Antonio and Jayden came into the Shiba House, bringing the fish cart into the main hall as they arrived.

"What did I tell you Jay, the sales worked a charm!" Antonio told him, waving around a large wad of money. "God bless hungry bargain hunters!"

Jayden laughed, but as he saw Brenda sitting with Mentor Ji, he tapped Antonio on the arm and pointed to raise his attention. He put away the money as he saw her.

"Ms. Hamilton..."

"There's no need to worry Antonio." She assured him. "At this time of year there are always a lot of people setting up food stands on the fly, and we've had a couple of complaints. I just need to make sure everyone's paperwork and equipment is in order."

"Right, of course." Antonio replied, gesturing to her to follow him. "Just this way."

As they went, Jayden gave Ji a knowing look, a little smirk starting to appear on his face.

"Well, this all seemed rather...cosy." Jayden teased him. Ji just rolled his eyes.

"Don't start Jayden." Ji warned him.

"Hey, I'm not saying anything." He continued to tease him as he followed his father-figure into the kitchen. Ji put the tea set on the edge of the sink, before turning back to Jayden. "I just think that the whole thing, sitting down with a cup of tea and cookies, it all looked...nice."

"It was nice." Ji agreed. "Brenda is very pleasant company."

"So...maybe you could suggest..."

"Given the nature of our last meeting, I doubt that would be a productive conversation." Ji stated flatly. Just then, Brenda and Antonio came back into the room. She handed Antonio a report, smiling as she did so.

"Well, I have to say that if every cart I checked out was this well maintained, my job would be a whole lot easier." She complimented him. "If you have any concerns or questions about what we discussed today, feel free to call my office and set up an appointment."

"I'm glad I could help." Antonio assured her. "Trust me; I've seen the stands you're talking about. It just gives the rest of us a bad name when one of them causes people to get sick."

"Well, if you see anything you think we should investigate, you can call as well." Brenda told him. "Unfortunately these guys set up and break down so quickly, normally by the time we hear about them they're long gone."

"I'll keep that in mind." Antonio stated.

"Thanks for the cookies." She called out to Ji as she made her way to the door. "They were just as good as I remember."

"I am glad you liked them." Ji answered with a little smile. "I'm just sorry about the greeting."

"Well, it was unique." She sniggered. "It's not every day someone almost brains me with a big stick."

"Bo staff." Ji corrected her as he showed her to the door. "Have a good day Brenda."

"You too Ji." She replied, giving him a little smile, before turning and leaving the Shiba House. As he watched her leave the gate, he took a deep breath.

"If the two of you are still there when I turn around, you'll both be doing laps until bed time." Ji warned them. Jayden and Antonio scrambled from the room frantically, leaving Ji in the hall. He just laughed and shook his head.

"Still got it." He chuckled to himself.

The following morning, Bulk dropped Spike off at the school gates. He had a few things to sort out before he went to pick Kim up from the airport. He looked to Spike as he applied the parking brake.

"Try not to worry too much." He said sympathetically.

"That's easy for you to say." Spike grumbled.

"I'm sure Kim will hear us out." Bulk said somewhat unconvincingly. For all the good qualities she possessed, Kimberly had never been the most reasonable of people whenever someone she cared about was threatened or hurt. It was hard enough knowing that he had let Skull down in his duty to take care of Spike, but knowing that Kim was coming, likely to see how bad things were and decide what to do next had him deeply worried. He loved the kid, he didn't want to see him getting hurt, and he had only been trying to do what he thought was right.

Spike was quiet as he got out of the car, making his way into the school. He wasn't too hopeful about Kim's visit either. As much as he loved his step-mother, he knew that she was far from happy to hear about what had happened since he had gone back to school.

As he made his way towards his locker, he saw the kids lining the corridors all whispering, and a few of them were even laughing. Thanks to cell phones and social media, everyone in school had heard about what had happened to Spike by now. Clearly most of them thought he had brought it on himself, and were on the side of the football team and their reign of terror.

He arrived by his locker, finding that it had been tagged. Someone had spray-painted the words "Welcome to Central Bitch" on the door. He just sighed, unlocking the door before fetching out his books for the morning classes. Vicky and Jimmy arrived by his locker.

"Are you sure you want to be seen with me?" Spike asked them. "I think it's been made pretty clear where the school stands on the whole situation."

"I never did care what they think." Vicky stated abruptly. She moved a little closer to him. "You're our friend, we wouldn't just ditch you."

"Yeah, you're the best Spike!" Jimmy assured him. "Brad found that out the hard way remember?"

Spike looked across the hall to the other row of lockers. Brad was back at school as well, also sporting the after effects of the fight. He had a lot of bruising across the face where Spike had kicked him, and his right hand was in a large, white cast as a result of his errant punch into the side of a dumpster. Spike just groaned.

"Great, that's all I need." He muttered. "That just confirms it, his hand is broken. The school's definitely going to hate me."

"We don't." Vicky reminded him.

"Thanks, I appreciate that." Spike assured her. "But I notice Mal isn't anywhere to be seen."

"I...uh..." Jimmy started to stammer out. "I haven't seen him all morning either."

As Spike was about to say something, Dr. Phelps arrived.

"Ah, Mr. Skullovitch, how are you this fine day?" He asked. Spike just looked at him rather incredulously. It wasn't like anyone could miss the fact that he had been in a fight.

"Uh...alright I guess." Spike replied.

"You see, I have heard troubling news about you my boy." He told him. "I hear that you believe that violence is an acceptable way to settle your problems."

"Sir I..."

"Well, I can't say that anyone has confirmed that, otherwise I assure you I would act, but I would say that perhaps the other boy made his point." Dr. Phelps said, looking down his nose at him. "Perhaps you should remember that the next time you decide to raise those fists of fury."

"But..."

"Try to keep your nose clean Mr. Skullovitch." He drawled as he walked off. Spike's mouth just hung open in shock.

"Fists of Fury?" Jimmy asked judgementally. "That guy seriously needs a TV. That movie's about thirty years old!"

"Yeah, because that's the point." Vicky replied sarcastically. Spike then saw the football team coming over, and rolled his eyes.

"Wow, I never thought you'd have the balls to show your face around here again." One of them stated. It was the half-back, Justin. He was a big kid, bigger than Brad, with a shaven head, and dark skin. He made a point of shoving Jimmy into the lockers as he confronted Spike. "Speaking of which, it looks like someone rearranged it pretty good."

"Yeah, and we all know who." Vicky snapped. "Awfully brave of you to take him with a dozen of your friends."

"Justin, leave it." Brad told him, looking between him and Spike a little warily. "Come on, it's almost time for class."

"I saw you talking to Dr. Phelps." Justin stated, ignoring Brad. "Let me guess, you were trying to squeal again."

"As if that would make any difference." Spike said sarcastically. Justin just laughed.

"Well what do you know, the kid can learn." Justin said, placing a hand on Spike's head and messing up his hair. Spike just glared at him, but thought better of doing anything to stop him. The whole team was there, it would be a pointless fight. "Maybe that lanky kid can learn too."

"Mal?" Jimmy asked.

"What did you do to him?" Vicky screeched. Brad grabbed Justin's sleeve and pulled him back.

"Justin, leave it alone!" He told him, his face looking slightly pale.

"We thought the kid looked like he was feeling a little...patriotic." Justin told them. Spike and his friends shoved their way past them, running outside. Justin just sighed and turned to Brad, looking at him.

"What the hell man? We were having fun!" He stated.

"We made our point." Brad stated sternly.

"You know, I think I see what's happening here." Justin replied, stepping closer. "I think the kid got to you."

"Whatever Justin." He grumbled. He was about to leave, but Justin grabbed him and held him back.

"You know, with that busted hand, you're not going to be much of a quarterback." Justin reminded him.

"I'll be back in a few weeks." Justin stated.

"Well, we both know who the second stringer is, and that means I have a few weeks to talk to the coach." He continued. "I think he might like to know his first-string quarterback's a coward!"

"If I didn't have this you wouldn't be saying that!" Brad yelled, gesturing to the cast. Justin just shoved him backwards, where he landed on his butt on the floor.

"You know, I think maybe it's time for some new leadership." Justin declared aloud. "What do you guys think?"

Brad just watched as the others laughed and left with Justin. He slowly got back to his feet, straightening himself out and gathering his belongings, before making his way to his first class alone.