Defender
Chapter 9—The Fox
Author's notes: Or maybe this is the chapter that started the story… Meh, whatever. Sorry that it's a little short. I just didn't think the next section really belonged in this chapter.
Comments:
Daewen98: Well, here's the next one for you.
Kira: Love back to you. /hugs/
.oO0Oo.oO0Oo.oO0Oo.
Earlier that morning:
Philip arrived on the school grounds long before most people. He had successfully escaped his parents and had wandered around town until he had run out of things with which to occupy himself. Now all he had to do was to stay inconspicuous until the first bell rang.
Walking up to his locker, he argued with the key until the lock sprung open. Then he set his backpack down and unzipped the main compartment. Pulling out half his books, he set them on the shelf and pulled out his comb. For a few minutes he styled his hair, attempting to get it to lie like Aaron's, but then gave up and fluffed it into a jumbled mess with his fingers. Licking his finger, he coaxed the lower back locks into a gentle curl and then stood back to admire his handiwork.
"Much better looking than Aaron's, anyhow," he muttered to himself.
With a smirk and flick of his wrist, he tossed the comb back into the locker. Then he squatted down by his backpack and unzipped the front pocket. He was about to retrieve the contents when he heard the ominous sound of footsteps coming down the hallway. Quickly, he zipped the pocket again and closed the first one as well. Grabbing one of the shoulder straps, he hoisted the bag onto his back and kicked the locker shut. Keeping his head down, he walked briskly away from the footsteps.
"Hey!" a male voice called. "Stop! Hey! I said stop!"
Philip reluctantly stood still until the man came up to him.
"What were you doing just now?" the teacher asked.
"Just putting my books in my locker," he mumbled.
"This early in the morning?"
"Yah…?"
"Why are you here this early?"
"Just got here early."
The teacher eyed him suspiciously. "Then why did you leave so quickly when I came?"
"Cause I was done."
"Mind if I take a look in your locker?"
Philip frowned. "Don't you have to have a warrant for that or something? Meh, whatever. You won't be satisfied until you do. Here's the key."
The teacher studied the key in perplexity. Finally, he walked over to the locker and opened it. He lifted the books and checked the back corners. Then he turned around and tossed the key back to Philip. "Didn't really expect to find anything," he said with a smile. "Just be sure it stays that way, okay?"
Philip nodded and continued on his way.
.oO0Oo.
After the lunch bell, Philip dutifully made his way to the cafeteria. On his way, he heard a scuffle in the hall and smirked to see Dreizehn bowl over Aaron. He took a step toward them, intent on helping his friend, until he noticed Karen standing nearby.
"One does not get into the middle of a fight over a girl," he muttered to himself with a smile.
In the cafeteria, he got his food and selected a table. He waited for Max and Enriqué to show up and then excused himself. Once in the hallway, he looked around, but, not finding who he wanted, he leaned against the wall near the stairs and waited.
"Hey, Philip."
Philip jumped a clear inch off the floor. Turning, he came face to face with Ryan's amused smirk.
"A bit jumpy aren't we?"
"Oh shut up, you moron!" Philip scowled. "Now get out of here."
"I'll go when I want to." The two boys glared at each other for a moment and then Ryan chuckled. "Ah, man! When's the next dump?"
"Yours isn't coming for a long time if you don't get out of here and now!"
"Is that so? That mean you're waiting for someone?"
"None of your business!"
"You got it on you now, eh?" Ryan prodded Philip's arm. "You know…I ran out quite a while ago. I need a new batch, man. I need it!"
"Get out of here!" Philip snarled.
"I need it, man! I can't study without it."
"And if you don't leave now, you're never getting any!"
Ryan stepped back a little and measured his dealer. "That so, eh? Heh! It better be here next week or I'm paying your house a visit."
"I'll be waiting for you," Philip returned with little conviction. Ryan smirked and turned to go. When he walked back into the cafeteria, Philip let out a deep sigh. "Worthless rat!" he spat. Leaning back on the wall again, he rested his arm against his forehead and listened to the sounds around him.
In a few minutes, he heard it—the steady, yet uncertain, tap of a cane. Opening his eyes, he saw the tall blonde man not far away. The lower right side of his jaw was still bandaged pretty heavily and the cane that he used spoke volumes about the rest of his wounds, but he was walking more easily than the last time.
Philip stood up and adjusted his pack. "Hey," he mumbled. Looking up the stairs, he nodded to Aaron as his friend made his way down, still holding the ice pack to his head.
Aaron grinned in return.
"Army brat got jealous?"
"Oh shut up…."
Philip smirked as Aaron retreated into the cafeteria.
"Come on. Hurry up," Edward pressed impatiently.
"Don't rush me…don't rush me…." The boy slowly unzipped the front pocket of his backpack. "Where's the cash?"
"Not till I see the bag."
Philip nodded. Giving Edward a sly grin, he pulled the top of the zip-lock bag out in view. In response, Edward showed the top inch of his bills. Philip nodded again and held the bag out for the exchange.
At that moment, a shill female voice cried, "Edward!"
Edward snatched the bag and backed up as quickly as he could.
.oO0Oo.
"Oh my gosh! He's here!" Karen clung protectively to Dreizehn.
As the older man backed up precariously, Philip lunged toward him, grasped the bills, and ran out of the building. Edward steadied his balance and snarled up at Karen, "You're an annoying brat!" Then he ducked under the upper-level walkway, out of sight.
"Miss Karen," the principal called from the doorway of his office. "What's the matter?"
"Um," she looked down into the empty hallway. "My cousin was just down there. He was meeting with a student, but…"
"Your cousin was here!"
"Yes sir."
Principal Durhart darted down the stairs into the hallway. He stood there a moment, looking around, and then called back up to Karen. "How long ago was he here?"
"Just a few moments ago. When I yelled his name."
"Well, he must've run off," the principal said with a shrug. "I don't see him anywhere…or the other student for that matter."
"Thanks anyhow," Karen murmured. She let go of Dreizehn and timidly walked down the stairs.
The principal passed by her on his way back to his office and gave her a disapproving, suspicious frown. "That better not have been a trick to get your bodyguard back on school grounds."
"No sir. Not at all!"
"Well, that's good, but all the same, he stays expelled."
Karen swallowed. "But my cousin was in the building."
"So you say." He continued on his way, leaving Karen standing in the middle of the stairs.
Tugging on Karen's arm, Dreizehn enticed her forward until they were once more on the first floor. Leaving her side momentarily, he walked under the stairs and stared at a janitor's closet. Having satisfied his curiosity, he rejoined Karen.
"Guess I have to take you outside, now. Come on."
The Doberman walked with her until they were standing under the awning. For several moments Karen just stood there and relaxed in the sun. Somehow the coolness of the outdoors, the wind on her face, and the song of the birds relaxed her. Reluctant to return, she leaned up against the wall of the school and rested her head on the brick.
"I'm supposed to leave you here," she stated, "but I really don't want to. Edward is still in there and…well…that's reason enough, I guess."
She slid down until she was sitting on the cold concrete. Pulling her knees up under her chin, she wrapped her arms around her legs. Dreizehn sat down beside her as well, and she leaned against his shoulder.
"I wish today was Saturday," she murmured.
For a moment they sat in silence, enjoying the cool air. Then the school door opened and a pair of dark shoes stopped beside her. Looking up, she stared in horror at Edward.
"Hello, Karen," he sneered.
Dreizehn growled.
"Heh heh. Nice doggy."
Dreizehn stood up and glared fiercely at his enemy.
"Guess I'll be seeing you around," Edward said hastily and just as quickly, ducked out of sight.
.oO0Oo.
"Where were you at lunch?" Ellie asked after school.
Karen shrugged.
"You don't know? You silly girl."
"I was busy," Karen replied tersely.
"Okay."
Amanda raised her eyebrow at Karen and then quickly changed the subject. "Shall we get milkshakes again?"
"Actually, I was thinking about trying out this new little restaurant that opened near my house," Ellie suggested. "Then we could all do homework at my house."
"Oh, that sounds great!" Amanda agreed. "It's been awhile since we went to your house."
.oO0Oo.
"So, really," Amanda pressed. "Where were you at lunch?"
"Well, Dora-chan got in a fight with Aaron and I was kind of involved, so we all had to go the principal's office."
"Yikes! Did you get in trouble?"
"No, but Dora-chan's expelled from the building. He has to wait for me outside, now."
"That bites," Ellie commented.
"No kidding. We won't be able to tease Claire anymore," Amanda pouted.
Karen smiled and sipped her cherry coke. "That is one downside to it."
"It'll really bite when the cold of winter sets in," Ellie mused.
"Oh, surely they'll let him back in then," Amanda chuckled, as she stirred her milk shake. "That would just be inhumane."
"Maybe he's hoping that she'll start leaving him at home by that time?"
"I don't know what he's thinking or if he's thinking."
"Knowing him, he's probably not thinking."
"No kidding!" Amanda sighed and looked at Karen. "You're awful quiet."
"Mmm. I was just thinking."
"What about?"
"Well…the fact that there's only one of Dreizehn."
"Yah, that is a problem," Ellie chuckled. "Not enough of him to go around. Especially since Amanda would like to hog him to herself.
Karen rolled her eyes and stared out the window.
"Oh, leave me alone," Amanda returned with a playful punch. "You'd have him if I didn't."
"Nah…I prefer blondes."
"Uh huh. I'll remember that next time we watch the football game."
Ellie made a face and threw her wadded up straw wrapper at Amanda's shoulder. Her target ducked and it skidded across the next table, instead, in between two older men who were having a very serious business discussion. The conversation ended abruptly as the wadded wrapper careened off the napkin holder and finally rested against one of the drinks. The man who had been speaking turned half around to glare at the unruly teens behind him.
Ellie struggled to look repentant while holding back the laughter that threatened to explode if she dared to exhale. The resulting expression was more than Amanda could take and she barely managed to muffle her snicker in a crumpled napkin. When the man turned back around, both girls burst into laughter.
Finally, with effort, the girls regained their composure. Exhaling deeply, Amanda looked at Karen, who was still staring out the window, completely unaffected by the antics of her friends.
"Karen, you okay?"
"Yah." Then with a bitter smirk: "Always."
"Hey now! What's wrong."
"Nothing," she insisted.
"Is it Dreizehn?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
She stood up and abruptly walked out of the restaurant, followed by her faithfully bodyguard.
.oO0Oo.oO0Oo.oO0Oo.
Last notes: If you're unhappy with Karen's moodiness, don't worry. It'll go away. I promise to make her the spunky, cheerful girl that we all love once again. /smile/ I just figure that she needs to be down sometimes if she's going to be believable at all! She has been through an awful lot, after all. /nods/