Home Improvement

Chapter 10: The Confrontation

During the last period before break, the English teacher left the class to give the class an early start to break. Mark got out a book for light reading before the bell rang. He was in the middle of the second line when Kenneth said from behind him, "What a nerd."

The class went quiet as Mark turned back to face Ken. "You're a bitch, you know that?"

The class oohed at Mark's comment.

Ken meanwhile laughed, "I got news for you, I'm a guy, you blind sexist!"

Over the class's mutterings, Mark said, "Don't tell me you changed sex!"

The class burst out laughing.

Ken found nothing to counter that. Instead, he said, "Turn around, and go back to your nerdy reading. What, are you studying some extra Biology?"

"It's just light reading," Mark retaliated. "You can't talk, you love reading."

"As I said before, turn round, and leave me alone, I am talking to my real friend. You're nothing but a foul git."

Martha, Mark noticed, sat quietly, watching disapprovingly. Mark however, kept his eyes on Kenneth, "Which demented idiot with a screwed up, retarded mind died and made you king?"

The class oohed again, and some laughed and giggled, "Oh, good one."

"Yo mamma," Ken said, smiling triumphantly.

The class laughed out loud. Mark seemed defeated. He got up and walked over.

"Want something?"

"Yeah," Mark said, and aimed a punch at Ken's face. Everyone screamed and held him back. "Let me get him, I swear I'll kill him!"

"It's alright man, he's not worth it!" they said to him. They forced him back into his seat. Mark kept his eyes on Kenneth though.

Mark, as usual, sat alone at school. Now the end of the year, tried to forget, but couldn't. He never realized how much a best friend meant to him. People only saw him during class hours. During break, he wasn't seen by anyone. Since he jumped Kenneth, he took to sitting alone in the stands of the P.E. court, watching some kids ranging from 7th grade to 12th grade playing soccer. Mark was quite good, and he was part of the school soccer team, but lately he wasn't been playing well.

He was just thinking of getting up to buy a muffin when someone tapped him from behind, "Hey, Mark."

The voice was familiar. He looked back to find Martha with his brother behind her, keeping quiet and eyes on the ground.

Mark threw Kenneth a dirty look before smiling at Martha, "Yeah Martha."

"It's Marta, with a T, not a TH," Marta corrected. "And it's the end of the year; it's about time you talked to my brother again. We're gonna sit down and talk to you."

"Fine by me," Mark said dirtily.

Marta sat down on one side and Ken on the other, "What's going on?"

"Ken talks too much," Mark prompted shortly.

"That's it?" Marta asked with a surprised look on her face. "I'm sorry Mark, but a simple talk with him would solve that."

"He told me," Kenneth said honestly, still looking down, eyes fixed directly on an ant.

"He told you," Marta repeated.

"I told him honestly and kindly," Mark said.

"You didn't," Ken challenged. It was the first time in months Ken ever talked directly to Mark, even looked at him. However, he was still talking in a dirty way, like he did when he fought Mark months ago. "You yelled at the beginning."

"You yelled," Marta said, looking at Mark again. "I am sorry, but you boys are freaking me out. Did you yell at my brother?"

Mark sighed, "Yes."

"Why?"

"He was blabbering," Mark said defensively. "Hasn't anyone told him he blabs too much?"

"The problem is Mark, everyone who ever told him that was either beaten up or lost him as a friend," Marta said sadly.

"What about you, or at least your parents or your brothers?"

"If they tried, they were yelled at, with many words," Kenneth said, smiling proudly. "You're not the only bastard who takes Martial Arts."

"What'joo call me just now?" Mark challenged.

"You heard!"

"Guys, think reasonably," Marta said loudly over their yells.

"You heard what he called me!" Mark said, rounding on Marta and disbelieving what he was doing at the same time. Then he turned to Ken. "Take it back!"

"No, I don't think I will," Kenneth said, smiling proudly and arrogantly at Mark. "Son of a"-

"Ken you're going out of line!" Marta yelled.

Mark meanwhile, not for the first time, lost it again. He jumped on his X-best friend and threw a punch at him; a hard one.

Ken blocked it and gave a kick.

Mark held the foot meant to hit him, trying to trip Ken.

Ken, his foot still held in Mark's hand, turned so his back was facing Mark. He let himself fall forward on the floor. He held his hands out, so his face didn't smash the concrete. Then, with his free foot, he kicked Mark's hand that was holding the bound foot.

Mark backed away surprised.

Kenneth didn't leave it there either. He jumped on him, punched him, kicked him, and had Mark on the floor with a Karate Chop.

For the first time, Mark was curled on the floor, Ken kicking him nonstop.

Ignoring Marta's terrified screams, Ken raised his foot to stomp on Mark.

Mark took hold of the foot. This grasp tripped Kenneth and he ended up falling face first straight to the floor.

"KAULER AND TAYLOR, PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE NOW!" a voice screamed. It was terrifying. Mark never saw the Math teacher, Mr. Hart so angry before. He came, furious look on his face. Ken was in the middle of punching Mark's face when Mr. Hart seized Ken and forced him off and up. "Mark, come with me!"

"Sir, it's not…"

"I saw everything!" the teacher said angrily. "You are both on detention tomorrow! First and second break can be spent in the detention room, thinking about what you've done! You could've seriously hurt each other! Meanwhile, you two are going straight to the principal's office to call your parents!"

Mark looked back at Marta, an apologetic look on his face. Marta looked at him back, face unfathomable. She shook her head and walked away.

It all ended with a long scratch on Mark's forehead, and a bloody nose for Kenneth.