Breathless

Chapter Five

Thirty minutes later, the parents of Todd Smith were sitting in front of Principal Wallis. Molly Taylor had just arrived. 

"I demand to know what happened!" said Todd's father Aaron.

The principal nodded. "There was a fight between Todd and Justin, and Todd got hit in the nose."

"Justin broke it!" exclaimed Todd as he held his nose.

"My poor baby," cooed Todd's mother as she held him in her arms. Justin felt like rolling his eyes but figured that nobody would appreciate it.

"What the hell do you plan to do about that... that... *hooligan*?" demanded Aaron as he glared at Justin.

"Hey!" Molly said as she jumped up and faced off with Aaron. "Justin is no hooligan. If anyone started this fight, I'm sure that it was *your* son."

Looking at the principal, she said, "Look at Justin. He's got bruises on him and Todd only has a hurt nose. An *unbroken* nose. Now, who do you think got the worst of it?"

Before Principal Wallis could say anything, Todd's mother Judy spoke up. "I'm sure that my son was just protecting himself!"

Molly let out an unladylike snort, "Sure."

Principal Wallis stood up. "Now, let's all calm down," he said as he tried to diffuse the situation. The truth was, he had been getting quite a few complaints about Todd Smith, from other students, about him taking their money, wanting to copy their schoolwork and hitting or pushing them. He had delayed doing anything about it because the Smiths were prominent and influential people in town. And, they would donate quite a bit of money to the school. Sighing, he thought about what he was going to do.

"Wallis, what do you plan to do about this?" asked Aaron Smith.

Principal Wallis resisted the urge to sigh and scrub his face with his hands. "Well, I'm going to suspend Justin for three weeks for fighting."

"What about him?" Molly asked as she nodded in a smirking Todd's direction.

"There is no proof that Todd did or instigated anything, Miss Taylor."

Molly couldn't believe it. "What do you call *that*?!" Molly demanded as she pointed to Justin.. The principal looked at Justin. He had a swollen black eye, a bruise on his right cheek, and a split lip.

Swallowing hard, he answered, "Mr. Smith was protecting himself. Boys will be boys after all."

Justin wasn't surprised by the principal's answer. He had been silent the whole time since Molly and the Smiths had arrived. He figured nothing he could say would make any difference. He was surprised that Molly was sticking up for him, though. He'd never had anyone do that before. Molly, on the other hand, was flabbergasted that the principal wasn't going to do anything to the Smith boy. She could see Todd smirking, knowing he had gotten away with it. When she saw the arrogant smile on Mr. Smith's face, she knew where the young boy got his attitude from. "Fine. Justin will *not* be returning to this school. And, I'll be sure to let anyone know, that will listen, what goes on here. This is the exact reason that Justin doesn't trust anyone. Not only do you not help him with the bullies, but you didn't help him when he needed you the most. When he was getting hurt at his house. You sicken me. How the hell you *ever* became a principal, I'll never know." With that, Molly turned to Justin and said, "Let's go." Without looking back, they both walked out of the office and out of the school.

When they were in the car and headed toward the house, Molly asked, "Are you sure you're alright, Justin? I think I should take you to the hospital."

Justin shook his head, "I've had worse. I don't need to go to the hospital."

"Son--," Molly started.

Justin sharply cut her off. "Look, Molly, I appreciate you sticking up for me. I don't know why you did it or what you want for doing it, but I would like it if you don't call me your son."

"I stuck up for you because I love you and that asshole principal was in the wrong. For a ten year old, you're pretty cynical."

"I have a lot of reason to be," Justin commented softly.

Molly sadly glanced at Justin before returning her attention to the road.

Silence reigned in the car for a few minutes, until Molly spoke. "Well, as soon as I can get your transcripts from Saint James, you'll be starting a public school. There's one not far from the house. Is that okay?"

Justin nodded and shrugged. "Sure."

DINNER TIME--SIX PM

Lindsay and Melanie had been appalled at what had happened at Justin's school. Melanie had even mentioned taking legal action. Trying to cheer Justin up, Melanie suggested they all four go to the Liberty Diner for dinner. "It's on Liberty Avenue. I think that you'll like it. It's where Debbie works."

Justin nodded, taking the ice pack off his eye. The ice had helped with the swelling some, but the eye was still black and puffy. Twenty minutes later, the three adults and Justin walked into the diner. Justin's eyes got wide as he took in all of the Pride flags, colors, and gay couples. He could see women kissing women and men kissing men. Justin wasn't against gays, even though he had been taught to hate them by Craig, but he wasn't used to seeing so many in the same room.

Spotting Debbie sitting at a table with Brian, Michael, Ted, and Emmett, the group of four headed over. "Hey!" said a smiling Debbie when they stopped at the table. Her smile left her face when she got a look at Justin's.

Before she could say anything, Brian spoke up. "What the fuck happened to you?" Brian demanded. He had gotten instantly angry when he had seen Justin's face. Whoever did that would answer to him.

"Just a boy at school," Justin answered softly.

Molly went on to explain what had happened. "Something needs to be done!" exclaimed an angry Debbie.

"We agree. Melanie says there are grounds for a lawsuit," spoke up Lindsay.

"I'm not sure that we should go that route, though," Molly said as she cast a meaningful look in Justin's direction. They all got the message. Molly didn't know if Justin would be up for it.

Deciding to change the conversation, Debbie asked, "What would you all like to eat?" After receiving their orders, Debbie headed for the kitchen to put them in.

"Are you alright, Justin?" asked a concerned Emmett.

Justin nodded. "I'm fine." Trying to lighten the mood, he said, "I'm sure that it looks worse than it is." They all smiled at the ten year old but were all thinking the same thing... 'I'm sure it looks as bad as it is.'

Looking at Justin, Brian made up his mind. He was going to teach Justin to defend himself. To fight. When he was through, any asshole that thought about touching Justin would think twice.

THE NEXT MORNING--SATURDAY

It was nine in the morning when Brian knocked on Lindsay's and Melanie's door.

"Hey, Brian. Come on in," said Lindsay.

"Is Justin up?"

"Sure is. He's in the kitchen."

Brian walked into the kitchen, seeing Justin slowly eating a bowl of Fruit Loops. "Hey, Sunshine."

Justin looked up, smiling as best he could with a split lip, at the nickname. "Hi. What are you.... doing here?"

"I came to see you."

Justin got a fluttering feeling in his stomach that he couldn't explain when he heard that. "W--Why?"

Not caring that Lindsay was in the room, Brian answered. "I've decided that you need to learn to defend yourself."

"Brian, I don't think teaching Justin to fight is such a good idea," said Lindsay.

"Yes, it is. He needs to learn how to defend himself against assholes. I don't... I just think he needs to."

Sighing, Lindsay said, "You need to ask Molly first."

"Ask me what?" said Molly as she walked into the kitchen.

"Molly, I want to teach Justin to defend himself," Brian answered as he prepared for an argument..

Molly was silent for a moment, then spoke to Justin. "Is this what you want?"

Justin looked at Brian, then looked at Molly. "Yes," he firmly but softly said.

Molly nodded, "Alright."

 

THE NEXT AFTERNOON

Brian watched as Justin walked out of Debbie's back door and into the backyard, toward him. Justin was wearing a pair of gray sweatpants and a white t-shirt, while he himself was in a pair of black shorts and a black tank top. As Justin walked toward Brian, it entered his ten year old mind that Brian looked good. He didn't understand the thoughts and feelings that he was having every time he was around Brian. He pushed the thoughts out of his head when he reached his friend.

"So, you ready?" Brian asked.

Justin shrugged. "I guess."

Seeing Justin's hesitancy, Brian asked, "Are you sure you want to do this? I won't be mad if you don't. I just want you to be able to defend yourself."

Justin nodded, with a sigh. "I know. I need to learn to defend myself. Learn to quit being such a... wi--wimp."

Brian fervently shook his head. "I never want to hear you call yourself that again! Do you hear me?"

Looking a little shocked, Justin nodded. "Good," said Brian. "Now, we'll start with some warm-up exercises."

Brian and Justin spent an hour doing stretches, jumping jacks, and sit-ups.

Grabbing two towels off the ground, Brian tossed one to Justin. Wiping the sweat off of his face and neck, Brian asked, "Feelin' okay?"

"Yeah. Feeling great," Justin replied.

Brian smiled and led him through a series of beginner punches and kicks. Two hours later, they finished their warming-down stretches and plopped down onto the grass. Handing Justin a bottle of Gatorade, Brian took a few sips from his own bottle. After a few minutes, Justin asked, "Where did you learn this?"

"Actually, I'm a black belt in Kickboxing."

"Really?" Justin asked with adoration showing in his blue eyes.

"Yeah. When I came to live with Mom, she enrolled me in a class, to keep me out of trouble. Now, nine years later, I'm a black belt."

"Wow! Will you teach me everything? Can I see your belt?"

Brian smiled at Justin's show of enthusiasm and nodded. "Sure can. And, I'll work with you on this as long as you want. So, I'm sure that eventually you'll learn everything that I know." Brian was almost blinded by Justin's bright smile.
 

TWO DAYS LATER---MONDAY MORNING

Molly had finished filling out the transfer papers and, at Justin's request, she had left. "I'm sure that you're going to enjoy this school," said the smiling female principal, Mrs. Phillips, as she escorted Justin down the halls of Allegheny Elementary School.

Justin just gave her a slight smile. He wasn't so sure. He figured that he'd have as crappy a time at this school as he did at St. James.

Reaching a closed door, as Justin was a few minutes late getting to home room, Mrs. Phillips stopped. Opening the door, she lead Justin to the teacher. Justin could feel himself blushing, because of all of the eyes focused on him, and he hated it.

"Justin, this will be your homeroom teacher, Mrs. Hazel. Mrs. Hazel, this is a new student, Justin Taylor." With that said, the principal left the classroom, closing the door behind her.

The teacher gave Justin a friendly smile and addressed the class. "Class, this is Justin Taylor. This is his first day, so please make him feel welcome." Facing Justin, she said, "Just pick an empty seat anywhere."

Justin nodded and moved to do as the teacher had said. He sat down in the first empty chair that he saw. Feeling a tap on his shoulder, Justin turned his head to the right and came face to face with a pretty African-American girl.

"I'm Daphne Chanders," she whispered with a smile as she introduced herself.
 

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