Wednesday Night

Shaze ran out and ran back to the classroom Regina worked in. Now that he thought about it, Regina would work in advisory or in the science club room, the same classroom in the front of the building during hours they were free. He entered and asked the teacher there if had seen her after any time but the teacher didn't have a clue who she was. It was most likely the other science teacher.

The loud speaker ran in the building to announce that Coach Daymond wouldn't be at advisory but he ignored it, running around the entire five story building looking in and out the classrooms, knocking on the girl's bathrooms and some of the responses advising them to write his number down if he wanted to hook up with them, and thinking of every possible place a loner could find sole solace in throughout the building but no answer. He ran outside the building to see if she was collecting samples at the same spot but had no luck either.

Then he heard Alpha and Brock yell out to him, and spotted them calling his name. But he was just upset at them. If they had let her sit with them, she wouldn't be in this mess to begin with.

He simply walked away from the school building and looked through his phone. It had been so long since he had contacted her via phone, at least since late elementary school when she first got her phone. They went to separate middle schools after all, but he hoped the number would work.

The phone started ringing. "Yes!"

"The number you've reached is no longer in service."

"Damnit! What good are these things if you can't even reach the damn people?!" At that moment he realized if he was a dragon, his anger would be powerful enough for his breath to destroy an entire city. He wanted to take Coach's advice to heart, and so he headed home. Right now he needed a balance of clarity, and time to get all his feelings out.

At dinner, his parents could also sense he was conflicted. He hadn't talk to them that much throughout the week since he didn't want to make them worry, and they probably didn't hear about anything from the school since things just seemed like rumors for now. But he still needed to get some things off of his chest.

"Hey, mom, dad, you remember Regina right? Well-"

His mom jumped. "You finally talked to her?"

He blinked. "Huh? You knew she was at my high school?"

"Of course we did, we keep in touch with her parents every now and then. I'm surprised it took you a whole year of high school to do that."

"It's not my fault. We just didn't have any classes together. It finally happened this year, but she seemed really busy. We did talk a lot this week though, but something happened. Don't worry, it wasn't her fault. But I need to ask you guys. What was I like back in elementary school, and were me and Regina still friends back then? All my memories before middle school feel like an old blur."

His parents looked at each other, thought about it for a second, and then answered.

His dad spoke first. "You hated school, heck, you hated life for a time. In fact, you back then and you now feel like entirely different people."

Really? I changed that much. His mom smiled at his reaction

"For a while, you said it was boring, you hated how kids were bullies, you got into a lot of fights, and for a while, we were worried about you. But eventually, every now and then, you would come up and be happy. Almost like it was something, well rather someone you'd look forward too."

"Regina?"

"Mhmm. You came home one day and talked about how she was your first friend and everything. Ever since then, you two were so inseparable. When we went to pick you up, you two were always smiling and it was hard to pull you two apart after school. Then around fifth grade, you stopped talking to her, and we weren't sure what happened."

"Wait really? Darn, I can't remember."

"It was a tough time for you. We never put you in kindergarten but we heard some of the horror stories about academia. At least in middle school you seemed fine, but we're just glad you made it out okay, but you never really complained back then. You just showed it. Is everything alright with her though?"

"She's...well, she has her own problems, and I wanna see if I can help her. I just really wanna find out why I stopped talking to her. I feel bad I never got the chance last year, but I'm worried it might be too late."

"You should," his mom responded with a smile. "Besides, I would have no qualms if something happened between you and her. She always seemed like the tiger to your dragon."

Well, she wasn't wrong there. My cheeks feel kinda bloated. Then he looked at dad. "I'm not saying that just yet, but dad, you would be okay with that?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" Shaze and her mom gave him a funny look. "Dear, son, I am not my parents, urgh, those hypocritical delinquents. You need to find someone with that balance. If she's the one, I support you wholeheartedly."

Shaze pouted. "I'm not saying I do...but," smiling, "thanks. Could I also ask you both about something?" They nodded, and he told him about that divide between him, Regina, and Alpha and Brock.

"I don't hate them, but I'm upset that they treat me differently at times. And now it feels like they just use me to get all their problems out, but the one time I need something from them, they choke."

"Just talk to them. They know you mean well, but you shouldn't be afraid of confronting them," his mother replied. "Just do the way you think is best."

"And if they don't care, ditch them."

"Honey."

"Look, Shaze. I know sometimes you can be a bit lax, but friendships also need that balance you have to work at that. You've had their back for a while, and you need to know they have yours at the end of the day."

"That's the thing dad. I want all three of them in my life. But I don't want them to hate each other and I want to be there for them, if they let me."

His dad smiled. "Then just be the one that guides them. You know the four gods, don't you?"

"Yeah, Byakko the White Tiger, Suzaku the Vermillion, Genbu the Turtle, and Seiryu, the Blue Dragon."

"They're important because they gave directions to people to help guide them on the right path. You and your friends sound like you're all taking the same paths, but you're all searching for the same thing, balance and finding the right soul for your journey. You may not be the core, but you can guide them on their paths. And maybe one day, they'll help you find your journey."

Shaze was astonished. "You really believe in me?"

"Of course we do." His mom and dad were in sync. "Son, we love you. Just go out in the world, and don't be afraid to take your next steps. And if you need us, we're here for you."

He almost dropped a tear. "Thanks, both of you." He got up, ran over to them and gave them a strong hug before heading back in his room.

"And don't forget to tell me how it goes after school tomorrow."

"Right, right." Once he closed the door, he started attempting to recollect the memories he had locked away in his mind and heart. As his slowly started to drift, he found himself back in elementary school.

----

The first grade teacher had asked him to partner up with someone in science class and for free time, but as he searched throughout the class, he faced teases, shoves, and rejections from every classmate.

"I don't wanna partner with him. My parents said kids like him are born smart, I don't wanna partner with some nerd."

"He talks too weird."

"Why does he look so different from us?"

"Don't say anything bad or he'll beat you with kung-fu or something."

Shaze felt disgusted from all his peers that he could hear after rejecting him up until he reached the final seat, where a black skinned girl wearing glasses and brown-blonde curly hair was reading the textbook all on her own, and spotted him.

"You could sit here if you want. Well you don't have to, no one does anyways."

He jumped up anyway on the seat next to her and they got to work. They ended up the first to finish and he took a look at her notebook.

"You really like science huh."

"Yep!"

"I don't get it. Like I can memorize it but it's so annoying."

"I could help you if you want. The others think I'm weird for liking it."

"Yeah just ignore them. Like what you like. If you can help me though, thanks."

"By the name, your name is Shaze, right? Like Shade with a z?"

"Yeah, glad someone got it right. What's yours?"

"Regina."

"Okay, I'll try not to forget."

Later.

"So you really like tigers huh."

"They're so cool. They have so many colors, they are strong, and they look so fierce. I wish I could be a tiger. Shaze, what's your favorite animal?"

"Dragons. They're powerful, and deadly, but they're also smart and can get people to listen to them. Wish I could do that."

"I'll listen to you."

"You want it? Fine, I guess. Though I'm not good at grades."

"Then let's help me out. Wanna be my study buddy?"

"Sure, I'll bite."

----

In second grade, their classmates, boys and girls, were all building toys and dolls out of Legos. Shaze looked bored but Regina looked on in envy.

"You want to join them?"

"The girls won't let me, and the guys say the blocks are only for them. Dum-dumbs brains probably have the size of one."

"Ugh, they're stupid. Wait here." He came back with a cart of pieces. Together they spent as much time as they could putting them together until they created a weird hybrid of a black tiger and a blue dragon fused into an armored mechanoid. All the guys were impressed and surrounded them. He saw Regina look at the girls, who stuck their tongue out at her.

"Ignore them. You're pretty good at this. We should make more before our parents pick us up, this is pretty fun."

That perked her up. "Let's make something even more crazier, like a grasshopper Ninja!"

"Sounds crazy. Sure." They would do that all the time to the point their parents would have to promise they would continue it next time. They would even hide parts so their other classmates couldn't see what they were planning and continued to use it as their safe space whenever they had free time.

----

It was Valentine's Day in third grade and neither of them had anyone asking them out, so they stayed in the room with the tv during lunch and watched their favorite show together while eating the candy the teachers gave them.

"So the tiger guy died or something and he was a bad guy. Ugh, that sucks."

"He wasn't evil, the bad guys just took advantage of him. He was just misunderstood and didn't know any better could've turned out good after all."

"I guess," sighing.

"What's the matter, tiger?"

"It's just, tigers don't really have a pack. I guess being a tiger really fits me. The only people that don't push me away are mommy, daddy, and you."

"Hey, I won't ever do that to you. If you ever need me, I'll be the dragon that swoops in from above. Tigers and dragons get along after all."

"Aren't they opposites?"

"Who says opposites don't attract? We do."

She placed her hand on her palm. "You know Shaze, one day, I wouldn't mind if you became my boyfriend."

"Aren't I already? I'm your boy and a friend."

"Yeah, the best."

"Oh, I'm far from that." They reached out for one last piece of candy, but there was only one piece left. "You take it."

"No, Dragon, let's share it."

He was confused. "How?"

She used her sharp nails and sliced through the middle, breaking it into two.

"Let's share this heart together. On three. One, two."

"Three." They both bit down on it at the same time and giggled that it worked out.

----

"Leave me alone!" Regina pushed off one guy surrounding her and as he tried to approach her again, she scratched him.

"Ouch, that hurt. You're going to pay for that you ugly duck." Shaze came in quickly and pushed the guy away before he could do any more harm to her. She had wounds over her face and hand and he had enough of it.

"Why do you keep picking on her? Just leave us alone."

"Cuz, she's so ugly, and you're the only one who does, weirdo. In fact, both of you don't even look like us. You're more like aliens."

The other boys joined in and started taunting them, repeatedly calling them aliens over and over again.

Go back to where you came from," they chimed repeatedly. The leader and his support pushed Shaze out of the way and attacked her, only for him to pull both of them off of her and throw to the ground as he began pummeling the two while the rest went to grab a teacher.

Shaze took the punishment and would continue to do so all throughout fourth and fifth grade as the torment increased. One day he was outside by himself, having to watch everyone else play, but Regina chose to stay with him.

"It's okay Shaze, you don't have to keep doing this."

"The teachers still aren't going to believe me. If making sure you're safe from them just costs me playground time, I'll take it."

"Then I'm staying here with you."

"Dragons don't need help. We fly fine."

"Then I'll just jump up and help you out in the sky when you do." To his surprise, she jumped up on the stone sections of the walls of the playground and the black bars before jumping back down and showing him.

"Look, a ladybug. Good thing. That means we'll have good luck."

"You sure? Sounds kinda fishy."

Then they heard a commotion. The guys that bullied them were being chased down by the girls. Previously the group targeting them went away the more Shaze got punished and went after the young women in the class. Now the girls were throwing rocks and other things at them, most likely for pulling the same stunt as them.

"Okay then, never mind."

"Told ya. Oh, later, we could ask the teacher if we could keep it as a pet. We could raise it like a kid. In fact," pulling out a daffodil from the ground, and letting the ladybug rest on there, "we could help it grow even more. Those dumb dumbs like destroying so much, might as well save this little guy from them too."

Shaze laughed. "At least we'll be better parents than the ones who raised those psychos."

"Great, then let's go!"

"Hold on. I'm in trouble, I'm not allowed to move or play."

"Yeah, on the playground, but not inside, right?"

He blinked twice. "Huh...good point. Regina, have I told you that you're a genius?"

"A few times, but say it as many times as you want." She took his hand and the two headed into the back inside, telling the teachers it would be more useful if he spent his punishment time being more productive. They complied and continued to do so any time he got in trouble, and making sure he acted miserable before going inside.

---

On a bright February, Shaze had his hands behind his back and was studying for their fifth grade science test, while looking over the ladybug and the pot of daffodils they were allowed to keep and bring with them as they went up a grade. Earlier, Regina had left the room and she told him that if he managed to get above an 80 for the test the next day, she would do something super awesome for him that weekend. Thanks to her, his grades were getting better, and she slowly made more friends with the girls. Next week, they would also be announcing what they wanted to be and what they would grow up. Regina said she wanted to do biology, and he thought about doing something that could make people feel safe. His dad suggested something about human resources but he didn't quite know what it meant. Then he got a text from Regina telling him to meet her downstairs. When he did, he found her crying on the ground with dirt in her face, and the other girls in the class trying to help her up.

"What happened?"

"The guys. They threw dirt on her, and took her phone."

Enraged, he ran back up to the classroom, where much to his horror, the boys had picked up and dropped the pot onto the ground just as he entered in there.

"That'll teach that dirt skinned trash. Telling the other girls that they're too good for guys like us. And we even got her dumb boyfriend out of the way."

Shaze roared like a dragon and charged at them. He was able to knock down two out of the five, but one of them punched him, and the other two began kicking him from side to side. He tried fighting back to no avail, and then the kicking stopped as the main one in the group looked down on him.

"Even you can't take on all of us at once," throwing the dirt from the plant on Shaze's face. "Look guys, now he looks just like his little girlfriend." They all started laughing at him, which hurt enough, but then the leader took the ladybug, which had grown a bit over the year, and the daffodils, dropped it in front of him, and laughed as he stomped them into the floor over and over and over again.

That was the last straw.

Shaze's adrenaline flew through the roof. He scooped up some of the dirt and threw it into their eyes as he tackled the leader to the ground and kicked him in the nuts. Then he grabbed the parts of the plot that weren't completely broken and slammed it into the other two's faces and took out the fourth after grabbing a chair and swinging it at him. The fifth ran out and yelled for help.

"Teacher, Shaze hit us with his weird plant. And he stole Regina's phone."

In spite of telling the truth to both the teachers, his parents who helped him protest against the student's accusations, and even some of the girls Regina had slowly bonded with, he was then suspended for a week. Frustrated beyond belief, he had forgotten nearly everything about school and his parents only told him not to get involved in any more fights.

So he didn't. The other girls were slowly warming up to Regina, and they fought back against the guys on her behalf. Still, some of them would target him and he didn't want to risk being expelled, but saw that Regina was enjoying her time more. So he just ran away. He'd study on his own, wouldn't go outside, and ran to the teachers if he saw anything going on.

At one point, Regina and his eyes met again, but school was nearing its end. As far as he was concerned, she didn't need him anymore. It was better for him to be alone than at that point. If he was the only outsider, they would still harass him. But if he kept his distance, he wouldn't have to get into so many fights, and she'd be safe. As lonely as fifth grade became for him, the physical pain was drastically reduced, but the mental wounds weren't.

Then on the final day of school, Shaze was resting by himself in the back as the class was having that one final party when something hard hit him in the face.

"Did you think we'd forget what you did to us back then? We get to settle this now and after school, the teachers won't be able to save you this time."

Before he could do anything, he found himself having all the sofa, food, and chips thrown on him, with the extra taste of their hyena like laughter blasting all over him. But he didn't do anything. Getting expelled on the final day would be absolutely stupid of him. All he could do was endure it.

"Leave him alone!" When he looked up, all the guys were splashed with Coca-Cola and when looked in between them, Regina rushed towards him and scratched their cheeks, as hard as she could, helped him up, and walked him away from them.

"You okay?"

"I think so. You didn't have to help me."

"We promised each other we'd have each other's back but you haven't talked to me in months. Did I do something wrong?"

"No I don't, it's just," he was going to explain why until Regina fell down to the ground and a half filled bottle dropped from her head. One of the guys had threw it at her.

In retaliation, Shaze picked up a desk and was about to throw it at them when the teacher came into the classroom.

"Shaze, what on Earth are you doing? What did you do to poor Regina, and why are you soaked. Oh my, the party is ruined."

The leader spoke. "He attacked us with the food and drinks and then hurt Regina!"

"They're lying. They hit us!"

Regina shook her head as she got up. "Ms. Fairweather, it wasn't him, it was them, Shaze was trying to-"

"That's enough. Shaze, you were told not to start any of these incidents and now you dragged Regina into it. Go to the principal's office, we'll have what little of this party without your antics!"

He helped Regina up but as she tried to reach his hand aside, he slapped it aside. He was done with this whole school, and especially their teacher, and turned directly to her.

"Go to hell! You let these jerks bother and harass us for years and did nothing. But when we fight back, we get in trouble? You teachers are dumber than a pile of Legos!"

He ran out the building. They already got their diplomas and it was the last day of school. As he stopped to catch his breath, the same heavy breathing caught his eye as he turned to face Regina.

"Shaze, wait!"

"I hate this place! I never want to go back and see anyone from here ever again!"

He ran off. That was the last he ever saw from Regina, at least for four years.

—

Shaze woke up, now remembering what happened.

"I really lost myself back then. Ugh, I'm the worst, I can't believe I said that to her." He looked up. "Tiger, please be okay."

He looked down on his phone and saw messages from Brock and Alpha. He didn't read them all, but it looked like they wanted to apologize and talk with him tomorrow.

"I gotta stop pushing my friends away." He texted both of them, telling them to meet him at the school early and put the phone to charging, thinking about what his dad told him.

"The four beasts huh." Then he came to an epiphany. "So I'm the dragon, she's the tiger. Guess Brock's the turtle, and Alpha's the phoenix. It kinda fits. And I need all of them too. So what's the core? Think Shaze, Regina should've rubbed off of you by now after all this time."

He thought until it finally came to him. "The four beasts are all searching for something, and the one thing that unites us isn't just me, but what we want."

And it clicked. What we need is clarity, answers, and most importantly, acceptance.

"I can't solve this alone. We figure this out, we find Regina, and we find out who's under the mask. That's the core!"

Thursday

It was now Thursday, and he headed into the building, searching for all his friends.

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