Whiffs and Mulligans - part 5

[mekachu04]

Whiffs and Mulligans – Part 5

Keillan did the same the next class, the days left for him to turn in anything slowly trickling down, him with nothing to show for it.

The ugly words continued, seeming louder now that Kidd had seem them written out

"You..." Kidd hesitated, the tables next to him seeming to fall quiet, and he could feel them looking at him, "should still try and make something to turn in. Anything, just to show you know the basics."

There was laughter behind them, Kidd trying hard not to look.

"Worry about your own project." was all Keillan said.

---

Kidd passed with the highest marks in the class, having more than proven his skill once given tools that were small enough for him to work with.

Keillan didn't even show up for the last class before mid year break. Kidd snooped. He'd passed - barely. Lowest possible score and still able to advance to term two after the winter break.

Kidd wanted to talk to someone.. anyone really, about what he'd seen in the trash, but surely, it was already known. The teacher had clearly seen it.

But something still felt... off.

And it followed him though the whole day, as hour by hour ticked down until mid break. Three weeks of no classes.

His mom picked him up that day - a rare treat - with the intention to take him out for ice cream.

A drive that would take them passed the highschool.

With about two blocks to go Kidd noticed a crowd of kids milling around on one of the grassy embankments, a few familiar from shop class.

Actually... a bunch from shop class. "Mom... Mom pull over a sec."

She stopped, following his gaze, where it was clear something was up. The kids were closing ranks, and Kidd was out of the car before he knew his feet were moving.

Fight! Fight! Fight! started to echo as he got closer. Fight turning to Hit him! to Kick him! to Just punch the fag already!!

Kidd was fighting his way into the group, his mom not far behind. The outer circle scrambled at the sight of an adult.

Keillan was fighting against a choke hold from one of Kidd's classmates, kicking at another boy with a bloodied nose. His own face was a smear of blood, but despite being outnumbered, he was holding his own quite well.

Kidd barely registered his mother yelling at the crowd to go home; a decision that would define his social statue for the rest of his school days - he launched himself at the boy behind Keillan in a tackle, a poorly thought out move that took the three of them down in a tangle of limbs and fists.

Soon enough it was just him, Keillian, and his mother, looking down at them with frown. Kidd didn't think she'd ever looked so disappointed. "In the car. Both of you."