Chapter 2

[MC POV]

° Reginald Vel Johnson Highschool

Lunchtime, as signalled by the very loud bell ringing all across the school's intercom, was a good time to unwind after 3 hours or so of classes for most sutdents.

A short break.

I didn't have any particular difficulty in my academics nor in extracurriculars, same with Mark for the most part. Though I did admittedly have the unfair advantage of being a Cum Laude in my past life.

The only thing that really made a difference to an otherwise rehashing of what I already learned in my past life was the friend I made in school.

A hot blonde girl by the name of Madison Lorrel, one of the only few friends in school who shared my love for books and tabletop games. And who was also quite into Martial Arts. Specifically, Karate.

Me and Madison(Mady) were walking on the one of the hallways leading to my locker. Talking about some new tabletop game about the Guardians of the Globe that company in Washington.

And she had a very...straight and rude comment about how FUN she found it to be.

"It's FUckiNg stupid, Matthew" she stated, her small blue blouse and short white skirt made her look quite cute despite the annoyed look on her face.

"Told you"

"No, you told me it was not good. Not that it was total nonsense!" she said.

"Huh?" I was curious at that point.

"It's just like DnD 4e, but they use a d100 to roll for EVERYTHING Matthew. Everything!" she complained.

"Everything? You mean-"

"Attack Rolls, Saving Throws, Random Encounter Rolls, Death Saves, Initiative Rolls, all of it! I haven't been this confused in my entire life!" she exclaimed.

"Oh..." That sounds like a really stupid thing to do on a board game, I guess. Not that I'm willing to try it out.

"There's literally like a thousand pages alone on how to 'React' when a Guardian gets a text alert or how the civilians around react if there's a fight and don't make me mention those..." she went on and on about it for the next few minutes.

Continuing even as I was by my locker and getting a few books for the next batch of classes.

"Damn, that sounds ridiculous Mady"

"Oh, it is. It really is. $ 49.99 wasted just for that crap" she sighed, leaning on the locker next to mine.

_$ 49.99 for a board game? The fuck?_

The government must be milking the shit out of Guardians of the Globe merchandise.

"I don't wanna say it, but I did warn you"

"Yeah, yeah. Don't even start with that. I get it" she waved her hand over my face and dismissed the topic.

"Sure. Let's talk about something else" I shut my locker and looked at her straight in her eyes, with a smirk.

"You're smirking, why are you smirking?" she asked, looking all cautious suddenly.

"Those words, 'I haven't been this confused in all my life'. You really mean that?"

"Yeah. So?" she asked, a bit confused at what I was going at.

"So that one time with Darcy behind the field benches...does not count?"

The look on her changed the instant I finished my words, turning from confusion to an annoyed angry I rarely see on her pretty face.

"Matthew Grayson. You promised" she said quietly as she closed in on me, jabbing her finger dangerously towards the bottom of my chin.

I raised both my hands in faux surrender, "Relax, just a bit of teasing isn't necessarily me breaking my promise now is it?".

"No. I'm warning you, Matt. Don't ever mention that again if you still value us being friends" she said, her ultimatum was a bit extreme.

Considering it, the choice was a no brainer.

A hot blonde girl who likes what I like and likes to hang around with me is very very rare, like that golden Pokemon Charizard card type of rare. The 'liking a girl' thing only meant that I wouldn't have any problems if I want someone to talk to who can relate to liking girls and can actually give me some solid advice.

"Okay. I'm sorry" I made my choice.

She maintained that threatening act up just for a few seconds more, before stepping back and walking away.

Even as she did, I couldn't help myself at admiring her from afar. In many ways other than her personality. So many ways.

"So we're good?" I asked her.

"I'm still mad at you. But I'll text you later, and you better be ready to listen for more complaining about that stupid board game" she said.

I smiled and nodded, then watched as she walked further and further away.

Suddenly, at that very moment, I...heard something.

`F*cking Nerd'

`Asshole won't stop following me`

I turned around, seeing no one but that asshole bully Todd following some African-American girl as they approached. A love quarrel from what I could tell, though I didn't recognize them.

It was a clear and familiar voice, speaking quite loudly as if someone was whispering in my ear. I watched them walked by, making eye contact with Todd as I did.

"Wha'cha lookin at, Nerd?" he asked, in his dumb voice.

"An idiot" I blurted out.

He stopped, gave me this very angry look that was the prelude to some retaliation but decided against it once he saw that the girl he was slowly getting away.

"I'll settle this with you later, nerd. Watch yourself" he said, calling the girl's name and running after her.

Amber. And there was only one Amber here in school, Amber Benett. Not a particularly popular girl, but she was known to be quite the feminist and activist. Her Instagram even says as much.

As for why Tobb followed her, I was curious. So I followed them just to see what would happen, like the few others who also followed behind.

As I did, I passed by another familiar pretty face.

"Hey, Eve" greeting the redhead who was burying her face deep into her Physics textbook.

Which, now that I saw it for a bit more, was a year-level more advanced than what we normally have. She looked up and waved at me, then went back to her book.

What a studious girl, and another pretty one too. Too bad she doesn't recognize me though, we were classmates for a while.

I wonder if she's single?

Not disturbing her further, I walked until I finally caught up with Tobb and Amber. Who had stopped to argue about something I couldn't quite hear.

But, when I walked a bit closer to get a listen in, I heard that same thing from earlier. The same voices echoing in my mind.

`Come on, Tobb. Amber's gonna wanna make up, just a bit more`

`Ugh! I just can't with this piece of shit anymore!`

Now though, compared to before, the words and sentences just went on and on. And I had a very sneaky suspicion about what those were, other than the possibility that I might be going insane.

I tuned out those 'voices' as best I could, somehow managing it after focusing on the scene in front of me.

Of Todd acting like an idiot to impress Amber, oblivious and utterly failing to do so.

"Knock it off, Todd!" Amber shouted, pushing him away and pushing ahead of him.

"Come on, quit playing games. I know youre crazy about me. Marcy told me" Todd explained.

Amber stopped and turned, "Well, you are big and strong, aren't you?" she hummed as she got closer to his face.

Todd flexed his arms, "Totally".

"And you think that makes it okay for you to harass me?" Amber asked.

Feminist or no, she is a tough one. I can see that.

"Hey don't walk away from me" Todd grabbed her arm, to which she simply forcefully flicked it away.

"What, are you a lesbian or something?" Todd asked.

_Wow, he is an idiot_

"Oh, my god, I wish! Would you leave me alone then!?" Amber retorted and tried to walk away, unsuccessful with the White Gorilla grabbing unto her arm.

"Let go of me so that I can find a girl to kiss!" Amber insisted, struggling to get her arm out of Tobbs meaty hands.

The entire scene was your usual 'guy wants to get with girl, doing it in a very crass manner' type of situation.

But it soon developed into a 'knight and shining armor comes to save the damsel in distress' cliche thing once Mark, surprisingly enough, came into the picture and literally stood up to Tobb.

Which was not good.

Mark cleared his throat, catching both their attention, before speaking up.

"I think Amber's been pretty clear about how she feels, Todd" he said, loud enough to attract everyone's attention, causing some to stop and pull out their phones.

To record something. Because that's the same thing to do in this situation other than to stop it I'm entirely.

I immediately shuffled forward, shoving everyone else away, reacting in an understandably angry way once I saw Todd turn around and sucker punch my brother in the face.

Todd tried to go for another punch but I was quicker and had the element of surprise. I sent a kick towards his ribcage, feeling a faint crack inside him reverberate through my shoe funder the force and sent him limping to his side.

"Surprise, motherfucker"

I didn't let him get any time to react before I sent 2 straight punches towards his face, then pulled his shirt to keep his stupid head from hitting the glass window.

I was going for another punch when a pair of small fingers clasped onto my arm.

It was Amber, "That's enough!" she said.

I was confused as to why she would do so, but it gave me a chance to clear my mind. Looking around, everyone's phones and eyes were all trained in me.

Mark was giving me this angry look that told me I had butted in on something he personally wanted to accomplish.

I let Todd's shirt go and took a few steps away.

"Try that again, dipshit, and I won't stop next time. Even if someone asks me to" I warned him before walking towards Mark.

"I didn't need your help" was the first thing my brother said before he started ambling away, his back towards me.

Leaving me behind to deal with the mess.

I turned just as Todd had tried another move on me, lounging forward and telegraphing his intention to tackle me to the floor as he went for my leg.

It was a simple matter for me to step away from his path of attack and send a knee strike to his other rib cage, which was the least I could do consider how open to attack the man was.

A bully who didn't even bother to learn how to fight. Sad.

Todd crashed to the floor in a mess of saliva and snot, and a bit of blood as I might've actually caused some real damage.

"Hey! You didn't have to do that!" Amber came running after him, kneeling as she started to check the guy over something.

I didn't necessarily care enough to think of what.

"He's fine, but that was cruel of you" she glanced at me, "You should've stopped when he was already down".

"Excuse me?" What the hell did this bitch think she's talking about?

"I get that you wanted to act all knight by saving me and--"

"Hold on, Amber. I think you're misunderstanding something here" I interrupted.

She went quiet, waiting for me to explain while giving me an expectant look.

"I wasn't saving you, I was going after the idiot who hit my BROTHER. So don't get your panties in a bunch thinking that I did, you're not important to me at all for me to even care"

"How dare--"

I didn't even listen half-heartedly as I turned to leave, going to my next class as the bell draws near.

I passed by Eve again, who was still burying herself in the same book, before I entered the first of my afternoon classes.