“-ng master… Young master?” Craig’s voice called out as he knocked on Alex’s door.

At the same time the alarm went off. Alex’s hand hit the button sluggishly, “I’m up.” His voice was a bit hoarse but he managed to get it out.

“I’m sorry but this is the third time I have tried to wake you and it’s nearly nine.”

Alex jumped out of bed tripping on the covers and falling in a heap. “Damn! Thanks Craig. I don’t have time for breakfast so ask Mary to make me some toast.”

“Of course young master,” Craig said and left.

Alex rushed to put on his uniform. He tripped again and slammed into the desk knocking over the lamp which crashed in pieces on the floor. “Ugh, seriously.”

He was careful of the broken shards as he finished dressing and went to find the maid. He didn’t find her even after searching a few minutes so he headed to the kitchen. Mary handed him his toast and he rushed out the garage door. He was pushing up the kickstand when he dropped the toast face down on the ground.

“Maybe it’s just one of those days,” Alex sighed.

Zeltis laughed but didn’t say anything.

Alex was careful as he went to school, he didn’t want to get in another accident. It was a relief when he got to school safely. He had already missed first period so he made his way to his second period class. He peered through the glass window in the door.

“Damn, it’s a test!” Alex sheepishly pulled open the door. Everyone, watched him as he made his way to the open desk, grabbing a test sheet from the teacher as he went.

When the bell rang and he handed it in he was sure he bombed it. He hadn’t studied and wasn’t able to finish cause he was late. Alex groaned and made his way to lunch. He wasn’t paying attention as he got his lunch and made his way outside.

Someone pushed him hard and he slammed forward into the ground right onto his lunch tray. A heavy pressure hit his lower back as he tried to get up.

“Ah, don’t get up, maybe all that food will be good for your skin. You are a girly boy after all,” Hugh said with a laugh as he grabbed Alex by the hair and pulled his head back. “We’ve been busy lately and haven’t had much time to play with you. You better show up behind the school today. If not we will look for your little girlfriend instead,” He said in Alex’s ear. Hugh pushed Alex’s head back down into his food before leaving.

“You're stronger now why did you let him do that to you?” Zeltis said exasperated.

“I may be stronger but he still took me by surprise from behind. I could also seriously hurt him.”

“Don’t worry. If you're careful you should be able to defend yourself without them getting any grave injuries, though they deserve it.”

Alex got up and wiped off his face but his clothes were a mess as well as his food. He went back in, getting some strange looks. He bought a sandwich after throwing away the other food and ate it before going to the bathroom. He managed to get most of the mess out but was a little damp as he made his way to the next class. He hadn’t seen a sign of Summer. He had wanted to talk to her about last night but at least Hugh and the others couldn’t hurt her if she wasn’t there.

He was a little embarrassed in his next class but it had dried up before school was over. Now he just had to worry about Reginald’s gang.

“Usually I would avoid them, but if they go after Summer... N-not that she is my girlfriend or anything,” Alex blushed and stammered as he remembered Hugh saying that. He waved his hands in frantic embarrassment as he walked toward the back door of the school.

“Yeah it’s about time you stood up to them anyway. When people act like that the only way they will stop is with a show of force.”

“Maybe, I don’t want to be on their level and trade violence for violence but I guess I don’t have a choice this time.”

“No you don’t. so I will help you this time since you don’t have a lot of experience. Do what I say and you’ll be fine.”

“You could take over…”

“If I did that you would never be able to grow. You need this as much as they do. You have to stop letting people walk all over you, your father included.”

“He’s scarier than Hugh and them.”

Zeltis simply laughed.

Reginald, Cole, and Hugh were all waiting for him behind the school.

“I’m surprised you showed up. Don’t you usually run and hide?” Cole taunted with a sneer.

“That girl must be important. Maybe I should take her,” Hugh said licking his lips. “You're not very manly after all.”

“Stay away from her!” Alex yelled.

“Wow so fierce. Don’t be so loud of someone might interrupt our fun. Let's continue this down the alley,” Reginald said and turned to walk down the nearby alley.

It was the usual place they hung out when they wanted to bully someone away from prying eyes. Most of the buildings along the ally either didn’t have windows or had large garages that blocked the view. On the other side was an old abandoned school. It was the perfect place to drag someone were they wouldn’t be seen or heard.

They led Alex into the school, stepping carefully over rotten floorboards and trash. It surprisingly didn't smell that bad only a bit stale and moldy. Still, the dist made Reginald sneeze and cole coughed a bit. They made their way to the run down gym which was one of the few rooms that had a decent floor but the roof had a hole in it.

“Let me go at him first. I’m still pissed how that girl likes him more than me,” Hugh said as the three surrounded Alex.

“Come on you had your turn. I want to go first this time. In club I’m not allowed to go all out, so I have a few moves I want to test on him,” Cole said as he cracked his knuckles with an evil grin.

“Cole’s right Hugh. You already had your chance to pummel him so he should go first,” Reginald said. He hopped up on the stage area sitting with his legs crossed and his chin propped in his hand. “I’ll just watch since I’m a bit tired today.”

Hugh stomped his foot slamming a fist into his other cupped hand and Cole gave a feral smile.

“J-just come at me at once,” Alex said at Zeltis’ prompt. “I am so not sure about this.”

All three’s eyes widened.

“Well did you hear that. It sounded like an invitation. I’ll take you up on it,” Hugh said and Cole looked annoyed but shrugged.

“Don’t get in my way, you're like a wall,” Cole said as he glanced at Hugh’s large frame.

“Come on guys he’s waiting for you, less talking and more hitting,” Reginald said with an annoyed tone.

“Ok, don’t think, just immediately do what I say when I tell you to,” Zeltis said.

The two moved in closer getting into fighting stances.

“Left arm high block, right leg side kick.”

Alex did it without thinking and Hugh grunted as the kick connected to his stomach and Hugh was pushed back. Cole’s eyes widened as Alex blocked his strike at the same time.

“What the hell?” Cole said. Reginald sat up straighter and frowned.

“Not as easy as you thought it would be, huh?” Alex said trying not to stutter.

“Dodge right scoop kick with your left foot.”

Cole had sent a punch his way but before he could react to the doge the scoop kick made him lose his balance and fall down.

Hugh got back up and charged toward Alex in a football tackle.

All Alex’s instincts screamed to dodge but Zeltis had said to get in a horse stance and receive the tackle. Before using a tai chi move to use Hugh’s inertia to make him slide to the side and onto the floor.

“How in the world?” Both Reginald and Cole said.

Cole got up, glaring at Alex. Cole moved in, throwing punches that Alex was able to dodge or block. Alex even threw a counter in and gave Cole a bloody nose.

Reginald jumped down and handed Cole a handkerchief. Hugh got back up and came forward again. This time he was standing with his feet planted firmly and fired an uppercut at Alex's chin.

He was able to dodge. Alex's body felt so light and fluid that he barely had to hear Zeltis’ instructions, before his body was moving. All three were now surrounding him trying to hit, kick, or punch.

Alex got hit by a kidney strike but was able to block or dodge most of the other blows. He felt he was getting faster and the moves were easier the longer he fought. The others were soon all sweating while he wasn’t and he wasn’t even breathing hard.

Alex smiled, it was kind of fun. It was different than watching as Zeltis battled. He could feel his heart pounding and the Adrenalin rush as he continued to throw out kicks and punches, or dodged and blocked their attacks. It was a heady rush.

Reginald was the first to collapse crying as he clasped his arm, “You broke my wrist you __ _ _ __! Get him.” He shuffled out of the way as the other two moved in looking a little nervous now.

Hugh was big but he was so slow that it was easier to dodge most of his attacks. Cole was much faster so a few of his hits went in but he didn’t have Hugh’s power. He wasn’t weak but Alex was stronger now and healed so fast that the hits didn’t hardly register.

Cole tried to distract Alex while Hugh attempted to get Alex in a sleeper hold. But Alex was able to slide out and made Hugh trip and fall onto Cole.

“Get off me you gorilla!” Cole yelled, and Hugh got off murmuring a brief apology.

“If I get a hold of you I’m going to squeeze the life out of you!” Hugh said his eyes blazing as he barrelled toward Alex.

Alex sidestepped and grabbed his arm turning it into a throw. It wasn’t easy to throw around so much weight, but Alex barely felt it. The other boy crashed into the ground cracking the old wood floor.

Cole groaned but rose and wiped the blood from his mouth were it had gotten injured in the scuffle. In a flurry he started throwing a bunch of kicks and punches faster than before.

It was hard at first to keep up, but Alex had started to get used to Coles’ speed, and was able to move even before Zeltis told him to. Cole grunted as more and more of Alex’s attacks were hitting him and wearing him down. Finally he got hit on the temple and was knocked unconscious.

Alex took a deep breath still a bit giddy from the excitement but Reginalds angry glare calmed him down.

“Don’t even say anything about helping us. Get the hell out,” Reginald growled out, and pulled out his phone with his uninjured hand, wincing when he moved.

Alex paused running his hand through his hair not sure if he should leave them like that.

“Leave already!” Reginald said again.

Alex sighed and left. “I might get in trouble for this.”

“He will probably feel too humiliated to say how this happened so you should be fine.”

“Do you really think so?”

“Yeah, I think so.”

Alex got back to his bike and rode home. It had been a long day.