Tarnished Image

I wrote this story for class, but I love it so much that I decided to share it. My only issue about it is that it seems so predictable

Elijah Fields sat quietly in the busy police station filled with a plethora of criminals. He felt embarrassed while handcuffed to the small chair. He was bloody-nosed, black-eyed, and full of hate, anger, and regret. Elijah had always been a decent kid. He had a 3.2 grade point average and was the leading tennis brother in the state. His friends and teachers had never thought that they would see Elijah behind the Sapphire City Jail walls. Elijah was only four credits away from graduation. It seemed as though nothing could get in his way of graduating top twenty in his class with a scholarship to Ulysses Sorrells State University in Miami. This all changed when Melanie Jones returned.

Melanie had been a old classmate of Elijah's in middle school, when she was famous for trouble making. Melanie was rough around the edges, so girls hated her and the boys were terrified to see her coming down the hallway. She got sent to the Sapphire City Juvenile Hall in the eighth grade after getting arrested for shoplifting. Four years later, Elijah hardly noticed the new Melanie that elegantly graced his presence. She wore a pair of tight blue jeans, a red shirt, with a pair of red pumps to match. Her hair was no longer short and messy. It was long, reaching past her shoulders, and curly. Elijah had a hard time fathoming her new look, the look of perfection, because four years ago, he would have seen the exact opposite. He liked the change she had made. From that moment, she constantly lingered in his mind. He had to talk to her as soon as possible.

One day on his way to tennis practice, he found his chance while she was on her way to cheerleading practice with Soleil, her best friend. “Hey there Melanie!” Elijah exclaimed, acting as if he did not know she went to Sapphire City High. “Oh my goodness, Elijah is that you?” Melanie responded in a angelic voice that he was not used to. Elijah was expecting to hear the husky voice that used to curse him out in geography class. The two continued to exchange kind words and eventually walked away with each others phone numbers in their cellphones.

Elijah and Melanie then began dating. They had dates at the movies, the park, the skating rink, and other places they felt comfortable. Everything was perfect between the two until Colby Reed, Melanie's ex-boyfriend decided to intervene. Colby was a gangbanger, a drug dealer, and a thief. Because of who he was, Elijah despised him. Because of Elijah's success, Colby felt the same. To make things worse, the two were the best of friends long ago. They would trade cards and play tennis together, but one day Colby picked up drugs, and Elijah cut all ties with him. Now the two could not be in the same room without barking at each other. Seeing Elijah and Melanie together was fuel to the fire. “What are you doing with my girl?” Colby violently yelled from the end of the hallway after school. “Your girl? You must be confused.” Elijah responded. Before they knew it, there was a mass of people among them. “You guys should fight for me. It would really show that you love me.” Melanie said with a painted on smile. Elijah was shocked by her statement, but did not care: he was going to beat Colby for disrespecting him.

Suddenly a tall figure snatched Elijah into a office. The scuffle was over. Elijah adjusted himself only to realize the tall figure was his older brother Ezra. Ezra had been a star track athlete at the school, getting accepted into Harvard, but had to leave his full-ride scholarship behind when his parents died. Now Ezra coached at the school and went to Sapphire City Technical Institute full time. He also had to take care of Elijah and their little sister, Elisa.

“Eli, what the hell are you doing out there? Do you know you can be expelled? You need to get your mind off of silly girls who like to play games and wake up!, ” Ezra exclaimed from the top of his lungs. Elijah was upset his brother pulled him out of his battle. Ezra continued to chew him out, but by this time he had stopped paying attention. Elijah was tired of Ezra's lectures. He heard one every other day. “Listen E-Z, I'm tired and I don't feel so hot. Can we just nip this lecture until later?” Ezra let out a deep sigh and responded with “Fine. Go.”

Elijah went to his locker then out to his car to see the crowd of people gathered around it with Melanie and Colby in the middle, kissing. Elijah was hit with a wave of confusion, and began to swing repeatedly at Colby after snatching Melanie. Elijah became stronger with every hit, making sure every blow was crucial. “Don't hurt him Elijah! Go Colby!” was heard in the distance. Elijah turned to see a snickering Melanie. From that moment he had realized she never changed on the inside. She was pretty, but she was still morally rough around the edges. During this distraction, Colby grabbed his pocketknife and ran at Elijah. Elijah stopped his attack and knocked the knife to the ground. Colby then took two hits at Elijah's face, striking his eye and nose. Elijah hit the ground with a hard thud. He grabbed Colby's knife just as the police arrived.

Now he is in a investigation room, waiting for questioning. Instead, a tall man name Detective Vallejo burst in the room. “I'll give my side to the story.” Elijah said. He had time to realize he was wrong, and decided to cooperate. “That's cute,” Detective Vallejo said in a strong Cuban accent, “however, your buddy Colby Reed already sang like a bird. I think you are out of options.” Elijah looked down at his bruised hands. He felt like crying, but he couldn't drop a tear. He should have listened to Ezra, now he was going to be the guilty one. “The DA says you can either go to military school, or get sent to the state penitentiary. What's it gonna be?” Elijah made enough mistakes for the day and was not about to make another. He looked up from his hands in guilt and shame and said quietly, “military school.”

The next month, Elijah had his bags packed and ready for Durant Military Academy. He had already shaved his head to save the trouble when he got there. Melanie left him for Colby and later got pregnant and had Colby's first son. Colby was released in after his parents got his charges dropped. He continued his gang activity and was eventually convicted of robbery and sentenced to prison; the same one Elijah almost went to. Ezra stayed disappointed in Elijah for his actions, but still managed for Elijah to keep his tennis scholarship. Elijah made up in his mind he was going to excel at military school so he could start fresh at Sorrells State when he finished. Elijah said his goodbyes to Ezra and Elisa, boarded the bus, and started his journey to recovery.

I hope everybody likes it.