The next morning met Ben with great disappointment. After breakfast, Ben had decided to find Jaden and talk to her again. He'd started in the courtyard where'd he'd found her yesterday, granted it was purely by chance and that chance hadn't return since. The courtyard was filled with children playing, but Jaden wasn't amongst them. He started walking around the school, searching everywhere he could think of, but there was no sight of Jaden. By noon, Ben had given up his search entirely. He made his way to the gym that evening with Matt leading the way for dinner.
Matt looked behind him at Ben. He shook his head. "Geez, what did Jaden say to you?"
Ben looked at Matt. "Huh?"
"I haven't seen you this bummed since that B on your math final." Matt said.
That was one of Ben's lowest points. He'd spent every night studying for his test. Study groups, extra practice, even tutoring at the school. He'd taken the entire two hours allotted for the final. Checking and double checking his answers. The B on his report card was such a shock; Ben had spent the first month of his summer with his math book and iPod (to drowned out Hal's constant ridicule).
Ben narrowed his eyes at Matt. "Nothing and that incident was never to be mentioned again."
Matt tried not to smile as he moved into the line. Ben stood right behind him and sighed again. He noticed several people stare at him. A lot of people did that, or stared at the ridge on his back. Most of the time he managed to ignore them.
"Hey!"
Ben closed his eyes and groaned. He opened his eyes and turned. Two men, whom he recognized as trouble makers for the group, were storming through the line of people. Ben expected them to stop by him, but the two men walked past him and continued up the line. Ben stepped out of line and watched the men stop in front of Jaden. She was holding her bowl of soup in one hand, fishing for her utensils. One of the men stepped behind her while the other stepped in front.
"Sorry, we don't serve people like you." The front man said.
Ben couldn't see Jaden's face, but he could hear her response.
"Excuse me?" she asked. "People like me?"
"You. Ones who don't seem to do anything." He explained
Jaden snorted. "Right. I don't do anything"
"Nothing but eat food that someone else made while other people patrol." he continued. He took her bowl from her.
"Hey, give that back!" Jimmy said from behind the second man.
The second man pushed Jimmy away. "Butt out kid."
"What's going on up there?" Matt asked
"Stay here Mattie." Ben said. He stepped out of line and walked toward the confrontation.
"Jimmy, I got this." Jaden said.
The first man snickered. "Oh right. Just what is it you do in this unit girly?"
"Believe me, I do more for the 2nd Mass than you ever could." Jaden said.
"It that right?" he asked, pushing her into his partner. In return, his partner pushed her to the floor.
"Hey!" Ben yelled.
But Jimmy acted first. He ran n between the men and Jaden. He raised his fist and swung for the closest man. The adult easily caught Jimmy's hand. He punched Jimmy in the face, sending him toppling onto the floor beside Jaden. Ben rushed into the fight, punching the instigator. He turned to Ben and punched him. Ben found himself on his back, staring up at the ceiling. His face was on fire. He could see Matt peeking through the people in the growing crowd.
"Ben!" he called.
"Stay back Matt." Ben called.
"Lot of support for deadweight." The man said.
Jaden sighed and stood up. She turned and faced the two men. She flicked her head, tossing her braids behind her back. "You two dumbasses made a big mistake."
The two men looked at each other and laughed. Then the first man swung for her. Jaden caught the man's arm and twisted it around his back. She slammed his head into the table and let him fall to the floor. His partner quickly grabbed Jaden from behind, wrapping his arms around her body.
"Now what?" he asked.
"Just keep in mind, you asked for it." Jaden said. She tossed her head back, slamming into the man's head. The force stunned him temporarily. Jaden jerked her arms free and rammed her elbow into his stomach. He doubled over in pain, giving Jaden the perfect angle to drive her elbow into his face. The man tumbled backwards onto the floor. The gymnasium fell into silence.
"What in the hell is going on here?"
The group dispersed as Captain Weaver walked inside the gym. He walked to the center of the gathered crowd, where four people were lying on the floor, two of them unconscious. He eyed Ben and Jimmy on the floor and then moved to Jaden. Matt weaved his way through the crowd and ran to Ben. He started helping Ben to his feet.
"Matt, you think you can help Jaden get your brother and Jimmy to Doctor Glass?" Weaver asked.
Matt nodded. "Yes sir."
"Good." He turned to the crowd. "You four, drag these two to the doc. And someone find Tom Mason!"
Tom walked into the medical room of the school. He immediately found two of his boys in the room. Ben was sitting on one of the beds with Matt standing behind him. His right eye was swollen and bruised heavily. Tom rushed across the room.
"What the hell happened?" he demanded.
"Little fight in the gymnasium." Weaver said.
Jimmy was sitting on the bed next to Ben. His bottom lip was swollen and split. A white adhesive strip was place just below him lip.
Tom turned to Ben. "You got into a fight?"
"It wasn't his fault. These boys are modern day knights in shining armor." Jaden said.
"Seems they disobeyed orders and tried to help Jaden here with a dispute." Weaver explained. He motioned behind Tom.
Tom looked over his shoulder. Two more men were lying on bed, both unconscious. One seemed to have a broken nose while the other had a concussion and a busted lip. He turned back to his son.
"I only punched the guy once." Ben explained.
Tom turned to Jaden. "You did that?"
"They hit two kids trying to help me out, I wasn't about to let that slide." She explained.
"Jaden, I'd like a word with you." Weaver said. He walked rom Jimmy's side toward the door.
"Yes sir." Jaden said. She followed Weaver out of hearing of the group. Weaver pulled the curtain, cutting them of from the group.
Tom returned his attention to his son. "You okay?"
Ben nodded. "I'm fine."
"You sure?"
"We were just trying to help her." Ben explained.
"You should've seen him, dad!" Matt exclaimed. "Ben ran into the fight and hit the guy right after Jimmy fell. And then Jaden totally beat them up!"
Anne walked over to the party. "Words already spreading fast about the fight. You boys are heroes."
Jimmy snorted. "Yeah right. Jaden didn't need our help."
"Maybe not, but from what I heard, if you two hadn't intervened, she might've had more than a few bruises." Anne explained.
"What's the damage?" Tom asked.
"Split lip, black eye, and bruised knuckles." Anne explained. "A lot better than the two who actually started the fight. But they'll live."
Weaver returned to the party.
"Are you thinking consequences?" Tom asked.
Weaver shook his head. "Don't see any need to. They've all learned their lessons, and I've given Jaden strict orders about withholding in a fight."
Tom looked to the unconscious men. "And them?"
"I doubt they'll be starting fights with anyone anytime soon." Weaver said. "Boys, you did good. Get some rest." He turned and left the room.
"Okay, you boys are good to go." Anne said.
"Thanks Anne." Tom said.
The boys climbed off the beds. Jimmy, Matt, and Ben walked ahead of Tom. Jaden was standing by the door. She took a step toward them.
"That was a dumb move, trying to help." Jaden said. "But you still tried to help, so I owe you two a thank you. Thank you for trying to help me back there."
Ben nodded, taken aback by Jaden's sentiment. His first impression hadn't hinted to anything like this, unless she was talking with Matt. "You're welcome."
Jaden looked down at Matt. "Make sure these two don't get into any more fights on their way to their rooms."
Matt mocked a salute. "Yes sir…I mean ma'am."
Jaden returned with a two finger salute. Night boys." She turned and walked out into the hall.
Ben sighed as he watched her leave.
"Yep." Jimmy said, turning to Ben. "Jaden's a hard one to understand."
Ben turned to Jimmy. "How well do you know her?"
Jimmy shrugged. "About as well as most of the fighters?"
Ben nodded.
"Alright boys, bed." Tom ordered.
chivilrous