Chapter 17: Who Dare To Stand Against Garvin?
Eva's POV
The gathering crowd gasped as Caleb walked toward us, his eyes fixed on Garvin. With a swift motion, Caleb pushed Garvin in the chest.
"Who dares to do that?" I thought, stunned. Garvin, the notorious school bully, had never been challenged so publicly.
The onlookers were shocked, their mouths agape. They whispered amongst themselves:
"Did he just push Garvin?"
"No one stands up to him!"
Caleb's bold move left everyone stunned.
Caleb stood firm, unwavering. "I won't let you bully Eva or anyone else," he declared, his voice clear and strong.
The crowd held its collective breath, sensing trouble.
Caleb's eyes locked onto Garvin, his stance unyielding.
We turned to face Garvin, expecting his usual explosive anger. But instead, he was quiet, his expression bewildered.
His eyes locked onto Caleb, filled with a mix of surprise and shock. Garvin's face, once red with rage, now seemed pale.
For a moment, he stood frozen, unable to speak. His lips parted, but no words emerged.
Caleb took another step forward, his gaze unwavering. Garvin's eyes remained fixed on him, as if he knew Caleb from somewhere. Caleb is a new transfer student, and I think he is officially starting class today.
Garvin's silence was surprising. His reputation as the school's top bully was built on intimidation and fury. But now, he seemed uncertain.
Garvin's friends exchanged worried glances. "Garvin, what's wrong?" one asked, shaking him.
"Garvin, why are you so quiet? Is something wrong?" the other asked, eyeing Caleb suspiciously. "Did you see a ghost?"
But Garvin ignored them, his gaze fixed on Caleb.
Caleb and Garvin locked eyes, their intense glances sparking an unspoken understanding. I sensed a deeper connection.
Did they know each other from somewhere? I wondered.
Without a word, Caleb reached for my hand and led me away. Garvin remained frozen.
The crowd parted, whispers following us. Caleb's grip on my hand was firm, protective.
As we walked away, I glanced back. Garvin's eyes were still fixed on Caleb, his expression a mix of shock, confusion, and something else—but what?
Caleb didn't look back, his focus on guiding me through the dispersing crowd. I couldn't shake the feeling that something significant had just transpired.
We walked in silence for a while. Finally, I turned to Caleb.
"Hey," I said.
"Hey," he replied.
"You look surprised," he noted.
"Yes, I am," I admitted. "What you did back there…standing up to Garvin like that."
Caleb chuckled, feigning ignorance. "What are you talking about?"
I raised an eyebrow. "You know exactly what I'm talking about. You stood up to Garvin, the school's number one bully. That takes nerve."
Caleb's laughter deepened, his eyes crinkling at the corners.
"Garvin's not as scary as everyone makes him out to be," he said, shrugging.
I studied Caleb's expression, searching for hidden meanings. "You're not afraid of him, are you?"
Caleb's grin faltered for a moment, and I glimpsed something beneath—a hint of complexity.
"No," he said finally, his smile returning. "I'm not afraid of him."
"You're just saying that because you don't know Garvin," I said, eyeing Caleb skeptically. "You're a newcomer here. You don't understand how he operates."
Caleb laughed, his expression unwavering. "Yeah, I'm a newcomer, but don't worry about Garvin. He won't bother me. I'm not like the others he usually bullies."
His confidence puzzled me.
"Wait, do you know Garvin from somewhere?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.
Caleb's smile hinted at secrets untold. "Let's just say I'm not surprised by his behavior. I've seen people behave worse," he said, his voice low.
I pressed for answers. "What do you mean? Have you met Garvin before?"
Caleb's gaze drifted, his eyes clouding. For a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of something—recognition, perhaps, or unease.
"Who doesn't know Garvin Slade or the Slade family?" he said, shaking his head. "They're incredibly influential. You see them on TV, radio, newspapers—they're everywhere."
"And powerful," Caleb added, his tone measured.
"Big, and dangerous," he emphasized. "People fear the Slade family."
Caleb's eyes narrowed. "You're right. Garvin's father is a force to be reckoned with."
I nodded, recalling what Garvin's father had done to me.
"I hadn't connected Garvin to the Slade family until I started school," I admitted. "But now it makes sense—he had the power to revoke my scholarship."
Caleb's expression turned thoughtful. "Garvin's father's reach is vast. He has the power to revoke scholarships, influence college admissions…even silence media outlets."
My eyes widened. "You're saying Garvin's father could ruin lives with a single phone call?"
Caleb nodded grimly. "That's exactly what I'm saying."
As I pondered my scholarship, gratitude swelled within me. I wanted to thank Caleb for his timely intervention, but before I could speak, he unintentionally cut me off.
"Okay, Eva, I'll leave you here," Caleb said, his eyes already scanning the distance. "I need to head to the principal's office to finalize my enrollment."
With that, he turned to leave. I watched, my unspoken thanks lingering on my lips.
As we parted ways, I couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder. Who was this newcomer who had single-handedly defused Garvin's aggression?
Caleb's confident stride carried him away, leaving me to process the unexpected turn of events.
I stood there, frozen, my eyes following his retreating figure. A mix of relief, gratitude, and curiosity swirled within me.
After Caleb disappeared from view, I turned around, taking deep breaths to calm my racing thoughts. Reality set back in.
Whether I liked it or not, I had to face the day ahead—and Garvin.
The memory of Caleb's bold stance lingered, but I knew Garvin's wrath wouldn't dissipate easily.
With a sense of trepidation, I headed toward my first class, bracing myself for potential confrontations.
As I walked, the hallways seemed to close in around me. The whispers and curious glances from classmates didn't help.
"Did you see what happened with Garvin and the new guy?" someone whispered.
I quickened my pace, eager to escape the gossip mill.
What would Garvin do to me next?