Chapter 1.1

John was in a funk. If his bad mood could produce a smell, it would have the scent of disappointment, frustration, and anger.

Last month he lost the tournament for Golden Gloves, which cost him a shot at making the Olympic Boxing Team.

He was athletically gifted and dedicated. But the other guys were just that much better. Losing was already a downer.

But then he'd caught his girlfriend cheating and ended things there and then. Who had she done it with? The winner of the Golden Gloves. Yeah, things hadn't gone well.

Ironically, being a superb boxer in the ring didn't always translate into being a good fighter outside of regulations. John had won that fight, but it did little to satisfy him.

He'd dropped out of practice. He'd dropped out of trying to pass his senior year classes. And now he was dragging his moping self from one class to the next, just trying to get through the days.

He picked up a habit of watching 'Let's Play' videos and live streamers. He'd used to game when he was younger before he found a new passion for boxing. He missed gaming, but he couldn't muster the energy to pick up the controller again.

He watched other people play and lived vicariously through them. He ignored the feeling of wasting away, losing his muscle mass and his well-sculpted body frame.

He was a tall guy, head and shoulders abovemost people. He stuck out in the crowd, and if he wanted to bounce back he could. But while he had the physique and good-looks, John struggled in the books, which were reflecting in his less than stellar grades.

He was hesitant about dating again. Part of him was still the nerdy kid he grew out of him. And part of him was plainly hurt. He was a prime target for the type of bullies who wanted nothing more than to prey on a big target like him.

Kevin Baxter shoulder-checked John. Since he was shorter, he struck John's arm rather than hitting shoulder-to-shoulder. John was kind of out of it today. He was going to let it go and just keep walking.

"You aren't saying sorry, loser?" Kevin whirled around and grabbed John's arm. John pried Kevin's hand off easily enough. John might've been out of practice for a month, but he wasn't physically weak.

Kevin was a wannabe gangster. He was probably missing a few screws up there in his head. For someone with a rich background, there shouldn't be any point in trying to prove anything to anyone.

But some people could have it all and still grow up crooked and mean. "Move on, Kevin," John muttered loud enough.

Other students were streaming by slowly, sensing potential conflict. "Or, what?" Kevin stepped around to get in front of John's face. "I heard you lost last month. And you sure look like a loser. You should watch yourself, or I'll show you how it's done."

John looked everywhere else but at Kevin's face and took a deep and weary breath. Everyone knew he was a boxer. The faculty would be on him if he got into a fight with someone in school. He was already in academic trouble, and he was doing all he could to just get through senior year without anymore problems.

His dad wanted him helping with his food truck business until he figured out his future. His mom had the charity work she did in the community. His parents were cool people.

John wouldn't want to disappoint them after all they'd gave to support him on his failed boxing dreams.

"Hey, I said something to you."

Kevin shoved John in the shoulder with most of his strength. He sent him stumbling to the side, colliding with a bookish girl wearing square glasses.

Annoyed, John continued to ignore Kevin and straighten himself out, calmed down, and turned to the girl.

"Hey, sorry about that. You alright?"

He gave the girl an easy-going smile. It felt rusty and forced on his face. It was a ghost of the smile he'd used on his ex when they first got together. Flustered, the bookish girl shot him a shy smile in return.

"It's okay, it was just an accident," she said. "I need to get to chem. It's all the way on the other side of school." "I'm going in the same direction," John said. "You mind walking me there? Maybe if I'm not alone, I won't get picked on by numbskull bullies." It was a joke. It felt flat.

The bookish girl looked up at his tall frame and gave him a disbelieving look. She had a double-take when her eyes centered on his face before her features melted into eagerness. Ah, yeah. He knew that look. Hopefully, she didn't mind being friends.

"What's wrong with you!" Kevin yelled from behind John. "Didn't your dumbass dad teach you respect? Face someone when they're talking to you, loser."

John urged his new friend forward and walked away, giving Kevin nothing more. Most people would've gotten the hint and left things alone there. But Kevin wasn't most people. He was a bully, an idiot, and crazy.

He slapped his hand on John's shoulder and tried to yank John around. John had an answer for that. His fist. Kevin's nose. A solid thud sounded throughout the hall.

The squeaking sneakers and humdrum of students passing by came to a silent halt. Everyone turned and stared. Then they erupted into howls and screams like wild animals.

"Fight! Fight! Fight!"