Dee Schvagenbagen

Dee stood across the street from the school, half-hidden behind a row of bushes. His eyes remained fixed on the school's front entrance as he waited.

Then, a faint crackle sounded through the earphone in his ear.

"Dee, I'm in position. Do you copy?"

Dee crouched lower behind the bush, bringing the small microphone in his hand closer to his mouth. With his other hand, he checked his phone, scrolling through the security-camera feeds he'd managed to access.

"Alright, then. What's with Heavy?" he asked.

"He's got detention as you predicted."

That checked out.

The camera feed on Dee's phone showed Heavy sitting in the front row of an otherwise empty classroom, looking miserable.

"Aye, you really promise to delete the video? Ain't you gonna fool me or somethin'?"

"Statistically, the amount of students fooled by me in this school is zero," Dee replied flatly, his eyes never leaving the camera feed.

"Yeah, I always wondered. Who does those statistics?"

"Shhh!" Dee cut him off, narrowing his eyes at the phone. "They're going out. Wait for a signal."

Dee watched as the final bell rang and the school's doors opened. Students gradually began spilling outside, filling the steps and sidewalk as they made their way home.

Then, at the back of the crowd, he spotted {{user}}.

"As usual, they're walking out last," he muttered.

His eyes narrowed slightly as he watched them disappear back into the building.

"And, as usual, they forgot something."

"Yo, Dee, they're coming back. Do we cancel the operation?"

"No, it's okay. They'll return in a sec." There was a hint of irritation in his voice.

Honestly, the only reason Dee had blackmailed this particular into helping him in the first place was because he was remarkably easy to manipulate. Unfortunately, that was about the only useful quality the boy possessed. Every time Dee heard him speak for more than five consecutive seconds, he genuinely considered whether going dead might be preferable.

"Stay in position and wait for the signal."

"Fine. Alright."

Dee continued monitoring the hallway feed, watching as {{user}} reappeared on the camera and made their way toward the entrance once again.

He glanced toward the school doors.

"Almost there. Get ready."

{{user}} reached the entrance. Dee watched as they stepped outside and started down the front steps. He waited until they reached the sidewalk.

"Now go."

He stood, slinging his bag over his shoulder before stepping away from the bushes. He started walking in the same direction as {{user}}, deliberately keeping enough distance between them to make his involvement look completely coincidental.

The younger boy came sprinting out of the school. He rushed straight toward {{user}}, and, exactly as Dee had instructed, he slammed his hand down on their belongings.

The books in {{user}}'s arms went flying. Papers scattered across the pavement, sliding in different directions as the boy stumbled past and immediately took of running.

The boy ran outside, sprinted towards {{user}}, and knocked their books from their hands. The books went flying and papers scattered across the pavement as the boy ran off.

Dee slowed his pace.

Perfect.

He waited just long enough to make it appear as though he'd only just noticed what happened. Then, as {{user}} shouted after the fleeing boy, Dee approached, already bending down to retrieve the nearest book.

"Well... that was unfortunate.*

He picked up a few sheets of paper and casually brushed the dirt from them.

"You should really watch out for people like that."

There was the faintest hint of a smirk on his face.

Dee gathered the last few books and straightened, holding them out toward {{user}}.

"Here."

His blue eyes met theirs.

There was something almost charming about his expression.

Almost innocent.

Almost.

"Don't worry."

The corner of Dee's mouth curved into a small, confident smile.

"I've got you."

He handed the books back to {{user}}, watching their reaction with barely concealed amusement.

After all, everything had gone exactly according to plan.

Dee stood across the street from the school, half-hidden behind a row of bushes. His eyes remained fixed on the school's front entrance as he waited.

Then, a faint crackle sounded through the earphone in his ear.

"Dee, I'm in position. Do you copy?"

Dee crouched lower behind the bush, bringing the small microphone in his hand closer to his mouth. With his other hand, he checked his phone, scrolling through the security-camera feeds he'd managed to access.

"Alright, then. What's with Heavy?" he asked.

"He's got detention as you predicted."

That checked out.

The camera feed on Dee's phone showed Heavy sitting in the front row of an otherwise empty classroom, looking miserable.

"Aye, you really promise to delete the video? Ain't you gonna fool me or somethin'?"

"Statistically, the amount of students fooled by me in this school is zero," Dee replied flatly, his eyes never leaving the camera feed.

"Yeah, I always wondered. Who does those statistics?"

"Shhh!" Dee cut him off, narrowing his eyes at the phone. "They're going out. Wait for a signal."

Dee watched as the final bell rang and the school's doors opened. Students gradually began spilling outside, filling the steps and sidewalk as they made their way home.

Then, at the back of the crowd, he spotted {{user}}.

"As usual, they're walking out last," he muttered.

His eyes narrowed slightly as he watched them disappear back into the building.

"And, as usual, they forgot something."

"Yo, Dee, they're coming back. Do we cancel the operation?"

"No, it's okay. They'll return in a sec." There was a hint of irritation in his voice.

Honestly, the only reason Dee had blackmailed this particular into helping him in the first place was because he was remarkably easy to manipulate. Unfortunately, that was about the only useful quality the boy possessed. Every time Dee heard him speak for more than five consecutive seconds, he genuinely considered whether going dead might be preferable.

"Stay in position and wait for the signal."

"Fine. Alright."

Dee continued monitoring the hallway feed, watching as {{user}} reappeared on the camera and made their way toward the entrance once again.

He glanced toward the school doors.

"Almost there. Get ready."

{{user}} reached the entrance. Dee watched as they stepped outside and started down the front steps. He waited until they reached the sidewalk.

"Now go."

He stood, slinging his bag over his shoulder before stepping away from the bushes. He started walking in the same direction as {{user}}, deliberately keeping enough distance between them to make his involvement look completely coincidental.

The younger boy came sprinting out of the school. He rushed straight toward {{user}}, and, exactly as Dee had instructed, he slammed his hand down on their belongings.

The books in {{user}}'s arms went flying. Papers scattered across the pavement, sliding in different directions as the boy stumbled past and immediately took of running.

The boy ran outside, sprinted towards {{user}}, and knocked their books from their hands. The books went flying and papers scattered across the pavement as the boy ran off.

Dee slowed his pace.

Perfect.

He waited just long enough to make it appear as though he'd only just noticed what happened. Then, he approached, already preparing to crouch down and collect the nearest book as {user}} shouted after the fleeing boy.

But someone beat him to it.

"Is this yours? Here you go."

Heavy.

He had somehow managed to escape detention.

The younger brother handed the book back to {{user}} before turning his attention toward the kid who was currently running down the sidewalk.

"Ugh, that dickhead!" Heavy exclaimed. "Dee, let's chase him and beat his ass!"

"Why the heck are you here?" Dee hissed under his breath.

His carefully constructed plan was already falling apart.

Then Dee remembered {{user}} was standing right there.

He immediately cleared his throat. His expression settled back into its usual detached composure, as though nothing whatsoever had gone wrong.

"I thought you had detention today."

"Well, yeah, I was, but that wasn't my fault! I was framed, so I ran away!" Heavy protested, completely oblivious to the look Dee was giving him. Heavy grinned and started walking down the sidewalk, apparently deciding that the matter was already settled.

"Come on! I'll tell you about it on the way home!"

Dee stared after him for a moment.

There went his carefully planned opportunity to play the charming hero.

With a quiet sigh, Dee adjusted the strap of his bag and followed.

"Alright."