months ago. Thatâs when my father convinced me to fill out a college applicationâainât like I donât have the grades.â Xavier stared down at the table, and then back up to Dexter. âI filled out an application to go to Michigan State. Donât know what Iâll be majoring in. But I have to make it out of my senior year alive, first.â
Linus sarcastically popped his lips.
Dexter ignored him and said to Xavier, âI think Iâm gonna go to junior college. Find out what I want to do.â
Xavier mightâve been engaged in the conversation but he couldnât help notice the chick Bangs was all up in some cute little femaleâs grill, aggressively pointing her finger. The noise in the lunchroom was so loud that, somehow, the fiery confrontation had managed to fly under the radar.
Xavier had never seen this girl before. The sweet piece looked to be mixed, with an exotic complexion, gorgeous shoulder-length hair, nice juicy lipsâevery curve in the right place. Xavier had to laugh because the girl was so short that she reminded him of a cute dwarf.
âYou missed it, Flip,â Dexter explained. âChase looked like he was about to send Xavier packinâ. Was all up in his grill, talking about X wasnât gonna receive any special privileges for being a 4.0 student.â
âReally,â said Flip.
Dexter told Xavier, âDude, when I got my schedule this morning and saw that I had Chase for English, partna, I almost went number two in my pants.â
The voices were becoming aggressively rowdy at that back table. When Xavier returned his gaze in the direction of the SNLGs, Bangs had disrespectfully knocked the girlâs book bag to the floor and was pushing the chick toward her homegirls. Xavier knew what that meant. It was about to get real for baby girl without some help. The girl wouldnât stand a chance if the entire SNLG crew got down on her head.
âChaseâs class is going to be hard, butââ
Xavier hopped up and headed in the direction of the ruckus without saying a word.
âX, where are you headed?â Dexter tried to ask.
Bangs swung on the girl and wouldâve solidly connected, if it wasnât for Xavier pulling her out of harmâs way.
Standing there, bug-eyed with surprise, Bangs aggressively asked, âWhy you all up in my Kool-Aid, Xavier?â
Xavier mightâve smiled at her recognition of him, but it was no surprise. He was the man up in this piece and every student was intensely aware.
âIâma need you to cut baby girl some slack,â Xavier said politely, but the look on his face told her that it was more of an order.
âI know who you are, Xavierâthe schoolâs savior,â Bangs said, like she was trying to be funny. âIâm Bangs, by the way. Trust me, we donât want any beef with you, boss.â
It took a minute for the rest of the students in the cafeteria to peep what was taking shape, and when they recognized Xavierâs involvement, the immediate area quickly evacuated.
The rest of the SNLGs rushed to their leaderâs back. Bangs knew what time it was, though. She pointed to her crew as if to tell them to fall back. Bangs mightâve been a notorious hothead, but she wasnât stupid. Stepping to a big dog like Xavier wouldnât be a good lookâit would be a damn near fatal decision. So she tried to smile it off and play up for the audience.
The Smurfette looked up at Xavier and managed a smile, as if to say, âThank you.â
Xavier asked Bangs, âWhatâd she do?â
âOh, Supermodel looked at us the wrong way.â
Xavier already knew what it was about. Jealousy. The little Smurfette chick did have it going on, though.
Dexter walked up. âYâall real tough all right. Tryna put the smash on itty-bitty over here for staring?â
Offended, one of the girls in the clique yelled, âWe SNLGs