Nightshade: A SimLit | Chapter 26: Bullied Bully

"Alexander, stop staring at them. They're going to notice and your plan will be ruined."

A smirk played on Alexander's lips as his gaze continued to fix on the sight ahead of him. He leaned against the cold plastic of the cafeteria table and waited patiently. "No way. This plan is perfect. See? They're getting up right now."

"Are you really sure this is a good idea?" Brynn frowned.

He sighed. "It's fine. It's not like it'll kill him... probably... it'll just make him feel sick for a day or two. Don't you think he deserves it?"

"...Well..." her voice trailed off and she nodded reluctantly. "You're right... he does."

As Vance and Dominic walked away from the table, Alexander saw his chance to strike and quickly walked over to the cafeteria table across from them. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a vial of red liquid.

"This is gonna be great," Alexander muttered as he poured some of it onto Vance's food and then retreated back to his seat.

"I can't believe you really did it..." Brynn sighed. "But it will be kind of funny to see him all sick and stuff, won't it?"

"Of course it will!" Alexander grinned. "Don't worry. He'll be fine."

As Vance returned to the table and bit into his sandwich, Alexander couldn't resist smirking as he watched triumphantly. 'Maybe this will teach you a lesson...'

-----

"What's wrong, Vance?" Dominic asked his friend as he was dragged into the bathroom.

"I don't know... I don't feel so good..." Vance said weakly. "My stomach is killing me and I have a headache."

"Maybe you should go see the school nurse?" Dominic suggested. "I wish there was something I could do to help you."

"I'll be fine..." He shook his head and took a step forward.

"No, you won't be fine! You're so sick you can barely keep your balance!"

"I said I'm fine, idiot!" Vance snapped, and suddenly felt his stomach churn.

Dominic took a step back as Vance threw up on the floor in front of him, a little shocked. "Vance... I'm serious, you're really sick... please go to the nurse..."

"I'm not going to the nurse!" Vance wiped his mouth and stormed out of the bathroom, shoving past Dominic on the way. 'The janitor will clean it, I guess...'

---

Vance walked through the doors leading into his house, having suffered through a miserable day at school, greeted by the sound of the TV blasting and his parents screaming. 'Dad must be drunk again...' 

He entered the living room quietly; his suspicions were correct. 

"All you do is drink, Donovan!" the woman yelled. "Drink, drink, drink! Down at the bar all day! And you leave me here to work a job and cook and clean while you get fired from almost every job you get from showing up DRUNK!"

"I ain't drunk, Kristie!" Donovan slurred. "I only drank a little!" He stumbled to his feet and approached her.

"Yeah, sure!" Kristie replied. "You're lucky I don't just kick you out and divorce your sorry--"

Vance watched as the argument escalated, endless curses and insults being loudly exchanged between his parents. He turned away and walked upstairs when he saw his father swing his fist and tried to ignore the sound of his mother's scream. He slammed his door as hard as he could and sat on his bed, holding back his tears. Reaching into his pocket, he grabbed his phone and searched for the number of his only escape.

"Dominic?" his voice quivered when he heard the phone being picked up on the other end.

"Hey, Vance? What's up?" Dominic replied, sounding a little down himself.

"My parents are fighting again..." he sighed. "It's all they ever do."

Dominic was silent for a moment. "...Well, at least you get to see your parents. I haven't hardly seen mine a minute all week... all they do is work."

"Yeah, I know. Speaking of my parents... I think I hear someone walking down the hall. We'll talk later, okay?"

"Alright. Bye, Vance."

"Bye, Dominic." He listened to the silence on the other end of the phone before slowly lowering it from his ear, already knowing who was in his room.

He didn't dare to look in his direction. "Hey, Dad--"

"Your repor' card came in today," Donovan began, his speech still slurring. "Your grades're even worse than before!"

He stood up and approached him. "Dad, I'm trying--"

"An' don' get me started on all the calls we got from the principal this semester! If you ain't in detention you're at the principal's office! Is that how I raised my son to act!?"

 "No, dad..."

"Then why're you doin' it!? You're nothin' but a failure and one'a these days you'se gonna have to learn a lesson!"

Vance furrowed his eyebrows. "What about the lesson you need to learn!? You're nothing but a drunk! All you ever do is drink and beat mom--"

Suddenly, his father lunged forward and took a swing at him, hitting as hard as he could. "Don' disrespect me!"

Vance stumbled back and whimpered, clutching his face where he was hit. "D-Dad, I'm--"

"This conversation is over! I don' wanna see you out of your room the rest of the night! No dinner, either!" Donovan turned and stormed out, slamming the door shut behind him.

Defeated, Vance walked over to his bed and laid down, finally allowing the tears to spill.