Page 76 of His Untoward Hate

He deserved so much more in this life.

Sky wished they had never ended up in the same school. Sky wished he could turn back time and transfer somewhere else the moment he first laid eyes on Jude. He wished his heart had not skipped that strange beat when he saw him for the first time, walking down the hallway on the first day of class back in seventh grade, looking so small, so innocent, and utterly unaware of the life around him.

Maybe then, Jude would not have suffered.

Maybe then, he would not have become tangled in Sky’s dark world.

Maybe then, he could have lived the life he truly deserved and wanted.

FLASHBACK

“Did you bring it, dude?” Calvin asked the moment Sky began stuffing his belongings into his locker—mostly spare shirts, P.E. uniforms, and basketball gear.

As usual, there was not a single school supply in sight.

Calvin was a year older than Sky and already in eighth grade. They had attended the same school since their primary years, but his constant impatience and eagerness to get his hands on the drugs were starting to get on Sky’s nerves. Calvin was already in eighth grade, yet he still acted like he could not control himself.

“Would you relax for once?” Sky snapped, irritation creeping into his voice. “How could I possibly forget it?” he added, reassuring him while fighting the urge to roll his eyes.

“You have no idea how badly I need them right now,” Calvin said, his voice edged with desperation. “How about we skip school and go straight to your house?”

Sky stared at him as if he had just said something ridiculous.

“Have you fucking lost your mind? It’s the fucking first day of school.” he shut his locker with a soft clang and turned to face him. “Can you at least pull yourself together? Just look at yourself.”

“Don’t start lecturing me, Granger,” Calvin shot back. “Just make sure you give me five packs later. I’ll be waiting outside the gate.”

Without another word, Calvin turned and walked away.

Sky watched him leave, slowly shaking his head. Calvin’s addiction was becoming harder and harder to ignore. The signs were written all over him: his sweat-soaked skin, fidgety motions, restless movements, and constant agitation.

Pushing his worries about Calvin to the back of his mind, Sky turned away and slipped his hands into his pockets as he headed toward his first class. He had promised Jasper that he would actually show up to school today, and for once, he intended to keep that promise.

That did not mean he came prepared, though.

Aside from a single pack of methamphetamine he planned to sell to his seatmate, Sky had not bothered bringing anything with him. No notebooks. No pens. No intention of taking notes. No intention of learning acquisition. As far as he was concerned, listening to teachers ramble on for hours was a complete waste of time.

Just as he started down the hallway, Sky nearly stumbled when he noticed the number of eyes fixed on him.

“He’s so hot.”

“Look at his tattoos. They look good.”

“Oh my God, look at those muscles. I could hold onto his biceps for hours.”

“I’m dying to see his abs.”

“Wayne, stop it. He’s only sixteen. You might put yourself behind bars for grooming.”

“Wait, seriously?”

“Oh my God, who is he?” another student whispered dramatically from the corner.

“Girl, don’t tell me you don’t know him?”

Her friend stared at her in disbelief.

“That’s Sky Granger.”