Friendship in Brimstone City
Another average day started for Tony Lawrence. Wake up at 6AM, eat breakfast, and get ready for school. Tony was sixteen years old, 5 foot 7 inches tall, and 160 pounds. He had blue eyes and a head of greasy brown hair. He was relatively strong, but didn't have very good muscle tone. Tony was the tight end on the football team at Central High in Brimstone City, Ohio. He wasn't a very popular kid, despite having good looks and being on the football team. Socially, he could get really awkward.
While Tony wasn't popular, Lucas Norco was the most popular guy in the school. He was also sixteen, 5 foot 6 inches, and 140 pounds. He had hazel eyes and hair like Tony, only a little wavier. He had just moved from Chicago last year. Ever since Lucas moved to Brimstone City, he had been popular. Everyone was trying to be his friend. Nobody actually succeeded because Lucas didn't really like people. He loved attention and being around others, but he just wasn't very fond of them.
One day after school, while Tony was walking around town, he saw Salvador Velázquez Perez, the biggest bully in town, trying to pick a fight with Lucas. He was pushing Lucas around while Lucas tried to get away from him. Tony saw this and immediately ran over to them. When Tony got over to them, he yelled at Salvador.
"Why don't you pick on someone your own damn size?" Tony continued to walk threateningly towards Sal, hands clenched into fists.
"Shut up and get out of here! This isn't your fight, bitch!" said Sal, getting irritated.
"You just made it my fight!" said Tony, still walking in the direction of Sal, popping his knuckles and staring him in the eyes.
Sal saw this and tried to punch Tony, only to get dodged and to get a fist to the side. Tony and Sal went on for a good ten minutes, Sal landing only a couple of hits on Tony. When they had finally finished fighting, Sal got up and started walking away, yelling over his shoulder to Tony.
"You haven't seen the last of me, Tony! And don't think I forgot about you, Lucas! I'll be back to finish what I started, next time without any interruptions!"
"Come on back when you think you're ready to try again!" said Tony, triumphantly. He then went over to Lucas.
"Hey Lucas, are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine now thanks to you. How about you? Sal got a couple of good hits in on you." Lucas replied.
"Oh yeah, I'm fine. Might have a bruise in the morning but I'll be fine. I'm just happy that Sal finally left."
"It's a good thing, too. I can't imagine what he would look like after you got done with him." Lucas joked, laughing a little.
"Yeah, me either." Tony responded, laughing a bit, too.
"So why does he bully people?"
"Huh? Oh, Sal! Yeah, he just has daddy issues. His dad always beats him when he gets home from work. And he's only like half Sal's size, but he is strong, don't get me wrong." Lucas laughed a little at the image of a tiny man beating Sal.
"Sal just looks for a way to get back at someone for what his dad does, so he decides to bully people." Tony finished, and Lucas looked like he still was confused.
"But why would he go after me of all people instead of some weak nerd?"
"I have no clue, but if I had to guess, it would be because he wants to humiliate you in front of everyone at school and take your status as most popular in the school."
"That makes sense," Lucas replied, now understanding everything.
"So," Lucas pondered," would you like to hang out for a while, you know, since you just saved me, and so we can get to know each other better?"
"Why not? I don't have any other important stuff to do today, and I don't have to be home until ten, so sure!" And with that, Lucas and Tony went to the town park.
"So tell me about you, Tony," Lucas said as they arrived at the park.
"Well, my name is Tony Lawrence. I'm sixteen and I am on the football team. I play tight end. I also have very few friends. I tend to get awkward almost every time I try to ask someone out or try to make a new friend." Lucas nodded, knowing how Tony felt. "Well enough about me. Tell me about you."
"My name is Lucas Norco, and I'm also sixteen. I don't go out for any sports, but I love to run. Um, I love to be popular, yet I don't really like people. I mean, I love the attention, don't get me wrong, but just talking to people is not my forte. Most people are all up in your face most of the time when you're popular, always trying to be your friend. I guess that you are my first real friend since I moved here."
"Why, thank you. I am touched to hear that." Tony was happy and surprised by what Lucas just said. "At least we have something in common, though."