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[indent]Raven laughed at his comment. Starting to walk back towards the crowd, J.J. beside her, she tried to think of something else to say. Luckily, he was the first to speak again.

[color=f7941d]”We aren’t [i]that[/i] wild. You just so happened to stumble across the so called best that Kings has to offer. Most of the other parties around here are pretty tame… well, compared to this, anyway. Besides, I’m originally from New York. Nothing really surprises me.”[/color] They were almost to the drink table now. Figuring that J.J. would probably want something non-alcoholic - seeing as it seemed he was his sisters chaperone - she scanned the various bottles and such upon arriving. [color=f7941d]”Looks like your options are either water or juice,”[/color] she added, turning to look at him. 

[color=709679]“Nah I’m good. But New York? Really? When did you leave?”[/color]

She shrugged, weaving her way in and out of crowds of people, heading for her favorite spot. Raven had been to enough of Diablo’s parties to know her way around pretty well. [color=f7941d]”Yup. Brooklyn native at your service. Left when I was fifteen. It wasn’t really my decision, but in a way, it was better for me, I guess. What about you? Where’d you come from?”[/color]

[color=709679]“My dad moved us from New York a few months ago. He wanted a change of pace, I guess. Maya really isn’t okay with it. She thinks it’s bullshit.”[/color] He chuckled, nervously. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to broadcast they only moved to bury his grandfather and take care of his estate.

[color=f7941d]”So does that mean you’re okay with it?”[/color] she asked, still walking. Raven was headed in the general direction of the beach, towards a large rock surrounded by a bunch of smaller rocks that created a sort of staircase leading up to it. 

J.J. thought about Raven’s question for a few seconds. He had already had this discussion with his sister and he wasn’t too keen on going into the details on how despite not liking the move he didn’t really have the balls to confront or argue the decision. At the very least he could explain how he just didn’t have it in him to get worked up over a decision that wasn’t his to begin with. 

He shrugged, [color=709679]“Nah, but I’m not going to pretend like it's the end of the world, y’know? I’m not that melodramatic.”[/color]

[color=f7941d]”That’s a pretty good outlook to have.”[/color] Finally arriving at the rock, she climbed up, turning to look down at J.J. with her hands on her hips. [color=f7941d]”You coming up or what? You can see everything from here.”[/color] 

It was true. If Raven were to turn and look behind her, she would see the ocean spreading for miles. In front of her, she could survey the whole scene of the party. 

[color=709679]“Is this part of the tour?”[/color] He joked as he followed the raven-haired girl up the “rock staircase”.

Raven laughed while rolling her eyes playfully. [color=f7941d]”Indeed it is,”[/color] she responded, sitting on the edge so her feet dangled off. [color=f7941d]”Our first lesson is the who’s who of Kings Academy. You’ll need that information if you wanna survive.”[/color]

[color=709679]“Ait. Lay it down.”[/color] 

[color=f7941d]”M’kay… See the dark haired girl over by the table? That’s Ariel Gray. Don’t know that much about her. Kinda secretive. The tall guy walking away from her is… Josh? No. Jordan. He just moved from England not to long ago,”[/color] she said, pointing to each person. [color=f7941d]”The dude walking away from Bea, darling girl, she is, that is the one and only infamous Diablo.”[/color]

[color=709679]“Anything I should know, y’know, besides the names?”[/color] J.J. mused as he listened to Raven’s description of Ariel, Diablo, and a few others. 

Outside of a few encounters in school, J.J. pretty much didn’t know anybody at King’s Academy outside of some passing mentions that he had honestly forgotten about. He figured he could just “lay low” for the most part and eventually focus on playing basketball. But given the fact Raven had already pointed out Diablo’s reputation, he was pretty sure that moving to Florida was going to be a lot more complicated than he thought it would be; which he was already starting to worry about.

[color=f7941d]”Well, you can tell enough about Diablo from his party… and his house. The other two are seemingly harmless. Though if you want actual information, I could introduce you to my friend Oliver sometime.”[/color]

[color=709679]“So, Diablo.”[/color] J.J. paused for a second. [color=709679]“How in hell has he gotten away with this kinda shit? I mean, back in New York we had parties on the DL all the time, but this is pretty beyond that. If everyone knows he’s pushing, why hasn’t he pissed off the wrong person yet?”[/color]

[color=f7941d]”Oh trust me. He’s pissed a lot of people off. But, like most of the other rich kids in this town, his parents bought his way out of trouble for him. Every single time, mind you. You’d figure they’d have gotten tired of having their house trashed by now.”[/color]

It was a story the African-American teenager had heard many times before. The richest kids got away with their wildest dreams because they had been enabled to do so by their powerful parents. As someone who had been raised that money doesn't dictate abuse or hubris, J.J. had been one of the kids in his “economic class” who had no self-destructive instincts or apathetic sensibilities. Despite being the son of one of the finest neurosurgeons in the world he probably had a personality more fitting of a lower status. He never really understood what drove people to act out like this, but for the time being all he could do was slowly but surely learn more about the “kings” of King’s Academy.

[color=709679]“My dad would crucify me if I even had the thought.”[/color] He remarked.

[color=f7941d]”I’m not sure if my brothers or my parents would kill me faster, honestly.”[/color]

[color=709679]“So not [i]everyone[/i] at King's is insane.”[/color]

Raven laughed again. [color=f7941d]”Well, no. Not [i]everyone[/i], I guess. I’ve been to a few of Diablo’s parties, but I honestly wouldn’t have even come tonight if it hadn’t been for a few of my friends. How on earth did you let your sister rope you into this anyway?”[/color]

[color=709679]“She’s very convincing when she wants to be. Besides, it’s better than the alternative.”[/color] He admitted, laughing a little to himself as he said it.

Raven’s question was one his mother and father had asked him about [i]countless[/i] occasions and he had the same answer every time. Not that he had the inability to say no, but rather that he couldn’t think of a good enough reason to say no. In the case of Diablo’s party it was a bit of guilt and a little bit of just him feeling sorry that her life had been “ruined” by them moving south for a few years. Plus there was the whole fact that he’d rather be dragged somewhere he didn’t want to be than find out his sister overdosed and he couldn’t stop it.

[color=709679]“I’d rather come out here where I can sorta keep an eye on her then her going without me knowing about it, y’know?”[/color]

The young woman nodded her head in response. [color=f7941d]”I get that. Most of my time is spent looking after my brothers.“[/color] It was true. While most of the other students had jobs or afterschool clubs, Raven had the responsibility of being a stand in mother. It wasn’t a bad thing, but it could get aggravating sometimes.  

He nodded, [color=709679]“I just hope she’ll have her head straight... or a friend or something once I’m outta here. College is coming up and I ain’t gonna be around to keep her out of trouble.”[/color]

[color=f7941d]”College? Where do you plan to go for that?”[/color]

[color=709679]“Lot of that depends on how well I do on the basketball team here. But Columbia sounds nice. NYU. Maybe Duke. I could take a gamble on UCLA or something else.”[/color] He shrugged as he thought about the prospects he had after a pretty excellent year in his last high school. His parents had no real preference as long as he finished whatever school he picked and Maya was too self-involved to care. The only one’s really pushing for him to go anywhere were the scouts and friends back in New York who he still talked to. 

[color=f7941d]”Wow…”[/color] she said quietly. In all honesty, Raven had never given that much thought to college. She knew that she wanted to go, but as for the where and what for, she had no clue. [color=f7941d]”To tell you the truth, J.J., I kinda admire that. You know. The whole ‘you having a plan’ thing.”[/color]

[color=709679]“I mean, it’s senior year. That’s the time to get a plan real quick.”[/color]

[color=f7941d]”You have a point. I just guess I’d never given it that much thought. Kinda makes me sound like a slacker, huh?”[/color]

[color=709679]“Well, what do you like?”[/color]

[color=f7941d]”I’ve helped my dad direct a few movies before. That was pretty cool, so maybe that. Kinda fun being in charge of everyone too.”[/color]

He laughed, [color=709679]“There’s a lot of film and theater programs. I’m sure you’ll find something.”[/color]

Raven smiled, looking out at the crowd. [color=f7941d]”You’ve got a point there.”[/color] 

Before their "tour" could continue, Raven's phone would buzz in her back pocket, prompting her to pull it out and read a message from her brother Brandon. [color=f7941d]”Shit. Sorry to cut this short, but one of my younger siblings decided to do some stupid stunt he seen on Youtube, and broke his leg. I’ve got to get to the hospital.”[/color]

[color=709679]“It's cool. I really should try to keep an eye on Maya, so I'll catch you at school or something.”[/color]

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