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Chapter Twenty Three (PART II)

Daniel looked at him with fright in his eyes, but a small smile curling from the tips of his lips, "Seth's got himself a bodyguard? How cuuuute." The boy mocked, glaring at Ryan. Ryan closed his eyes, pressing his lips together, breathing intensely. He didn't want to get kicked out of school just cause of this ass.

"Get the fuck out of here while you have the chance, Daniel." He said. He shook his head, looking amused. He found it oddly hilarious that Daniel thought he could start trouble with Ryan Atwood.

"Or what? Chino kid and Cohen will beat me up?" He cackled. Ryan could tell that the guy was scared, even behind his chilling smile. His eyes told such an overpowering story, that even a blind person could tell that he was terrified of what Ryan was about to do.

"Daniel," Ryan said, getting impatient, "Get. Out. Of. Here." He spoke slowly, and made short pauses in between his words, so that Daniel could swallow them.

"Again, or what? Chino kid and Cohen will beat me up? God, Atwood, I would've thought that with your awfully tough-man rep, you'd punch me already. Guess you're nothing but a sissy poser." Daniel laughed at his joke, and started to speak in a squeaky little voice, like a school girl's, "Is wittle Wyan afwaid, of Daniel cause he's a jock? Aw.. Wyan.. don't be scared." Daniel chuckled, "I'm through here. I don't need the satisfaction of kicking your sad ass." He said, as he pushed against Ryan, "I'll still get your sexy girl though- you'll see."

Usually, it would be Ryan who could not contain himself further. Usually Ryan was the one that struck the first punch. Seth could take it anymore. His insides were swelling, and he couldn't tell where he wanted to hit Daniel the most- in the face, or in the balls so that he would remember. Seth sneered, as he attacked him, sending the tall, muscular boy teetering toward the ground. Seth started to punch his face wildly. Daniel couldn't quite register the fact that Seth Cohen was beating him up.

"Boys!" The teacher swung open the door, with a ferocious glower on her face, "Mr. Cohen! Mr. Brooke! Office- now." She added coldly. Daniel swung the now immobile Seth Cohen off of him, "Mr. Atwood, I'm surprised you weren't the one on top of Daniel." She made sure Daniel felt entirely stupid for having Seth Cohen beat him up. She stalked out of the bathroom, and all three guys were standing still, not knowing what they're to do, "Boys, come on- Ryan, too." She raised an eyebrow. Daniel went through the door first, and then Seth and Ryan trailed behind unfathomably distant from the 'group'.

"That was close.." Seth muttered. Ryan looked at him in awe,

"What do you mean? You got caught!" Ryan whispered harshly, "And now I'm getting dragged into this somehow?"

"No- I mean, that was close for you. You were about to batter that guy." Seth said unremorsefully.

"Well you beat me to it- and now you're getting in crap." Ryan looked away, as he exhaled deeply, "Did you do it, just so I wouldn't get caught again?" Ryan asked him, staring into his eyes with interest. Seth didn't answer, instead he patted Ryan on the back, and walked further up, to the teacher with a smile.

Ryan looked at him, with terrible confusion- What is he doing, he thought silently. Daniel took the time to idle one step, so that he could be alongside Ryan.

"So why didn't you beat me up?" He asked him, concentrating on his step.

"Trust me when I say, I wanted to." Ryan muttered, "But it wasn't my case- it was Seth's- and you got burned." Ryan smiled gently, so that Daniel wouldn't see his utter satisfaction.

"The guy threw one punch, and I got burned? Please." Daniel let a small laugh escape. He stopped, and Ryan figured it meant he was supposed to stop too- he did. Daniel glared at him, "I swear if you tell anyone about this-"

"What?" Ryan interrupted coldly, clearly indifferent about the rest of his sentence, "I will spread it to the damn world, Daniel. And what will you do? Get your jock gang against me?" Ryan asked, keeping his heated glare against Daniel rough, and consistent, "That's right Dan." Ryan said, "If they're anything like you, I could slap one, and the rest would go visit him in the nurses office. Now run along princess."

Ryan wasn't actually one to tell off anybody. He was usually all-talk with his fists- bitching was a girl's job. However, Ryan found it hilarious how just his mouth got Daniel so self-conscious and humiliated.

Meanwhile, about two metres ahead, Seth was trying to make some small talk with the teacher, "So Miss., how are you doing today?" Seth asked finely, as he coincided with her quick march.

"Quiet." She said just as roughly as her bulgy step. She turned to face him with her tiny eyes, her small line of a mouth, crumpled in anger.

"Oh but Miss.! You probably think I'm trying to distract you or something, but really, I don't. I just want to know how my greatest, most favourite teacher is doing." He made a silly grin, that made his teacher erupt with even more anger.

"Cohen," She groaned viciously, "If you shut up now, I'll dock a day off your suspension."

"How about I clean your classroom for the whole year straight, and you dock the entire suspension off?" He smiled cheekily, as tried to persuade her.

"Clean my classroom, and my office, and Mr. Trenton's classroom too, cause he's kinda cute." She smiled at him, raising an eyebrow, wondering if Seth would admit to it.

"How about your classroom, your office, and I keep shut about your crush on my math teacher?" He asked her desperately, "Final offer." He added.

"One week suspension it is, then." She shrugged, as she started to walk quicker.

"Fine! Mr. Trenton's classroom, too." He snarled, as he looked into her eyes pleadingly, entreatingly.

"Find then, Cohen- deal." She stared at him dryly, "A whole year." She smiled, "Hope you can catch those dust bunnies." She smiled, "Go back to class- Daniel, I would like to speak to you along with the principal." She looked at him, as she stopped in front of the principal's office.

"Why does he get to get off?" He complained quickly, "I'm the victim!" He quickly said, in a frightened voice.

"We have Ryan as a witness, Mr. Brooke. Now please co-operate." She smiled gently, as she opened the door for the boys, "We have a case, Dr. Kim!" She pulled out from behind her desk,

"Emily! Great to see, not great to see you because of this, but great to see you." She smiled her genuinely kind smile, as she looked at Daniel and Ryan. She shook her head lightly, "Mr. Atwood, I'm honestly not surprised to see him, but Mr. Brooke! I am entirely appauled."

"Kimmy, this time, you're wrong." She giggled, as she went over the principal's desk, as she started to whisper a bunch of incomprehensible words. Once she was done, the principal stared at Ryan intently,

"Mr. Atwood! You never cease to amaze me." She said, "Come into my office." She said, waving them over, as she got up from behind her desk, and walked into a relatively small room. She folded her hands behind on the desk, on the receiving side of the discussion. "Mr. Atwood, please tell me exactly what you saw, and did in the moment's events. Mr. Brooke, please do not interrupt, I know you have a tendency to try and prove your case. Basically, from what I've been told, your case looks kind of sour.." She frowned, "And Emily, go back to your class. I can bet your students are waiting." Dr. Kim smiled, as she fingered her embossed plate calmly, trailing the words, 'Dr. Kim' gently, "Go on, Ryan." She said, in a kind voice. Ryan had never heard that type of voice before, but then again, he had never been in this office from an innocent bystander's point of view. He was usually being the one testified against, if anything.

Ryan glanced at Daniel, who was sweating intolerably. He was staring at Ryan, almost begging him not to say anything. Ryan didn't care- this probably would get Daniel off of Seth and Summer's backs, at least for a little while.

Dr. Kim looked at Daniel, "Mr. Brooke, you can leave the room if you want, so that you don't pressure Mr. Atwood into siding with you." She looked at him, and he nodded.

"Sorry.." He breathed morosely, but he did not stop staring at Ryan.

"Mr. Brooke, could you please stand outside the door?" She smiled carefully, "Ryan and I need to speak for a few moments, without you." Daniel stood up reluctantly, and glared and Ryan, his eyes frightened and worried. Once he left the room, he slammed the door behind him, leaning against it so that his last moments of dignity would be held up against the painted wooden slab.

"Ryan, please do continue, now that Daniel can't interfere anymore. Forget about him for a moment, and just retell everything that happened this afternoon- all that you can remember anyway." She smiled, looking at him eagerly, patiently.

Ryan cleared his throat, as he looked away, forcing a smile off of his face. It really did amuse him seeing how much Dr. Kim trusted him, "This afternoon, Summer Roberts was being, well, harassed by Daniel Brooke." Ryan made sure he gave the ideal sense of the situation. Dr. Kim didn't see how it was relevant, but Ryan nodded and continued, "Well, Seth, being Summer's boyfriend, got extremely protective, but still he allowed Summer to handle it- they're getting married, you know." He grinned, "Anyway. Daniel insisted on taunting Summer for the rest of the day, saying that she would be his, etc. etc. etc. During last period, Seth left to go to the bathroom, and soon enough so did Daniel. After a while, I figured something was up, so I went to the bathroom myself. Once I got in there, Daniel was kneeing Seth in the stomach, so I quickly pushed him off of Seth."

"Did you use any force?" Dr. Kim asked, interrupting.

"Enough force to get him off of Seth, Mrs." He said politely. Dr. Kim nodded, as she continued jotting down points, on a sheet of paper. Ryan took her nod, as a sign to continue, "I told Daniel to leave, but he consistently mocked both Seth and me. He finally decided to leave, and once again he provoked Seth, by saying, 'I'll still get your sexy girl though- you'll see.' Seth blew his top off, considering the entire day, Daniel had been seeking his fiancé."

"Aw, fiancé?" Dr. Kim smiled, "Seth and Summer.. just one couple of the many I would never think possible." She smiled, "Okay, I know where this is going. Seth then attacked Mr. Brooke because he was chasing after the wrong gold, is that correct?"

"Yes ma'am. Seth won't get punished for this, will he? He was protecting his territory, and God, he out of all people can say that Summer is his territory, now- she is, right?" Ryan looked at her closely.

"Ryan, Emily, more formally known as Miss Nesley, has already discussed the contents of Seth's punishment. Instead of a suspension, he will be cleaning an awful lot until the rest of the year. Mr. Atwood, you should be terribly glad you were minimally involved in the situation, otherwise, it would call for immediate expulsion. Ryan, I'm proud of you that you stayed away from the fight, rather, you could thoroughly explain what happened. I know you're a good kid, and really, this fight wouldn't look any better than the rest, on your record. So if this initiates a new, perhaps a more mature Ryan, that doesn't use his fists to solve problems, I'm openly welcoming him." She said proudly.

Ryan shook his head, "I'm still the same old kid from Chino, Dr. Kim." He said, looking away.

He couldn't believe how understanding Dr. Kim was at the other end of the situation. He always figured that she was out to get him. She sighed, "I know. I also presume if Seth didn't hit Daniel before he left, you would?"

Ryan blushed shyly, as he smiled a little uncomfortably, "The guy really didn't deserve to get out of that bathroom, with that smug grin. I'm not proud to admit it, but yeah, I probably would have hit him." Ryan looked up again.

Summer shifted in her seat uncomfortably. It had been around twenty minutes since the lot had left the classroom- twenty minutes of sheer fear, and terror for Seth. Once he walked into the room, his face slightly discoloured with a red splotch on his cheek, both his face, and Summer's enlighted at each other's sight.

"Seth!" She called out with a smile, as she ran up to hug him. The class had their eyes strictly pinpointed on the couple,

"Hey Sum," He said coolly, resuming his place beside her. Summer had a sense of calmness running through her veins now. She felt comfort in the fact that Seth was there beside her.

"You'll never guess what!" Seth flashed a grin that could be noticed from miles away. Summer smiled at him, as she exhaled deeply.