If I don't say this now, I will surely break

As I'm leaving the one I want to take

Forget the urgency but hurry up and wait

My heart started to separate            --Look After You, The Fray

Chapter 13 – The Knight in Shining Armor… minus the Shining Armor

While waiting inside the gym, I heard Chuck and Reed far up the corridors. And as expected, they were annoying again like the other twenty-three hours of the day. Cliché. Never failed to disappoint.

“Run to the gym now, sweetie,” Chuck pleaded to Sarah. “Please? We’d hear from Nate if we screw this up.”

“What for, Chuck? And why are you wearing those clothes?” Sarah asked shakily.

Cursing, I headed to the double doors and peered into the hallway. The Ferguson brothers, dressed as Gerald and Moira were pushing Sarah toward the gym, with no success. Sarah was still giggling uncontrollably and I could tell she was doing her best to force it back. Who could blame her?

Chuck was the bomb!

“Because I’m not Chuck.” He rolled his eyes and adjusted his horn-rimmed glasses. “I’m Moira,” he croaked in his ‘girly’ voice.

Without a warning, Reed doubled over and started laughing like mad again. When he recovered from the spaz, he took Sarah’s shoulders and looked her straight in the eyes. “Nerdy, please do the lady a favor so we could get this over with,” he blurted out in between the sniggers.

She came back with a stubborn “Not until you tell me what’s in there,” folding her arms across her chest.

“You’re crazy future ex-husband,” he sneered, seeing Sarah’s confusion.

Sighing at the same time, the brothers swapped impish looks before nodding at each other. Sibling telepathy. I couldn’t get the hang of it. They looped their hands under the crook of Sarah’s arm. While she was screaming and thrashing in protest, they started dragging her along the hallway, her sneakers skidding on the floor. What part of ‘be subtle and careful’ did they not get?

After a while, Sarah stopped resisting, almost looking bored and annoyed as the other two practically lugged her to the gym. Before setting her down, Reed gave her a simple instruction. “If anyone asks, we hounded you like hell to the gym. Are we clear?” Then wryly, he began pushing her into the gym like he was trying to shoo a puppy away.

The big double doors swung shut. Metal chains clinked from outside. A lockdown. Seriously? That wasn’t part of the plan!

“W-what’s going on?” Sarah asked with a troubled expression, slowly backing away from me.

“Sarah. Please calm down, okay. I don’t mean any harm.” Carefully, I tried to approach her, raising both my hands. “I just want to talk.”

With probing, questioning eyes, she whispered in a thin, papery voice, “W-who are you, really?”

For a while, I couldn’t say anything. I didn’t know how to answer her question without making everything complicated for her. Should I tell her, “Well, I’m your long lost boyfriend,” or maybe “I’m your forgotten special someone,” on my knees while I beg for her to take me back? It’d be the easiest way for me but the toughest for her. No. She’d be more confused and miserable than ever. Between the two of us, I’d rather take all the blows than see her suffer more.

Forcing a big warm smile, I stepped to her and offered a hand. “Leonard,” I replied, my heart instantly sinking at her reluctance to shake it. Breathing out, I pocketed my hand and headed to the free-throw line of the basketball court, looking up at the basket. “So… anything coming back yet?” With a bit of hope, I glanced back at her.

She shook her head. “No. Sorry.”

“Still no idea who I am?” I asked again, hoping she’d realize my true identity and what I really meant to her.

Sarah sat weakly on the bleachers then shook her head sheepishly. “Would you rather tell me?”

I weighed everything up for a second and smiled shaking my head. “I’d rather you find out. Won’t that be fun?” Picturing a ball in my hand, I shot it into the basket and headed to join her. “But to give you a clue, I’m the most persistent guy in the universe. You can’t shake me off your hair even if you try. So what d’you think?”

“What’s in it for me?” Her face seemed to light up as she finally looked up to me and met my eyes.

One corner of my lips pulled up on its own. “Anything you want.”

“A-anything?”

With a promising nod, I offered her my hand again. “Deal?” For a second, I was afraid she’d ignore it for the second time. Then again, she inched a quivering hand to shake mine, a fragile smile playing on her lips.

“Prepare to be broke before the year ends,” she grinned widely. “I’ve got a new definition for anything. And you’re not going to like it.”

Like I wasn’t already broke. “Let’s see about that,” I taunted smirking. Touch down! It was my big chance to get her back.

Subtly, she cleared her throat, a faint hue of pink making its way to her cheeks as she tried to pull her hand from mine. A bit ill at ease, I let her hand go. I won’t mind holding it for the rest of my life but for now, that brief moment of contact with Planet Sarah was enough to keep me going.

“And now, we find a way out.” I jogged to the door and tried to push it open. It won’t budge. “Guys? Come on! Open up!” I yelled at them. “Chuck! Reed! So not funny, guys! Open the goddamned door!”

No answer. Letting out a few muffled curses, I kicked the door with no success in opening it. Groaning, I slumped to the floor, messing up my already dishevelled hair in frustration.

“So we’re stuck here, I guess,” Sarah muttered with a sigh, flopping down on the gym floor a few yards away from me. “How did you end up with those jocks anyway?”

Willingly, I told her about Becky and Matt’s past relationship—how we made friends with Chuck, Reed, Drake and Larson. As if it was the most unbelievable thing, Sarah’s eyes grew larger in disbelief.

“Shut. Up! Becky and Matt… I wouldn’t have thought of it in my wildest dreams. And I… was friends with Matt Adams?” she blurted out doubtfully.

“Yeah… Guess so,” I replied, falling quiet and wishing I could take back what I just said.

Honestly, I wished I hadn’t told her of any Matt stuff. That just made me want to fly-kick him on the face. Dunno why. The guy’s been nothing but nice and supportive. Not! I should’ve told her Matt was a drug addict and a pedophile; that he usually ate puppies and kittens for breakfast. Life could’ve been a lot easier for me without him trying to get into the scene and steal Sarah from me.

Cut!

Ah, that was the crazy me talking. Must. Fight. Evil… Genes!

I didn’t want to lie to her. Despite how much it’d hurt, she had all the right to know.

“Nice watch,” she noted casually.

I automatically reached for my wrist watch. Suddenly, the gym lights flickered on and off then died altogether. I heard Sarah let out a stifled cry. The only visible thing was the face of my wrist watch with the tiny constellations glowing in the dark.

“It’s okay Sarah. Come here,” I called out to her.

“I’m okay,” she snapped all too defensively. “I’m here!”

“Then come closer!” I barked back in panic. Just when I thought I’d just been too hard on her, I heard her shuffling and stumbling to my side. Still aloof but logical. I could work with that. “Oh, man! I’m so going to kill Chuck and Reed for this.”

“I… w-would like to see that,” she stammered, her breaths ragged as her elbow accidentally touched against mine. Even in the dark, Sarah felt so near I couldn’t help but smile. I caught myself placing an arm on her shoulder. Maybe this wasn’t so bad after all. I’d volunteer on trespassing school gyms regularly as long as we could get stuck together like this more.

Something metallic crashed outside. Sarah let out an “eeep!” and clutched tightly on my arm. The crash was followed by a steady banging sound and the rushing of sneakers across the corridor. Metal chains being removed clinked furiously against the door behind me. I heard freaked out voices from the other side and recognized those straight away as Reed’s and Chuck’s.

“W-what’s that?” Sarah asked, still trying to kill my arm by strangling it. But who was complaining? Ha!

“No idea. Stand back,” I said feeling like a knight in shining armor (only without the armor… or the broadsword). Lame. Okay. Let’s just hope she’d remember all of this.

The double doors opened. Glaring light blinded us for a couple of seconds. Right as my eyes adjusted, I saw Chuck and Reed’s pale faces. Like they’d just seen a ghost.

“Dude…” Chuck panted. “Like, RUN!!!” he yelled like mad.

Without being told (screamed at) twice, I snatched Sarah’s hand and tailed the other two. Like psycho mice, we sprinted along the corridor. I had to slow down a little to match Sarah’s pace. My fractured arm felt like it was going to fall off during the run.

“What the—“ I shouted cursing when we passed by the janitor’s closet—the one where we stowed Lynch in. The mound of cleaning stuff was spilled on the floor. It was empty. Lynch escaped. And we were toast.

“Less talky! More runny!” Chuck snapped skirting around the clutter.

From the far side of the hallway behind us, I heard a Lynch howl like a rabid wolf high on energy drink. It was still a long way to the back door. We might not make it. Good thing I had a plan B.

“Guys! Here,” I called out to them, veering to the left.

In no time, we reached the Bio Lab and I kicked the door. Luckily, it flung open. Sweet! All that workout paid off after all. We darted inside, heading to the large sliding window. Reed pushed it open and blindly hurled himself out, shooting straight into the dumpster.

“Geronimo!” Chuck followed grinning and landed butt first on top of his big brother.

“Come on, Sarah. You first.” I heard Lynch’s screams while viciously sputtering out profane words I’d never even heard of. “Hurry!” I pressed on.

She seemed reluctant. But taking a glance over her shoulder, she nodded, panic-stricken before taking my hand. Together, we hopped out of the window, barely avoiding a dumpster dive. Once on the ground, I dropped on my knees. The pain was already unbearable like my arm was being hacked off. I staggered up panting.

“Run,” I barely whispered to Sarah while the other two kept on at us to run faster.

Her eyes narrowed. While grumbling to herself, Sarah took my uninjured arm and slung it over her shoulder. I wanted to resist, but didn’t have the energy to do so. So together, we hobbled across the walkway to the exit. We barely made it to the truck. I felt like passing out.

Nathan rushed out of the truck. “What the hell—“

Reed jumped on the back of the truck, literally freaking out. His face was almost green. “Let’s get the hell out of here!!!”

“What he said.” Chuck beamed catapulting himself next to his brother.

Beads of sweat broke on my forehead as we were getting into the truck’s cab.

“Step on it!” Nathan barked at Ricky who nervously floored the accelerator.

Before Lynch could chase us waving his pitchfork, we were already far, far away from the school. I realized I was holding my breath. My chest felt like it was going to explode. Safe! I thought, taking a deep breath. The stabbing pain in my left arm seemed to ease a bit. But I had to clench my teeth really tight and concentrate on the pain. Or else, I’d be screaming like a girl.

I chanced a peek on the rear view mirror. Becky looked terrified. So was Sarah. My forehead creased in frustration. I wanted to yell and bang my head on a rock. If Freddy got a whiff of what happened tonight, he’d kick my stupid ass. He’d probably ban me from all of Massachusetts and lock Sarah up in some tower in the woods. He’d hunt me and cut my head off and stuff it inside his trophy case.

That was it. All my chances lost.

“A-are you okay?” Sarah asked almost worried. Almost.

“Yeah,” I muttered forcing a straight face.

“Yeah, right. Define okay. Don’t go hero on us all, brother. The decrepit arm sells you out,” Nathan scoffed before bugging Ricky to go faster.

* * *

“You sure Lynch didn’t see your faces?” Nathan asked for the third time when we reached the house after dropping off Sarah and Becky.

“Sure as hell as my back hurts right now,” Reed muttered glaring at his brother. “Now where’s the can?”

Nathan pointed him impassively to the bathroom near the kitchen. Reed staggered away with a hand over his mouth. Weakly, I sunk in the couch and closed my eyes rubbing my forehead. I didn’t say anything. If I open my mouth, I might just start yelling and cursing in pain and anger.

“You reek.” Nathan inched away from Chuck fanning a hand on his nose.

Looking unaffected, Chuck just sniffed with a bored look. “Dude, I just showered three days ago. That’s the dumpster stench you smell.”

Looking weirded out, Nathan stiffly got up from his seat and transferred away from Chuck, who threw us a looked that said, “What’s wrong?” Just then, Reed came out of the bathroom looking all better. Smelling like a pile of garbage, he paraded across the room and jumped-elbowed his brother right on the stomach.

“Next time, I work alone,” I mumbled. “If there’s even a next time.”

The Ferguson brothers froze in the middle of a headlock and gaped at me.

“Why? We’re a team, man! We are so great back there!” Chuck complained.

“Definitely,” Nathan sneered at me. “If Leon doesn’t have Sarah, he’d probably date you.”

Crumpling his forehead, the blond seemed to think about it for a while. “Forget it, bro,” he chortled his head off. For once, I thought he was finally getting why we were laughing like maniacs all evening. But he just turned to me with a serious expression. “Don’t even think about it. I’m too damn beautiful for you.”

Ugh, hell. The dude seriously thought I was crushing on him? Oh, come on! What were these people eating all their life? Styrofoam?

When we finally persuaded (conned) Chuck to wash up in the bathroom, Reed scratched the back of his head and said wryly, “You don’t want to go in there, bro.”

From that day on, the cursed bathroom was never reopened again… Until the cleaning lady risked her life to go in. The rest was too graphic to explain. So moving on…

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First of all, let me say to you that I didn't expect the votes to reach 100. But you did it! haha! So as promised, here it is. Next upload after three days. But please keep on voting. Who knows? I might upload sooner :) I'll keep on writing more so we could resume this voting game again LOL. 

Serving up more of Leon Walden, hot and steamy ~shim

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