Jake led a boring life. He would wake up, go to school, go home, go to sleep. His family’s lives were boring too. His sister complained nonstop about being bored. His parents were always working. Meetings, meetings, meetings, and nothing else. When Jake tried to spend time with them. They always said, “No, too busy.” He asked his sister to play, she always said, “I’d rather be bored by myself.” Every day he was alone and bored. Jake just wanted to be acknowledged. He had almost no friends and his family ignored him 24/7. He had to find something to do; he just had to. So he did.

Jake started creating his drama. It started with minor things. He sneaked down to get food or watch TV. Soon he started lying. About sneaking downstairs in the middle of the night. About taking things that weren't his. About his homework. It became his second nature to lie. Jake began talking back to his parents. They did not react well, but at least they reacted. He started picking little fights. Never anything physical. He was bored but not stupid. He would spark drama here; some rumors there. People he did not like, those who didn’t acknowledge him, he attacked with mind games, and trickery that cut into people's skin like daggers. He could break friendships and serious relationships with a single sentence. He could ruin anyone.

One of these people was Addia Bugg. She was a loud, annoying person. She never knew when to keep her mouth shut. She cheated on tests and bullied the younger kids. Worst of all, she never acknowledged Jake, not even as someone to bully. Her friends were toxic. None of them really liked each other. Jake reasoned that Addia deserved what was coming to her. 

One of her friends had a bad digestive problem which they would need to cure with daily pills. If they did not, they would randomly throw up, get rashes all over their body, and in horrible cases, they could get so messed up, they would have to go to the ER. 

The teachers had no idea about this medication. Jake hatched a plan of attack. He took the pills from their locker to the bathroom. He emptied them onto the bathroom floor and left the medication bottle there as well. Eventually, the teachers found the pills in the bathroom. They called everyone to a meeting. All of the students. All of the teachers. All of the staff. Including me. Jake was sitting just three people away from me. He never could have known what would happen to him the following day.Teachers said they found pills and a bottle but the prescription was missing. Having any drug was against school rules. The perpetrator would be punished severely. Everyone was dismissed. Jake took the prescription paper and hid it in Addia’s locker. Of course, the teachers found it. Her friend was expelled immediately. The prescription was found in an Adidas locker. She had conspired with her friend to get the drugs without anyone knowing. That's what the teachers thought. Addia swore she had nothing to do with the drugs and had no idea her friend even had them. She demanded they check the security cameras from that day. They did not see Addia anywhere. They saw someone else entirely. 

Addia was showered in sympathy with people constantly apologizing for the way they treated her. Suddenly, the nasty comments, alienation, and bullying turned their big ugly face toward Jake. Addias' friend was allowed back in school. She was, however, still suspended as the pills were against school policy. Jake got expelled. People started saying that the incident went on his permanent record. 

People will always want to do new, exciting things. They want to lead interesting lives. All Jake wanted was some attention. He just wanted to be noticed. Being noticed made him happy. I can not speak for Jake. I can not tell you what he was thinking as he left. However, I bet he wished he had never destroyed people for attention. After all, attention is completely different from vengeance.