Pannel & Hook

Chapter 4: The Lost Boys

In front of the school, there was a grass area near the entrance that I would usually lay down under enjoying the shade. Nate had told me to wait there until he came back for me in the car.

"Petey, are you even listening to me?". I wonder who it was as their voice came back into earshot.

"Oh yea, sorry, I hear you". My best friend, Belle, had been ranting to me about her shitty ex for about ten minutes now but me being me, thankfully, I can retain something I hear word for word even if I'm not actively listening.

"It's like she's so fine but so fucking STOOPID!". She had the habit like my brother of talking with their hands and tensing her fingers near each other in a strangling motion but I  laughed it off breaking the tension so she could smile a little.

"I know how you feel". I reply in an attempt to empathize. "How could you though? Like you've been shacked up with literally the nicest person in the school beside you and on top of that, she's built like a fricken hourglass! Pete, I can't specify how lucky you are that she's straight.".

I chuckle at her, breaking a smile, but return to my resting sad face. "I had another panic attack...". My eyes stared at the blue sky in hopes the site would bring me more comfort. "I know...you space out more after you do but it's...fuck me, not this again.".

My head turns to her in confusion but lifts myself slightly to see what she was looking at to see it was Damien, the most insufferable narcissist I've ever met, the Leader of the Salt gang, and his family is worse.

"Stay fuck away from Erika, you slut!". The stereotypical American footballer stood there, fist balled, clear voice booming directly at her but quiets down as he glanced down at me, taking in my presence.

"Look, I told her to make things up with you but instead she came onto me. Shit happened and it's not my fault.". She shouted back in protest with his body language getting more aggressive.

"I don't give a fuck what happened, She's Mine, No one touches what's mine.". He stepped closer to them with the eyes of daggers. "Dike".

"What the fuck did you call me?". As quickly as she rose to defend herself, she was returned to the grass by a crisp blow to the face, leaving a red mark.

I managed to catch her before she hit the ground completely, leaving my jacket where I had my head and staring him down.

The basic bitch of a jock was four inches taller than me but looked to be towering me given his more so skinny appearance and surprisingly great posture.

"Peter-fucking-Pan. I'm not scared of you or your wannabe gangsta of a brother and frankly I don't why anyone is even afraid of you, to be honest.".

Admittedly, I had two choices here. Stay quiet and walk away or sock him right in the throat and then these ribs but since I was in a relatively good mood, I'd decided to choose option C.

"I honestly don't either". I smile and laugh lightly. "It's Pannel but I think all of this may be a huge misunderstanding so let's just leave it at that and go our separate ways, how about that?".

He smirks to himself and comes close to whispering something. "Let's see how misunderstood she is after every man on the team gives her a little demonstration of how it feels when someone else touches what's not theirs".

"...Touch her and I'll kill you". My hands began to shake in anger till he grabbed my tight undershirt and took a shot to my jaw then released my collar and struck me with that same hand, bringing me to my knee.

"You 'Lost boys' were always a bunch of pussies". He stood over me with an immense feeling of false superiority, spitting on the ground in front of me and walking a few paces away to face me again.