Too Equal For My Taste

Chapter 27: An Extra Three

Mike left Ken feeling betrayed, and angry. He really had seriously thought Ken had reformed and had regretted his ways. Mike had even started thinking that just maybe Ken had nothing to do with the thefts. It then turned out that he did. Worse than that was the fact that if Mike said anything to anyone, he would get it. Mike did not want to get into a fight with Ken yet, but it was becoming more and more inevitable to the point that eventually, Mike would have to fight Ken.

Mike walked around on the weekend after thanksgiving dinner. Thanksgiving was kind of good, he guessed. Tom and Jimmy agreed to one dinner proposed by Serina, so they ate outside in the Murtaugh backyard. Sarah and Elliot said little if anything to each other. Only Kim and Jessica were talking with Lisa and Robin. Elliot even got bored with Jake because he was talking with his own friends who he pushed to have over.

Mike was walking, thinking to himself very deeply. Ken was really going for it, and effectively pissing Mike off. Mike had to do something. He couldn't just sit by and let Ken win. He'd be giving him an undeserved satisfaction. While walking blindly in thought, he was woken up by a loud voice, "YO!"

Mike jumped as he felt Jake tap his head. He spun round wildly, expecting to meet Ken, and he saw Jake, "What?"

"What's up?" Jake asked him. The sky was darkening, and the sun was almost set. Mike looked up at Jake. He was standing with Connor and Coolidge. "What's up?" Jake asked him again.

"Nothing," Mike said lowly. He turned to walk away, but Jake called him back persistently.

"Looks like a something," Jake said persistently. "C'mon. Keep it to yourself, and you're gonna regret it."

"Stay out of it, or more people will get hurt," Mike said angrily.

"Who's gonna kill me? What, I'm gonna have the neighborhood on me?" Jake said jokingly.

Connor and Coolidge just stood there. Connor was staring at Mike shortly, waiting for Jake to finish with him, so they could get back to talking. But Mike's issue was kind of interesting. Coolidge was leaning against a tree tiredly, and hoping nothing but that maybe there would be a fight. That way, something interesting would happen.

"Ken took everything," he whispered to Jake. "No, Ken and Mark took them. That's why we're missing so many things. No- Jake, don't tell him. Or, he'll beat me up."

"I'll beat him up," Jake said angrily and lowly. "What's he gonna do to me? He can't do a thing."

"No, let me deal with it," Mike pleaded. "It'll just get bigger."

"Wow, so thoughtful, Mike," Jake said sarcastically. "Why so thoughtful? Anything you"-

"What do you want from me?" Mike challenged angrily. He ignored Connor, who was now looking with interest at Mike.

"What do you plan to do?" Connor asked.

"I dunno," Mike shrugged. "Jump him from behind? But leave me alone. I just don't want to get in trouble for making this whole thing bigger. Plus, this is between me and Ken!"

"Alright fine," Jake said quickly. "Whatever you say. I'm giving you till next week. If it's not settled, I'm gonna take my own action," Jake said firmly. He looked over at Connor and nodded questioningly.

Connor nodded, "If it's three against one, no twelve year-old can hope for a win."

Coolidge shrugged, and said, "Whatever."

Jake nodded at them, turned to Mike, nodded firmly, and walked away with his friends. That was it. Mike had tried to get Jake out of it. However, part of Mike was happy with Jake's stance. He didn't want to ask for help too directly. He'd seem weak. But letting Jake know he had a problem was perfect. Naturally, the rest would take care of itself to get Jake involved.

Mike had done what he had to do. It was actually very simple. He was gonna try to deal with it himself in a non violent way. As Mike had passed Ken's class during P.E., he gave a note to a bigger kid to give to Ken. The bigger kid was about Ken's height. He had blond hair, blue eyes, and fair skin. He hurried over to Ken, and called in a small Irish accent, "Yo, Ken!"

Ken looked around as Mike turned away. Ken looked at the big kid, and then at Mike walking away. He looked down at the note, and smirked. He knew Mike just wanted to bad mouth him. So, he unfolded the note and read:

I know where your items are, and everyone will find out. Maybe that will bring everyone back together and get me my own little raise. You lose, Ken!

Anonymous

Ken looked up in time to see Mike walk away. Ken looked at it again. He scoffed. Anonymous? He already knew Mike sent it. It was so obvious, and was Mike that stupid. Now, Ken was forewarned, and he could hide everything again, and clear his name when Mike told everyone. After, he could stay true to his word, and smash the guts out of Mike. Well, Ken guessed that Mike was probably trying to scare him. However, just in case, he had better move everything or he'd be in deep trouble.