In the Blink of an Eye

In the Blink of an Eye

Chapter Three

Note: this chapter is a flashback (so no, you are not missing anything if you're wondering what is going on…)

12-year-old Emily Ryan heard the yell before she saw anything.

Instinctively, she dashed towards the basketball court, plaits flying behind her. A group of guys, all with the build of sumo wrestlers, were circling two smaller figures, pushing and taunting them until they fell to the ground. A couple of them were smoking, and most of them were drinking from beer bottles. Emily felt sick at the sight of them.

"Hey!" she yelled out, stamping her foot like they do in the movies. "Leave my friends alone!"

As one, the group rounded on her, leering wickedly. She glared up at them, her jaw jutting out and her stance defensive. The biggest one chuckled, smirking down at her with an evil grin on his face; he knew he held all the cards here.

Then, in the blink of an eye, Emily's leg flashed out and suddenly the buffoon was lying in a crumpled heap on the ground, clutching his extremities. She glared up at the rest of his moronic gang, daring them with her eyes to say something.

"See that cop over there, by the sandbox? He's a close family friend. Hi Charlie!" she called, smiling broadly as he waved in recognition. "See? So if you want to continue picking on innocent kids because you're too afraid of taking on anyone your own size, feel free. I'm sure I can convince Charlie to put in a good word for you down at the precinct, get you a cell with a view."

They scattered in an instant, leaving only the shattered remains of their bottles as proof that they had been there. Emily watched them go with intense satisfaction.

The look on Chad and Troy's faces was priceless, a mixture of shock, embarrassment and admiration. Emily tossed her plaits over her shoulders and helped the boys to their feet. "Thanks", Chad mumbled, clearly of the opinion that his masculinity had been threatened by his need to be rescued by a girl, even if said girl was his best friend.

"Where did you learn to do that?" Troy was much more enthusiastic.

"Self-defence classes. Sometimes Mom's over-protectiveness can come in handy I guess. Hey- you've cut yourself!"

"It's nothing", Troy shrugged, even though he was clearly wincing in pain. Emily bent to examine the damage to his mangled knee through the rip in his jeans. A long bloody cut was visible, speckled with dirt and what could be slivers of glass.

"This needs cleaning, you could get an infection in it. How would you like that, huh? No basketball for weeks…. A pretty bad punishment for nothing…"

"Shut up and quit fussing. You sound like my mom." Troy pulled a face.

"Not a mom", she corrected. "A best friend. Come here." She put his arm around her shoulders and Chad did the same. Between the two of them they managed to haul a protesting Troy home, where Emily began to inspect and clean the wound.

"Thank you", Troy murmured, his face contorted in pain as Emily and his mom fished all the bits of grime from his cut.

"No problem. Isn't that what best friends do, clean up each others' messes?"

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Emily awoke from her memories with a start. She realised that, as his best friend, she would soon be cleaning up another of Troy's messes. And this one wouldn't be as simple as bandaging a cut…..