The bus waited at the edge of the schoolyard, its shadow spilling across the pavement as if reaching for the mountains. The sun hung low at four o'clock, gilding the sky with a fading glow. Most of the students had already gone, chasing the weekend's freedom, leaving behind only the after-school crowd and the group bound for the field trip. Their voices carried across the near-empty grounds, light and eager, like the first notes of an adventure waiting to begin.
We were headed to the Blue Mountains, a place none of us had ever seen before. Everyone was gathered near the bus, waiting to climb aboard. Amanda leaned against the railing, scrolling through her phone between bursts of laughter. Adrian paced back and forth, restless energy in every step. Javone stood close by his side, quiet as ever, only offering a word here and there that Adrian seemed to understand more than anyone else. A few kids in the middle were trying to agree on what songs they'd sing for the ride. The air buzzed with anticipation, whispers of breathtaking views and sunrise skies passing between us. Their excitement was contagious. For a moment, I felt lighter, as if this trip might finally offer an escape from the tension that clung to me like a shadow.
The bus rumbled to life and rolled from where it had been parked, circling the roundabout before coming to a stop in front of us. The chatter rose for a moment, kids shifting and jostling as the line formed. At the very front stood Kofi, already planted there with two of his friends. He had skipped past everyone without a second thought, shoving aside the classmates who had been waiting. Their protests were little more than murmurs. Kofi laughed as if daring anyone to push back. His tall frame carried a lazy slouch, but his eyes stayed sharp. The dread I'd been trying to bury for the past few days rose in me again, heavier than before.
The doors of the bus opened with a metallic hiss, and Mr. Johnson, our homeroom and geography teacher, waved us inside. "Alright, everyone! Let's start boarding. We've got a long ride ahead, so settle in quickly."
I shuffled forward with the rest of the students, doing my best to blend in, praying the trip would pass without incident. Climbing onto the bus, I scanned the rows for an empty seat, hoping to find at least one person I wouldn't mind sitting beside. No such luck. The only open spot was the one directly in front of Kofi.
Great.
I slid into the seat, feeling Kofi's presence before he even spoke, a weight pressing against my back. The bus lurched forward, the engine groaning as we pulled away from the schoolyard. I fixed my eyes on the blur of trees and buildings rushing past the window, trying to lose myself in it. Maybe, if I pretended hard enough, the ride would be quiet.
"Jeremiah!" Kofi's voice sliced through the bus, sharp and mocking. "Why yuh so quiet? Someting wrong?"
His friends cackled, the sound swelling until it filled my head. My grip tightened on the seat, knuckles aching. I wanted to answer, to shut him down somehow, but the words stayed locked in my throat. My reflection in the glass looked pale, almost ghostlike.
"Mi a talk to yuh, yuh no hear mi?" His foot drove into the back of my seat, once, then again harder. The jolt rattled my bones. A ripple of laughter spread through the kids nearby, some covering their mouths, others just watching with wide eyes.
"You deaf?" Kofi hissed. "Or yuh jus stupid?"
I kept staring out the window, refusing to give him what he wanted, but then his hand clamped onto my shoulder. His fingers dug deep into my skin, twisting me halfway around. His breath was hot against my ear.
"Look pan mi when mi a talk to yuh."
I caught sight of Amanda two rows ahead, her eyes darting away the second mine met hers. They wouldn't step in. No one ever did.
"Leave him alone, Kofi," someone said, you could hardly heard it above the laughter lf Kofi's friends.
Kofi's laugh exploded, cruel and shrill. "Leave him alone," he mimicked in a high-pitched squeal, wringing every drop of laughter out of his friends. The bus shook with their voices.
Then his palm cracked against the back of my head. The world snapped white for a second. Pain bloomed across my skull, and I bit down hard on my tongue to keep the cry trapped in my throat. My eyes watered, but I refused to blink.
"Eh, watch him face," one of his friends jeered. "Look like him waan bawl."
Kofi leaned in, his voice low, only for me. "Cry nuh, Jeremiah. Cry so everybody can see."
The kids around us laughed louder, some turning in their seats to get a better view. Every eye felt like a needle pressing into my skin. My heart hammered, my body tensed to the breaking point, but still I stayed quiet, still I tried to endure.
"Enough!" Mr. Johnson's voice finally thundered from the front, sharp and cold. His glare cut through the rearview mirror. "Quiet down, all of you. Now!"
The laughter died off in uneven spurts, but Kofi leaned back in his seat, grinning wide, satisfied. He didn't need to touch me again. He'd already won.
There was a beat of silence, and Kofi looked unfazed. "Whatever, teacha."
I leaned against the window, my breath shaky, my hand pressing against my throbbing head. The physical pain was nothing compared to the humiliation, the helplessness that gnawed at me. The rest of the ride felt like a blur, a series of moments I couldn't focus on, the scenery outside lost to my own swirling thoughts.
When the bus finally slowed, it wasn't the mountains waiting for us but a small police station at the edge of town. The driver pulled up to the front, headlights cutting across the building's faded walls. We were told to switch into jeeps that would carry us the rest of the way up the winding roads.
I kept to the back of the line, careful not to end up in the same jeep as Kofi and his crew. They shoved their way forward, loud as ever, claiming the first vehicle that filled. Even from a distance, his voice carried, laughter and taunts spilling into the night as the jeeps rolled one by one onto the empty road leading toward the Blue Mountains.
The jeeps rumbled up the narrow road, bouncing over potholes and winding higher until the cabins finally came into view. The moment we jumped out, the cool mountain air wrapped around us, sharp and clean. Mr. Johnson wasted no time gathering us in front of the largest cabin, his voice cutting through the chatter.
"Alright, everyone," he began, "here's how the weekend will go. Tonight, you'll pick your bunks, settle in, and rest. Tomorrow morning, we'll start with the basics. We'll take a short lesson while observing the local flora, the unique rock formations, and the different kinds of fauna up here. After that, you'll have some free time to take pictures and make your notes." He paused, his gaze sweeping over the group.
"In the late hours of the night, we'll begin our hike toward the peak so we can watch the sunrise. Now, pay attention. No one is to wander off alone. Always make sure you're with at least one other person at all times. Safety comes first."
Despite the warning, the mention of sunrise sent a small ripple of excitement through the group. Some students whispered eagerly about the hike, already making plans for the early morning. I glanced toward the cabins, hoping to lose myself in the crowd, but before I could move, a sharp shove caught me hard in the back.
I stumbled forward, nearly losing my balance. Laughter broke out behind me. Before I could turn, Kofi's fist sank into my side, a quick jab that left me gasping.
"Watch yuh step, bwoy," he muttered, grinning at his friends.
I tried to edge away, but his hand smacked the back of my head. The slap hurt, a hot sting across my scalp. A few kids flinched at the sound, others turned their faces away as if nothing had happened.
"That's enough, Kofi!" Mr. Johnson's voice cut across the yard. He fixed him with a glare, his tone sharp. "Do not make me have to speak to you again."
Kofi lifted his hands in mock surrender, a crooked smile tugging at his face, before giving my shoulder one last shove. "Whatever," he muttered, then he drifted back into the crowd with his friends, their laughter trailing after him as if nothing had changed.
The weight of his words hung in the air as he walked off, leaving me standing there, frozen. My fists clenched at my sides, the adrenaline still coursing through my veins. Part of me wanted to scream, to punch something, anything, but instead I swallowed the feeling down and hurried to catch up with the others.
By the time I reached the group, Mr. Johnson was assigning us into teams for the hike. I barely listened, my thoughts still tangled in the encounter with Kofi. The tension hadn't left my body, and even as the class murmured with excitement, I couldn't shake the unease gnawing at me.
"Jeremiah, you'll be with Adrian McNook and Javone Campbell," Mr. Johnson's voice cut through my haze.
I looked up, relieved to see Adrian, the boy who had spoken up on the bus earlier, giving me a nod. Javone stood beside him, his eyes steady and unreadable, like he was weighing every word before it left his mouth. I walked over, tension still in my chest but softened by a small wave of relief.
"Hey," Adrian greeted me, his voice easy, almost too casual for what had just happened. "You alright?"
I shrugged, trying to play it off. "Yeah, I guess. Thanks for what you did on the bus... for standing up for me," I added, keeping my voice low. "I really appreciate it. But why did you do it?"
Adrian met my eyes, pausing longer than I expected. His expression shifted, thoughtful, almost guarded. "I've been watching Kofi mess with you for a while now," he said, steady but with an edge of frustration under the calm. "I guess I'm just tired of seeing it. And now that I have the strength to actually do something about it, I figured I should."
My brow furrowed. "What do you mean, strength?"
Before he could answer, Javone laid a firm hand on his shoulder. The move was subtle, but it felt more like a warning than comfort. Adrian stiffened, shot him a quick look, then fell silent.
Javone's voice broke the pause, low and even. "It's a good thing Mr. Johnson saw what was going on. Could've gotten worse if he didn't step in."
I glanced between them, unease creeping in beneath the gratitude. There was something unspoken hanging in the air between the two of them, something I couldn't quite put my finger on. But I chose not to press. For now, their support was enough, and at least they weren't looking to make my life harder.
Adrian gave me a small nod, almost reassuring, but Javone's eyes stayed on me, unblinking. "Next time Kofi comes at you," he said quietly, "you should hit him back. Once he knows you'll fight, he'll stop."
For a moment I let myself believe things could be different. Standing with Adrian and Javone, it almost felt like I wasn't completely alone, like maybe I had found people who would have my back.
Javone's words shattered that thought. His advice sounded like a one-way ticket to a beat-down.
I blinked, surprised by his bluntness. "I don't know if that's a good idea."
Adrian smirked. "Actually, it's not a terrible idea. He's going to keep pushing you unless you push back."
The thought of standing up to Kofi physically seemed impossible. But the more I turned it over in my mind, the more something inside me stirred. Maybe Javone and Adrian were right. Maybe it was time to stop being afraid.
Before I could dwell on it further, I noticed Mr. Johnson speaking with another group nearby. An idea popped into my head, and I turned to Adrian and Javone. "I'm going to ask Mr. Johnson about tomorrow's trail. Might as well get a head start, right?"
Adrian shrugged. "Sure. Couldn't hurt."
Javone just waved me forward, and I made my way over to Mr. Johnson. The night air was cool and heavy, and the cabins glowed faintly in the distance. The tension from earlier still clung to me, but I steadied myself as I spoke.
"Excuse me, Mr. Johnson?" I asked. "Could you tell me more about the trail we're supposed to explore tomorrow? I was thinking of checking it out tonight, just to get a feel for it."
He glanced at the sky, his brows lifting. "It's far too late for that, Jeremiah. The trail gets dark and tricky after nightfall. Better to wait until morning."
I hesitated, then pressed on. "I won't go far. I just want to see where it starts, so I'll know what to expect."
A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "I like the enthusiasm," he said finally. He pointed toward a narrow path off to the side. "Alright. You can walk down to the end of that stretch, but only to the end, and then head straight back. No wandering off. It's too late at night for that."
"I understand," I replied quickly. "I'll go and come right back."
"Good," Mr. Johnson said with a firm nod before turning to gather the rest of the group.
I thanked him and headed back to Adrian and Javone. They were still talking quietly, but both looked up when I returned.
"I asked Mr. Johnson about the trail," I explained. "He showed me a path just over there. I'm going to check it out now, just for a quick look. You guys want to come?"
Adrian stretched and shook his head with a grin. "Not me. I'm finding my bunk before somebody else claims the best one."
"Yeah," Javone added with a low voice. "Tomorrow's soon enough."
I chuckled, though a flicker of disappointment stirred inside me. "Alright. I'll be quick. See you back at the cabin."
"Don't take too long," Adrian called after me.
"Watch yourself," Javone added, his gaze lingering in a way that made my skin prickle.
They drifted off toward the cabins, already laughing about who would get the best bed, while I turned down the narrow path, the shadows swallowing me as I stepped forward.
At first, the walk was calming. The air was fresh and clean, the kind of air that felt alive with the scent of pine and earth. Birds called from the treetops, their songs blending into the rustle of leaves overhead. For a moment, the beauty of the Blue Mountains was enough to distract me from the events of the day. I could almost forget about Kofi, about the fear gnawing at my gut.
But it didn't last.
As I rounded a bend in the trail, voices reached my ears-loud, mocking laughter. My heart sank as I recognized the familiar tones. Kofi and his friends. They were up ahead, blocking the path, just when I thought I'd gotten some space from them. I paused, my pulse quickening.
I couldn't go forward without running into them, but turning back might make it obvious that I was avoiding them. I hesitated for a moment, weighing my options. As I stood there, trying to decide, I took a small step back-and a dry twig snapped under my foot.
The laughter cut off.
"Who dat?" Kofi's voice sliced through the night, sharp and suspicious.
I froze. Maybe if I stayed quiet, they wouldn't notice me. Maybe I could slip away.
But it was too late.
Kofi stepped out from around the bend, his eyes narrowing when he spotted me. A grin spread across his face, but it wasn't friendly. It was the grin of someone who had already decided what he was about to do. His friends trailed behind him, their eyes lit with the same hunger, like wolves circling prey.
"Look who it is," Kofi said slowly, drawing out every word. "Yuh following mi now, Jeremiah? Yuh dat lonely?"
"No, I—" I tried, but the words came out thin and stuck halfway in my throat.
Kofi cut me off, his voice rising. "Mi know yuh scared, but yuh don't have to follow mi around like a lost dog." His words rang out into the quiet night, meant to sting, meant to humiliate.
The others howled with laughter, cruel and sharp, their jeers bouncing against the trees.
Fear crawled up my spine, twisting my stomach into knots. But mixed in with the fear, something small and fierce pushed back. Javone's words echoed in my head.
Next time he gets in your face, punch him.
I wasn't ready for that. Not yet. But I couldn't keep letting Kofi crush me under his heel.
"I'm not afraid of you, Kofi," I heard myself say. My voice was low, but it didn't shake.
For a second, Kofi's grin faltered. Surprise flickered in his eyes, quick as a blink. His friends went quiet, glancing at each other, waiting to see what he would do.
The silence didn't last.
Kofi's grin returned, sharper now, darker. He stepped closer, close enough that I could smell his sweat and the faint reek of his breath. "Yuh brave now, ehh? We gon' test dat bravery."
His hand shot out and slammed into my chest. I staggered back, crashing against the tree, the bark cutting into my skin. My fists clenched, my heart hammering like it wanted out of my chest.
Kofi didn't stop. His palm cracked across my face, a sharp sting that lit my cheek on fire. His friends laughed again, louder now, egging him on. Another shove, harder. My shoulder smacked against the tree trunk.
"Fight mi, Jeremiah," Kofi hissed, his eyes blazing with delight. "Come on. Show mi yuh brave."
Pain throbbed in my ribs, but the humiliation burned worse. Something in me snapped.
Before I could think, my fist swung forward, connecting with his jaw. The sound was solid, flesh against bone. Kofi stumbled, clutching his face, his eyes wide with shock.
His friends froze, their mouths hanging open.
For a heartbeat, power surged through me. For once, I wasn't the one taking the hits. For once, I had struck back.
But Kofi wasn't finished. His expression twisted from shock to fury. And in the pit of my stomach, I knew the real fight had just begun.
Kofi straightened, his face twisting with fury. The playful menace was gone, replaced by something darker. His hand stayed pressed to his jaw as he glared at me, and the look in his eyes made my blood run cold.
"Yuh gon' pay fi dat," he said, his voice low and dangerous.
I took a step back, my brief confidence slipping away. Kofi wasn't the type to let something like this slide.
He closed the distance in two strides and seized me by the front of my shirt, his fist tightening around the fabric near my throat. My breath hitched as he yanked me closer, our faces inches apart. His eyes burned into mine with a fury that made my stomach twist.
"Yuh brave, enuh," he said, his voice soft, almost mocking. "Mi gon' give yuh one chance. Quarter to twelve tonight. Yuh meet mi back here. Mi have someting fi yuh do. Yuh do it, mi leave yuh alone."
My throat was dry, but I forced out the words. "And if I don't come?"
Kofi's grip tightened, the fabric cutting into my neck. His smile spread slow and cruel. He leaned close enough for me to feel the heat of his breath.
"Den yuh goin' wish yuh did."
He shoved me back hard against the tree and let go. I stumbled, gasping, my hand flying to my neck. Kofi straightened, still watching me like a cat watching a cornered mouse. Then he turned and walked into the shadows. His friends followed in silence, their earlier laughter long gone.
I stayed frozen where I was, my legs trembling, the weight of his threat pressing down on me. The hand I had used to punch him still shook.
I didn't know what he had planned, but one thing was clear. If I didn't show up tonight, Kofi would make sure I regretted it.
When they finally disappeared into the trees, I broke into a sprint. My feet pounded against the dirt path as I ran for the cabins, every shadow stretching long and heavy across my path. By the time the clearing came into view, I was gasping for breath. I slowed, forcing myself to walk, trying to steady my breathing before anyone noticed.
My thoughts spun in a whirlwind of fear, confusion, and a flicker of reckless pride.
I had hit Kofi.
But now what?