ALI FOUND ME first. The smile on her face was so big and I couldn't help but smile as big with her. She grabbed my arm, "(Y/N), Daniel and I made up! You were right, he needed time and I think he might just ask me out soon!"

I hugged Ali, "That's great news! I'm so excited for you." When we broke apart again I asked where Daniel was. I needed to tell him I was thankful he came to the dance for Ali.

"In the boys bathroom I think, some guy dressed as a chicken was throwing real eggs at people and Daniel got one tossed on his head. He went to wash it off."

"Oh barf, I would have hated for that to be me," I said and gagged. "Poor Daniel."

"I know," Ali chuckled and placed a hand on her head. She bit her lower lip, "I didn't think he'd actually talk to me again."

"People surprise you every day. We never know what's bound to happen. Besides, he would have been an airhead if he didn't talk to you ever again."

Ali smirked at me, "He would have been, wouldn't he?"

"Yes, but thankfully he's not so-"

Suddenly Daniel burst from the boy's bathroom, his feet skidding over the floor as he seemed to be running for dear life. He flew past a bewildered Ali and I, his costume billowing out behind him in a flare of red cloth and white polka-dots.

"It's comin' around!" He shouted at us as he fled the gym, handing off a piece of his costume to Ali in a rush. It happened to be the hooked metal arm of a shower head.

"What's coming around?" I asked aloud even though it was more of a comment to myself in this sudden confusion.

That confusion turned to clarity as I saw Johnny burst from the bathroom too. He was all wet, and sliding out on the floor as he tried desperately to catch up with Daniel who I realized now was in flight mode.

Ali didn't think twice as she used the shower head to trip him. Johnny saw it at the last second and tried to avoid the metal arm by jumping it but his foot slipped and he hit the shower head. It sent him flying into the air, only to land harshly on the floor in a heap which was then followed by the rest of his buddies who had been right on his tail.

Johnny was furious, the anger on his face so apparent even under the veil of makeup he wore. "Get up!" He yelled to the guys who were grunting after their tumble.

They finally scrambled back to their feet and followed Daniel's wake which led out the back exit of the gym. Ali watched with satisfaction on her face from her accomplishment but I couldn't help wonder what had caused such a raucous in the first place. It had seemed, at least for the time being that Daniel and Johnny hadn't gotten into it with each other for some time. Obviously whatever parlay there was had been finally broken tonight.

In a fit of worry now for Daniel I went cruising after them, leaving my heels behind in the gym as I ran to catch up.

When I got out of the gym, a scene had been made, three cars had hit each other and another was swerving out of the way as Johnny and the boys chased Daniel down the road.

I raced after them, trying to catch up. I knew that however this whole thing had started, it wasn't going to end well. I had to get there. I had to stop this.

Ahead, Daniel vaulted a metal fence, the guys a few strides behind him still. I pumped my legs faster, fear for my friend flashing through my chest.

I leaped then fence after them. I was starting to run out of breath though and by the looks of it, so was Daniel. He was almost to his apartment building, reaching up to climb the last fence when Johnny caught up.

He grabbed Daniel, yanking him by the back of his shirt to pull him back to the ground. Daniel, grunted and held on for dear life as another one of the guys helped Johnny grab him and hauled him back down. As I caught up to them I heard Tommy's laugh which I still thought was hideous. It seemed right that I thought it sounded like a skeleton's, for here we all were now, with them dressed like the dead.

Johnny threw Daniel into Bobby who grabbed him and struck him in the gut with his knee before shoving him back in Johnny's direction.

"Stop!" I hollered as I ran over, but no one seemed to know I was even there.

Johnny grasped Daniel's collar, shaking him with anger, "You couldn't leave well enough alone, could you, little twerp?" Johnny's snarl was vicious as I watched him holding onto Daniel, "No, you had to push it. Well now you're gonna pay," Johnny seethed before punching Daniel in the gut.

I stood there, recounting for a split second the events that happened on the beach two months ago. That time I did nothing to stop what happened to Daniel. I watched instead of reacted. Not this time. I wouldn't stand by and watch something terrible happen to someone I cared about.

I surged forward plowing past Jimmy who stopped to look at me once before trying to grab me. I shrugged him off first but then elbowed him in the face when he didn't let go.

Jimmy's intrusion cost me, for during those few seconds Johnny had kicked Daniel in the face with a roundhouse only to then use a kick to his chest and finally a last one to the head again.

I was shocked at the force of Johnny's blows. Daniel slumped against the metal fence, a gash on his head was bleeding terribly.

I lunged at Johnny, grabbing his shoulder roughly while trying to get him to turn toward me, "Johnny stop!"

He shrugged me off, not paying me any heed as he just watched Daniel. White anger was clear on his face, and honestly I didn't know what was more scary, the fact the Daniel looked like he needed to go to the hospital or that Johnny was being so ruthless.

Bobby cut in, "Leave him alone man, she's right. He's had enough."

"Shut up Bobby!" Dutch exclaimed.

Bobby went over to where Dutch stood holding Daniel up but the back of this neck, Daniel seemed to be blacking out. He was totally limp in Dutch's hold.

"Look at him! He can't even stand up!" Bobby yelled.

"So what!" Tommy laughed.

"That don't mean squat!" Dutch responded.

"Johnny, leave him alone! He's had enough!" Bobby went over to his friend, and pointed at his chest. Obviously he wasn't messing around. Bobby really did want this to end too.

Johnny wasn't having any of that his friend was questioning him and telling him what to do. "I'll decide when he's had enough, man!" He said in that same outrageous tone of pure hostility.

He didn't look at Bobby again. "What is wrong with you, Johnny?" He yelled in accusation.

I was surprised at Bobby's sudden outburst of care but I could tell it wasn't going to get him anywhere. Nor was it going to help Daniel at all but stall the inevitable.

I pushed Johnny back and he seemed to finally see that I was there. "Stop!" I yelled and punched him in the face. This time it was a lot harder than what I had done at the beach. That one was just to show him he was a jerk. This one was for him being more than that. He was more than an ass tonight. He was someone I didn't like. A bully. More than a bully. And hell I hated bullies.

My blow to Johnny's face sent him flying back. He cradled his head in one hand while the other held his nose. I could tell when he looked at me that he didn't truly see me, he only saw one thing. Daniel. And I was in his way.

He lunged at me and hit me in the face with the back of his hand. How I didn't block it was beyond me but the blow sent me into the grass. "Hold her Jimmy!"

Jimmy was in action a second later and had me pinned against him, my head was spinning not just from Johnny's blow but also the hard earth I hit went I went down.

"Sorry," Jimmy did apologize to me but I barely heard him as I tried to focus on Daniel and the others again.

"The enemy deserves no mercy!" Johnny said in his hysteria.

Dutch was the one to second this, his teeth bared in a vicious snarl that matched Johnny's, "Right!"

"Right?" Johnny questioned again.

"Right!"

Bobby looked at Johnny in horror, backing away a step. "You're crazy, man!"

Johnny didn't look at anyone but Daniel who was definitely passed out now. His face was all rage as he lunged at him.

Suddenly, a man appeared from out of no where and Dutch let go of Daniel. The man was small but compact, and one by one he took each of the guys down, including Johnny.  It dumbfounded me.

My head was starting to clear as I sat up and looked at the man. He caught eyes with me and nodded. I tried to speak to thank him but my voice betrayed me and would not work. I looked over at Daniel and his gaze followed mine to where the boy laid on the ground. He needed help.

The man nodded again and picked him up, carrying him over his shoulder. He motioned for me, expressing I could follow but I glanced back at the guys who were still lying on the ground, in pain. No. They had all done a terrible thing tonight and I wasn't going to stick around to help them. They could help themselves.

I resolved to following the man who helped. The man who did the right thing.