Chapter Text
Bellwood’s public High school buzzed with excitement as the announcement for the Fall season dance echoed through the halls. For many students, it was a much-anticipated event, but there was another reason for the heightened energy: the rare appearance of Ben Tennyson in person. Mostly known for his heroic duties, Ben was one of the few students that often completed his assignments online, making his presence on campus a special occasion, especially since he dropped from the soccer team.
As the announcement ended, a wave of girls approached Ben, each hoping to secure a date with the famous hero. Some were shy, trying to gain his attention by just smiling and waving, others were more bold directly approaching him to invite him to the dance. With an awkward smile, Ben politely declined each offer, claiming he had already promised to go with someone else—a small white lie to avoid hurting anyone's feelings. The truth was, Ben wasn't planning on going to the dance; his duties often left little room for typical teenage experiences. While many admired Ben's heroic acts, not everyone was thrilled by the attention he garnered. A fair amount of male students are annoyed that they get rejected by the girls they ask since they are waiting in hopes of Ben asking them or reconsidering going with them and leaving them as a consolation prize. Among the discontented were Cash Murray and J.T. Thompson, Ben's former bullies. Although they no longer targeted Ben directly, their torment of other students continued, casting a shadow over their school lives.
Today has been a bad day for J.T, every girl he had asked rejected him, some politely, others with a bit of cruelty by laughing at him. Nonetheless, the boy with glasses has already given up already, decided to wait until the very end, hopefully someone would be desperate enough to say yes, especially considering his mother has already purchased a tuxedo. Heartbroken, he decided to buy himself a snack at the vending machines outside the cafeteria. Maybe that could improve his mood. He turned with the intention of asking Cash if he wanted something but he got rudely dismissed.
“Not now you idiot! Don't you see I'm trying to think!!”
J.T used to this treatment simply sighed. “Suit yourself dude, I'm going to buy something I'll be right back.”
“Yeah, yeah. Whatever”
They parted ways, in his way to the cafeteria Cash overheard a couple of girls mourning the fact that Ben Tennyson had rejected them, both girls pretty attractive. He felt something akin to rage built inside him, something he hasn't quite felt for a while towards Tennyson.
Jealousy.
While he and J.T still don't have a date for the dance Tennyson has with bombarded with proposals, not only cheerleaders but also girls from different clubs, theater, gymnastics, math, you name it. But Tennyson has the nerve to reject every single one, claiming to have already met someone. What a lie, Cash knows better than everyone else, Tennyson has been a loner ever since his cousin and that freak of a friend left Bellwood. He doesn't have friends that aren't related to him or are dating someone related to him OR are working with him. So he must be lying, but why?
Is he also waiting for someone in particular?
Does he just think himself better than anyone else in the school so none of the girls is really worth his time?
Whatever reason he has it better not be that he's looking for THAT girl. The only one that Cash has ever felt something other than just attraction. Eliza Taylor.
Cash felt particularly confident that day. He had set his sights on Eliza Taylor, a brunette and the leader of the cheerleading club. Despite her popularity, Eliza was down-to-earth and exceptionally bright, having helped Cash improve his grades enough to stay on the soccer team. She, who had the patience to be there despite his first bad impression he gave, a tough facade. From that moment, Cash developed a crush on her, leaving notes in her locker and trying to catch her attention at games. Now, with months of effort behind him, Cash was ready to ask Eliza to the dance. From there, he's going to confess his feelings, if everything goes according to his plan she will say “Yes” and the both of them are going to be a happy couple.
As he approached her in the cafeteria, his heart raced and his hands were sweating. Eliza was sitting with her friends, laughing and chatting, oblivious to the approaching drama. Cash cleared his throat, trying to steady his nerves.
"Hey, Eliza," he began, smiling confidently.
Eliza turned to him, her smile warm and genuine. "Oh, hey, Cash! What's up?"
Cash took a deep breath, glancing briefly at the ground, trying to gather the courage to continue. "I was wondering if you'd like to go to the dance with me."
A hush fell over the group, and Eliza's friends exchanged glances. Eliza hesitated, clearly taken aback, that made his heart sink to his stomach.
"Oh, Cash... I—I'm flattered, really," she said, her voice gentle. "But I'm actually waiting for someone else to ask me. It wouldn't be fair to keep you waiting if that happens."
Eliza didn't mention who she was waiting for, but her eyes involuntarily flickered towards a table in the corner, where Ben Tennyson sat alone, eating his lunch. Cash noticed the glance and felt a pang of jealousy. Again.
No. It can't be. Not again.
He tried to keep his composure. "I could be as good as anyone else," he insisted, forcing a smile. "Maybe even better."
Before Eliza could respond, her friend Allyssa, known for her straightforward attitude and being on the karate team, cut in. "Cash, take a hint. She’s not interested. Accept it like a man and move on."
The bluntness of Allyssa's words cut deeper than any polite rejection. The cafeteria had gone silent, and now, whispers and snickers began to ripple through the crowd. Cash's face flushed with humiliation. He wanted to say something, anything, but the words stuck in his throat.
Eliza, noticing the situation escalating, tried to intervene. "Allyssa, that was—"
But it was too late. The damage was done. Cash turned on his heel and walked away, trying to ignore the laughter that followed him. Eliza looked at him, she was about to go after him, feeling a pang of guilt, but Allyssa held her back.
Just as the laughter reached a crescendo, Ben stood up. "Hey, cut it out," he called, his voice carrying across the room. The chatter died down as all eyes turned to him. "Everyone gets rejected at some point. It's tough enough without people making it worse. Show some respect."
The room fell silent, and the laughter quickly dissipated. Eliza's cheeks flushed a deeper red, touched by Ben's unexpected defense of Cash. Ben sat back down, not making eye contact with anyone, but the point had been made.
Cash, however, burned with a mixture of shame and anger. As he stormed out of the cafeteria, he muttered under his breath, "This isn't over, Tennyson."
---
Cash bolted out of the cafeteria, pushing past students in the hallway, ignoring their surprised protests. His vision blurred, not from the physical pain of being shoved aside but from the sting of humiliation and the tears he refused to shed. He wasn't going to cry, not here, not now. Not where everyone could see his weakness.
He made his way to the soccer field, the familiar green expanse offering a semblance of solace. Once there, he let himself go. He screamed, venting his anger and frustration into the empty air. He kicked at the ground, sending clods of dirt flying, and lashed out at nothing and everything. His fists clenched and unclenched as he raged, the release of pent-up emotions providing a temporary relief.
It happened again. It always has to be him, Ben. He's always on his way!!
Even when they were kids, Tennyson always found a way to be better than him, it didn't matter if he was way stronger or how many times he pushed him around, making his school experience a living hell, he was always a victor. He has a better life than him, he has better friends than him, even better parents that no matter what, had his back. He has been witness to it, how despite not having above average marks his parents praised the ground he walked in.
While his own parents just glared at him with disappointment. And that's when they actually care enough to even show up, the same with soccer. Or anything he tries to shine, Tennyson somehow gets involved and ruins everything for him. He has already accepted that he was never going to make his parents proud, he came to terms with that the same night he accidentally heard his parents wish he could be more like Ben, how Fabulous must be to have such a talented kid. His father is a co-worker of Tennyson's dad, always asking for him more than he asks for his own son. Despite that, his parents were decent enough to still provide for him, to set aside a college fund even when they're not even sure he's going to pursue higher education or if he's even graduate.
But still….
Cash let out another frustrated scream, despite that, coming to terms of being a disappointment to his parents was something he was used to by now, he at least knew he counted with J.T and he was already in love with the idea of having a girlfriend. To have Someone who he could love and cherish but apparently it wasn't meant to be. Thanks to Tennyson.
It wasn't fair, Tennyson couldn't even keep a girl for more than a year, Yamamoto being the proof of that. But still girls (and even boys) throw themselves at him.
It wasn't fair.
He really liked her…. She was the first person who actually looked at him as a person and not just a bully.
It not fair.
After a few minutes of this frenzied outburst, Cash finally dropped to the ground, panting and exhausted. He sat on the grass, staring blankly at the field, the weight of the day's events pressing down on him. His mind raced, replaying the scene in the cafeteria over and over, each time more painful than the last. As he sat there, trying to steady his breathing, he heard footsteps approaching. Cash didn't bother looking up; he knew who it was.
J.T. stood a few feet away, shifting awkwardly on his feet. "Hey, Cash," he started hesitantly, "you okay?"
Cash let out a bitter laugh, not meeting J.T.'s eyes. "What do you think, genius?" he snapped, the sarcasm biting.
J.T. flinched but tried to keep his voice steady. "Look, man, it's not the end of the world. I heard that the girl from math class, Sarah, she's single. Maybe you could—"
"No," Cash cut him off sharply. He didn't want to hear about other girls or other chances. The sting of Eliza's rejection was still too fresh. "Forget it."
J.T. hesitated, unsure of what to say next. He had seen Cash upset before, but this felt different—more intense, more desperate. "So, what do you wanna do?"
Cash stood up, dusting off his pants. He looked at J.T., his eyes cold and determined. "We're skipping class," he declared, the decision already made.
J.T.'s eyes widened in surprise. "What? Now? But we—"
"Either you come with me or stay here. But I'm leaving," Cash interrupted, his tone leaving no room for argument.
J.T. glanced back toward the school, conflicted. He knew skipping wasn't the answer, but he also didn't want to leave his friend alone, especially not like this. With a resigned sigh, he nodded. "Okay, fine. Let's go."
They grabbed their backpacks from the locker room and slipped out of the school grounds. They had done this before, sneaking away when things got too tough or boring. But this time, as they walked away from the building, there was a weight to their steps, a sense that something had shifted, something they couldn't quite grasp but would soon confront.
As they disappeared down the street, Cash's mind churned with anger and resentment. He couldn't shake the image of Eliza's disappointed face, the laughter that had followed his rejection, and Ben's unexpected defense. It all swirled together, a toxic mix of emotions that threatened to overwhelm him.
And deep down, a part of him knew this was just the beginning of something much darker.
---
Cash and J.T. spent the rest of the afternoon at the pier, trying to distract themselves from the day's events. They ate as much food as they could afford with the little money they had, but Cash couldn't stop grumbling about the rejection. J.T. did his best to calm him down, though his efforts were mostly in vain. After a while, they decided to head to the arcade, hoping to blow off some steam. They played a few games, but it quickly turned into a scheme to bully smaller kids into giving them their tickets.
While wandering around, Cash spotted Eliza and her friend Allyssa near a shooting game. His eyes narrowed, and without thinking, he grabbed J.T.'s arm and dragged him behind another game, close enough to overhear the girls' conversation. J.T. protested, but Cash waved him off, intent on eavesdropping.
Eliza was speaking in a low, chiding tone. "You didn't have to be so hostile in the cafeteria," she said, clearly upset.
Allyssa rolled her eyes, not bothering to hide her annoyance. "Eliza, you're too kind for your own good. I wasn't hostile; I was just telling the truth. Guys like Cash only understand blunt honesty."
Eliza shook her head, sighing. "You could have at least been a bit kinder."
With a huff, Allyssa replied, "Kindness doesn't work on everyone, Eli. Besides, you want Tennyson to be your date, right? So, why don't you just ask him already?"
Eliza's face reddened, and she looked away. "No, he already rejected a lot of girls. I can't do that."
Allyssa turned to face her, momentarily distracted from her game. "Hey, come on, Eli. You're amazing. If he isn't into you, it's not the end of the world. He's not the only guy on the planet."
Eliza bit her lip, her voice softer. "I know, but ever since he saved my dad and me from that bridge, I just... I wanted to at least thank him. Or maybe just dance with him."
Allyssa cursed as the game flashed "Game Over" on the screen, her distraction having cost her the win. Eliza gave her a sheepish smile.
"Look," Allyssa continued, her tone more encouraging. "So what if he doesn't want to go to the dance with you? You can still dance with him. Remember, the king and queen of the dance always have a little dance together. That's your chance!"
Eliza looked confused. "What do you mean?"
Allyssa smirked, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Rachel told me someone nominated Tennyson for King. You know he's going to win that; there's no way the other guys can compete. All you have to do is win Queen."
Eliza's eyes widened in shock. "What!? But I'm not even in the contest!"
Allyssa grinned wider. "Already sorted. I signed you up. You're welcome!"
Eliza gasped. "Allyssa! This is stupid. Maybe I should just tell Cash I'll go with him. This is too much for a silly crush."
"No way," Allyssa insisted firmly. "After your last ex, you deserve an upgrade, not a downgrade. Besides, a pity date is worse than rejection, believe me."
Eliza hesitated but nodded slowly. "Oh... I hope you're right."
With that, the girls left, completely unaware that Cash and J.T. had overheard everything.
As they watched the girls walk away, J.T. glanced at Cash, who was glaring after them, his face a mix of anger and hurt. "So, what now?" J.T. asked cautiously.
Cash didn't respond immediately. His mind raced with thoughts of humiliation, jealousy, and a growing desire for revenge. Finally, he turned to J.T., a dangerous glint in his eye. "We make sure Tennyson doesn't get to enjoy his crowning moment," he said, his voice low and menacing.
J.T. felt a chill run down his spine but nodded, knowing that whatever came next, they were both in it too deep to back out now.
---
As they rode the bus home, J.T. didn't attempt to start a conversation. He simply let Cash sulk in silence, lost in his own thoughts. Sometimes, J.T. wondered if his friendship with Cash was really worth all the trouble. They were in their sophomore year, and college was just around the corner. Even thinking about college was strange for him; he wasn't sure if he was college material or even wanted to go. His parents weren't particularly insistent on it, either. They'd once admitted they'd be happy if he just managed to graduate high school.
Especially considering the company he kept.
It wasn't a secret that J.T.'s parents weren't Cash's biggest fans. They never said it outright, but their disapproval showed in their actions. They weren't mean to Cash, but the sidelong glances, the frowns as soon as they saw him, and the tone they used spoke volumes. It also wasn't a secret that they would've preferred if J.T. had stayed friends with Ben, especially after Ben's hero identity was revealed.
J.T. sighed, his thoughts drifting to Ben. They'd been friends from preschool to second grade, their mothers having initiated the friendship since they were friends themselves. At first, J.T. was happy; Ben was a good friend and always let him borrow his toys.
But Ben had one major flaw.
He had a penchant for playing hero. A sickly, scrawny boy trying to defend others when he couldn't even defend himself. It got old quickly for J.T. He wasn't willing to suffer alongside Ben just because Ben wanted to be a hero. When Cash moved into town and was transferred to his class, the connection was immediate. Ben had been ill that week, so Cash and J.T. bonded. Cash provided something Ben couldn't: protection.
Cash was a year older than them, having been held back because his parents were too busy to pay attention to him and moved frequently due to his father's job. He was big, strong, and soon became the boss of the class. Ben was left behind. J.T. admitted that the first week after Ben returned had been hard; Ben had been his first friend, after all. But after witnessing what other bullies did to their classmates, he decided to cut his losses.
J.T. at least hoped that Cash considered him a friend as much as he considered Cash his. Their bus stop came up, and they got off, walking to J.T.'s house in silence. As they entered, J.T. greeted his mom, who was getting ready for her shift at work.
"Hi, Mom!"
"Hi, sweetie," she replied, then noticed Cash. Something shifted in her eyes. "Hello, Cash."
Cash nodded. "Hi."
A solid minute of silence passed before J.T.'s mother handed him a couple of bills. "Your sister will spend the night at her friend's house; they have a project due tomorrow. Your father has the night shift as well, so you're alone. Remember not to stay up late. Goodbye, sweetie!"
She kissed him, prompting a whine from J.T. "Mooom!"
She merely waved goodbye to Cash before leaving the house.
"So," J.T. started, "are we going out for dinner or ordering takeout?"
Cash was already making his way toward J.T.'s bedroom, his attention focused on his phone as he texted. "Let's order pizza; I don't feel like going out," Cash replied, barely looking up. "Besides, we have a prank to plan, and I'm staying the night to brainstorm."
J.T. gulped, feeling a knot of anxiety in his stomach. "What about your parents?"
Cash shrugged, not seeming concerned. "I already texted them, and it's not like they care."
"Okay," J.T. said, though his voice lacked conviction. The idea of planning another prank, especially with the stakes getting higher, made him uneasy. But he followed Cash into his room, knowing that once Cash set his mind on something, there was little chance of changing it.
Despite the main reason for staying the night being to plan the perfect prank for Ben, J.T. managed to convince Cash to also enjoy some other activities, like playing video games and watching a movie. By the time they were hungry enough to order, it was already dark.
Cash was stuffing his face with pepperoni pizza while watching another silly movie J.T. had put on the DVD player. His mind was still raging, not just from the events of the day at the school cafeteria, but also from Allyssa's words about him being a downgrade.
"That bitch is lucky I don't hit girls, because if I did, she'd be sorry for calling me a downgrade," Cash muttered angrily.
J.T., trying to steer the conversation away from violence, asked, "Do you have any ideas for the prank? You're usually the one who comes up with the good stuff."
Cash growled in frustration. "Yeah, I know! But this time is different! Tennyson isn't that wimpy kid we used to easily torment back in middle school. Not only does he have that blasted watch, but he's also strong in hand-to-hand combat. I've seen him fight aliens without even transforming, so ambushing him in an alley isn't an option anymore."
"We could fill his locker with trash or gum, like we did in seventh grade," J.T. suggested.
Cash slapped the back of J.T.'s head. "Don't be so basic, you idiot. That's so childish. Besides, he hardly uses his locker anymore; it'd just be a mild annoyance."
They sat in silence for a few minutes until J.T. spoke up again. "Then what?"
"I don't know! Help me think!" Cash snapped, his frustration mounting. "It has to be something humiliating."
J.T. thought for a moment, then his face brightened as he snapped his fingers. "I know! Why don't we pull a 'Carrie' on him?"
Cash raised an eyebrow. "A what?"
"A 'Carrie'! You know, dump pig's blood on him when he's crowned, like in the movie?"
"Pig's blood...? Where the hell are we supposed to get pig's blood?" Cash asked, incredulous.
"Well, it doesn't have to be pig's blood! It could be red paint or just trash or anything nasty!" J.T. suggested, excited by the idea.
Cash was deep in thought, seriously considering the plan. He even started thinking about how to get the paint, but then he shook his head. "We can't do that."
J.T.'s jaw dropped. "What!? Why not!?"
"Because, you idiot, the king and queen are crowned at the same time. I don't want to hurt Eliza," Cash explained, his tone surprisingly softening at the mention of her name.
J.T. sighed, realizing that Cash's feelings for Eliza were complicating things even more. The prank was starting to seem more and more like a bad idea, something deep inside him was telling him so but he wasn't brave enough to actually defy Cash
knew directly because he knows that after he beats the living crap out of him for betraying him he most likely will do the pranks without him anyway, so he stayed silent. The night dragged on, the two boys tossing around increasingly outrageous ideas, none of which seemed to fit the bill.
J.T. groaned. "Why are you so sure Eliza is going to win!? Yeah, she's popular, but she's not the only candidate for the crown. I mean, I heard Yamamoto is competing; she could win, so it would be totally fine to dump the paint on them."
"Don't say that!" Cash snapped, his voice rising. "She's going to win! I know it!"
"Okay, okay, calm down!" J.T. said, raising his hands in a placating gesture.
"But you have to know that Eliza will be affected either way. I mean, she's going to dance with him, so anything we do to him will affect her in some way."
"Yes, but let's keep the collateral damage to a minimum," Cash replied, his tone firm.
Another twenty minutes passed, filled with more brainstorming and debunking of ideas, until Cash suddenly spoke up. "What if we make him puke in front of everyone?"
J.T. turned to look at him, not fully believing what he just heard. "Seriously?"
Cash hit him on the shoulder. "Don't look at me like that! Hear me out!"
J.T. nodded, still skeptical. Cash had dismissed many of his ideas as childish, but now he was suggesting something that seemed just as immature.
"You know Tennyson likes the attention, but he also worries a lot about his reputation! If we make him puke in front of everyone, it would be humiliating. Not only that, he'd make a fool of himself in front of Eliza, and we could also spread nasty rumors about the incident!"
"Oh..." J.T. said, starting to see the potential in the plan.
"Think about it," Cash continued, his eyes gleaming with malicious excitement. "We can even record it and post it on the internet so he can't forget that humiliation for a while!"
J.T. nodded slowly, the gears in his mind turning as he considered the possibilities. While the idea was still childish, it was more in line with the kind of pranks they used to pull—hurtful, but not physically harmful. It was a plan that would satisfy Cash's need for revenge without crossing a line they couldn't come back from.
As they began discussing how to execute the plan, J.T. couldn't shake the feeling that this was going too far. But seeing Cash's determination, he kept his doubts to himself, unwilling to provoke another outburst. Instead, he listened and contributed where he could, all the while hoping that something would stop them before they put their plan into action.
"How do we make Tennyson puke?" J.T. asked, scratching his head.
Cash hummed thoughtfully. "We could put something in his food."
J.T. shook his head. "He doesn't even eat that much, especially in public."
"You're right," Cash agreed, frowning as he considered their options. "We need something more foolproof, something that we know will work for sure."
They sat in silence for a few moments, thinking hard. Then, a wicked grin spread across Cash's face.
"What if we spike his drink?" Cash suggested. "We could slip something into whatever he's drinking at the dance. Something that'll make him sick to his stomach."
J.T. hesitated. "I don't know, man. That sounds risky. What if he gets seriously sick or something? We could get into a lot of trouble."
Cash rolled his eyes. "We're not going to poison him, idiot. Just something to make him nauseous. Like... I don't know, laxatives or something? But in a smaller dose, so he just gets queasy."
J.T. still looked uncertain, but he nodded slowly. "I guess that could work. But how are we going to get close enough to spike his drink?"
Cash smirked. "We'll figure that out later. The important thing is, we have a plan. And Tennyson won't see it coming."
J.T. sighed, feeling a mix of excitement and dread. They had a plan, but as they discussed the details, he couldn't shake the nagging feeling that they were crossing a line. But with Cash so determined, he knew there was no talking him out of it now. All he could do was hope that nothing would go wrong.
"What about spiking his smoothie?" J.T. asked between bites, his face lighting up. "He's always drinking those."
Cash's eyes widened with excitement. "That's what I was thinking! We could put some laxatives in it!"
J.T. nodded slowly. "It could work... But my dad uses laxatives sometimes, and they take a while to kick in fully."
Cash frowned, considering the issue. "You're right. If we give him laxatives, he'll probably have time to leave. We need something that makes him sick instantly so he can make a fool of himself right there!"
Cash gulped his soda, deep in thought. He considered the possibilities, wishing he'd paid more attention in science class to learn about the human body and how to provoke vomiting. Meanwhile, J.T. was also thinking hard, trying to recall anything useful. Suddenly, a core memory hit him.
---
Flashback
Two five-year-olds were playing in the schoolyard, busy building a dirt castle and chatting about how good paste was. The green-eyed boy, Ben, stood up.
"I'm hungry. I'm gonna get my snack," Ben announced.
The boy with glasses, J.T., pouted. "But recess is almost over... Don't go!"
Ben shook his head. "I'm hungry, and Mom gets mad if I don't eat."
J.T. inflated his cheeks in frustration but then smiled as he remembered something. "You can eat this!" He pulled out a small piece of candy from the front pocket of his overalls—a Reese's peanut butter cup.
Ben's face paled, turning a shade of green. He shook his head vigorously. "Can't. They bad."
J.T. tilted his head in confusion. "Bad?"
"They make me sick. They're yucky," Ben replied, looking genuinely worried.
"Really!? But they're good!!"
"Not for me, peanuts make me sick."
"Sick?"
"Uh-huh. They make my tummy hurt and make me wanna puke."
"Oh..."
"Yeah."
With that, Ben turned and left, leaving J.T. with a buried memory, something he hadn't thought about until now.
---
"I know!" J.T. exclaimed, his eyes wide with realization.
"Really?" Cash asked, raising an eyebrow skeptically.
J.T. nodded. "I remembered something from when Tennyson and I were friends..."
Cash's face flickered with jealousy, but he kept quiet.
J.T. continued, "He once told me that peanuts make him sick!"
Cash's smirk widened. "How sick?"
"Sick enough to make him puke."
Cash laughed, grabbing J.T.'s shoulders. "Dude, I know you don't hear this very often, but you're a genius!!"
J.T. just smiled, feeling a mix of pride and discomfort.
Cash went on, "Peanut butter is easy to sneak into a drink. I think there's even a smoothie with that on the menu."
"But how do we make him drink it?" J.T. asked, frowning.
Cash thought for a moment and then snapped his fingers. "We could use peer pressure. You know, we come to him, offer the drink in front of everyone. Remember, he cares about his reputation. If he doesn't accept a gift from a fan, it would look bad on him."
J.T. considered it but then shook his head. "That's not going to work. We have a bad reputation already. Most people would be suspicious if we suddenly gave him a gift out of the blue."
Cash growled in frustration, tempted to lash out, but he knew J.T. was right. "Then we play the long game."
"The long game?" J.T. asked, curious.
"We have exactly two weeks before the dance," Cash explained, a devious grin forming on his face. "We can use that time to get Tennyson to trust us. We start being nice, helping him out with small things, making him think we've changed. By the time the dance comes around, he'll be more likely to accept something from us without suspicion."
J.T. nodded slowly, seeing the logic in Cash's plan. "And then we give him the peanut smoothie."
"Exactly," Cash confirmed, his eyes gleaming with malicious excitement. "He won't see it coming."
End of chapter 1