"Rock'," Colt's voice met his brother before his physical self. He slipped through the flow of students until he was at his brother's side. "It's going around school that you've lost your mind."
Rocky closed his locker. "How exactly? I haven't done anything out of the ordinary."
"They said you went all 'Gentle Fist' on the loser brigade."
"No. I defended myself without fighting. I can't help it if a ball or two hit them a little extra hard - that's the point of the game."
"Right… And what about this fight after school?" He looked at all the students currently filing out of the building intent on watching a fight. "Chaz said you were gonna rearrange Darren's face for going out with Emily. They're all saying this is gonna be the match of their dreams." He shrugged his shoulders. "I get it. He's got it coming. But, it's still out of character."
"They can keep dreaming, it's not gonna happen."
"Why not?" He followed after his brother. "I mean, good, stick to your brand… But, why not?"
"Because I don't want to get detention, expelled, embarrassed because it's gonna make Emily annoyed with me."
"Aahh, but that's where you're wrong. Old Emily didn't want you fighting and showing off. New Emily might find it pretty hot."
Rocky shook his head. "You're wrong. Emily is still my Emily. She's gonna hate the idea of me beating up Darren."
"Especially since they dated."
Rocky let out a sigh of agitation. "Colt, will you do me a favor and never bring that up again?"
"Alright." He didn't need to elaborate. He'd be pissed if his girlfriend was still sweet on her ex, however briefly the guy was with her to become an ex. He prefers a relationship where his girlfriend only looks at him.
"You need a ride home?"
"No. I'm staying behind to watch Kenny's baseball practice." He also mentioned going to his house for dinner - mostly because his mother bought a tres leches cake for dessert. "Tell mom for me."
"OK."
"You're sure you're not gonna fight, 'cause I don't wanna miss it."
"I'm positive. Go."
Colt backed away, eyes glancing from Rocky to the exit of the building until he could no longer see his brother nor the exit.
'Why couldn't Tum Tum be my first brother? Why?' He asked anyone who could answer the question.
"Boo!"
Smiling, he said. "Ohh, I'm so scared." He wrapped his arm around Emily's shoulders. "Do you have everything?"
"Let's see," she pretended to think about it. "Science book, math book, paper about the end of the week project, and cute boyfriend who's bringing me home. Yup, I've got everything."
"Good. Let's hurry up and go before someone shows up."
"By 'someone' you mean Darren?" She lowered her gaze with a bit of exhaustion to hide. "Rocky, you guys don't have to get along, but couldn't you at least try to not be so keyed-up every time you're around each other? For me?"
"Now, when you say "Around each other", does that mean you intend to keep in contact with him.. Like invite him over, hangout type of contact rather than over the phone?"
"That's exactly what I mean." Her fingers caressed his side a bit where she's holding him around the waist. "I know you and Darren have a bad history between you, and from what I understand by my friend's reactions, Darren and I have a bad history, too. But, we don't right now and that means you gotta go with the good. That's the best way, right?"
"Yeah." Although his heart is still heavy. Emily has a point. Why be the person ruining someone else's chance to change because you won't let them? If Darren behaves, what problem can he really have with that?
"There you are," The star of the day said when spotting Rocky and Emily exit the building.
"Look, I don't wanna fight with you." Rocky said. "I decided that.. If you wanna be friends with Emily, I can't stop you. I won't even try, but you can't keep coming after me." His words paused when he was shoved by Jackson from behind. "Really. I'm not gonna fight either of you. We can get along for Emily's sake."
"Who says we want to?" Asked Darren's other friend Barney. His body is as round as his head. The bright blond hair made him look even more pale in the glaring California sunshine.
"You guys need to stop," Emily spoke up. While Rocky was trying to diffuse a fight, she and Darren were in the midst of their own verbal battle though it was silently through eye contact. "Rocky's willing to let bygones be bygones so that we can still be friends."
"But,"
"I thought that's what you wanted?" She placed her hands on her hips. "It's what we agreed on."
"You decided that, and I went along with it. If it were up to me we'd still be together." He gave a tsk at Rocky, who's being circled by his friends. The scene looks like roadkill swarmed by buzzards.
"I like you, Darren, a lot.. But, the truth is what it is.." She shrugged out her hand. "There's nothing that can be done."
"There's plenty that could be done, like Malibu Barbie can stop lying to you."
"Darren.." The torn girl's tone warned him. She's ready to just be friends, despite her feelings, but Darren is making it hard because there's no need to insult Rocky due to jealousy.
"No. I said it before, his timing is convenient."
"It's valid. He didn't know I'd get interested in anyone else before my memories returned."
"Still seems opportunistic to me." He knew he was beating a dead horse, but it stings!
He hasn't had a girl like him since Lucia Perez in the fifth grade. And she broke up with him because he was "smothering" her. Yeah right. Are boyfriends not supposed to call or text their girlfriend? She was probably just cheating on him and didn't wanna get the names confused. He looked over Emily's head at where his friends are trying to goad Rocky into a fight. He hadn't forgotten about the karate kid going all Liu Kang on Jackson 3 years ago, but what can Douglas do against all of them instead of one-on-one?
Emily could tell she was losing him again. She grabbed his hand, using her thumb to brush the back of it tenderly. "Darren, please…"
He sighed with a frustrated "Psh" following it. "You're too good for him." He stated. Calling out to his friends, he said. "Hey, let's go. That loser's not worth it."
Gail stopped, but only after giving Rocky one last shove. "You got lucky."
Rocky glanced at the twiggy red-head knowing it was the other way around. But, let them have their false bravery.
"Thank you." Emily smiled sweetly at Darren.
"Yeah…" He caressed her hand but it was promptly snatched away from him by Rocky. "You got.."
"Yeah, yeah. I know, I'm Lady's Luck's favorite son. Beat it."
Darren aimed a punch at Rocky's face hoping for a flinch, but he got no response. 'Whatever. The creep probably jumped inwardly.' Not about to lose, he said whilst walking away. "I'll call you later, Emma."
"Ok."
'"I'll call you later, Emma". Gimme a break.' Rocky glared after the departing troublemaker.
"Dude, good job avoiding confrontation." Ben clapped his hand down on Rocky's shoulder. "I was on standby with the vocals all warmed up to shout for a teacher, if necessary."
"Feeling trapped in a blender is hardly a reason to call a teacher." He took his girlfriend's hand, being sure to grab the one Darren had dared to grope in order to remove the germs expanding over it.
"Ahaha, trapped in a blender." Ben fell into step with the couple. "Can I come with you, I don't wanna get on the buses today."
"Why?" He asked though he nodded that of course he could hitch a ride with them.
"I owe Henny money that I don't have." He shrugged his shoulders.
"She'll get you tomorrow."
"I've got a dentist appointment. My mom said I can play hooky."
"Sooo, love birds, what are you gonna do for your first official date?"
Rocky cast his soon-to-be-former best friend a death glare he didn't even know was in his bag of expressions. Did he seriously just alert the media that he was going on date number one with a girl he said he's been with?!
"I mean, what with the amnesia and everything," the panicked male did clean up duty. "It'll be your first on-record date."
'Nice save. You almost walked home.' Rocky thought.
Opening the door to the car, Emily paused and thought about the question. "I'd like to do something underrated. So we can make it our own." She smiled at Rocky from across the roof of the car.
He grinned back. He could feel his heart rate picking up.
"Aww.. and what about you, Romeo?" Ben asked. He pulled open the door to the backseat and tossed his bag inside.
"I'll just go with Emily." He replied. He sent her one last smile before climbing into the car.
"He's dependable. Don't let him get away." Ben said before climbing inside.
Emily... was going to be sick.