Never Judge

To Al's surprise, even when Fred publicly declared that he was siding with Cara and the new kid, there was no outlash against him.

Rather, it backfired. They thought that since they were the popular group, everyone would gravitate to them.

Fred and a few of the other guy's parents were high ranking employees in several companies including the Reyes Group and Laurence Incorporated.

Fred's own father was a department head, he wasn't high enough in the ranks to have seen Ray often, or else he would have recognized Al.

"Shouldn't you be attaching yourself to them?" Cara asked one boy that slid on to their table and sat with them.

"No." The boy said as he offered his hand out to Al. "Ismail."

"Al." He replied as he took the other boy's hand and shook it. "This is my cousin, Eric Sebastian."

Ismail nodded and smiled at Eric.

"Ismail was one of my few friends before you came along." Cara said as she blushed. "He was the one I would have lunch with. We were also classmates in most classes."

Al nodded as he made a mental note to have Ismail's schedule to match theirs if he proved to be someone they could add to their group.

"Why didn't you approach us before this?" Al asked, curious as to why he was only meeting the other young man today.

Ismail smiled and scratched the back of his head.

"To be honest, it's because you're quite intimidating." Ismail said with an awkward laugh. "We thought Cara was just an exemption, not the new rule."

"New rule?" Eric asked as he laughed at the other man's terminology. "I didn't know a person could be a rule."

"Eric." Cara said as she elbowed Eric on the ribs, making him cough.

Cara's eyes went wide when she suddenly realized who she had hurt, it wasn't just any classmate, it was Eric Chan. Even without his face being seen he was popular.

"Calm down." Eric said as her panic registered.

"But-" Cara was about to say something when Al suddenly held her hand and tugged on it.

Cara looked up and saw a pleading look in Al's eyes. She didn't know whether to laugh or feel touched by his expression.

"Careful." Al warned.

Cara simply nodded in response and changed the topic.

"Al, you were always intimidating to everyone. They thought that if they approached us you would send them away or your friends would bully them too." Cara did her best to explain while Al simply nodded.

"You can all join us then." Al announced.

Since Al was now more accepting of everyone, it seemed the tables had turned.

Those that had been popular a while back were now at the bottom of the food chain.

To Al's surprise the rest of the day went peacefully.

They managed to leave school without incident as he, Eric, and Cara happily chatted as they walked to the bus stop.

When they got on, Eric gave his cousin a concerned look, making Al raise a questioning eyebrow at Eric.

"What's with the look?" Al asked Eric in a low voice, careful that no one else would hear him.

He knew that it was unlikely for someone they knew to be in the bus, but out of habit, Al chose to be quiet.

"The day is over, Al, we're headed home. You seem like shit's about to hit the fan." Eric confronted his cousin, choosing not to filter his words.

"I can't help it." Al sighed. "But the day isn't over, Tristan and Arthur are joining the other Mafia and Gangs today."

"You're worried they will get recognized?" Eric asked.

Al nodded as he looked out the window.

"We should talk about this at home, not here." Al said.

Eric nodded and returned his attention to Cara.

When they got home, Al's driver was quick to take them to the headquarters of the Dean Family Mafia where Seth was waiting for them.

"You'll do it right this time." Seth told Al as he crossed his arms and observed the young man. "No more running missions I don't know about."

Al nodded.

"I don't like having minors among my ranks, but unfortunately, we need to do this. I expect both of you to be on your best behavior." Seth told Al and Eric.

The two young men simply listened and nodded to his instructions.

"Okay, your targets." Seth handed them a folder each.

"Wait!" Eric said as he pointed at the document before him. "This guy isn't in the Dean family mafia."

"And so?" Seth asked. He sounded as if Eric and Al should have expected that they would be separated.

"Nothing." Eric told Seth, embarrassed that he had assumed things about their mission. "I just thought Al and I would both be assigned to the Dean Family Mafia."

Seth shook his head and sighed.

Al knew that normally his uncle would be furious at the person before him, but this was Eric and Al. He knew their fathers.

"You might be recognized here." Seth calmly explained to Eric. "Plus, we need to spread you four out, cover more ground."

Eric and Al nodded, they chose not to question Seth, they knew that he would not make them do something that wasn't important.

"Eric, we'll be sending you to the Rocci family. Unfortunately, Andres is in a meeting and couldn't on board you with the mission." Seth explained.

He then turned to look at Al and sighed.

"Your dad and uncle specifically requested that you stay here. Hendrick will also be on the same team as you." Seth told Al. "The teams are waiting in the two rooms outside."

"Are the traitors out there with them?" Al asked as he glanced at the door, ready to start his task.

"No, not yet." Seth said, shaking his head. "Today, you get used to the team you have to work with. Tomorrow, we will re-introduce all of you to each other. Clear?"

Al nodded and grinned, he was excited about getting back in the field.