Revenge of the Bully by Scott Starkey

to walk through the front doors. Standing on the steps, quite near where my horrible, hated football career had begun, I was met by Rishi handing out newspapers to a throng of students.
    I was about to yell at him when my worries were replaced by an unexpectedly pleasant surprise. Fifteen or so girls stood clearly waiting for me. “I like your picture, Rodney,” said one girl who I didn’t even know. I think she was blushing. My pulse quickened. My mom had said I looked handsome, but moms always say that.
    â€œErrr, thanks,” I replied.
    â€œCan you sign mine?” asked another girl.
    I liked the attention, but then I saw Jessica among the group and my knees buckled. A number of hands helped prop me back up. I regained my composure as our eyes met. My face got hot and I smiled at her.
    Kayla stepped between us. My smile sagged. “Don’t think some fancy camera work and media attention is going to get you anywhere,” she scolded. “We know what you’re all about. Don’t we, Jessica. Jessica?”
    Jessica stepped around her and returned my smile. “I don’t want to be late for class. We’ll be at your next game, Rodney.”
    What? Really? Wow! I love football! I felt dizzy. The day was actually turning out really good.
    For some of us. Kayla, on the other hand, stamped her foot and I noticed her face redden. She turned to follow Jessica but Rishi sprang up in her way. “So you think my camera work is fancy?”
    â€œGrrrrrrgghhhhhhhh!” She roughly pushed past him.
    â€œYup, she likes me,” he said to me. “Maybe I’ll ask her out to Mama’s. With all the great PR work I’ve done for him, I bet the Boss would let us eat for free.”
    â€œFor free?” I shouted. “You and everyone else in Ohio will be eating for free! There’s no way the G-Men can win a football game, and besides, what ‘great PR’? He hates both of us right now. Remember that little meeting in the locker room on Saturday?”
    â€œRodney, he’s just excitable. Everything’s going perfectly.”
    â€œPerfectly?”
    â€œYeah, perfectly. He just offered us another twenty dollars each to put up more flyers around town. Where else can we make that kind of money?”
    I had to admit he had a point, but there was a problem. I knew my mom and dad wouldn’t want me hanging around someone like the Boss, and they definitely wouldn’t want me taking money from him. I had decided not to tell them . . . for now.
    Suddenly Rishi uttered words I never thought I’d hear leave his mouth. “Anyway, Rodney, money isn’t everything.” I realized he wasn’t joking when he added, “Just look around you.”
    I did. Everyone was happy and smiling. A couple of students were still waiting patiently for my autograph. Maybe Rishi was right. Maybe he did know what he was doing.
    â€œAnd don’t forget,” he added, “I’m the one doing the heavy lifting around here. You have it easy. I even let you skip yesterday’s autograph session. All you have to do is win a few football games. Now, which way did Kayla go?”
    I didn’t notice. For a split second I had locked eyes with Trevor—the one person who had me worried. And judging from the look on his face I had every reason to be concerned. “Talk to you later, Rishi,” I said. If he replied I didn’t hear him. I had to take care of something important.
    Trevor never walked straight to class in the morning. He would visit his office first, otherwise known as the second-floor bathroom. Today was no different. I followed him up there and watched the door close behind him with a heavy thud.
    I’d never been in the second-floor bathroom. Of all the bathrooms in the school, this one had the toughest reputation. I’d heard tales whispered on the bus of the things that had gone down in there over the years. Horrible stories.