Trying On A Different Shoe Pt. 2

A Good Night- John legend

"So Mr. Maheswaran after all that I told you about your lovely daughter, what do you think." Connie's AP science teacher grinned at him with an awful smile that screamed potential pedophile.

"To be honest sir I don't care and you need to be arrested," is what Shadow wanted to say. Instead, he said, "I am glad that my daughter is excelling in her class, she makes her parents very proud," Shadow faked a smile. Amethyst sat in a chair next to him picking at a booger that was bugging her.

Connie looked better than she did when they first arrived at the school. She replaced twiddling her thumbs to actually joining in the conversations between them and the teachers.

When the teacher gave Amethyst an odd look Shadow gripped her hand to stop her from picking her nose. "Since my daughter is doing so well and is clearly excelling at everything in your class then I believe-"

The teacher put a hand up to silence him. A dark cloud fell over his face then his eyes turned towards Connie. The girl looked at the ground to avoid his eyes. "Connie would you please give us a moment."

When she looked to Shadow for reassurance he smirked. The look in his eye told him that everything would be fine, he would handle whatever this man had to say the best way he could.

The teacher eyed Connie all the way to the door where she took to talking to some of the other students outside.

"Now that we're alone," he turned his eyes back to them. "I'm sure you've noticed already but… Connie has come to class on multiple occasions with bruises on her arms. Some of the other teachers have noticed yet I'm the only one who has said anything to you about this matter."

Shadow would have been surprised if he didn't remember that Pearl often trained her hard and to the point of wear Connie had bruises. This was no new news to him.

"Tell us more." Amethyst voice sliced over his own before he could get two words out.

The teacher rested his fat head on closed fists. "We've heard rumors that Connie has been bullying some of the other students. Of course, these are just rumors," his voice sounded condescending, not worried. Shadow didn't like that. He continued, "the students at this school come from rich families who want nothing more than to squash these rumors since it involves their children."

Shadow tried not to let his anger seep into his voice but when he heard that his heart began to gallop with a suppressed anger that was itching to burst. "Are you honestly expecting me to believe that Connie, of all people, to be bullying kids?"

The man started to sweat, he could feel something coming from this man. "We want to take Connie out of this class and put her in another. It's not AP but she will get the credits she deserves with no repercussions." Straight to the point of what snobby parents wanted for their spoiled children it seems.

"No repercussions? Connie is smarter than most your students and you want to pull her from your class because of rumors? With no disrespect but that sounds stupid." Shadow didn't notice he was inching forward in his chair until the teacher straightened up in his own to get away.

Amethyst put a hand on Shadows shoulder. She gave him a look that told him he was being too much. He felt embarrassed that Amethyst, the wild gem of the bunch was calmer than he was hearing this. So Shadow leaned back, took a deep breath to calm his nerves and listened.

"Please Mr. Mehashawarn, we and the parents want to resolve this in the quickest way possible." Sweat rolled down his face the more he was staring at him. Shadow was getting sick of looking at this man and more from hearing him speak. When he kept thinking about Connie being the bad guy in this unfortunate situation his heart screamed again for violence again.

"Connie!" Shadow yelled for her. After a minute Connie peaked her head in, the girl looked nervous to see them all staring at her. "Please come in Connie we need to talk."

"Mr. Mehashawarn please there is no need to trouble the girl."

Shadow turned back to him with a glint in his eye that made the man regret opening his mouth. "I think if I wanted to hear you flap your gums I would have addressed you, sir, so do yourself a favor," Shadow didn't need to finish to know that the science teacher was done speaking out of turn.

When Connie heard that she grew more nervous and when she walked she seemed to grow heavier and heavier. She looked around at each one of their eyes. "A-am I in trouble?" She asked.

"Connie I want you to be honest," Shadow avoided the question. "There are rumors that you are bullying your fellow students. Is this true?"

"No!" The nervousness in her voice was gone. Connie glared at Shadow but she was not angry only hurt that he would even ask. "Jacobs and a few other students keep harassing me. I tried to tell them to leave me alone but they won't leave me alone. Last week they ambushed me in the hallways…"

Shadow stood up on his feet as well as Amethyst. He turned his head back to the teacher who looked more nervous now that the man was standing over him. "Connie is staying in this class. She will not be taken out and we will never hear anything about this again." Before the teacher could say anything the three of them left.

Amethyst nudged Shadow after she closed the door. "You okay big guy?"

He barely felt the tap but it was enough to get his attention. "I'm sorry if I lost my senses in there. I didn't mean to get so angry," Shadow then looked to Connie, "And I'm sorry for asking you that question. I know you enough to know that you aren't the bullying type. Pearl didn't train you to use your skills to fight spoiled kids." Shadow ruffled her hair ruining it but she laughed all the same. "Now if that's all I think I'm done with seeing any more of your teachers. Let's go home."

They all turned around to head towards the front entrance when Ms. Bridges came at them head-on.

"Woah where are you folks going? Don't you remember that we have the parent-children dance? It's a tradition we like to keep here at the school."

Amethyst eyes glinted at the prospect. "Yes! Lets dance I want to dance."

Both Shadow and Connie crossed their arms at the purple gem.

"Mom I don't know about this," Connie had to fight the urge to laugh, her calling Amethyst mom was just too much. "Besides I've seen you dance and I don't think its school appropriate dance moves." Connie did chuckle at the face Amethyst made at her.

Shadow was about to object when more parents and their children came out of the classroom to the sound of an ominous bell that rang a little bit louder than necessary.

Ms. Bridges clapped with glee. "Let's get the party started!" The teacher was swallowed up in a herd of people. They were like salmon trying to fight a current. They were losing.

Twin doors burst open revealing a large gym. Parents were already dancing by the time they stumbled through. Jailhouse rock played on speakers, a teacher stood on a stage at the end of the gym doing a horrible job at lip syncing.

It was too late to escape because Amethyst was already dragging Connie off on the dance floor.

"Hey, that's all you Connie go have some fun. Let loose!" Shadow waved at Connie who was pleading for help.

While they were doing that Shadow stood off on the sideline watching Amethyst bust some moves while Connie dances awkwardly to the beat. Some of the other parents who weren't as sporadic took the folding chairs. His pocket vibrated, his phone, he pulled it out to see Carrot Top lit up in big orange font, a little carrot emoji on either side made him chuckle. A nickname Jasper didn't know he still called her.

"Hurry up and come home." Shadow read the text in her voice. Leave it to Jasper to demand instead of ask. One thing he loved and loathed about her. Didn't help the fact that she was stronger than him in the streets but in the sheets, well that was arguable.

A man next to him was staring a Shadow a little bit too much.

"You okay? You're staring at me like a snack. Trust me when I say this I don't taste like chocolate despite the color of my skin." Shadow chuckled at his own joke and the man did as well.

The man had dark slanted eyes that glared at him with amusement. He was an Asian man with the looks of someone in their early thirties. In his left hand, he fiddled with a large coin and his right he had his hands in the pockets of his black slacks.

"I apologize. I didn't mean to stare, I think your the first parent I've seen here who didn't look like a soccer dad. It could be the eye patch or just the look in your eye. You look like you've seen some things." He sounded amused like he was admiring some piece of art that he could only see as something worth taking time to look at.

Shadow felt his cheeks heat up from the weird compliment if that was one. "You're fine. And thank you, I guess." Shadow his attention back to Connie and Amethyst. A boy about the same age as Connie was saying something, a smug grin was on his face and he stepped way to close to Connie for comfort.

Shadow stepped forward to see what was going on when someone grabbed his right arm. He turned his head to see the man who he was just talking to. His grip was strong for some random man.

"Get your hand off of me otherwise we might have ourselves a problem." Shadow tried to move but the man's grip held him in place.

"I'm sorry but the young master asked to not be disturbed, you will not disturb him." Those slanted eyes hinted at someone who shouldn't be messed with. Unfortunately, Shadow didn't care for a man like that. He grabbed him by the middle finger and wrenched back, his face didn't change at all. Suddenly Shadows head snapped back and the metallic taste of blood filled his mouth.

"What?" Shadow didn't know what happened. He didn't see the man's hands but his face felt like it was hit with a sledgehammer. When he got his footing again the man disappeared. No! He got into his blind spot. POW! Another strike hit him, this time it was a chop to the side of his neck. His body froze up and suddenly everything went blurry. Shadow had just enough strength to catch himself against the wall but that was about it. Taking long deep breaths Shadow tried his best to get his bearing but his head still felt fuzzy.

By now the parents who were sitting in their chairs started to get out of the way.

"I thought a man with a look like yours had something to offer. I hit you a few times and you're already done. I think I'm disappointed." A crooked smile broke across his face.

Behind him more kids showed up, they surrounded Amethyst and Connie.

Shadow stood up straight, he was done playing around. He stretched out his neck and body, the pain was still there but excitement made it go away. "So you land a few lucky blows so what. I'm warmed up so let's do some dancing of our own aye?"

Amethyst bit her lip. She was a gem she couldn't attack children just because they were bullying Connie, not unless they attacked first. Even then she was having a hard time trying to be the adult in this matter.

The boy that approached them laughed at something he said. "Connie I've already told you that you are going to get kicked out of the class. You know you don't have the smarts to keep up with the rest of us."

Connie looked at Amethyst nervously. "These are the kids that have been bullying me," she whispered. "I don't want to fight them Amethyst. Pearl trained me to fight monsters, not humans." She sounded so nervous.

Something out of the corner of Amethyst eye caught her attention when she saw what it was the gem smiled. "Don't worry Connie, the party is really about to get started.

Shadow came flying out of the sky and landed between them on his back.

When he was done writhing around in pain Shadow opened up his eye to see the girls looking down at him.

"You getting your butt kicked Shadow," Amethyst stated.

The words hurt his feeling he didn't need to hear that. "Yeah well, it's not my fault that this guy is a ninja okay!"

Shadow got to his feet to face the bodyguard again. The man was taking off his suit and loosening the tie around his neck. He beckoned with his hand for Shadow to come at him.

The other parents formed a semi-circle around the group. Most of them looked frightened but the majority wanted to see how this thing played out. They were sick of the same boring dances everytime they came to a parent-teacher conference. A fight was what the people wanted so that's what they'll get.

Shadow dipped out of the way of the jab and leaned back to avoid the hook to his fast. The man was so fast, never left himself to open so that it was almost impossible to counter without taking a lot of blows. Even though Shadow was half gem when the man hit vulnerable points Shadow could feel his knees going weak.

This man was more skilled than anyone he had ever fought before. The last time he fought a man like this was his last cage fight even then this man was deadlier than him. He was quicker with his strikes and hit harder than any regular man.

Shadow weaved out of the way again but the man's leg came up in a snapping front kick that hit his diaphragm. He didn't even have time to keel over before the man followed up with a skipping side kick that sent him off his feet.

Amethyst caught Shadow in her arms. "Yo whats going on with you? You gonna let this guy keep kicking your butt."

Shadow spit some blood from his busted lip and looked up at her. "Yeah, Mr. Miyagi? Well, give me some advice. How do you suppose I end this fight?"

Amethyst looked at the man, took a hard long look and said "Fight him like Jasper would. Fight like a beast and you'll prosper."

Thinking about it she really doesn't have any battle plan when she fights. Smash, destroy, and come out on top is more like Jaspers style. An unexpected style that no one would expect.

Shadow let Amethyst and Connie help him up.

"Go get him dad!" Connie shouted.

The man felt motivated hearing that. She wasn't his daughter but he liked to think that if he did have one she would cheer him on like this. Not that he would wish for his kid to be rooting for violence but if his kid was anything like him then there was no helping it.

"Man I really don't want to keep getting my ass beat in front of all these people." Shadow tried to roll out the aches and pain in his body but that did little to help. He was going to finish this fight right here and now.

Shadow took off sprinting without a care for getting his ass beat again. Shadow leaped forward head first into his stomach with his head knocking the man back. As crazy as the attack looked it worked so he didn't care. The man rolled back onto his feet but Shadow was already pushing for the next attack. He feigned a right hook and came at the man with a dropkick that hit is blocked arms.

"I'm kind of liking this!" Shadow shouted. The man threw to jabs at him that Shadow took to his shoulder then spun hitting him in the face with a backfist that made him stumble. The man spun back with a roundhouse. The blow hit his ribs but he still caught the kick with his arm. Before he could try to retaliate Shadow came soaring in with a wild roundhouse straight to his shin.

The bodyguard fell on his chest then rolled over, he spat blood from his mouth on the ground next to him. "Well this is unexpected," he gave a bloody smile.

The little boy that was bugging Connie ran up to the man and kicked his back. "Get up Simeon your embarrassing me!" His voice turned into a high shriek that made everyone laugh.

"So this is the kid that has been bugging you, Connie?" Shadow took his step next to his fake daughter.

The girl nodded. "Yes. This is Jacobs."

Shadow took a look at the little boy with his slick back hair and tuxedo. Just a silver spoon fed brat.

Simeon got to his feet and stumbled. His right leg hurt from the strike Shadow hit him with. He put his hands up ready to fight again, just like he was ordered too.

"Put them down, I'm not going to fight you just because of some kid," honestly he was getting sick of being here. "All I came here to do was see a few teachers and boogie with my kid."

Simeon grinned at him. "You know I think it's time for the young master to get home anyways, I think will be leaving too." He didn't bother to wait for the boy to start complaining. He reached down and grabbed the boy and threw him over his shoulder.

The boy's high pitched voice pained everyone's ears. "Simeon put me down. I order you to go back there and end him… Simeon!" The double doors to the gym slammed behind the two. You could still hear the boys awful voice but at least he was gone.

Back in the car, Amethyst was in the backseat with Connie. Both passed out from the long exciting night.

"Hey, Shadow?" Connie stirred up from the nap she was taking.

The soft voice shocked Shadow but he was happy he didn't have to hear silence anymore. "Yeah hey whats up?" He viewed her in the rearview mirror staring at him.

Connie was smiling at him. "Thank you for being my parent and all. I know it was weird but thank you all the same."

Shadow returned it. "No, I had a nice night. I don't think our school will want me coming back though." When they were headed out the teachers were on them faster than white on rice. Asking them about what happened and why Shadow was bleeding. Running away was faster than telling them the truth so that's what they did.

"Maybe the next time I act as your fake parent I won't get into a fight, I promise?

Connie was excited about that. "You really mean that?"

Shadow glanced at her in the mirror. She was beaming at him. "Yeah," he adjusted the mirror so she wouldn't see him fully smiling. "I mean it."