Chapter 4:
I entered the classroom with Fang. Science: Genetics and DNA was the only class we had togather. Like me he was also curious about what we would learn. I took a seat in the back and he sat down next to me. People piled in the classroom around us.
Finally the class was to begin. The teacher was a balding man, who honestly could could have afforded to lose a few pounds. He had wiry glasses and seemed one of those know-it-all types.
He began the class.
"Today we are going to talk about the different character differences in genetics." , he took in his students board expressions then stopped when he saw Fang and me. "Aw. It seems we have two new students today. Would you two like to tell me your names?"
I opened my mouth to answer, but was cut off. "Why don't you stand?" ,the teacher suggested.
I stood up and Fang, slowly, did the same. I looked around at the class.
"I'm Max Ride.", I said then sat down. Fang did even look at the teacher as he spoke.
"Nick.", was all he said. The teacher didn't look appeased.
"Last name, Nick?"
"Uh, Ride I guess.", Fang answered. The teacher looked between Fang and me.
"Are you two related?"
"Adopted.", I said not bothering to stand this time. The teacher nodded and moved on.
The class went by slowly and almost painfully after that. Soon it was over and it was time for me to come to my last class of the day, Karate.
The school had a seperate gym for the Karate students. It was smaller than a regular gym. It had mirrors that lined the walls and matts covered the floor. It had it's own lockers rooms too, seperate from the other gym. The students had to change into a white uniform and belt.
I met the teacher, who had dark black hair. He was probably in his early fourties, but his face had the look of a twenty year old. He seemed pretty nice, but to be honest he didn't look like the fighter type. He actually looked like a really big pushover.
"Hello, can I help you with something?", he asked with a smile.
"Yes, I'm new and I'm supposed to be in this class.", I said.
"Max?", he asked. I nodded.
"Alright Max. Have you ever taken Karate before?", he asked. I though back to when Jeb had taught me how to fight. It was mostly street fighting, fighting dirty actually. I did remember though that he showed us a little Karate for self defense.
"A little, not much though.", I said. He nodded.
"Do you know what level you were at?", he asked. I had seen T.V shows and I knew he knew he ment what color belt I was. Considering Jeb never had us do anything with the belts, I was in the dark here.
"Uh, no. I don't know.", I said.
"That's fine. I'm going to start you off as a beginer. That's a white belt." (A/N: I'm not sure if that's right of not. I've never taken Karate.) ,he said.
"You will be behind most of the other students.", he said.
"That's fine.", I assured him. He smiled again and handed me my uniform.
I went to the locker room and changed. I didn't look bad in the uniform. Would have looked better with the black belt though, I thought. I walked out into the gym and the teacher went over everything I needed to know.
We went over all the rules and techniqunes. Then he gave me a a seqence and I had to do it over and over til I mastered it. This was easy, because I usually mastered it on the first try.
Then in the middle of class, the teacher, who told me to just call him Master Rob had to leave. He said he had to take the attendence all the way down to the front office then he would be back. I was to keep doing the sequence until he got back.
I would have followed that instruction too, but something caught my attention. Not just any something either. Three somethings and a girl. A flash of the day I met Ella and her Mom sparked in my memory.
This was a similar situation. Three large guys were talking to this girl. They all seemed to be wearing a belt that said they were pretty good at this. The girl however was only one level up from me, and she looked scared.
The one in the middle, who I took to be there leader pushed her. That did it. I walked over to them, casually.
"Hey.", I called as I got near. They all turned to look at me. The guy who had pushed the girl turned to look at me. I didn't pay attention to him though. I looked over at the girl.
She sort of reminded me of Angel actually. Her hair a golden halo of curls. She was probably a year younger than me though, her face had a child like look to it. She starred at me silently and threw frantic looks at me. I smiled at her reasuringly. Then I face the guy who had pushed her.
He was taller then me. His two friends were my size, by height. They were all buff though. The leader glared at me and then gave me a smug mocking smile.
"Hey, your the new girl.",he said. "Well let me introduce myself. I'm Devin, and these two nunskulls are Luke and Ron. You are?"
"Max.", I said bluntly.
"Well, nice to meet you Max, but were a little busy. Do you mind?", he said with anouther mocking smile.
Still staying casual I answered there attempt of getting me to leave.
"Actually I sort of do mind. I came over to see if their was a problem. Is there?", I said shifting my weight so I was almost standing in front of the girl.
Devin smiled grimly. "Actually, there is. You see Clara here, is streaching in our spot and even when we ask her nicely she won't move." ,he said. I light unsteady voice came from my side.
"I was here f-first.", the girl, Clara said. Devin and his gang scowled at her.
"Is there assigned spots.", I asked with an upraised eyebrow.
Devin scoweled at me this time.
"New girl, your getting on my nerves.", he said.
"As soon as I saw you push Clara here you were on my nerves.", I said. Devin looked mocking again.
"Why would we be afraid of you? Your just a white belt.", he said laughing. "What harm can you do to me?", he asked. I shrugged and moved in front of Clara.
Devins friends stood on either side of me now and Devin stood in front.
"It's a bad mistake to get on your bad side, new girl. Bad mistake.", he said. I didn't answer.
That was when it happened. Devin went to punch me. I reacted quicker than him. Ducking down as he went to punch me I gave him a round house lick to his face. I was sure I cracked his nose. Blood came out of it, and as he staggered back he wiped it away with his hand.
"Bitch", he spit at me. His friends jumped at me. Kicking one in the gut, I punched the other in his face. They both drew back. Devin was comeing at me, again. He lunged, I moved from his path and kicked the back of his knee. Soon he was sprawled on the floor.
I looked down at him. "You know, bitch isn't very nice."
I turned to look at the girl, Clara. "Are you okay?", I asked her. She nodded stareing at me with wide eyes. Then I saw the teacher come in. I hurried back to my spot before he noticed the blood from Devin's nose.
I was right a minute later I saw Master Rob by Devin.
"My, Devin. What happened?", Master Rob asked. Devin's face flickered to me and he scoweled.
"Nothing.", Devin said. I just accidently hit my face on the board I was trying to break.
Master Rob took the excuse. "Oh well can we be more careful next time? Do you need to go to the Clinic?"
"No, I'm fine.", he said.
Master Rob came over to me. "So how are we with those exercises?", he asked.
I smiled. "Great.", I said my eyes drifted over to Devin who was glareing menaceingly at me.
"Just Great.", I said.
The rest of class was over shortly after that. Master Rob was impressed by how well I was doing. I had changed back into my clothes. Devin and I passed as we left the gym back to our dorm rooms. He scoweled as we passed, his friends shifted away as they saw me. "This isn't over.", Devin said as he passed, though he made no move to do anything then. Well Karate was interesting, I thought.
to be continued...
