Rumors and Tremors

[ ] + Italic = setting/scene
just Italic in Dialogue = thoughts

[Classroom filled with laughter and chatter, Criel had entered the classroom with his backpack in his hand]

Male Student : " Oh, it's Criel the tomato-headed loser!"

*The classroom laughed at Criel's presence with his red hair but he had ignored it like he was used to it, he just took his seat and put his hood up and laid his head down on the table with his arms as pillows, glancing at the window, but Criel couldn't help but eavesdrop to the conversation of the popular girl, Selene together with her friends a few seats away*

Selene: Should we go for a shopping spree after school?
Selene's Friend 1: *nod of agreement* "Sure!"
Selene's Friend 2: "Alright"

*Selene felt her 6th sense tingle that she was being stared at, she sneakily looked around and made eye contact with Criel's red pair of eyes, but he looked away. Selene was confused but she just brushed it off, assuming it was just some normal thing since she knew the boys adored her. A few seconds later, the homeroom teacher enters the classroom, and everybody else headed to their seats, the teacher was simply doing some daily announcements and reminders but Criel zoned out, he had barely gotten any sleep last night... Criel muttered to himself,*

Criel: I can't listen to this shit properly, I'm so tired...

*Criel yawned, snapping out of it and covered it up with his hands, he slowly zoned out by looking out in the window again, the teacher didn't really mind since she knew that he had been "dealing with things at home" and doing some "work" which causes him to be so tired or out of focus... It was a boring school day for Criel, hours simply went by, him barely taking notes per subject or even paying attention.*

[In the cafeteria, where most students chill and eat their food with their friends, some are in line to get their food, it was a mildly loud place to be at this time]

*During lunch Criel got beat up by the normal and usual bullies of his, Knox who had a tinge of blue highlights in his hair, Lucas who had orange jackets on most of the time, and Astral who was a quiet guy but he could withstand a ton of force. Just another few hours later, it was called a day and Criel had to stay at school because his bullies weren't finished with him. It was getting dark by the time he could finally go home, he took his usual path*

*Criel is silently walking down the block to the hotel, he saw a young female adult being surrounded and being threatened by some thugs in some tank tops, some baggy shorts, a bandana over their mouths, a durag over their heads, and normal and casual sports Crocs.*

Thug 1: "If you don't give us your shit, we'll pull up to your house and shoot up your entirely family!"
Thug 2: "Give us the money you bitch! We ain't playing!"

*The young female adult was scared and in the verge of tears, about to hand in the money, but all of a sudden, a fist suddenly reflected off the Thug 1's face, it was Criel who stood up for the woman, he threw some kicks to Thug 1's stomach, literally stunning and blew out the air out of him.*

Thug 2: "What the fuck!?"

*Thug 2 pulled out his gun and attempted to shoot at Criel but he was far more slick than Thug 2 thought... Criel was straight up dodging bullets, easily reading where Thug 2 is aiming at. Criel quickly dashed towards Thug 2, grabbed his wrist and bending it to a sensitive spot the wrist would feel pain, making Thug 2 lose grip of his gun. Criel grabbed it and smacked it across Thug 2's face, grabbing his collar and throwing one more punch to Thug 2, knocking him out. Criel brushed his hoodie's sleeves and turned around to look at the young female adult. Criel's eyes suddenly widened in shock and fear, only to find out it was Selene who was the victim of the thugs that had approached her, Selene had the same reaction too, but she noticed the wounds he had gotten which were never there before...*

Selene: "C-Criel!?"
Criel: "Selene!?"

*Criel was scared, being seen like this, straight up in the flow beating the shit out of the thugs to the point he had no other option but to run away and make an escape quickly, hoping to outrun her if she ever decided to chase him. Criel looked back and noticed she was just standing there, stunned to what she just witnessed, but a feeling of relief reassured Criel that he wouldn't have to deal with another problem, he ran straight home, looking around to make sure nobody was following him. He entered the big hotel and took the elevator alone, quickly pressing the button to his floor... He took off his hood, taking a deep breath to calm him down from the sudden event.*

Criel: *sigh* "Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. What am I gonna do now?... I've been caught... Please let it be a normal day tomorrow... I don't like gathering much attention...

*The elevator had stopped at Floor 7, Criel had stepped out of the elevator and swiftly ran to his guest room, he slid the key in and unlocked it, entering it*

*A distant meowing could be heard in the distance, it was his gray small cat with a collar with a name that said "Asteroid Destroyer", the cat jumped onto Criel's chest and meowed nonstop because of how much the cat missed him*

Criel: "I missed you too, lil guy, have you been eating while I'm gone? Did you break anything?"

*The cat just simply meowed at him. Criel smiled warmly and gave the cat a gentle cradle and scratched it's chin. It purred and snuggled up more onto Criel. It was a pretty normal night, Criel and Asteroid Destroyer had went to bed, preparing for the next day**Hours of sleep had passed by as if it were minutes. Criel woke up to his alarm ringing and his cat beside him, watching him wake up. Criel did his normal morning routine for school, had some Captain Crunch and headed to school listening to LONG WAY - Cochise for some reason.*

*Criel had a bit more energy than yesterday, but he was expecting as soon as he entered his classroom, people would talk about that he did to save Selene from some thugs. But to his surprise, people treated him like shit still, which was a relief for Criel, he expected Selene to namedrop what happened in front of the whole school.*

*Selene glanced up this time when Criel had entered, she quickly looked back to her friends to cover it up as if she wasn't a bit relieved that Criel was present today. She recalled the past events on how Criel put the thugs in their place as if they were kids that tried to be tough*

Selene's Friend 1: "Selene, are you okay? You're staring off into space..."

Selene: *Startled but covered it up* "Oh! Uhm... I was just thinking of something..."

Selene's Friend 1: "Of what?"

Selene: "About yesterday's.... Uhm..." *Quickly thinking of an excuse* "Of the shopping! Yes, the shopping... It was really a good memory to me, I can't just forget about something that precious that easily!" *she smiled warmly, making herself look a bit suspicious which made her friend skeptical*

Selene's Friend 1: "Are you sure there wasn't something else? If you were thinking about that then you'd be all cheery and happy" *She said, looking at Selene very suspiciously*

Selene: "Ugh fine... Well, I'm not sure if you guys will believe me but yesterday after we went shopping and I was walking home.... Criel saved me from some thugs, he was beating them up like never before! It was like he was a different person..."

*Selene explained in a bit of a swoon voice, twirling strands of her hair from time to time*

Selene's Friend 2: "Maybe it could have been a different person? Criel doesn't know how to fight, otherwise he'd beat up his bullies."

Selene: "It can't be! He recognized me and said my name! It was Criel who saved me from those thugs!" *Said in an objecting tone and out loud, everybody in the classroom hearing it.*

*The classroom heard Selene's sudden unintentional announcement and looked at Criel and started whispering*

Gossip Student 1: "Criel? Saved Selene? As in the popular girl?"

Gossip Student 2: "Criel can't fight, that has to be a lie..."

Gossip Student 3: "Woah... Criel is so lucky..."

Gossip Student 4: "The tomato-headed loser can actually fight??"

*Criel quickly put his hood up and covered his head with his hands, panicking that his cover as the top gangster might get blown all because of a sudden, unintentional announcement