Chapter 11- Fight.
Other then more then a few odd stares, the remainder of the day went smoothly for Calvin and Hobbes. After tossing his books into his locker, Calvin made his way out the door, heading off the school grounds towards home.
"So… that's high school huh?" Hobbes murmured quietly.
"Sure is, unfortunately. So, what say we head out for a bite to eat?" The boy replied. Before the tiger could reply, he stiffed up and snapped his head to the side.
"Calvin… Calvin! It's Moe!" He squeaked as he pointed to the side. Calvin turned his head, only to see the large bully lumbering towards them.
"Oh… shit." Calvin muttered. "Time to get the hell out of here." He quickly tried to make his escape but Moe ran up behind him, grabbing him by the shirt.
"Where ya going pip-squeak? We got some unfinished business." Moe snarled, spinning Calvin around to face him.
"Back off Moe, I'm not in the mood…" Calvin warned. Moe only laughed, before shoving Calvin, causing him to fall onto his rear.
"Common punk! Stand up and fight you loser! Or are you gonna go crying to mommy?" he taunted, as Calvin picked himself up off the ground.
"Don't do it Calvin… lets just get outa here please…" Hobbes begged quietly, looking quite intimidated by the large boy.
"No… Not this time." Calvin growled. He gently set Hobbes down on a nearby picnic table. "Okay asshole, I've had it with your shit. This ends. NOW." Calvin pulled back into a defensive stance, glaring at the bully. Moe stood there, shocked for a moment, surprised to see the smaller boy suddenly growing a backbone after all these years. He snapped out of his daze and laughed.
"Oh look, he's trying to be tough! All right pip-squeak if that's' the way you wanna go about it! Been waiting for this for a long time!" Moe pulled back his fist and took a swing at Calvin, to which he dodged- barely. Moe swung again and again, each time the smaller boy dodged by only hairs. Finally, seeing his chance Calvin swung his fist right into Moe's gut. This resulted in a gasp of shock and pain from the large boy, and caused him to stumble back. Calvin recoiled back, shocked he actually landed a punch.
"I… I did it! Hobbes! Did you see! I got him!" Calvin boasted.
"I saw, now watch out behind you!" Hobbes shrieked, for while Calvin was gloating, Moe had recovered and drilled him in the back with a cheap shot. Calvin went down hard, gasping for air as the wind was knocked out of him. Once down, Moe kicked him in the side, again and again. Calvin tried desperately to defend himself, but the larger boys' blows were too strong and fast. Calvin cried out in pain as Moe relentlessly kicked him in the side and back, laughing at him.
"Not so tough NOW are you pip-squeak? Huh? Don't like it huh? I'll send you home in a body bag runt!" Moe roared in laughter as Calvin tried to pull away. Hobbes watched on in horror as his friend was beaten and kicked. Finally Hobbes let out a lour roar.
"NO! YOU LEAVE HIM ALONE!" Hobbes screamed. Moe suddenly stopped, looking around.
"Who said that? Huh?" He looked around for an answer, but finding none he looked back down at Calvin, who now lied in a heap, whimpering in pain. "Humph… that'll teach you, loser." Moe booted Calvin once more in the ribs, then turned to walk away.
"Calvin… Oh Calvin…" Hobbes whimpered, looking at his friend. He slowly turned his gaze towards Moe, hate and rage filling his eyes. Like a mighty tiger, Hobbes pounces from the table, and latched onto Moe's neck, clamping down and sinking his small, yet sharp teeth into his shoulder. Moe screamed in pain and fear, and began to thrash wildly, trying to pull the tiger off. For a brief moment, their eyes locked. Moe suddenly was able to see the dark rage in the tiger's eyes. He recoiled in horror, throwing the tiger to the ground. He grabbed his shoulder, gasping and looking at the stuffed toy. Pulling his hand back, Moe saw blood- his own blood. Glancing back at the toy he saw the same blood over the Tigers stuffed mouth. He shrieked in terror and ran from the scene. Hobbes spat the blood form his mouth, and went to Calvin.
"Calvin… are you okay…?" He asked meekly. The boy looked up at him slowly.
"Hobbes… holy… what did you do…? He sat up and winced, picking the tiger up into his arms.
"I… I don't know… I…" the tiger stuttered. "I was just so angry… I just lost control… I'm… I'm sorry…" Hobbes kept his head low, fumbling with his paws. The taste of blood still fresh in his mouth.
"It's… it's okay… lets just get home." Calvin stood up weakly, holding the tiger close, and limped off for home.