Page 30 of Every Hidden Truth

“Get to practice!” Eric barked at his three stooges, and I jumped at his sudden volume. His backup immediately obeyed, heading toward the door to the wrestling room.

As Eric backed away, my body slumped against Ben in relief. Ben prodded my back to get me moving. I forced my wobbly legs to step around Boyt.

Was that it? Seriously?

The moment his friends were out of earshot, Eric dropped his voice to a whisper. “He sure looks good on his knees, doesn’t he, Blondie?”

Ben froze, his face emptying of every emotion that made him human. I dug my fingers into his forearm to stop the inevitable. I wasn’t strong enough.

“Ben, no!”

With a roar of fury, Ben charged Eric and tackled him to the floor like a professional linebacker. They grappled on the tile, spitting curses at each other. Ben rolled on top of Eric and smashed his fist into his face once, twice. Bellowing, Eric used his weight to throw him off and punched him square in the jaw.

“Oh my God. Stop! Stop it!” I shrieked.

Eric’s entourage rushed to his aid, and I shoved aside my fear as I leapt in front of the wrestling duo. Fierce protectiveness flooded me, and the moment Ratatouille was within reach, I threw a wild punch. I wasn’t a fighter, never had been, but somehow my fist connected with his face. His nose crunched, and blood poured from his nostrils.

Agony pulsed through my fist, and I yelped along with Ratatouille as he dropped to his knees, cupping his face.

“Holy shit, that hurts so much!” I whimpered.

I didn’t have time to nurse my possibly-busted knuckles because Thing One was fisting the back of Ben’s shirt to haul him off of Boyt. My vision bled red as they ganged up on him. With a crazy war cry, I jumped on Thing One, tipping him off balance and freeing Ben.

Falling to the floor, I punched and kicked like a wild cat, but he easily overpowered me with his weight. My vision darkened andstars danced before my eyes when he caught me in the side of the head with his meaty fist.

“Not so tough without your cocksucker boyfriend.” He decked me again, and sharp pain crackled through my jaw and rattled my teeth.

My cheek swelled, and I cringed as he drew his fist back to break my face. He never got the chance. Dirty-blond hair filled my vision as someone joined the fray, tackling Thing One and liberating me. I gasped in oxygen, my body protesting as I staggered to my feet.

Ben and Eric were wailing on each other, and Thing One was busy with my savior whom I quickly recognized as Ronnie. Ratatouille was still out for the count, struggling to staunch the flow of blood from his nose. Thing Two stood indecisive as he watched the scuffles.

Copper saliva flooded my mouth, and I wiped at my lips as I stumbled to block his path should he decide to go after Ben.

His light eyes narrowed and his fists tightened. “Don’t make me hurt you.”

I flipped him the bird. “Bite me, asshole.”

Like he’d been sent from heaven, Ben’s coach, Coach Kane, appeared through the crowd of athletes that had surrounded us, face red and furious. “What in Sam Hill is going on here?”

Thing One paused his fist mid-air, straddling a bloodied Ronnie. Ben didn’t hesitate as he landed one last punch to Eric’s face. Two more adults fought their way through the mass of athletes. The basketball coach made it through first, followed by the wrestling coach, Coach McKinney.

Coach Kane dragged Ben off of Eric by his collar, and my chest constricted. Ben’s hair was in disarray, his clothes stained, and red streaked across his face. He favored his side as his coach growled something I couldn’t hear.

“Hank, get Peter to the bathroom and clean him up,” Coach McKinney barked, and Thing Two nodded as he lifted Ratatouille from the floor. “Shawn, Eric, get your butts in my office, now.”

Rolling off Ronnie, Thing One rose to his feet, sparing me a vicious glare. “Yes, Coach.”

“Clear the hall!” the basketball coach commanded, ushering away the onlookers. “Anyone left receives detention.”

Ronnie retrieved his cracked glasses and waved off my stammered apologies as he folded them and slipped them into his pocket. His eye puffed, already swelling shut, and guilt swamped me as he wiped at his bleeding nose.

“Anyone wanna explain this?” Coach Kane growled, but no one spoke.

Eric unfurled from the ground, one eye already turning black and blue. It looked like Ben might have broken his nose again. But he was smirking at me, like things had gone perfectly to plan.

“Ask that psycho!” he growled, pointing at Ben. “He attacked me for no damn reason.”

“You fucking asshole!” Ben lunged, but Ronnie and their coach managed to grab him and haul him back.

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