Things were going well. Too well apparently, because it wasn't that soon after that things began to fall apart again. I should've known, my luck isn't nowhere near good enough to end a crazy day on a positive note. I mixed things between me and the Team Phantom, I comforted Sam and got her to accept what happened, and best of all I feel like I've gotten closer to both of them. By the end of the day, they began feeling less like friends I'm supposed to be associated with because I'm now Danny Fenton and more like people I want to be my friends.
However as we were leaving the school and made it to the sidewalk to go to my place for a hang out session, we were caught. By Dash-fucking-Baxter. I didn't even notice because I was focused on making genuine friends out of my childhood heroes that the fact the area became eerily quiet escaped my notice. I only realized too late that I should have been paying more attention to my surroundings when I felt someone grab my shoulder.
I turn around in confusion and hear Tuck groaning in annoyance from beside me. There he was. He was big, bigger than one would realize from the outside looking in. He had blond hair and dark blue eyes. Muscular and fit, he 's wearing the standard uniform of the jocks: a red-and-white letterman jacket, with a black t-shirt underneath and dark blue jeans and white shoes. It hurt my very soul to do it, but as he stood in front of me, I understood. I understood why he was so popular, so well liked by his peers and envied by the rest.
He exuded a confidence that only someone at the top of their hierarchy could. Handsome and strong, the fact that he was also the star of every physical sport team in the school, not just football. If I was still in my old world, as long as I wasn't the one being bullied, I don't think I would have stopped his abuse either. I cared much to stick up for people who at least didn't try to stick up for themselves. I'm just not a natural born hero, it's something I have to strive for. And I wouldn't want to be on this guy's bad side. Unfortunately, it seems like I already am.
"Where do you think you're going Fen-Turd? I heard you and your little girlfriend got into a lovers spat in the lunchroom today. Apparently there were waterworks and everything. Just because you're being a crybaby more than usual doesn't mean you can just walk away without permission." he says with a laugh and I see his little crew follow from close behind.
Kwan: the asian, sometimes genuinely nice, athlete. If Dash wasn't around, I think the guy would be just a normal nice guy. In fact, in the alternate timeline, didn't he become a scientist or something. He must be smart too. He just cares a little too much about what others think.
Paulina: She's the Dash of the cheerleaders and the undisputed leader of the girls in the popular clique. And I can see why Danny liked her, the latina looked positively gorgeous and if her personality didn't disgust me, I would definitely shoot my shot. Unfortunately I would very quickly get tired of her so she's a no go despite how pretty she is.
Star: She's Paulina's second, like Kwan is for Dash. Everything that can describe her superior could be the same for her, though I dislike her just slightly less than Paulina just for the fact that she's not all that bad. Just really annoying.
Valerie: I feel mixed feelings about the girl. She obviously has the capacity for kindness and can be sweet, but that doesn't change the fact that before she became unpopular she's a horrible person. It doesn't help that being one of the only black girls in the school means she's the only person who looks like me. Well… who looked like me.
"Look dude, now isn't the time. I have things to do today." I say with annoyance and shrugging his hand off my shoulder. Pissed. This guy immediately pissed me off. I can't do this bullying shit, it's just not possible. I have too much Pride. He looks at me, shocked for a bit, before he starts to laugh like he heard a joke. Which just pissed me off even more.
"Right, right, I got practice soon, thanks for remembering my schedule for me Fen-Toenail. I'm hungry." he states while grabbing my arm, and I wait a little bit for more, that's all he says. I raise a single eyebrow in confusion before replying in a slightly confused, yet irritated, tone.
"What the hell does that have to do with me? Go eat then."
"I agree, I should go eat. It should be around…$20. Have to get something for my friends too. So-" he reaches out his other hand, palm facing up. Is...is the fucker serious right now. He wants me to give him twenty fucking dollars. Is he insane? Before I could tell her exactly where can stick his hand, he said something else that made me snap. "Now."
It was simple really. Wasn't even that bad. But something about how he said, did something to me. Like he was so far above me, that he couldn't even imagine me refusing him. Like it wasn't even a possibility. And I couldn't hold it back. The anger. The anger that formed from deep within my chest. I only noticed me gritting my teeth when I found it hard to speak. Yet I tried anyway. One last attempt to get past this peacefully.
"Huh? Hurry up, I don't got all day." yet he didn't hear.
"I said...let me go. You. Bastard!!" And the next thing he knows, his head snaps sideways. I put my whole body into that swing, and it didn't even make him take a step back. Now I've gotten into plenty of fights in my old life, so i know how to throw a punch, but not only is this body scrawnier than what I'm used to, it doesn't help Dash towers over both my bodies. And just because I've gotten into fights doesn't mean I have training or know martial arts or any of that bullshit. Personal strength plays a lot into who's the victor usually and I no longer have much. So DPS will be my go to here.
Before he could get his bearings, two more hits connected against his jaw. I couldn't get a 4th one in, he finally got over his disbelief and realized what happened. With fury he swung and right at me which made me duck and dive into his midsection. If I could just get him off his feet, I may stand a chance, but even when I threw myself into him, he only took a couple of steps back. Wait, no, not a couple of them, but a single one. The bastard only needed one single step.
I realized my mistake in trying to sack a football player very quickly and knew things were going to quickly turn bad for me the moment my plan failed. A fist finds itself in my gut and it literally takes my breath away, but I hold onto him. Not because I had any further plans but because if I didn't, I would fall to my knees...and it would be over. Strong. Too strong. I won't win. I hear screams from behind me.
"Stay back!!!" I shout at both Tucker and Sam. I can't see them but I know they're trying to reach me, Kwan the only thing stopping them. I can't drag them into this, I couldn't accept the damage to my Pride but no matter what they shouldn't get involved. I tried to force my legs to stop shaking, to get some air in my lungs for my next attack, but I didn't get the opportunity. Dash interlocked his hands and swung down on my back. I dropped.