Matt woke up the next day, fifteen minutes past 8 that morning feeling better than yesterday. He rolled out of the bed and dragged himself to the bathroom. He took a hot bath that day; aware that his usual cold shower would shock his body and send him back to a feverish mood. The hot bath eased and helped him think straight.
He thought that since he was late for first period already, he would just stay at home. But he already missed so much from yesterday; he might as well try go for the last 25 minutes and take that test before he becomes bombarded with work.
He rinsed off, brushing his teeth and applying cologne. He threw on a green ringer tee that had a logo of a three-leaf clover; along with a pair of ripped blue jeans and black socks. He slipped into his brown boots, glancing up at the old portrait of the gang in Cyberspace.
Digit.
He then swore himself that he'll return to Cyberspace with a plan to find Digit and save his world...as well as his own. Matt snagged a sandwich from yesterday and ate it on the way to school on his bike.
/
He reached the school in short time; glancing at his watch. Fifteen minutes until first period was over. He could still make it. Parking his bike, he rushed to the entrance when a brute force and a wave of pain hit his head. He stood dazed in the whiteness as the sun made it way in, silhouettes crowding him. One bent down, and Matt became infuriated as he saw:
"Max." He snarled. The boy sneered as his buddies held his arms down. Max stepped on Matt's recently injured arm, as the pain shot through him. He bit down his teeth.
"Shouldn't have come to school." Max snarled as he kicked him in his side. Matt held back the urge to yell, the pain slowly trying to kill him.
"Fight me like a man Max." He hissed, "Or are you're too scared?"
Max laughed. He wasn't falling for Matt's bluff. He knew better than to take him on. He had other plans.
"No, because they have other intentions for you." Max said darkly. "In fact, they specifically told me that painfully torturing you was the farthest I could go. It's for your own good."
"You were on the phone." Matt stared.
"No, I wasn't. Someone else was." Max said.
Matt gritted his teeth. Somebody in the school is setting him up. Somebody wants him dead or as a vegetable. Matt needed a plan to get these guys off his back. If only he recorded it, he could get the school involved and get them in trouble.
Max fisted Matt's red hair; steadying his fist aiming for his nose. Matt closed his eyes tightly; and then felt all his muscles tighten as he opened them.
The moment that Max swung his arm; he was already at an advantage. Matt grabbed his wrist and twisted it behind his back, causing Max to whimper and cry in pain as slowly, Matt could hear the bones break and crackle in his arm.
"An arm for an arm, Max." Matt glared as he twisted Max's left arm tightly; breaking the humerus up in four pieces with two snaps. Max collapsed on the ground unleashing endless wails and cries of pain and agony. Matt released the grown athlete, the fire burning down as he was ignited with the sweet taste of revenge. He almost started laughing.
Max's friends looked at Matt with pure fear. Matt took one step and they retreated to the back of the school. Matt stepped on Max's stomach and headed inside to school to his first period class.
/
Max arrived to his class 10 minutes before the bell was going to ring. His teacher Mr. Ewing was not pleased to see him.
"Nice that you arrived 40 minutes late Matthew." The teacher sneered. Matt stopped halfway to his seat, turning to his teacher.
"I ran into trouble this morning and,...I'm still on the low with the fever I had since yesterday." He handed the teacher a note; foraging his mom's signature. The teacher snapped his mouth shut and continued with the lesson. Casually, he relaxed in a seat besides Inez.
"Nice to see you a bit better man." Slyder smiled. "We figured you'd stay home being in bad shape."
"Nah, Inez took good care of me after you guys left." He winked at her. Inez's fluster face immediately turned to a pout face; drawing her attention away back to the lesson. Jackie raised a brow.
"Sounds good to me." Jackie chimed in. "So, we meet in the U?"
"The U?" Matt raised a red brow.
"The U-shaped staircase we always meet at. Where else?" Jackies chuckled as she pretend to scribble down notes. Inez's eyes averted to Matt's direction.
"Sure." Matt rotating his arm, shortly before the bell ringing as he stood behind in class to collect the work. Inez stood outside; seeing that they had all their classes together; it wouldn't be so bad to just wait.
"Matthew, I will say this once; I will not stand for your attitude. Things will not be your way in college." Mr. Ewing warned the boy. Matt turned around and glared at him.
"Just do your job; all I'm trying to do is pass my class and live an easy life. So far it hasn't been working out when there are people outside trying to hurt you. Ever thought of that sir?" Matt stomped out the room, snatching his assignments and past due work up and walking out. Inez stepped beside him, trying to get his attention.
"Hey, is everything okay?" Inez asked. Matt closed his eyes and breathed deeply. He opened them, staring deep at Inez. His breathing slowed, and his body fell light; in a soothing way.
"I'll be fine." He told her as he nodded his way to the next class. "Just wish the adults worry 'bout themselves sometimes."
Inez was going to mention and assure Matt that not everyone was out for him; that he wasn't alone. But she left it and walked along with him to the next few classes.