5.

Taylor was instantly herded into a corner by nine girls as they start to spew forth random insults. I hadn't realized it had was that bad. I paused for a half a minutes or so surprised that they could be so open with their bullying. After a few extremely harsh words were spoken I acted. I pushed through the circle of girl carelessly shoving my way in. Not the girls I touched but two others stumbled and went down. Not hard, they were too tightly packed for that. They were so focused on Taylor and my unexpected appearance surprised then so much that everyone just froze.

"Hey Taylor, I have some questions about what you wrote." I pretended ignorance of the other girls as I stood in front of Taylor.

"What?" she replied confused and off balance by the sudden change.

I ignored the starting's of nasty words that started around me. "You got a moment to answer a few questions?"

I stepped back pushing a girl backwards, Madison I think, as I forced a gap slightly wider than just me and indicated that Taylor should move forward.

She took the offer and stepped out of the broken trap, and I walked beside her as we left the girls floundering and muttering in fury behind us.

We'd walked halfway to the lunchroom before she spoke up, "What did you want to ask?"

I shrugged, "Nah… No question. Just thought them ganging up on you sucked." I hoped she would leave it at that, but I didn't think I would be so lucky, and I was right.

"I'm surprised you even noticed. You generally… well, don't seem to be paying much attention. Though today you seem different."

I decide to go with a semi honest answer, "Had a close call over the weekend. One cape almost killed me, another saved me. Woke me up a bit."

That caught her attention, "What happened?"

Without really thinking about it I had made my way to my locker. I dropped off my bag and grabbed my lunch box. I raised my eyebrows at Taylor, and she tapped her backpack indicating the location of her lunch.

I continued as we walked towards the lunch hall, "Squealer knocked the van I was in off the road and then, as I was checking what happened to my drum kit she drove back and smashed into the van again. Smashed me up pretty badly. Woke up in hospital after Panacea had healed me. Pretty sure not everyone she hit made it."

"Oh…" Taylor went very quiet and didn't say anything as she absently followed me and then sat beside me at my regular table.

Greg was sitting a few places on my other side writing in a notebook as he referred to a large gaming book but otherwise the table was empty. This was pretty normal. The day was reasonably pleasant, and most people choose to eat outside and those that didn't wouldn't sit with the rejects.

I was doing a pretty piss-poor job of playing the old Sparky and I wondered if I had also gained a willingness to court danger from my close call. If I had picked up a new personality to go with the ability to think and be aware of the world that could be a problem. The other option was that this was the real me and it had just been buried behind a sluggish mind barely able to focus on a single thing at a time. I had a feeling it was the latter as I didn't have any urge to go on a saving people spree. I was just unwilling to stand by when it was right in front of me.

I glanced around the table as I unwrapped my sandwiches. Greg was the loud cowardly nerd who wasn't pushed around more only as it was almost too embarrassing to be seen talking to him. Taylor was the downtrodden soldier that never seemed to give up but wasn't able to pull herself out of the hole she was in. Intelligent but unable to see beyond what was immediately in front of her.

I'd have to thank mum when I got home, she had packed me a decent lunch, thick sandwiches with lots of taste and healthy as well. Likely a similar quality lunch to every school lunch I had previously but I was only just noticing how nice it was. A glance at Taylor's told me she had likely made them herself right before leaving for school. Maybe being more aware and alert was as much a curse as it was a blessing as it was revealing to me way too much information about everything around me.

I certainly had seen the bullying before, and I could now even recall sometimes when it was directed at me. However, there was no recollection of any reaction from me. It seemed so beyond belief that I had been so oblivious to everything around me that I once again wondered if maybe Panacea had healed a very significant issue with my brain accidentally or on the sly.

Did I even want to know? Could I picture myself asking for a moment alone with Panacea to thank her and then try and get the truth from her about what exactly she did. I could really see that going well, 'Oh yes, even though I have made it very clear in all my interviews that I don't work with brains that day I just had to go and fix yours and this is exactly what I did…' Ha.

I popped the lid on my apple juice and washed down the last bite of sandwich.

I looked up to see that Taylor had also finished her sandwiches and was staring at me. Ouch… I wasn't prepared to have a conversation explaining why I had interrupted the bullying or, and much worse, why I had never done anything in the past. It didn't make me feel better in that I could say no one else did either.

"Thank you," she finally said.

"Eh… you're welcome." I frowned. It didn't seem enough, and I wanted to apologise for all the inaction in the past but that would likely have come across as empty words.

She opened her mouth but was interrupted by the school intercom system crackling to life.

"Taylor Hebert, Robert Henke please report to the principal's office."

I sighed before taking another sip of my drink. Unwanted drama incoming.

Taylor started packing up her lunch then notices my lack of movement, "Aren't you coming?"

I shrugged, "Sure. Once I have finished my lunch." I indicated my unfinished drink and the small bunch of grapes. "No need to guess what's going on and rushing there isn't going to score us any points."

Her eyes widened in surprise then slowly nodded as comprehension sank in. She slumped back down and took a drink from her water.

I narrowed my eyes as for a moment, I could see what looked like the beginning of anger and then as quickly it was gone. I was no expert on emotions, but I was pretty sure that was both not normal and not good.

I offered her the small container of grapes and with a sad half smile she took a few and popped them into her mouth.

Sadly, the juice wasn't very large and there weren't that many grapes so only a few minutes later after a few pointed looks from Taylor I sluggishly got to my feet. It was feeling very easy to act like the old Sparky just then.

I was made to wait outside the Vice Principal's office as Taylor was led inside.

I was called in as she came out looking very down.

"Taylor?" I asked as I stepped past her.

"Suspension…"

I froze. "You were suspended for being bullied?"

She started to nod then shook her head, "No, but she threatened me with it."

"Robert Henke" the Vice Principal called out again.

Taylor sat down, "You better go in."

I went in.

"Robert, please tell me what happened after Mr. Gladly's class today."

I shrugged, "I left just before Mr. Gladly and saw nine girls crowding Taylor into the corner and talking abuse about her but not to her. Madison was asking if she used a Brillo pad to wash her face, Sandra said she sounds like a retard, Lucy said 'If I were her, I'd kill myself.' At that point I couldn't just ignore it, so I made up some lie about having to ask Taylor a question about her project and pushed through and pulled Taylor out. Mr. Gladly was right behind me so he probably heard some or most of it."

There was a long pause, "That's not what the other's told me."

"Really? What did Taylor say happened?"

"Not them."

I nodded, "Ahh you mean Emma and Sophie's little gang. What story did they come up with?"

She shook her head, "Not them, others have accused you of saying some very nasty things, pushing them to the ground. Stomping and kicking was mentioned." Her lips were very tight as she almost spat the words out her eyes drilling into mine.

I cocked my head over and answered evenly as if I was reading to the class, "They were pushed up right against each other to block Taylor in. I did have to push my way through them to get to Taylor. I didn't pay attention to what happened after I pulled Taylor out so they could have fallen over and hence I guess you could say that it was because of me rescuing Taylor that they fell. I certainly didn't stomp or kick on anyone though. They all told Mr. Gladly this?"

"They reported it to me. I had seven girls in here each with a very similar story which paints what happened in a very bad light. I have to consider all the facts here and they match up with what you have told me."

"Why did they report it to you when Mr. Gladly was right there beside us?" I put on my best confused expression. It was surprisingly natural.

There was a long pause as the she pursed her lips before she suddenly stood up, "Wait outside."

She walked behind me as I went and sat beside Taylor and then she headed off towards the staff rooms.

"What happened?" Taylor asked.

"She asked me what happened, I told her, she told me some story about me abusing them, pushing them over and kicking them or some such, I admitted I might have knocked them over pulling you out and asked why they reported it to her rather than Mr. Gladly who was right there."

There was a long pause before Taylor replied, "You've changed a lot."

Yep, I was doing a terrible job of being my old self.

"I think you have spoken more today than you have the rest of the year."

I frowned; she was probably not far off the truth there.

"Guess the near call changed me." It sounded weak even to myself.

Taylor gave me a long searching look then turned and stared at the wall.

I was a little concerned about what she could be thinking so was glad she stopped asking questions. My thoughts went to the threatened suspension. If it fit my old personality that might have been good. Spend some more time setting up work for dad and doing programming. My parents would understand. Still being pulled out of school for attacking girls wasn't something I wanted happening for a variety of reasons. It being out of character for me being rather a small one compared to the rest.

It was almost ten minutes before the Vice Principal returned, our lunch break was almost over by this stage.

She didn't look happy at all, but the irritation didn't seem to be directed at either of us.

"Thank you for your time Taylor, Robert and apologies Taylor for not taking you at your word before. Seems I was badly misled and there are a number of people I will be calling and talking to. I will also be calling your father as it seems assurances that this wouldn't be happening again had been made. Would you prefer a room to rest in or would you prefer to go to class?"

Taylor opened her mouth and then shut it again as she took a moment to think.

"By the way the girls who came by earlier won't be attending class this afternoon."

"Oh… in that case I'd prefer to go to class."

"Robert, thank you for your time." No offer to let me off class but I wasn't expecting it so no great loss there.

Just after the bell rang the intercom went off again calling nine names.

As we split off to our respective classes Taylor suddenly stopped so I slowed and then stepped back to her as I noted her looking at me.

"Thanks Sparky."

I nodded and gave her a small smile, "Yeah… No problem."

"See you around."

"Sure" I gave her a half wave and wandered back to my locked to sort out my books for the afternoon.