Reborn Tycoon; Ethan Wayne’s Rise

Chapter 1

“That exam was …”

“Absolutely exhausting. God!”, Benji blurted out.

“Ohkayy..”, Ethan said slowly in a low voice.

“I couldn't even get halfway through the theory and those objective questions were just way too difficult to solve each in sixty seconds! It was our last exam for God Sake, why did they have to make it so hard!”

Benji kicked a bottle in his way in anger. He kicked

it again and this time, Ethan strolled a little ahead of him, kicking the bottle to the side. It jumped up as he applied force to the slimmer end. When he caught it, he shot it into the dumpster.

“Really?”

“What? We have to keep the school clean”

“We are graduating in a few weeks Ethan. You don't have to care so much”

“Well, as vale…”

“Valedictorian yeah, we get it. You don't have to rub it in our faces”, Benji said, rolling his eyes in an annoyed and exhausted manner.

“How am I rubbing it in your face? I was making a fact”

“Oh yeah, in the middle of me pouring my heart out about that exam”

“Hey, hey. I did not, ok? You were done talking”

“No I wasn't. I was waiting for you to make a statement but I guess you weren't listening anyway. Trust you to be more concerned about a bottle than your best friend”

“What..? Oh.. ok are we.. Are we really doing this right now?”, Ethan asked, his expression serious.

“I don't know about you Dawg but I need out.”

“Out of what?”

“I need to cool out”, Benji said, taking a detour. He strode off the interlocking.

“But what about our plans for tonight?”, Ethan said, his arms spread out. He got no response as Benji continued to stroll away towards a building not so far away.

Ethan watched his best friend, left a little confused from his behavior that evening. He could have pinned it on the exam but Ethan felt there was something more to it. Ethan stopped staring but his mind seemed to become restless over the issue. Why should he though? He knew Benji couldn't stay angry for long. They'd be back to normal by tomorrow, even tomorrow was too long for Benji to cool off. Perhaps, it was the crack? Benji should have stopped drugs a long time ago. But a forgotten habit wasn't hard to hook on again, especially one that was so hard to come off.

Ethan soon reached the main study hall where he'd left his books and bag. At the right middle corner of the hall, Ethan shoved his books into the black medium sized school bag. He wasn't in a hurry for somewhere else but something in him just didn't want to stay a second longer. The hall was rowdy anyway and that was something he wasn't a fan of.

Lucas, the Chancellor's son, and his gang, sat across not too far from where Ethan was. Of course, they had to be the ones playing the horrible music that seraded the whole hall.

Lawless beings.

When Ethan was all packed up, he was ready to leave.

At least he attempted.

“Isn't that Pickle boy?”, One of Lucas' minions called out to him. They all laughed, turning toward him.

Ethan ignored, walking on.

“Hey Pickle boy”, Lucas’ sarcastic voice rose above the music. Ethan ignored still, making his way to the door. The volume turned down slowly.

“Hey! You deaf?”, one of the boys shouted, jumping a row of chairs as he got up. Ethan still didn't answer. He placed his hand on the door knob.

“I dare you, Pickle. Go through that door”

Ethan stopped halfway, his hand still on the door. He gritted his teeth, his anger rising. Why did they have to make it so hard? He didn't want to fight, not now that he'd kept such a good streak being valedictorian.

He looked down. The footsteps of the lot he could hear were slowly walking down to where he was. The door seemed to form a perfect angle of 45°. Perhaps if Ethan had a protractor, he could confirm that he was right.

“I thought so. Pussy”

They laughed and it echoed like the hall was empty. But it was only quiet and within those seconds, it was funny how many people had left.

“Turn, you pussy or I'll turn you”, one of the boys threatened.

Ethan let go of the door and it swung shut, the sound of the door hitting its frame echoing throughout the hall. When Ethan turned, there was for sure almost no one else in the hall. The boys were a bit taken aback but they braced up.

“Tough pickle huh?” Lucas asked in a sarcastic tone and the others laughed.

“You think you're so tough. Banging the door like some cowboy superman.”

Ethan kept shut, looking him in the eyes. Lucas stepped forward, trying to measure up.

“Is hearing not one of your superpowers, Pickle Boy?”

“My name is not Pickle Boy”, Ethan said, his voice low in an uncanny calmness.

“Are you trying to argue with me, valedictorian?”

Ethan smirked. “What do you want, Lucas?”

“Aha! Now you're talking Pickle Boy. Me and the boys were hungry. Could you help us grab a snack from Burglaries?”

“I'm not your errand boy, Lucas”

“Is that a No, Pickle Boy? I don't remember giving you a choice”

“I wasn't asking you either”, Ethan said coldly. He adjusted the bag across his shoulders.

“I have somewhere to be”

He turned but Ethan hadn't expected them to leave him alone. Of course they hadn't. Lucas had dared to try and drag his shirt .

“Hey! I'm not done talking to you Pickle Boy!”

Kpow!I

Ethan turned more swiftly than Lucas had imagined he would and soon he saw himself across the hall, his jaw rearranged. His side hurt as well and it took a minute for both to come to realization and when Ethan did, he bolted out of the door.

“What the … the fuck!”, Lucas struggled to stand up, holding his side. He whimpered like an injured dog.

“What are you all doing standing like dummies, huh? Get him already!”

They all ran out almost at once. Ethan by this time had gone some distance but even he had sustained some sort of injury. His knuckles hurt and his fingers felt weak as well. Not to add, he'd hit his feet on a stone in his attempt to escape.

Unfortunately, he couldn't do that for long. The boys were on his tail and his bad foot was in pain.

“Shit!”