Chapter Eight
FRIDAY
Token

Token brought his foot foreward, and it appeared to him to be in slow motion. He craved the feeling of Clyde's skull caving beneath his boot. Clyde wrapped his hands around his head and curled into a ball, but it wouldn't help him. There was still much tufty brown hair left uncovered.

"Hey!" Screamed an authoritive voice. "Leave him the fuck alone!"

Token paused, foot in mid swing. Clyde used the opportunity to drag himself up and stagger away, into the waiting arms of Kyle. Beside Kyle were Kenny McCormick and Stan Marsh, arms folded, standing together like soldiers.

"What do you think you're doing?" Kenny asked of him calmly. Token ran foreward, reaching for Clyde, wanting that last kick to make the outbust worthwhile. Kenny and Stan grabbed one of each of his arms and dragged him to the furthest edge of the circle from Clyde. Kyle remained holding Clyde. Although he was just as strong as Kenny and Stan, he was left holding the injured soldier once more.

"We'll ask again." Stan murmured, setting Token down on the grass. He and Kenny towered above him, and Token held still. "What do you think you're doing?"

With Clyde out of reach Token's tough exterior was waning. He didn't want to be a violent kid. Or maybe it had more to do with the fact that he didn't want to fight a McCormick/Marsh tornado. He'd seen them fight other kids before, and they were tough to beat. Kenny was skinny, but tall and apparently hiding a little muscle behind his tatty old jacket. Stan was broader, a little shorter than Kenny, but around equal in strength.

"Okay, boys. Break it up." Called the school councillor from where he battled his way through the hoardes of students. He was a little late for the party. The stripper had jumped out of the cake and everybody had had a piece. "What's going on here?"

"Token was beating on Clyde." Kenny informed him smugly. Token scowled at Kenny. He didn't notice, but Stan did, and subtly gave Token the finger.

"Well, Token Black, I think you can come with me."

Token followed without argument. Kenny picked Clyde from Kyle's arms and strode after him. Stan stood strong beside him, Kyle following at a safe distance, wiping his hands on his jeans and muttering about soap.

"We'll take Clyde to the nurses office." Kenny informed the councillor, and he nodded. Kenny, Stan and Kyle turned off in that direction and Token continued to follow the councillor to his office.

"Now, Token, what made you brutally attack that young boy?"

Token did not answer. Truth be told, he was pretty damn pleased with himself. Clyde hadn't been crying as Kenny carried him away, and that had to count for something. Clyde cried at everything. If he wasn't crying it either meant he was out cold or in shock, and either of these outcomes would please Token immensely.

"Token, I demand an answer." "Token, I need to know what's wrong with you." "Token, this isn't like you." "What did Clyde do, Token?" Token's own name was beginning to sound alien and unfamiliar. He didn't like it.

Token shrugged. He shook his head, held out his hands, he looked at his feet. But he would not talk. The councillor tried questioning him for a further five minutes before becoming frustrated, suspending him for two weeks, and dismissing him officially.

Token excited the office to find Bebe, sitting in the hard plastic chair outside.

She looked up when he cleared his throat. "Token."

"Bebe."

And she stood and kissed him. Clyde, they knew, would not be a problem anymore.

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A/N: Special thanks to SparklesMakeMeHappy, who saved Clyde's life. Token wears steel toe-caps, don't you know?