Chapter One

The Days as Usual

A young man walked down a hall with lockers lining the wall. He closed his fist and lightly tapped it against every other one. He continued walking until the lockers stopped and were replaced by a door. The young man placed his hand on the door handle and opened it. As soon as he opened it, he was greeted by a male professor.

"You're late Mr. Edward Cole." He said. He was obviously in the middle of a lecture that he did not want interrupted. His facial expression showed that he was slightly ticked off. "Take your seat." He said pointing back to the projected screen on the white dry erase board. "And if you're late like this again, don't bother showing up. Now as I was saying…" He continued.

Eddie took his seat and was a little aggravated at the use of both his first and last name. Professor Cid was just trying to tell him that although he was being polite Eddie was in trouble. Eddie pulled out his pencil and his notebook. English was written on the front cover. He opened it to reveal words neatly lined across the page. A closer look revealed that the words were not, in fact, notes for the class but instead a story that Eddie had been working on. Eddie started writing for what seemed like seconds but turned out to be the class period. He was interrupted only by Professor Cid shouting out, "don't forget your term paper is due next week!"

Everybody got up to leave and Eddie could see Professor Cid waiting at the door for him as he packed up his stuff and walked to the door. "Could we talk for a moment?" He said shutting the door after the last person left the room. Eddie smirked at the apparent choice he had in the matter and sat down in the desk closest to the door. The Professor propped on his desk and started to clean his glasses as he spoke. "How are you doing?" A little taken back by his choice of words Eddie answered. "Fine I guess."

"How are your other studies going?" He continued prodding.

"Good." Eddie kept his answers short and sweet hoping to keep the conversation the same.

"I've noticed something these past few weeks. The time spent in my class is pretty much wasted in that little notebook of yours." Cid said picking up on Eddie's hints and placing the glasses back on his face.

Eddie shifted at the words knowing the Professor found out he wasn't taking notes. "It's just a little something that I've been working on."

"You've been working on it for quite some time now, yes?"

"Yes."

"Would you tell me what it is?"

Eddie sat there for a second. He was debating lying to him or telling him the truth.

"It's just a story that I have been working on since the beginning of this year." He decided to go with the truth. He didn't really care what he was going to say about it so he might as well.

"Really? That's interesting…"

"Interesting. Why is that interesting?"

"Well have you started to your term paper?"

"No, but I was going to as soon as I could." Eddie started, defending himself.

"I have a proposition for you Mr. Cole." He said standing up and walked around to his chair and sat down. "I am a part of the board of directors for the Young Authors of America, better known as YAA, and I've read the essays that you have written in my class and I'm interested in that story you have there."

Eddie was a little taken back. "Really?"

"Yes I would love to read and review it for you. If you can get it done by the time your term paper is due I will let it take the place of it and will grade you based on your story. Deal?"

Eddie answered without a moment hesitation. "Yes. You have a deal."

"Good then. Now I'll see you tomorrow and you better not be late." He said opening a drawer on his desk and pulled out a sack.

"Yes sir. Thank you sir." Eddie got up and opened the door. He heard Professor Cid as he shut it behind him. "Yum peanut butter and banana sandwich, my favorite."

It took a little while for Eddie to get changed into his gym cloths. His mind kept drifting in and out on the story and what he was going to do next. Eddie spotted his friend walking closer to him holding two single bladed wooden swords.

"You up for a little sparing practice?" He said throwing the sword at Eddie.

"Sure Ronney," Eddie said catching it in mid air, "what's the count?" Eddie asked warming up his right shoulder with his left hand.

"49-49. We're tied." Ronney said going into his fighting stance.

"Well then," Eddie twirled his sword and set up his stance, "this will decide the leader again, huh?"

"Yup." Ronney said charging Eddie. Ronney was 6'3 to Eddie's 5'10. Clearly bigger and stronger. Eddie, however, was faster and more agile. Ronney swung hard and Eddie sidestepped out of the way, bringing his sword towards Ronney's side. Ronney tucked in his arms above his shoulders and folded the sword down his side.

The swords collided and Eddie could feel the wood strain against each other. Too close. Eddie was too close to Ronney. It was a mistake that cost him a lot of matches against Ronney, staying in too close for too long. Eddie jumped back away from the stalemate and moved back into his defensive stance. Ronney rushed him again and swung one swing after another. Block and parry was all Eddie could do. Eddie was quicker but if he tried too soon to advance on Ronney, he would be finished in the flurry. Eddie kept backing up until the wall slowly crept up on him.

Good. The wall was getting closer and closer to Eddie's back. Just keep the pressure up and I will eventually beat him. Ronney thought. Eddie stepped back and Ronney saw his foot hit the bottom corner of the wall. This was it. Touching the wall had to throw Eddie off enough for a final strike. Ronney reared back and started to swing hard at Eddie's shoulder. Victory would soon be his.

Good. Eddie thought. He felt his felt foot slide into the bottom edge of where the floor met the wall. And just as Eddie expected Ronney went for the finishing move as soon as his foot hit. Eddie dropped his sword around his waist in a sheathed position and waited for Ronney to start his swing. There was no turning back now.

It was too late for Ronney to stop his swing. Just as he had started it with all he could muster, he saw Eddie bending his knees enough to lower him just below the arc of the sword, which missed his head by no more than an inch.

This was it. All or nothing. Eddie grunted under the concentration and tightened his muscles. He used the wall to push off against and swung his sword at Ronney's abdomen. It landed with a satisfying thud, sending Ronney stumbling backwards onto the floor.

Ronney's head hit hard against the floor blurring his vision. It was a good strike but Ronney had enough time to tighten his abs to resist the brute of the blow. As he landed his sword flew from his hand and slid away from him. Even though he could still go on in real life the blow would be a finishing one if it were real swords. Eddie had won.

Eddie walked over and stood over Ronney. "Well that was a quick match, even for my taste." He reached down and grabbed Ronney's hand pulling him up. Eddie could tell Ronney was still dazed by the attack and let him rest on his shoulder for a bit.

"You planned it the whole time, didn't you?" Ronney said getting up off Eddie's shoulder and walking over to his sword.

"Not the whole time…" Eddie said. "Just today." He smiled. Ronney was a lot of things but he wasn't a sore loser.

"Well…" Ronney said picking up the wooden sword. "I want a rematch." Ronney said lowering his sword into his stance.

"No problem here." Eddie readied his sword too. "I would love to beat you twice in five minutes." He smiled slyly.

"Hold it!" A young man came in busting trough the door of the gym. He was a shorter boy, about 5'6, and had a buzzed haircut like Eddie's but his was a dirty blonde to Eddie's chestnut brown. "We have a problem!"

"A problem?" Eddie relaxed his stance. "What kind of problem?" He inquired further. He was staring hard at this boy, his brother. His name was Fredrick Martin Cole, named after their mother's father.

"B.J. is going to get jumped by Ryder and his goons!" Fred said panting. He obviously was out of breath.

"Where did you hear this?" Ronney said extending his hand outwards towards Eddie. Eddie threw his sword to Ronney who walked over to the station to put them up.

"In class today. They were passing notes around and I picked it up from the trashcan after class. They said they were going to do it after school today." Fred responded back finally catching his breath.

Eddie looked up at the clock in the gym. It was already after school. School ended at 3 o'clock and it was now fifteen after. Eddie looked down at the floor realizing they were too late. Ronney sensed what Eddie was feeling and placed his hand on his shoulder. Just as soon as he did it though the gears in Eddie's brain started working.

"It's not too late! Come on guys!" Eddie started running for the door. He hit it hard sending the door crashing to the wall making a loud bang against it.

Ronney was right behind Eddie and Freddie caught up to him after a few strides. "Why are we running? They would have gotten him by now and sent him to the nurse's office." Fred almost lost Eddie as he turned the corner sharp. "Which is now in the other direction." Fred stated.

Ronney yelled up ahead of them before he finally caught up. The length of his legs kept him from getting a head start but eventually would allow him to catch and pass them but instead he kept pace with Eddie and Fred. "Yeah Eddie. What's up?" He asked.

"Every other day B.J. goes to the library for about fifteen minutes to do god knows what and then he goes home. He starts on Monday and today is Friday." Eddie turned again and started in an all out run.

"How do you know this?" Ronney said.

"I'm obsessive compulsive I guess. I know where you guys are pretty much all the time. Very repetitive schedules." He answered back. Eddie was a little weird he realized but now his weirdness might help him save his friend from becoming a punching bag.

Ronney saw the double doors in front of them and by now he had passed Eddie and Fred. He slowed, throwing his hands outward, and threw open the doors. It slowed him down enough for Eddie and Fred to catch up.

Fred always had the best vision. He could see all four of them ganging up on B.J. from a distance. It prompted Fred to run faster. He could feel his heart racing and his fists clench in rage. They would pay for this. They will pay for their cowardice.

Four of them. Eddie counted. They had been working B.J. over for a little while. Eddie spotted Ryder hiding behind the other goons. There were two holding B.J.'s side and another hitting him in the stomach; Ryder was standing behind them watching in delight. Eddie would wipe that smug look off his face. Nobody hurt his friends and got away with it.

Ronney was on the left side of the group running for B.J. Eddie was in the middle which left Fred on the end. They were so close, about 50 yards away now. Ronney saw Eddie starting to slow down, eventually falling slightly behind the rest of them. He must be tired. Ronney thought. But this isn't that bad a run. What is he up to? 25 yards now. Eddie doesn't slow down for any reason… there has to be a reason. 15 yards to go. Ronney could hardly see the man beating B.J. in the stomach and the goons hasn't even noticed them yet. Wait. Ronney could hardly see B.J.'s attacker. Which means Eddie could hardly see him too. That's it. Eddie was slowing down to give Ronney and Fred enough time to free B.J. before he could get his attacker. Ronney smiled as he slid into his victim's legs, sweeping them from under him. Eddie was always a step ahead.

Eddie sprinted with all his might. Either Fred and Ronney picked up on his plan or it just fell into place. Either way it was working. Ronney had swept out his targets legs; now close enough to be identified as Kalvin. Fred on the other hand was spotted by his target, Kyle, and was in a standoff. Kyle and Kalvin, both brothers, had let go and their attention was diverted. B.J. collapsed in a heap and revealed Eddie's target, Randal. Eddie could see the surprised look in Randal's face as he jumped over B.J. and sunk is shoe into Randal's chest, which quickly changed the expression on his face. Eddie landed and looked straight at Ryder. Who just smiled and looked back.

"Well well well. If it isn't Eddie and his friends. How are you doing?" Ryder chided as he rolled up his long sleeved shirt. He knew this would get Eddie upset.

"Why? What did B.J. do to you?" Eddie asked bringing up his hands in an altered boxing stance. Ryder had ear length black hair and stood eye to eye with Eddie. Eddie knew better than underestimate him. He had heard rumors of his fighting skills but had never seen them before.

"Oh you mean him." Ryder laughed. "He didn't do anything." He brought his fists up in a regulation boxing stance. "It's you I want." Ryder could see Eddie's brow narrow and his nostrils flare. Good he had gotten Eddie's attention. "You think I would just leave a note in the trashcan like that? I knew your brother would go nosing around and find it. I knew he would go tell 'Big Brother' and you would come to his rescue. I want you just because some people say I can't beat you. I am the strongest fighter in this school, and nobody, especially not you, is going to stand in my way."

Eddie shook his head. "You're an idiot. There are more things in life than being the strongest. You're so stupid, but if that's the way you want it." Eddie charged Ryder. "Than that's the way you'll get it.