In his mind raged an unholy war. A deluge of dopamine flooding through him, relieving him of the anguish caused by his battle wound. Synapses sparking, his mind pounding against his skull, forming the war drums of the Beast. His thoughts were cluttered and suffocated as he fought to find a means of escaping his fate. It's too late, cried Outis, his cracked, hoarse voice groaning in the man's mind. You have been marked by the Ashen Rider. All that waits for you is His signal. Then, with an electric squeak, came the signal of the End: The Horn of the Apocalypse.

"Mateo Delgado, the principal is ready for you. Please report to the principal's office."

Well, what's the worst if I just sit here? I thought. Can't make things any worse.

He deludes himself, as well as underestimates his ability to make things worse, added Outis.

I sat in the gross chair of the receptionist's room, just outside the principal's office. Staring straight at the door to his office, I sat.

"Uh, son, I think we should head in there now."

Next to me, in an equally ugly pea green chair, was my dad, Gerardo. His khaki pants creased and wrinkled from how hard the disgusting chair was pressing into him. Wearing a collared work shirt with "RVs of Texas" on the left side, I noticed that the usual ring of black hair around his bald head seemed thinner. He's already been stressing out. This is gonna make it worse. The man had managed to squeeze himself into the small, thin bars of the unbelievably ugly chairs in the receptionist's room. Just pure crap, these chairs.

He is deflecting, said Outis. Focusing on these repulsive chairs to avoid thinking about the mess he's made of things.

"Well, what the hell am I supposed to do?" I asked, a bit too loud.

"Tell them the truth," answered Dad. "You know, that...sorry, what is the truth we're telling them again?"

"I hit a guy, dad."

"Right, right. And broke his leg."

"No, he broke his leg when he fell."

"After you hit him."

"..."

"..."

"...yeah."

"And you did this because he was threatening Serah?"

"Serah wasn't part of this, dad."

Continuing his delusions, Outis began, his words echoing in my mind only, he pretends that his actions were not entirely fueled by his desire to reunite with his paramour.

"OK, yes, it was about her," I said, now conscious to make sure Dad didn't hear me. "But you're the one who said hitting that kid would get me Serah back."

What I said, clarified Outis, is that the end results would lead to you becoming closer to Serah. And I believe that is now the case.

"She hates me now!" I said.

Yes, but she ignored you before. I would argue that hatred could be considered closer.

"MATEO DELGADO," the horn squealed once more, with an obvious impatience. "REPORT. TO. THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE."

"Look, we'll just lay it all out there. You're growing up. Going through changes."

"Dad, no–"

"No, trust me. I understand. I mean, you're my son. Y'know, I was a late bloomer, so it's only natural that–"

"Oh, Jesus, dad."

"No, I'm serious. You've been working out more, got a bit of muscle on you now, no girlfriend. It's only natural that all that...energy is gonna have to come out eventually. Although, that's no excuse for this."

People raised in the masquerade of a civilized society rarely understand the need for violence, groaned Outis. Which, to reiterate, I did not condone, but rather appreciated.

I stood from the chair, the bars pressing against my legs as I stood. I looked over to my dad, seeing that he was still in his chair.

"Y'know, what," Dad began, "I'm just gonna wait out here. Yeah, I should wait out here. Then again, I am already here, and it would help to have someone on your side. Let's go. But what if I make it worse? You know what a tough customer I can be. Maybe–"

"How about you wait here," I interrupted, knowing I'd be here forever if I didn't, "and just come in when you're ready?"

"Right, keep 'em guessing. Great idea."

I hid a smirk and walked to the door of the principal's office. Through the glass panel with PRINCIPAL ANAYA written on it, I could see the vague shapes of the people inside. Seemed like four in all. I already knew who one of them would be.

In the glass, I caught a brief glimpse of my reflection. My short, black hair was a mess, probably from the fight. My "new" red shirt was stretched out and torn at the shoulder seam, showing off a bit of my newly earned muscle. Although it also showed off the rounding peak of my still large belly, covered in stretch marks. I'll have to focus on that next. While I pulled up my shirt at the tear, I saw the skin around my left eye was dark, surrounded by purple bruising flesh with red closer inside, like a target. Lucky swing.

On the subject of your wardrobe, offered Outis, I would recommend placing your backpack along your chest.

"Why?"

Only a suggestion.

His last suggestion went horribly, but Outis was usually right about these things. Moving my backpack so it hung across my chest, I walked into the office.

The room stank like recycled air. There were no windows. The only light was the artificial brightness of the fluorescent bulbs above, enhanced by the office's plain yellow walls. It gave the room an out-of-time feel. The principal's desk was in the center of the room with a tall shelf behind him and a few school photos on the wall.

In the office, I saw the principal, Mr. Anaya, sitting behind his desk, his greasy, black hair swept over his balding crown in a desperate comb over. I saw the school officer standing next to him, putting his phone away as he saw me walk in, fumbling his hand over his holstered gun. Well, I feel safe.

On the left side of the small office was some old woman I'd never seen before. She was wearing some weird golden suit that shone in the light. Her brunette hair was pulled back way too tight, accenting the wrinkles forming along her face. From the way she stared at me, her eyes full of hate and malice, I took a wild guess that she was the mom of the guy I hit.

There were only three chairs in the room. One was behind the principal's desk, occupied (obviously). Another was right in front of his desk, empty, presumably for me. Then, the last one was occupied by the person I knew would already be here. Serah.

Serah Fontano sat in the hideous pea green chair, clashing against her crimson top. The top was loose around the sleeves, showing off her milky white arms, but flowed along the torso, accentuating her new curves and ample shape. She'd always had a cute face, but now she had defined cheekbones that rose with her beautiful smile. She had faded blonde hair when I knew her, but now it shined like platinum, flowing down her shoulders. It looked amazing. She looked amazing. I'm such a goddamn idiot. Never truer than now, considering that, while I was staring at Serah, I missed the old golden suit lady taking off her shoe.

"YOU ANIMAL!!" she screamed, hurling the shoe at me with full force. The shoe bounced off the front of my backpack and fell to the floor. An awkward silence filled the room, the only sound I could hear was a smug hmm coming from Outis.

"Officer Solomon, would you please calm Mrs. Peterson down?

"Uh, well, 'calm down' isn't exactly in my job description," answered the officer. "I'm really just here to restrain or arrest someone."

"Alright, never mind. Mrs. Peterson, I won't let you be involved with this if you try to assault anyone in this room. Like it or not, these are still my students."

"But he assaulted my poor boy! My little Hairless Gorilla!"

(Did that guy I punched have a name? Probably. But I don't remember what it was, and I'm sure as hell not going digging through the school to figure it out. So history will remember him as the Hairless Gorilla.)

"I've heard plenty about your Hairless Gorilla," replied the principal (mostly). "I have the report here. According to the responding teacher, the two of you and the other boy–"

"My poor angel!!" broke out the old hag again.

"Yes, him. The three of you were in the South Hall. A conversation happened and then you and the other boy fought, you broke his leg–"

"I didn't break his leg!" I burst out, drawing everyone else's attention to me. "He broke it when...he fell funny."

"How does someone 'fall funny'?" asked the Principal.

"Oh, it happens," answered the officer. "My aunt Jacinda fell last month and shattered every bone in her leg. Although, she's also 79 years old, but the point is–"

"The point IS," said the principal, cutting off the officer, "that you admit to punching him and him breaking his leg as a result. I understand why you're here. New student–"

"Returning student," said the officer. "Uh, technically, sir."

"OK, returning student. It's hard to fit in. Senior, so maybe you think you won't get into too much trouble. I get all that. But, you Ms... Fon-tay-no," he said, turning to Serah.

"Fon-thah-no," said Serah, correcting his pronunciation. Hasn't changed there, at least.

"Sorry, Fontano. From what I understand, you're shot put on the track team, class VP, and volunteer at almost every event we have. You're a model student. What, exactly, is your role in all of this?"

The whole of the room turned to look at Serah, who opened her mouth to speak, but then stopped. She looked in my direction, trying to avoid my gaze at first, but then looking me right in the eye. She had such a sad look in her eyes. At first, I thought that it was because I dragged her into my mess, but no. I felt like she was sad that this is how we were finally reconnecting.

This feeling only lasted for a split second, but in that second, I wanted to tell her everything. That I missed her. That I was sorry for how we left things all those years ago. That I only did all this because I (stupidly) thought it would bring me back into her life. Then, with a new voice crying out, the second ended.

"I think I can–" *SLAM!!*

The office door bounced forward, bending from impact and the shadow of the person that had begun to form outside shrank as they stepped back. Everyone turned their heads to the door in shock, except the principal who seemed used to this happening.

"It's pull, sir. Not push."

"Ah, gotcha!"

Oh, Jesus.

Dad walked into the room, his nose a bit red from walking into the door. Smoothing down his thinning hair ring and moving to stand between me and Serah, who had gone back to avoiding my gaze. Still, Dad continued, undeterred.

"Sorry, Gerardo Delgado. Mateo's dad. I was...outside for...reasons I don't remember right now," he said, rubbing his head. "Anyway, I can explain why Serah's here."

"You see, her family and ours," he started, placing his hand on my shoulder. "We were neighbors, and they used to be friends when they were younger, but I had to move for a dream job up in St. Samuel–"

"Sir, I just want to resolve this school matter. I'm not here for your life story."

"I understand. Of course."

"..."

"... Although, it is one hell of a story. Real Hollywood stuff. You see, I lost my job and I thought we were gonna have to move back in with my parents. But, just when things got their darkest, I get a call from an accounting firm I've been desperate to work for, and I beat out TWENTY other–"

"DAD!!"

"Right, sorry. We're here about the kids. My fault."

"You can't listen to this man!" yelled Mrs. Peterson. "He clearly raised an animal."

"HEY!" shouted Dad, in a voice I'd never heard him use. "You don't talk that way about my son."

"I'll talk about your son however I like. You're lucky I don't have the mongrel thrown in jail."

"Alright, now, everyone calm down," the principal said, trying to regain control.

"Look, he's growing up. He didn't have a lot of friends back in St. Samuel–"

"We cannot make excuses for this sort of behavi–"

"What about my POOR baby?!"

"He's been having a tough time readjusting here–"

"He's almost a man. We can't let–"

You know how it is when you like someone, but you don't understand–"

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!!"

The entire room went silent at my outburst. I couldn't take it anymore. I exploded.

"I didn't hit him because I was confused. I didn't hit him because he was talking to Serah. I hit him because I wanted to. OKAY?!!"

For some reason, I felt the need to look directly at Serah while I continued.

"Why the hell would I hit someone over her anyways?"

Oh, no. Shut up.

"I haven't talked to her in forever. Why would I care what the hell she does?"

For God's sake, shut up.

"She's some dumb fucking blonde I knew. Who gives a shit?"

YOU IDIO–

The war cries of the Beast were interrupted by the sound of a meteor flying through the night sky. The massive boulder crashed across His face, ricocheting off his eye socket and bouncing onto the ground beneath Him. The Beast's fresh wound came alive with an entirely new sensation of pain. The flow of crimson within Him renewed, the Beast unleashed a mighty howl.

"You bitch!" I shouted, my voice slightly squeaking, staring down at Serah's shoe, which had fallen flat on the floor. "You hit me in the eye!"

"GOOD!" shouted back Serah, standing up out of her chair, fury across her face, the other shoe in hand.

"No, don't–" I began, but was cut off when the other shoe began raining down onto my head.

"Good one, dear," chimed Mrs. Peterson. "Here, use one of mine. They're harder."

"Alright, now everyone settle–" began the officer.

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!!" I shouted, then Serah. Or maybe it was her, then me. They were so close to each other, it's hard to tell who said it first.

"Alright, enough!" shouted the principal. "Sit down, all of you."

If only to speed this process up, everyone did as he said and sat.

"I'm only going to say this once, so listen up. You two," he said, gesturing to me and Serah, "have some unresolved issues. Resolve them or don't, I don't care. But, from now on, you do NOT bring it into the school, you understand me?"

Serah and I both stayed silent for a second, not wanting to be the first to speak up. Then, if only to get this over with, I spoke up.

"Alright, fine."

"I understand, sir."

"Good, and I hope," he continued, looking at me alone now, "that you understand how lucky you are. You assaulted another student. You sent him to the hospital. I could make sure you end up in jail over this."

But he won't, said Outis.

"But I won't, because I don't think that will solve anything here."

Because the Peterson woman has told him not to. Unclear why.

"You got it? OK, fantastic," said the principal, not waiting for us to reply. "I got this paperwork here. Both of you sign it, then get the hell out of my office."