((( I love Chloe. She always says something funny in a serious situation.)))

Ted held out his hands in defence. "I ain't gonna make ya go, intil I have all the details." At the expression on her face, that seemed to be enough for her. He didn't want her to go back hiding into her shell, but he needed to know one more thing before he could protect her against anything. He led her over to one of the barn stools, sitting on the ground a few feet away. "Um..." She looked over at him. He didn't know how to ask without her getting hurt. "Who...ya know..." He pointed to her battered face. "Did that to you?"

Maya looked down, ashamed of her face looking the way it did. Just the memory of him made her sick to the stomach. "My...um..." She stopped.

His heart grew cold at the thought of someone threatening her into not telling anyone. "I would really need to know so's I cin he'p ya, and maybe thaet would he'p puttin' him behind bars."

She looked back at him at the mention of her dad being put away in jail. "My father. He beat me every other day, so..." She looked away again. "I ran away yesterday afternoon." She looked back at him, this time she was close to looking him in the eyes. "What would you have done? Stay there and die?" She spat the words out, as if the teasted bad.

He could tell she was angry and was lashing out at the nearest person--himself. He needed to get out of the line of fire, or remove the weapon all together. "No, I wouldn't have stayed, but I might not have gone off by myself." At the look she gave him, it made him uncomfortable. Instead of disarming her, he would try a different tactic-- charming her.

"Seriously, with as much trouble as that kid has, you'd think he would learn which direction to run," Chloe said sarcastically as she jogged in the opposite direction of the gym. She spotted a teacher at the doorway of the school building. She nearly groaned as she recognized the face--it was her chemistry teacher. But an adult was an adult.
"Hey, there's a kid being chased by three seniors and a few other kids running to help him. I'd go stop a fight, if I were you." She took the door that the teacher was holding open for the students filing back into the building.

"Then why did you pull Emmy into this?" Brian ask and bit his lip. "Gosh...this is turning out to be a NOT good day. First I meet a jerk who thinks he can come in and take over, even though I was your friend first! Now I've got a bunch of bullies after me. I never had this much trouble in middle school!" he said raising his fists. "But I'm not going to be taken down without a fight." he looked at Emmy "You going to be okay?"

**

The man looked at Amanda. "Listen....I know you don't know who I am but Abby knows me okay?? Just get some bandages and I'll do the rest, alright?" his voice also sounded annoyed, agitated, but also in pain.

**

"Hey Justin" Came Ian's voice "Remember that girl in my dreams? Who was she?"

****

"Who do I know?" Abigal said from the living room, trying to peer around the corner

Declan approached Peter, and a couple of other kids who were standing, awaiting the attack of the seniors. "Hey guys, are you still being chased by those three big guys?" Declan asked, then he looked and saw them approaching, "Yeah, I guess so."
He looked to the faces of the others gathered, and then looked at the seniors. He then began to wave his hands vigorously, "Hey guys! You gotta catch up." He then motioned to his watch, "This is a school day!"
that should get them really aggravated... and why do you want that?
"Don't worry guys, we can talk ourselves out of the somewhat definite pounding." Declan said, "Just hold your ground."

Amanda said, "If Abby knows you, why don't you tell me so I can tell her it's you?" She said bye to the person on the other line, then hung up. Wihtout warnming, the sound of sirens came.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Justin said, "You said it was probably my older sister."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Peter groaned. "Shouldn't a teacher come in? A Senior girl led us in here and said a teacher would help us!"

"A teacher?" Declan asked, "That would probably end in all of us getting in detention because we were causing a ruckus. I think I have an idea as to get them off our backs, at least for today."

Peter begged, "Then do it, please!" He held Jen close, who was starting to whimper herself. He closed his eyes tight, wishing she and thier friends were not in so much turnmoil. He also wanted out of the turmoil too. He did not feel lke having hsi hair ripped out again and didn't want anyhting to happen to his girlfriend or their friends.

Emmy nodded to Brian. "Yes... I think so." She was glad that he cared about how she felt, but she was very uncomfortable in this situation. She stepped back a bit, hoping to stay out of the ensuing conflict.

"Alright then." Declan said, and just as he did, the three seniors arrived.
"Listen, punks." The Senior said "It's time to pound you to the ground. Don't worry, it will be nice and quick so you can get back to class in record timing."
"Bam!" Declan said, punching the air, "Pow!"
"What are you doing?" The senior asked.
"This whole fighting thing, you know, Bam, Pow, Swap. The whole shebang of batman sound affects. Do you really want to do it?" Declan asked.
"Duh, that's what we said," The senior said.
"Yeah, but we punch you, you punch us. We all end up with cuts and bruises --probably mostly us-- but the fact is we all go into class looking like a poorly whooped army, rather then high school students." Declan said.
"Your point?"
"My point is, I for one really don't want to be put into detention, possibly be suspended." Declan said, then he pointed at the seniors, "and I'm sure you don't want to be suspended just because you wanted to be manly and beat up a bunch of younger kids. Plus, a suspension may even kiss your chances at a good collage scholarship goodbye."
Declan awaited the reply, Will they take that? please take it... please? Declan thought to himself.

One of Fred Austere's followers said, "Maybe we should listen to the kid."
The Senior sneered, "How abotu I beat up one of you in exchange for the rest?"
Not being able to take this anymore, Peter said, "Fine! Beat me up!"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Declan said, "Did I mention a teacher is coming? A teacher who used to be an amature wrestler before he became a teacher. In fact, he comes from a long line of largre robust wrestling men, who wouldn't think twice before punching your 'pretty' faces in."
A lie? really? maybe they'll take it...

Suddenly, the lead bully's face dropped. He threw his hands in the air. "Fine, we will leave you alone."
When the bullies were out of earshot Peter said, "Thanks, Declan."

"That's quite alright," Declan said, offering him a fist bump, "What are friends for?"

As Logan rounded the bend around the Gym, he saw the same three bullies, cornering Peter, Jen, Emmy, Brian, and Declan. They looked ready to pound them all. Logan rolled his eyes. Why won't they just leave them alone? He decided it was about time to show everyone just how tough he was. There were more of them than there were bullies; his friends would undoubtedly join the fight and they'd prevail, if he just took the first step. He decided he'd run up behind them all, kick the main bully in the back of his knees to drop him to the ground, and then wack him in the head.

Logan nodded resolutely as he affirmed his plan. He rolled up his sleeves, and inhaled. "Alright, tough guy. We'll see who's tough!" Logan said, not very loud; just to psych himself up. Then he started running toward them, full speed.

As soon as he started charging, he noticed the bullies throw their hands up in surrender, and walk away. Logan slowed in surprise at this new turnout. Wow... Could they have heard what I said? He didn't think they had, but why else would they be leaving? Logan chuckled to himself, threw out his chest, and strutted up to his friends, grinning from ear to ear. "Hey, guys. Looks like I arrived just in time, huh? Kinda sorry they left; I would have liked to show 'em a thing or two. Wimps!" He pumped his fists in the direction they had gone, like a reigning champion after a boxing match.

-------

Emmy sighed with relief as the bullies left, glad that they hadn't hurt her or the others. A fight was the last thing she wanted - though she was touched that Brian, Peter, and Declan were willing to risk their own necks to save them all. Soon after the bullies left, Logan appeared, acting as though he wanted to fight the bullies off himself. She ignored him; back in the city, he had been in a few fights, and he could definitely hold his own, but not against kids twice his size. He stood no chance, and he probably knew it. She wrapped her arms around herself tightly. "Can we go back inside? It's getting cold."

Peter smiled at Logan's display, then felt compassion for Emmy. "Sure, we can go inside." When the three of them got inside, Peter asked them all what class they had next.