his champion hoodie, biting and whipping at his exposed skin, to which he simply ducked his head and marched on. Nothing could stop him. Just as the wind could not stop him, nor would anyone else. Certainly not the sorry excuse for a boyfriend dating May. The stone being assaulted by his foot every few meters suddenly looked uncannily like him, which just caused him to kick with more resolve. 
        His house laid at the edge of town, an expansive mansion with high windows overlooking a lake on the edge of an endless forest. As he walked, relentlessly kicking the uneven stone, the trees thriving on either side of the road grew thicker and houses sparser along newly paved roads. The scent of wet earth and fresh pine enveloped Altan, clarifying his thoughts. A particularly hard kick to the rock in time to a rappers shout sent the stone pinwheeling off the road, disappearing into the tall grass before the tree line. Cursing under his breath Altan stopped his trek, choosing to retrieve the stone. Just as May's twig of a boyfriend would not stop his pursuit, neither would the bitter cold of the howling wind or the sting of raindrops against his cold skin stop him from kicking this stone into oblivion. Along with the music, it was providing him an outlet to channel his anger into, after all.
        Gritting his teeth he sank to his knees, muddy puddles squelching through his jeans, eyes roaming as his hands combed through the verdant greenery. No sooner had he found the stone than an even better outlet for his anger appeared. There, standing amongst the trees, seemingly unbothered by the raging storm, some random dude stood surveying the occasionally passing car. Immediately, Altan sized him up from a distance, eyes calculating and cold as they traced his lean stature. Brushing off the gritty bits of soil and grass from his palms, Altan started towards this unsuspecting stranger, alone in the rain.
         Habitually his eyes began to target and scrutinize every flaw he could detect, insults dancing on the tip of his tongue. Plain scrappy jeans topped by a cheap t-shirt hugged a laughably mediocre figure. Judging from a distance, he could not have been over six feet, pitiful in comparison to his own impressive six foot four height. Even then, the doctors said he'd likely add a couple more inches by the time he finished growing for good. Approaching from the side gave Altan a good view of the guys side profile and jawline. He had to admit to himself they were decent, which simply annoyed him and he made note to insult them anyhow. Malevolent glee brewed in Altan's heart as he took in the ugly jaw-lengthed brown hair plastered to his face, and the golden dyed highlight splitting through the middle of side-swept bangs that was so vibrant it was comical. His attire told him he'd been too poor to afford a proper dye job and was instead rewarded with a pasty lemon. Pathetic.
       However, the real prize that would crown Altan's mockery was revealed as the stranger became aware of his approach. He turned to face Altan with a blank stare, and Altan grinned wickedly as he met the gaze of two nearly glowing golden eyes. He laughed to himself. This nerd trying to look cool and quirky with his fancy coloured contacts and dyed hair was about to have the worst day of his life. 
        After all, there's nothing like a scrap in the rain to relieve some tension.