Justin watched as students filed out after the detention hours. Dressed in a simple white hoodie and black jeans, he kept his back to the tree in front of the first floor classrooms.
His eyes were focused between his phone and the stairs. When he spotted Shine, she looked at him on instinct and waved.
He fainted a smile, waving back. It was then he noticed three boys approaching him. The weak smile faded and he lowered his hand, placing his phone in his pocket, picking up his backpack. "You guys need something?"
The one in the center spoke. It was obvious he was the little ringleader. "You got some nerve. You show up a single day and hold that better than everyone attitude."
He raised an eyebrow, looking between the three boys. "Do you have something serious you wanna talk about? I literally don't know you, and I don't care enough to want to."
"See, that right there." The center male crossed his arms. "And rejecting Shine like that? Oh no, you got no right."
"... Really?" He blinked. "You're mad I'm already taken?"
"No, I'm mad you think you can do whatever you want to."
"Okay, dude, there's literally no point to this conversation. Shouldn't you be happy I said no? That means your chances went up. Though, you guys never had any to begin with." Justin replied.
The center male grabbed his hoodie and pulled Justin close. Any sense of intimidation was lost on the boy. His face kept calm.
"Vincent, come on, he ain't worth it."
"Nah, nah man. He's gotta learn some respect. He's nobody, so nobody's gonna do what nobody's do." Vincent released his grip and pushed Justin into the tree, making the boy drop his backpack. "Shine my boots."
"Excuse me," Justin replied, rubbing his neck.
"Did I stutter? Shine. My fucking boots."
Justin looked between the three males, eyes glancing past them at the lingering crowd. Shine was among them, and her eyes held a strange worry.
"Fine." Justin said, getting on a knee.
A crowd of gasps filled the air. Snow crunched under Justin's knee, and breathed in deeply.
Vincent smiled and looked between the other two males when Justin swung his leg in a sweep. Vincent flew off balance, hitting the snowy floor. The other two looked at Justin, hesitating a moment before attempting to grab him. The boy moved his head back, gripping the wrists, running up the side of the tree and flipping over, pulling both their arms back and together. Their faces slammed with a heavy snap, blood spewing from their noses as they hit the ground.
Vincent got up, pulling a pocket knife out and running at Justin from behind. He thrust the blade, but the boy side stepped a bit to the left, pulling his right elbow back and striking Vincent's throat.
Vincent hit the ground, holding it and coughing madly. Justin looked down at the three, shaking his head. He grabbed the strap of his backpack, slinging it over his shoulder and began to casually stroll off. "I told you there was no point."
Shine watched him, as did the other students, with wide eyes. He walked through the crowd, by Shine, only faintly glancing at her before continuing on, presumably, on his way home.
".... What the fuck was that… Shine, did you SEE THAT?!" Frannie yelled, her voice filled with excitement than anything. "I've never seen a guy fight that way! He must be a blackbelt in Taekwondo or some shit!"
Shine nodded in a thin agreement. For a moment though, Shine thought she felt something from him. A surge. Small, faint, but a surge.
Surge of what? She didn't know.
"If that boy didn't have a girl, I'd have his kids right now," Frannie said, and most of the other girls nodded in agreement. Shine, however, kept herself stern. That scrap just now only gave her more reason to want to learn more about him.
"Frannie," She said suddenly. "Sleepover?"
"Oh. Uh, yeah, let me just tell my folks."
Shine nodded to her, watching Justin move further and further into the distance. The sun peeked through the grey clouds, faint hints of snow following the rays of light.
Who… Who is he?