The Gang Leader's Impostor

CHAPTER FOUR

The room felt like an oven as I pushed myself up again. Sweat dripped from my forehead, making my eyes sting. My breath came in short bursts, and my arms shook with each push. But I couldn’t stop now. I needed to finish these push-ups. I was determined to push through the pain, to make every drop of sweat count.

Not to be cheesy or anything, but I really needed this change of environment. Finally, I have a chance to change my fate. I was no longer going to be that guy at the bottom of the food chain. I know I can’t change that by just exercising, but hell, I can at least try.

After finishing the set, I grabbed the jump rope. It was the same one I had as a kid, tucked away in a box until now. The rope slapped the floor as I jumped, the rhythm matching the beat of the music blaring from my speakers. I pushed myself harder, trying to keep up with the fast-paced song. If I wanted to make this ‘change’ believable, I had to do this.

I switched to sit-ups, feeling the burn in my core. Then it was on to lunges, my legs screaming in protest. Each movement was a struggle, but I welcomed the pain. It meant I was getting stronger. It meant I was changing.

Outside, the sky was just turning into bright shades of reds and oranges. I didn’t notice Radley at first. He was on his balcony, drinking some bright-colored drink as his school uniform flapped in the air, an unfamiliar school crest marked on his chest.

I could feel his eyes on me, studying every move I made.

When I finally turned to look at him, he winked and my heart skipped a beat. I nearly dropped the dumbbell I was holding, and it almost landed on my foot. I swore under my breath and glared at him. Radley just smiled and raised his drink in a silent toast. The look on his face was calm, but I felt a mix of irritation and embarrassment.

What did he think of me? Did he find my struggle amusing?

Annoyed, I shut the window, blocking him out. I couldn’t let him distract me. I took a deep breath and went back to my routine. I switched to squats, feeling the strain in my thighs. My muscles screamed for a break, but I ignored them. I had to keep going. I had to be ready. I needed to look the part when school started.

I cranked up the volume on the speakers, letting the music drown out my thoughts. With each beat, I pushed myself harder. My body was soaked with sweat, my clothes sticking to my skin. The room smelled of must and sweat. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, red-faced and breathless, but I saw the progress too. I was getting there.

Time blurred as I moved from one exercise to the next. My arms, legs, and core were all on fire, but I relished the burn. I imagined walking into school on the first day, feeling the stares, hearing the whispers. They would see the new me, the stronger me.

Finally, exhausted, I collapsed onto the floor. My chest heaved as I lay there, staring at the ceiling. The music still played, but it felt distant now. My body ached, but I felt a sense of pride. Whether or not Radley was making fun of me inside his head, it doesn’t matter now. A little bit more of this and I can beat him in a fight.

...

Mom called for supper that night. As I got down the stairs, one step at a time, I felt every muscle in my leg burn and winced with each step. Each move was slow and careful, like a turtle that had just given birth. I’m aware that I look like I’ve just been tortured, an image that I would never dare let anyone see in this new town. Hell, if anyone would set their eyes on me right now, my new reputation is over.

I continued climbing down the staircase, this time, I was doing it backwards. Halfway down, I saw a familiar set of eyes meet mine and when I realized whose they were, I nearly fell off. Radley was there, hands in the pockets of his hooded sweatshirt, his smirk almost mocking as he stared at me waddle down the stairs like an eighty-year-old.

"Did your little exercise do that to you?" he asked, tilting his head to the side with a playful smile.

I just glared at him, trying to hide my embarrassment and pain. "What the hell are you doing in my house?"

Radley pointed at someone in front of him. That's when I saw Mom holding an empty dish, smiling at Radley, and glaring at me.

"Get down from the stairs and greet our guest properly," she said. "Radley brought lasagna over as a welcoming gift from his mother."

“Are you sure it was from his mother? Satan’s spawn over here could’ve poisoned the food,” I sniped and looked at Radley with raised eyebrows.

My mother gasped in shock and threw an oven mitt in my direction. “Alexander! How could you say such a thing?! Get over here and apologize right now!”

I caught the mitt and clenched my jaw, feeling every tendon in my body ache as I bounded down the stairs. Each step was a struggle, but I managed. Radley just chuckled when he saw me bite my lip to avoid looking like I ate an entire pickle.

“Sorry,” I strained out, my eyes still hot on Radley who only bit back a smile.

"No need for such formality," he told my mom, still smiling.

"Well, then, thank you for the food," Mom said to Radley. "It was very kind of your family."

Radley nodded. "My mom wanted to make sure you felt welcome."

“Oh, how kind of her. And I’m sorry about my son.”

“It’s okay. The two of us have actually already met before so we’re somewhat friends now.” He turned to me and leaned closer, his eyes taunting. “Remember? When you pulled on my ank—”

“OKAY! Time to go!” I forced out a laugh. “Don’t you have an assignment to do?”

I couldn't believe what I was doing. I could feel my face burning, partly from the workout, and partly from the sheer awkwardness of the situation.

I was giving him all sorts of looks that I swear I felt my eyes burn just to shut him up before he could even finish his sentence. Before stepping out the door, Radley gave me one last look over his shoulder. "See you in school," he said and winked.

I stood there, watching him leave, feeling a mix of anger and embarrassment. Mom just sighed and went back to the kitchen.

"Come on, supper's getting cold," she called.

I followed her into the kitchen, my legs still aching. The smell of food made my stomach growl, but my mind was racing. What the hell was wrong with that Radley guy? Was he doing this on purpose? Is he out to bully me for embarrassing him at the mall?

Seriously?

We sat down at the table, and I tried to focus on the food. Mom chatted about her day, but I couldn't shake the image of Radley's smirk. Was he making fun of me? Or was there something more to his visit?

"Are you okay?" Mom asked, noticing my silence.

"Yeah, just tired," I replied, forcing a smile. "The workout was tough."

"Well, don't overdo it," she said with a concerned look. "You need to take care of yourself."

I nodded, but my thoughts were elsewhere. What the hell did he mean by ‘see you in school’? Is he going to be at my school? Wait. Was the uniform he was wearing earlier from North Shore High? Would he tell everyone about my clumsy moment on the stairs? Would he keep mocking me, or was this some weird attempt at trying to make friends?

After supper, I helped Mom with the dishes, the routine tasks giving me a chance to clear my mind. By the time I headed up to my room, the ache in my muscles had dulled, replaced by a new determination. Whatever Radley had planned, I would be ready. I had worked too hard to let him get to me.

As I lay in bed that night, I looked in the direction of my closed window. For a split second, I wondered what he was doing. And as if on cue, I heard a dull tap on my glass window that sounded like it was coming from outside. I did not dare open my windows.

“Good night!” I heard someone yell from outside and I sat up. It sounded like Radley. The i***t.