"Matthew, you shouldn't fight them," Lenox called out, his voice cutting through the tension. "I'm fine, just don't do anything reckless, okay?"
Matthew didn't even look back. He wasn't avoiding them because he was scared. He just didn't see the point. If this were before, sure, maybe. But now? There was no benefit in it.
Inwardly, he muttered to himself, "Why is it always like this? I get into trouble because of this idiot. Every single time. Lenox causes something, and I get dragged in."
He took another step forward. However, the guy with the tattoo wasn't having it.
He tightened his hand on Matthew's shoulder. Then, without warning, he shoved Matthew back.
Matthew took the step easily, his shoes sliding slightly on the polished floor. He glanced down, then up.
Then the punch came.
Straight toward his face.
He didn't even think. He just moved.
The fist felt slow, too slow. It was almost strange. The guy's whole arm telegraphed the movement from a mile away. The way his shoulder tensed, the way his hip shifted. It was obvious.
Matthew tilted his head to the side. The punch was missed by several inches.
The guy's body went forward with the swing. Matthew blinked and stepped aside. "You're slow," he said under his breath.
He didn't even realize he said it until the guy turned around, confused. The blond one stepped forward, about to join in.
Matthew's mind immediately clicked.
"Why is this happening?" he mumbled. He pointed at Lenox without looking back. "If you want someone to mess with, then go for him. He's the one you've been following around all year. Not me. Isn't he the Young master of the Lindberg Family?"
The three guys froze.
So, Matthew kept going.
"He's right there. Can't you see him?" His voice dropped a bit as he mumbled the rest, mostly to himself. "Since you want to punch him, then just do it."
Adam took a step back, blinking.
"Matthew, what are you doing?" Lenox hissed, his eyes wide.
Matthew turned around and waved a hand vaguely toward Lenox. "You want to impress him? Beat him up. Take his lunch money. I don't care. Leave me out of it. I am just a poor buy that his father picked up somewhere!"
Lenox stepped forward, raising his hand like he was going to stop someone again. "Guys, come on. Just stop—"
But how could Matthew let Lenox speak? Matthew spun toward him. "Don't 'guys' them. You knew this would happen. You always know." He paused, frowning. "This happened last year, too. And the year before. You say one thing, they do another. Then I'm the one in detention."
The tattoo guy looked between them. "What's he talking about?"
The blond guy shrugged. "No clue."
Matthew turned back toward them, still annoyed. "Just go deal with your own problems." He gestured toward Lenox again. "He's standing right there. Go punch him."
No one moved, and Matthew took this as an opportunity to step around them this time. However, they were not done with Matthew. "Hey, coward! Where do you think you're going?" the blond guy said.
Matthew sighed, then turned on his heel and walked back—straight behind Lenox. He didn't hesitate. He slipped behind him like he belonged there.
"Lenox, look," Matthew said, pointing dramatically. "They're trying to bully me."
Lenox blinked. He looked like he was about to say something, but no words came out. His eyes shifted from Matthew to the three guys down the hall, then back again.
"I'm being bullied!" Matthew said louder this time, stepping closer to Lenox like he was using him as a shield.
The three guys paused. Even Adam looked confused.
"What…?" the tattoo guy mumbled.
Matthew pointed again. "Look at them. All three of them. Ganging up on one person. That's bullying, right? Someone call the student council!"
"Are you serious right now?" the blond one muttered.
"You!" Matthew pointed at the blond guy. "Lenox told me you have the IQ of a garden hose. You couldn't finish a sentence if it didn't have pictures! Is that why you wanted him dead?"
"What?" The blond guy stepped forward.
Matthew sidestepped slightly and pressed a hand to Lenox's shoulder. "You stand right there. You're doing great."
Lenox's mouth opened, but nothing came out. He was simply too speechless to speak.
However, Matthew wasn't done. He pointed at the guy with the tattoo. "And you. Lenox told me you wear makeup to hide a tattoo you're clearly not cool enough to have. What does that say? 'Loyalty'? To who, your mom?"
"No, I didn't!" Lenox tried to turn, but for some unknown reason, Matthew's grip on his arms was preventing him from moving. How did this guy become so strong?
The tattoo guy clenched his fists.
Then Matthew pointed at Adam. "And shortie over there? You're what? Five foot nothing? Still, using your fingers to count change? Couldn't pass math if the answers were written on the desk. Lenox laughed at you last time!"
Adam's face turned red. "I'm five-eight!"
"Five foot my ass!"
The three of them stepped forward.
"Hey—hey—woah!" Matthew grabbed Lenox by both shoulders and pulled him in front. "Lenox, protect me! I'm being attacked!" Matthew's voice was so loud as the blond guy lunged.
His punch flew straight at Matthew, only to connect squarely with Lenox's arm.
Lenox stumbled back with a sharp exhale.
Matthew ducked behind him again. "Lenox, you're doing amazing. Don't let them through."
"You're using me as a shield?" Lenox finally snapped.
"Obviously," Matthew said. "That guy throws punches like a forklift. Do you think I'm gonna stand in front of that?"
"Get out of the way!" The tattoo guy shouted.
"Not until you apologize!" Matthew called from behind Lenox's back. "Say sorry for trying to bully an innocent, emotionally scarred young man who's just trying to go to class!"
Lenox looked ready to explode. The three bullies looked like they were about to charge, but because Lenox was in front of them, they were having a hard time hitting Matthew.
Still, Matthew just stayed behind Lenox, holding him in place like a human wall. "You're taller. You've got reach. Take one for the team."
Lenox glared at him. "What are you doing, Matthew? Let me go!"
Matthew nodded. "Don't worry. I believe in you."
The blond guy threw another punch.
This one swung a little higher, clipped Lenox's shoulder, and made him stumble sideways. Matthew let go of his arm just in time to avoid getting pulled with him.
"Stop hitting him!" Matthew shouted, ducking behind Lenox again as the tattooed guy stepped in, fists up like he knew how to box—though clearly, he didn't.
Another fist flew. It missed Matthew entirely and slammed into Lenox's side with a solid thud.
Lenox winced. "What the hell?!"
He tried to yank himself away from Matthew's grip, but it didn't work.
Matthew's hands didn't budge. His grip was firm—too strong. For some reason, Lenox couldn't shake free.
It was like Matthew had turned into steel, dragging him wherever he wanted. Lenox stumbled again as Matthew shifted him to the side, directly into the path of the next punch.
"Let me go!" Lenox hissed, twisting his arm, but Matthew moved behind him again and used both hands to push him forward slightly—just enough to catch another glancing hit.
"You're my shield! My hero!" Matthew snapped. "You're tall and already involved. It's basic logic!"
"I can't even move!" Lenox shouted. "Why are you so strong all of a sudden?!"
"Adrenaline," Matthew said. "And trauma. You should try it."
The blond guy lunged again, this time more aggressively. Matthew dodged behind Lenox once more and yanked him sideways, Lenox's arm flailed as he caught yet another strike in the ribs.
"This is not how this is supposed to go!" Lenox yelled, struggling again. But Matthew wouldn't let go.
"Stop moving. You're messing up the defense pattern."
"I'm not your meat shield!"
"You are now."
The tattoo guy took another swing. It grazed Lenox's sleeve and nearly tore it.
Matthew whispered, "Perfect timing," then pushed Lenox forward like he was placing a chess piece.
Lenox stumbled again, face contorted in disbelief. "You're literally using me to catch their punches!"
"Because you're doing such a good job!"
The blond guy and tattoo guy were now red-faced and panting, while Adam looked like he was about to explode from anger.
"Just let us get him!" the Blond guy shouted.
Matthew raised his hand. "See?! He admits it! He wants to hurt me! Someone! Please help us!"
Then, like fate decided to help out, a voice screamed from the far end of the hallway.
"HEY! SOMEONE'S BEATING UP LENOOOXX!"
A loud gasp followed.
"What?! Is that Lenox on the floor?"
"Why are they ganging up on him?!"
Footsteps immediately echoed. A girl dropped her phone. Another fumbled to start recording. One guy tripped trying to get a better look. The hallway, which had been quiet seconds ago, turned into a full-blown mess.
The blond guy backed up immediately, hands raised like he'd been caught stealing snacks from the teacher's lounge. The hallway was at the far end of the school, with hardly any classes nearby, so he couldn't help but wonder how all these people had shown up so fast.
Meanwhile, the tattoo guy stood stiff, blinking fast, like someone had dumped cold water on him.
Unlike them, Adam looked like really angry. His arms dangled at his sides as he glared at Matthew. Seeing this, Matthew gave him a rather gentle smile before he turned towards Lenox.
Lenox lay on the floor, dazed, his legs tangled awkwardly. "You... you dragged me into every punch."
Matthew adjusted his collar, gave his blazer a firm tug, and dusted his hands like he just cleaned up something gross.
"Don't be dramatic. You helped," Matthew said. This man wanted to be a hero so why not let him? "You are a hero!"
Then he stepped forward and turned toward the group of students now gathering, all wide-eyed and talking at the same time.
"These three," he pointed at them with confidence. "They decided to beat up Lenox because he refused to give them answers during the last exam."
A collective gasp spread through the crowd.
"He WHAT?!"
"They beat up Lenox?!"
"Why would they do that? That's insane!"
"I thought Adam was his friend?"
Matthew continued, unfazed. "Someone call a teacher. Get help. We need to bring Lenox to the clinic. He's clearly in shock."
Lenox looked up at him, eyes narrowing in disbelief. "I'm not—" he began, but Matthew suddenly grabbed the arm that had taken a hit earlier. Lenox winced and shot him a glare.
With an innocent expression, Matthew gently held the arm and said, "Aiyo…you shouldn't be fighting three people at once. Come on, let's get you to the clinic."