Silver & Blaze: Our Story

Conspiracy
Silver: Pushover

January
Lucas shoved me into a locker while his goons closed in.

"You wanna say that again loser. I didn't catch all of it," Lucas said grasping my scarf as hard as he could.

I winced preparing myself for the punch that I knew was coming. It wouldn't have been the first time he hit me in the face. In fact, since the incident last summer, Lucas has occasionally ambushed me and beat me up. So I've gotten used to it a little.

"Hey! What's going on?" Thankfully my science teacher came out into the hallway.

When we all looked over at the teacher, Honey was standing behind him with that worried look on her face. I really am grateful for my friends…even if I do put myself in danger intentionally. Lucas released me immediately and muttered to himself while his friends also dispersed; all of them going off to their classes. My science teacher scolded me for "fooling around" and reminded me that the bell had already rang. I apologized and went into the classroom with Honey close behind me.

Later on at lunch I had a little discussion with the guys…which includes Honey, by the way.

"Dude, keep this up with Lucas and you may end up dead in a ditch somewhere," Bean said before stuffing his mouth with chips.

"I know you don't want to fight back but letting them have their way isn't helping either," said Honey. "Can't you tell a teacher or someone?"

"There's nothing wrong with defending yourself, Silver. They're the ones antagonizing you." Bark added.

This isn't the first time my friends showed concern for my safety. They've been worried since the start of school. Lucas thinks that Blaze and I should be at fault for what happened last summer. I don't get it. I know one of the girls with him was hurt but only because she was carrying scissors and picking on Blaze. The rest of his gang just got bumps and bruises from the scuffling so no one was seriously injured…except Blaze. Emotionally…she may never be the same. Sure, she didn't show it afterwards but I know her. I know she's just holding it all down. If anything, Lucas and his friends are the ones who need to be punished.

I didn't say anything in response to my friends because I…I just didn't want to do anything to Lucas's gang. If I did then a cycle would start of us going back and forth trying to hurt each other more and more. Sooner or later, karma has to kick in and give him what he deserves…or, better yet, the twins since they're the ones who are really at fault.

Later on, after school, I was approached again by Lucas and the weasel twins. Honey was the only one with me since Bean and Bark had after-school activities. Guess I'll be fending for two today.

"Walking your girlfriend home?" Lucas said as he pushed me a little.

We were already off school grounds but since we were near a neighborhood, I doubted Lucas would do anything to draw attention.

"Just let us go. We don't want anything to do with you guys," I said with my eyes to the ground.

The tall wolf-kid laid his heavy hands on my shoulders and my knees quivered under the pressure.

"You'll go when I'm ready to let you two go," He said.

I noticed the weasel twins walk behind Honey and me. One girl was enough. They're not going to hurt another! Honey just moved closer to me. She even held my hand.

"So did Blaze dump you after she moved away last summer?" Lucas said stepping back from me.

"We were never dating in the first place. Quit asking me questions about her and leave me alone!"

I tried to push my way past Lucas but he easily shoved me and Honey back. Then she screamed. The twins had grabbed a hold of her and, instinctively, I rushed in to fight them off. Those idiots only laughed as one of them pushed me away. I felt Lucas grab my arm but before he, or the twins, could do anything a police car slowly pulled up alongside the curb. A male canine officer got out of the driver's side of the car and glared at all of us.

"You boys aren't causing any more trouble now, are you?" He remained on the other side of the car with the door open.

"No sir," Lucas and the weasels said as they released Honey and I.

"You kids run on home. It gets dark earlier this time of year. And Lucas…" the wolf boy stood to attention. "I better not catch you or any of your buddies out at night. I think your parents are sick of having to hear from the police so often."

"Yes sir." For once, I finally saw what "defeat" looked like on his face.

The officer got back into his car and drove off. Lucas kick up some dirt shortly after.

"This time you got lucky loser." He suddenly grabbed me by my scarf nearly choking me. "Don't think there won't be another chance for me to jump you."

The three bullies left while I caught my breath. Honey wrapped her arm around mine and we started towards her place since she lived nearby.

"Please do something about them Silver. I don't want to see you get hurt seriously," she said to me quietly.

I know, I know. I don't want to get hurt either…but what am I suppose to do?

It's no surprise that Bark and Bean decided to forego any after school stuff to walk home with me the next day. Honey isn't great at keeping secrets…at least the stuff I want to stay secret. There was a lively discussion among my friends of how to deal with Lucas and his goonies. All sorts of ideas were passed around ranging from returning them the "favor" twofold to getting our own army together of other kids Lucas has bullied over the years. Regardless of the suggestions, I stayed out of it all. I knew I had to get him off of me but how it could be done was the problem I kept running into. He's a bully. Nothing I do will stop him as long as he lives on this side of town. The only real effective method will be for either one of us to move away…but me leaving would just leave my new friends as the next target. I wonder what it'll take to get Lucas's family to move?

Bean nudged my arm…a little too hard for my tastes. He was concerned why I had zoned out suddenly but I brushed it off. The others were waiting for my thoughts on any of their ideas and I just took my usual middle-man stance.

"Sorry, I can't really decide." followed by a weak smile.

There was some disappointment on their faces but the three of them went back to their heated discussion. Before I realized what was going on, they had voted on going to the café in the marketplace for some hot cocoa. No reason to object to that either although I'd rather be at home as soon as possible if only to avoid running into Lucas. Bean, Bark, and Honey each had some allowance money to pay for their drinks. I…didn't get my allowance for this month. Grades weren't good enough. Honey offered to buy my drink and she and Bark headed up to the counter. The atmosphere in the café was nice. Warm with heat and chatter from the customers enjoying the sunny afternoon despite it being winter.

"You can relax." I suddenly heard Bean say.

I may have done a double-take (whatever that is) when I stopped tracing a circle on the table with my finger and looked at Bean.

"Just relax Silver. Lucas isn't going to get you out here in public." Bean took off his jacket and let it rest between his back and his chair.

I was a little reluctant (for some unknown reason) but I complied and unwrapped my scarf from my neck. With the garment folded in my lap, I felt relieved like a weight had been taken off of me. Or maybe I tied the scarf on a little too tight. Bean started talking to me.

"Dude, I really think you should show some more backbone to that meathead. Going all ragdoll when he's around obviously isn't helping," he said.

"I get what you're saying but revenge doesn't help anyone. It just hurts more people," I said.

"Whatever! Seriously, guys like him just need a taste of their own medicine in order to get through to them. Trust me, my older bros are kind of the same. Nothing but meatheads…but a lot nicer, that's for sure."

Both he and I were right in our own way. Still, it didn't stop him from going on a rant. More and more he talked about how Lucas's attacks against me would get worse. Next thing I knew, I'd be in a wheelchair sitting away from everyone else at lunch. My self-esteem would be shattered, I'll never get a date for prom in high school, and then I'd be living with my parents until—

SLAM! Some hot cocoa was spilt onto the table from two mugs. Bark wiped up the mess quickly. The perpetrator was Honey. She had that look in her eye. The look a girl gets when she is annoyed by something. Us guys fell silent waiting for her to make some outrageous outburst. This wouldn't be the first time. Instead, she sat in her seat next to mine and slid my mug over with a haughty look on her face.

"Have more faith in Silver, Bean," she said in an uppity voice that she only used when she was acting like a know-it-all.

It's great to have Honey around, really. But sometimes…yeah. Bean scoffed and drank from his mug Bark had bought for him and Bark drank from his as well. That was a pretty serene moment between us, four friends enjoying hot cocoa at the same time. Then it came to an end shortly afterwards. Back to my "problem."

"Honestly Bean. Do you think that what Silver needs now is more criticism of his cowardliness?" Right there, I started to sink into my seat a little at Honey's words. "You're his friend right? So give him some support. I know he can stand up to Lucas if he just had the courage to do so."

"There you go again with your hopeless optimism." Bean's hand gesture mimicked a talking mouth. "Dude here doesn't need unicorns and rainbows right now. He needs down-to-earth "realistic proportions" of what he's up against."

It's funny how people put words in quotes as if that gives them new meaning.

"Hey, I believe in the guy just as much as you do." Bean continued. "But at least I'm keeping it real by giving him some useful advice. All of this "believe in yourself" crap isn't a useful strategy for when he's staring down that overgrown meathead in the eyes."

"Life isn't some war Bean! You don't have to have tactics for every single little event. It's better to give something that'll last forever as opposed to something that'll last for five minutes. For all you know, if he follows your advice, he may just end up back to the way he was all moping around and depressed."

Back and forth the two went, just like they always do, then Bark suddenly stopped them with a loud clap of his hands. Huh, Bark hasn't taken off his gloves since we came in here. Weird.

"The issue of Lucas bullying Silver is a serious one and I'm sure our friend here is grateful for our concerns." The polar bear motioned towards me and I just smiled feebly…like always. "However, back and forth banter will not get Silver anywhere in his decision making."

"So what do you propose Oh Great One Full of Wisdom?" Bean asked.

"Nothing." Quizzical looks all around. "I simply have this to ask: Are you honestly that ashamed of yourself?"

He caught me off guard for a second. I wasn't sure if Bark was talking to me or through me. So I pointed to myself just to be sure. He nodded.

"Are you so ashamed of yourself that you allow Lucas to walk over you just because you believe that 'karma' will save you eventually?" Bark shook his head in disappointment. "Silver, it's one thing to be humble and a pacifist in the face of unruly people. It's another issue entirely when you deliberately let someone push you around just because of guilt."

A chord struck within me. One that made me wonder if these friends sharing a table with me were really my friends. I remember being so excited around them when we first met last summer. Then over time…things just got quiet. Better yet, I got quiet. I know it's mostly because of Lucas who hasn't let up on bullying me, but what Bark said made me face the other thing that got to me as well. Guilt over what happened to Blaze. Ever since then I've just been wanting to turn back time and redo it all over again.

"Since he mentioned it, dude, we've only heard rumors about what happened between you, Blaze, and those meatheads last summer," Bean said.

"Yeah, some of it was pretty bogus but we never heard the truth from you," Honey said.

"And we respect your privacy if you want to keep it that way." I noticed how Bark eyed the other two sternly. "Regardless of the details, if what happened was strong enough to force Blaze to move away, you obviously feel some sort of guilt in you for not stopping the situation."

Sometimes I have to keep reminding myself that Bark is the oldest of us. Only a year older but old enough to point out what needs to be noticed. I just nodded and thanked the guys. There was probably more I should've said but…they said it all for me. My guilt coupled with Lucas's constant harassment prevented me from fighting back.

I guess I really am ashamed of myself.