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Chapter 10. The boy who thrives on fear.
"Come on Jack, I know you can do better than this, are you even trying?" Bunny taunted, while evading all of Jack's attacks. It has been 3 years since the "bench" incident. Jack is now 15 and about to start high school. He has been training Tai chi with Bunny since. While he was still bullied after he started training he never fought back, they had never even dared laying their hands on Tooth again after that day so he no longer felt the need to. Besides he was currently hiding his training from Tooth and fighting back would only raise too many questions he wouldn't be able to answer. He didn't want her to worry and he knew that she would if she ever found out about his training, so he kept it a secret.
Jack just smirked at Bunny, all was going according to his plan. Tai chi is a way of using your opponent's strength against them, it's the very first lesson that Bunny taught him. Though it would seem that Bunny in his overconfidence had forgotten this and it was all part of Jack's plan. He let Bunny avoid his attacks on purpose, causing Bunny to start relaxing and while doing so leaving him more open for attacks. Bunny was preparing himself to attack again "alright, let's see if you can stop this" he then charged at Jack, who remained in his position. As Bunny reached him and was about to struck, Jack avoided with the ease and graze of the wind, then with the swiftness of a serpent he stuck Bunny's joints before striking the armpits. Leaving Bunny's arms limp and him barely even able to stand.
Bunny regarded Jack in a state of shock and great pride. "It would seem my student has now become a master." He then started to look a bit sheepish in his embarrassment "could you help me out a bit?" Jack just smirked as he went to help Bunny out.
"So, High school starts tomorrow? Time sure does fly…" Jack just chuckled. "You better look out for Tooth! I didn't train you for nothing." Jack avoided eye contact as a very obvious blush lit up on his face. It was obvious the two teens were now in love with each other, but so far none of them had taken the first step so they still remained friends for now. Jack just nodded at Bunny's words and Bunny ruffled up Jack's hair causing the white haired teen to groan and frown in disapproval. "You better make your move soon or someone else might take her" Bunny chuckled as he left, leaving a very red faced and stunned Jack.
The next Morning he met up with Tooth and they walked to school together, as they always did. They were so happy together and nothing could tear them apart. Little did they know, that lurking in the shadow a boy could be found, already planning schemes to ruin their happiness and replacing it with fear, or more specifically fear of him.
Jack really looked forward to high school seeing as no one from his previous schools would be attending, they had either moved away or chosen to attend another one. It would be a fresh start where nobody knew him a chance to finally be treated with at least some degree of respect. They didn't have to become his friends, or anything like that, they should just leave him alone instead of trying to hurt him or Tooth that was more than enough for him.
When Jack walked into the classroom he suddenly found himself the center of attention, especially the girl's. He suddenly found himself surrounded by the girls, leaving him rather startled and confused as he never expected such a greeting. The girl's kept bombarding him with questions, but ignored them all desperately searching for Tooth who had gone missing among the crowd. Tooth who had been pushed away and out of the crowd of girls now stood and took in the sight with a sad and lonely expression. Of cause she wanted Jack to make new friends but this was too much and she was already starting to feel the jealousy. She wanted so badly to rip him away from those squealing girls and keep him all to herself, but she feared what Jack would think of her if she did.
A creepy looking boy, advanced towards her, seemingly emerging from the shadows, his skin so pale it was nearly white. He was dressed in an all-black outfit making him seem even paler. He wore a wicked grin as he approached but it disappeared the moment he made his presence known. "It's quite unsightly, isn't it?" causing Tooth to flinch as she hadn't even noticed him there. As she turned around to face him he continued "all those years of friendship and trust, yet he just discards you like that?" "What? No, it isn't like that!" he regarded her solemnly "really? Then why haven't he even noticed the fact that you are gone." She fell into a shock at those words, clearly affected by his words but at the same time strongly trying to deny them. His smirk went unnoticed before he went on "if you ever get tired of him, know that I'm here for you and I would never treat you like that" "who… who are you? Why are you doing this? What do you want?" she almost yelled at him, clearly annoyed at him and his words "I'm Albert Pitchner, you can call me 'pitch' for short. As of why, I simply hate watching such a pretty girl make such a sad and lonely face. Lastly what I want is simply making you smile". He left her after that. Having seen Jack wiggle himself out of the crowd of girls and now heading towards Tooth.
When Tooth spotted him she simply turned and walked away. Jack frowned in confusion of her actions but before he could reach out to her, the girls once again surrounded him. He frowned at them clearly annoyed at their actions but it had the opposite effect. Luckily the teacher chose that moment to walk in and the girls reluctantly left and he could finally take a seat next to Tooth, but she wouldn't even look at him and he couldn't help but wonder what he did wrong.
All students were asked to stand up and introduce themselves once the teacher called out their names. When Jack's turn came the teacher, who had of cause been informed of Jack being a mute, did it for him. It caused quite a few startled gasps especially from the girl's crowding him before but otherwise nothing really happened. At lunch, the girls didn't crowd around him like before, they were clearly feeling awkward about talking with him but they hadn't lost interest in him, not by a long shot, but it did give him time to figure out why Tooth was ignoring him.
"Come on Tooth! Why are you trying to ignore me? What did I do wrong? Is it because those girls surrounded me before?" he signed as he looked at her a sad expression, making him look slightly like a kicked puppy, his eyes full of questions he desperately needed answers too. Tooth really had to fight not to give in to that look, which was quite a feat in itself as it was nearly impossible, but she did it. "Is it because those girls surrounded me before?" he asked again but she still didn't answer him. He sighed and wrote her a note to make sure that she would at least notice. "Tooth, I don't give a damn about those girls, all I did was look for you but they wouldn't let me go. Please, I hate us being like this! It feels so empty" when she read the note she couldn't help but feel the same way, it was like she had been torn in half and was now desperately longing to be whole once again and she knew she wouldn't be, not without him at her side. She snuck a glance at him, his face looked so sincere yet so full of pain and desperate longing. Seeing this she could no longer doubt the truth of his words. She sighed slightly before she looked him in the eye "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have doubted you, I should have known you aren't like that" he looked slightly confused at her words but he smiled at her, happy to have received her forgiveness.
However, in the back of the class unnoticed by anyone, Pitch was furious at this. His plan was ruined. He didn't count on their bond being that strong! He quickly composed himself, his eyes turning cold. No doubt coming up with another scheme but this time he wouldn't go so easy on them.
A/N sorry about the cliffhanger but it had to be done, forgive me! anyways as you already noticed, I brought in Pitch... as of why I decided to name him Albert? I just thought it would be hilarious. might update again later... but i'm not making any promises...