Heyo, Mouse here. Just so you know, this story is published as 'complete' because each piece/chapter can stand alone, and because I don't know if or when I'll ever add to it. All the same, if anything new occurs to me, I'll toss it up, so you're welcome to put the story on alert. Enjoy, my friends
Izzy stood with his back to a row of lockers, an arm slung around Mary's shoulders. Around them stood Shauna, Keisha and Tammy, chatting and laughing just like on any other day. They were waiting for Chuck and Earl to show up; no doubt the two of them had gotten into some sort of goofy mischief.
"Hey Double Dutch boy," someone cackled as they walked past. Most people had let it go by now. News of what had happened at his rematch with Rodney had travelled fast, and surprisingly, every time Rodney caught someone still laughing about it, he told them off. All the same, a few sorry souls still hung onto it. "Loser," the guy sniggered.
"Dude," Izzy called after him, spreading his arms wide and putting on a skeptical look as the kid stopped and turned to face him. "Seriously? I won't even start on how badly you'd do in the ropes." He pointed at Mary, then at the girls around him. "I've got a crazy hot girl and a solid group of friends. I'm a city champ and third in state at a sport I love. I'm not losing anything. Where are you?"
An uncomfortable expression on his face not even hidden by his attempted scowl, the kid coughed, turned and walked quickly away.
"That's what I thought," Izzy shouted, smiling.