Chapter 4
The following morning, the boy was in the schoolyard during the morning recess, when they approached them. Garin glared at the boy, Loring at his side. Blaz followed close behind, his face blank.
"You got away from us last night," Garin sneered, grabbing the boy, "but you won't now. That sissy Head isn't anywhere near us."
"You little runt!" hissed Loring, "You think you can avoid us? We will always be here… just waiting for you." The boy saw the pleasure that his fear evoked in Loring, but was unable to hide his response.
Loring pulled back his fist, about to strike. The boy cringed and closed his eyes, trying to turn his face away as much as possible.
But the punch never came.
"What are you doing?" shouted Loring.
Carefully, the boy opened his eyes, to see Blaz holding Loring's arm, preventing him from completing his violent act.
"Don't hit him." Blaz said quietly.
"Why not?" asked Loring angrily.
"I need him." Blaz admitted, embarrassed.
"What?" cried Garin, astounded. "What do you need this runt for?"
"I got top marks on my math test." Blaz said quietly. Loring and Garin looked at him disbelievingly.
"A bonehead like you?" Loring laughed. "You've got to be kidding!"
Blaz's eyes blazed, and his grip on Loring's arm tightened. The expression on Loring's face turned to one of anger.
"Don't call me a bonehead!" Blaz growled. "I called my father. He was pleased. I can't remember the last time my father was pleased with me."
"Your father is a bonehead too." sniggered Garin. "Why else would he be pleased with a loser like you?"
"Don't talk about my father that way!" cried Blaz, growing angrier by the second.
"I'll talk about your father any way I want to!" smirked Garin. "I'm the leader here. You're just lucky that I'm letting you be part of my gang."
As he spoke to Blaz, Garin let go of the boy. He knew he should run, while they were occupied, but some part of him was fascinated by this exchange. The boy stood still, watching his three tormentors argue.
"Letting me?" Blaz yelled, furious. "Well if you really don't care, then I quit!"
"What?" gasped Garin and Loring simultaneously. "You can't quit!"
"I just did." Blaz replied smugly, folding his arms. "What are you going to do about it?"
"You're nothing without us!" Garin sneered. "Just a big, stupid…"
Garin never finished his sentence, as it was interrupted by Blaz's fist plowing unceremoniously into his face. Astonished, Garin stumbled backwards, into the boy, clutching at his now bloody nose.
"This is your fault!" he accused the boy. "You're going to get it now!"
"I said leave him alone!" yelled Blaz, hitting Garin again, sending him sprawling to the ground. Loring knelt down, helping his friend up, his eyes shooting daggers at Blaz.
"Do you want to say something, Loring?" growled Blaz.
For a long moment, no one spoke. But then, Loring stood up, helping Garin to his feet.
"You are nothing without us." he hissed at Blaz, "You'll be sorry you ever crossed us."
"I doubt it." grinned Blaz, crossing his arms smugly.
Garin and Loring limped away, their wounded pride visible to everyone in the schoolyard.
The boy just stood, gaping at the scene before him. Had this really happened? Had Blaz really stood up for him?
X's previous words leapt into the boy's mind.
Find their weaknesses. Exploit them.
Finally, the boy understood what that meant.
"Nicely done, Bergen." came the voice in the boy's mind.
X! He was there! And apparently, he had witnessed the entire thing. But the boy had no time to bask in his friend's praise.
"My father's never pleased with me." mumbled Blaz. "But he is now."
"I imagine that must be wonderful." the boy volunteered hopefully.
"Your father doesn't like you either?" Blaz asked.
"I don't have a father." the boy admitted.
"Oh." Blaz looked like he didn't know what to say about this. After a moment, he spoke again.
"You're gonna keep helping me, right?" he asked.
"Of course, Blaz." the boy answered. "Whatever you need."
