Safe Hands

42. THE FIGHT!

Grayson walked through the hall, mind wandering at everything except his academic success. He didn't want to do school, and as much as he tried, he found it very depressing. He glanced over his shoulder, expecting Julian to show up with his fair face and curly hair. Some kids whizzed past him, speaking of anime.

He walked into the lunchroom, half expecting Julian to be seated at their usual spot with a menu he had picked from experience. To his disappointment, it was empty. He slipped into his seat, pulling out his phone.

A text from Jerry:

Watch out, Miles is sniffing you.

A loud thud could be heard along with multiple gasps, then a tray hitting the floor violently. Grayson was startled by the sound. A group of students formed around the scene.

Curiosity and a sense of foreboding propelled him toward the commotion. Pushing his way through the gathering crowd, he finally saw the source of the disturbance. Julian was on the floor, hair messy, blood trickling down a nostril. Grayson kept his reaction in check, his eyes narrowing as he took in the scene. A group of seniors rounded Julian like wolves, Grayson looked closely and his eyes locked with Miles who was sitting on the edge of a table, his lips torn into a smirk.

"Well, well, if it isn't our fugitive," he trailed his boys laughing. "We were just looking for you, shrimp." Miles's green eyes light up.

Grayson stepped forward, his face a mask of calm anger. "You must be really desperate if you think picking on a kid is going to scare me."

Miles chuckled a dark sound that made Grayson's skin crawl. "We needed to get your attention. Guess it worked. He was going to have it rough anyway, your pet dog." He glanced at Julian's way with a wicked grin, Julian stared at his lap turning slightly red as the crowd erupted in laughter.

Grayson took a step forward, his voice dangerously calm. "I don't care, guess I need to teach you to pick on your size, Hulk."

The crowd went, "Ouuuh!" And some students head their breath back.

Miles' eyes turned cold as he stood straight. "How about I give you both some proper whooping?"

Grayson's fists clenched at his sides, but he forced himself to stay calm. "I bet there is no brain up there."

The crowd exploded with stiff laughter.

Miles' smirk widened. "Big words, Grayson. Let's see if you can back them up."

Before Grayson could react, two of Miles' boys grabbed him, holding his arms behind his back. He tried to shake them off but it wouldn't work. Miles stepped forward with a wicked grin on his face, he balled his fists before he began punching Grayson in the gut. The pain was immediate and intense, but Grayson refused to give Miles the satisfaction of seeing him in pain. He gritted his teeth, trying to find an opening to free himself. Julian watched in horror each blow, he could feel in the pit of his stomach.

The students around them gasped in horror, but nobody said a word, no one dared to intervene. Just as Grayson felt he couldn't take another hit, he managed to twist his body, using his captors' momentum against them. He broke free, shoving one of the boys into the other. And landing on the floor along with the boys.

Miles slightly startled, narrowed his eyes, "Get him!"

But before they could act a group of seniors rushed in, throwing the boys off Grayson, it was Jerry's crew! The lunchroom turned into a battlefield, Miles' boys versus Jerry's boys. Fists flew, and tables were overturned as the two groups clashed. Students scrambled to find safety while some bold ones stood to take videos.