With Mr. Javier in class, Johnny knew that Jerome would have to forgo whatever fighting ideas he had in mind. The Spanish instructor's smile always gave Johnny a reason to believe that there were such people with zero worries. Only a person who had no bullies to fear would actually smile such wide smiles. Given that Mr. Javier was the jovial, comic and loving sort, Johnny chose to believe the Spanish instructor had nothing to worry about.

A loud yelp from the corner distracted Johnny from his thoughts of people with zero problems. He flicked his gaze, at once, to where he felt such girly, lovely, but distressed voice had come from. His eyes fell on Madison's slender, yet enticingly beautiful form. She was standing, her left hand on her rear, and her right in the air, moving towards a boyish face.

Dylan's face.

Johnny wanted to yell a 'no', but was a second too late. How unfortunate! Maddie's right was forcefully dropped on Dylan's face; the smack as loud as the 'moo' of a cow desperately seeking to evade a randy bull.

Johnny's jaw wasn't the only one that dropped. Mr. Javier couldn't help but also gape at the heroics Maddie was disporting. Some students masked their mouth with their hands, others spoke discreetly to their friends about what Maddie did, and very few had the courage to muffle laughs.

Dylan, contrary to what everyone expected, was quiet and stiff as steel. His dark eyes never wandered away from Maddie's fierce, blue ones.

While Dylan's stare had an unmistakable touch of much surprise than anger, Johnny couldn't quite place that very unfamiliar look on Maddie's paling face in any friendly category. After much pondering, he decided to believe that Maddie's glare was that of a very disgusted lady.

But what, Johnny asked himself, did Dylan do to get Maddie this way? His eyes revisited Maddie's right hand that was still placed on her behind, and then he gasped. Could it be...

"Madison Becker!" Mr. Javier's yell jolted Johnny back to the moment as he fixed his eyes on the Spanish instructor. "The Principal's office, now!"

By now, Mr. Javier's expressions were nothing comic. In fact, they were that of a teacher who was going to hand an erring student a detention.

"He..." Maddie wanted to speak, but something seemed to be holding her back. All the while, she didn't stopped glaring at the bulky football player who was staring back.

"He pricked my butt with something hard and painful," Maddie finally spoke. "He should be the one going to the principal's office not me."

Everyone in class broke up, giggling wildly except Mr. Javier, Johnny, Jerome, and of course, Maddie and Dylan. Johnny didn't know the best approach to such a heart-rending news. To be surprised or to be annoyed? By all natural laws, it was safer to go with the former because getting annoyed would make him the biggest fool. He wouldn't be able to put his provocation to work. He wouldn't be able to walk over to Dylan and fix him with several jabs. He had no such guts. So, to remain safe, Johnny deemed it best to stay surprised with the revelation Maddie gave. However, how dare Dylan lift a finger to Maddie's... Hair-raising arithmetic! Dylan had crossed the line and someone would have to make him pay. Someone that is definitely not me, Johnny thought.

"Very well then," Mr Javier said, his voice as hard as steel. He was clearly unhappy with what happened. "Both of you, the Principal's office, now!"

Mr Javier turned around and proceeded for the door. In a moment, he was gone through the door and only manly, Spanish footsteps that incontrovertibly belonged to Mr Javier was proof that he had actually been to class. Now, he was probably on his way to make a report to the principal and Dylan would get nothing except an expulsion which would turn many other students angrier. No, no, no, that shouldn't happen. Not if Johnny had a say in it.

"This is on you," Jerome whispered to Johnny who chose to ignore the rooty-blonde-haired teen.

Johnny went after Maddie who had started walking towards the door. He caught up with her and held her hand; that seemed, to him, the only comforting thing to do. She stared into his eyes and smiled at him. Spot-on Law of inertia! How could he possibly not notice that Maddie had such smiles that could pull coats and pants away? Her smile was otherworldly, Johnny figured.

"Madison!" a Spanish-accent-laden voice came from outside, startling both Johnny and Maddie who seemed lost, gazing at each other. "Dylan! Get your behinds out of that class!"

Dylan who had been suspiciously quiet got to his feet and started walking towards the door. Maddie and Johnny proceeded for the exit at once. They didn't want to have that burly quarterback getting out of the class before them.

"Could you forgive Dylan for his misdeeds?" Johnny asked Maddie as they kept following behind the Spanish instructor who was probably not listening to their conversation. Maddie fixed her eyes on Johnny. She wasn't attempting to say a word, but Johnny chose to make out her stare to mean: Really? I can't believe you are asking that now, or something of that sort.

"The principal will probably expel him if you mention that he touched your..." Johnny couldn't mention it. He was so disgusted with what that vile football player had done that he wouldn't even let the words come out of his lips.

Everyone, Johnny once believed, even if good or bad, has ethics. There are things a person can never do because such is in contrast with his ethics. However, a man like Dylan had no ethics. He would do anything for the fun of it. What in his hollow brain had gone wrong to make him take his filthy hands close to Maddie's... No, Johnny resolved not to mention it. However, he concluded that this was entirely the aftermath of insanity. Nothing short of that!

"If he gets expelled, things will turn worse for us," Johnny informed. He was desperate to dissuade Madison from her intentions to tell on the dark-haired bully who had been sheepishly following behind them.

"Do you suggest I let him have his way?" Madison questioned, her tone, anger-laden. "You never can tell what he would do next if he doesn't get punished?"

She was right. Johnny was wrong. Thankfully, he came around such helpful knowledge in time. What was he thinking? Dylan had done something very disheartening and there were no grounds for mercy. He definitely had to pay for crossing the line!

Johnny remained silent until they got in front of the principal's office. Mr Javier had asked them to wait outside the office probably until he gets done with the ugly narration to Principal Finley.

Only a few minutes passed, Mr. Javier's call came. Madison and Dylan walked into the office, leaving Johnny behind. However, Johnny resolved not to be left out of any discussions that would take place in that room. He leaned into the closed door, eyes fluttering around his surrounding as he eavesdropped.

"Mr. Barnett," a feminine, yet mature voice which certainly belonged to Principal Finley came from inside as Jordan kept listening.

"Some students have reported cases of manhandling to me and it's all centered around you." Jordan could hear the Principal's deep sigh. He could imagine how awfully ugly she would look with the terrible sad face she was possibly be making inside that room.

"I know it's a very terrible life you are leading, but you can't go about hurting others because of that!" The Principal wasn't sounding any thing friendly.

"I may actually be very cruel with what I am about to do and it may be a huge disrespect to your family. However, you leave me with no choice, but to..."

Johnny pushed his way through the door. Stares were sent to him as he remained still for a moment. He shouldn't have barged in, he thought. Even though Principal Finley adored him for his academic prowess, he knew he had no such right to walk into her office without invitation.

"I a-am sorry," he sputtered, blinking his eyes like he always did in moments of the most embarrassing awkwardness.

"Ma'am, could you do me a favour?" he asked. His voice was low and respectful.

That was probably not what she wanted to say; she probably wanted to tick off the tenth grader that had disrespectfully stormed into her office as if it were his, but she chose to go on with mateyness. "How can I be of help to you?"

"Please," Johnny said, considering the options he would have after he he had given the Principal a piece of his mind, "do not expel Dylan."

The Principal scoffed and managed an ominous smile. Johnny knew quite well that he had crossed the limits. Whatever was he thinking to have attempted advising the Principal? He could as well be expelled alongside Dylan.

"What is..." Mr. Javier wanted to say something that was probably going to be very distasteful to Johnny, but with Principal Finley's raised hand, he refrained from speaking. However, his glaring dark eyes were proof that Johnny wasn't safe.

"Why do you suggest that?" Principal Finley asked.

Did she sincerely desire to know? Johnny didn't quite know if Principal Finley would get angrier if she got to know that Dylan was King of the bullies in the school and had minions that would turn nerdblood-thirsty if he got expelled. No, he shouldn't give reasons that would infuriate her.

"Well," Maddie said, attracting everyone's attention to her. Unknown to Johnny's oblivious mind, Maddie had been standing beside him the entire while. He had been so carried away with thoughts of saving Dylan from getting expelled that he didn't even notice his... who was unmistakably glaring at him. That was definitely rage Johnny saw flitting across those blue eyes. She was probably unhappy that Johnny was trying to save Dylan.

"I think it was a mistake. Dylan is no rake. I think touching me was a mistake," Maddie added, eyes still glued to Johnny.

"Then, why have you come to bother me?" Principal Finley asked, her voice now firm and steady. "Get back to class, now!"

Johnny found himself torn apart a number of questions. He was only trying to help, but here he was, tormented by resolute glares. Even Dylan didn't look happy that he got spared. He stomped out of the principal's office, absolutely blue in the face. Johnny would have had a reason to justify his actions only if Maddie hadn't been glaring at him also. He followed after her, out of the principal's office, wishing that this wouldn't end like it did in a movie he had watched: the girl slapped the boy.

~~••~~••~~

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Gshaquille.