Chip Off The Old Block

Chapter 3 - The Plan

Over the next several weeks, Leonard took great pains to make sure that he was not seen by Bailey Sims. Conversely, Leonard saw everything that Bailey did. His behavior with the two defenseless freshmen was par for his course. Like any predator, he liked to prey upon the weak and frightened. Like the smaller and more nefarious predators, he preferred to hunt with his pack. Leonard never learned the other pack members' names-not that it mattered, as they were virtually indistinguishable from one another in behavior and dress.

Leonard observed something interesting about Bailey when he was around his pack. Bailey had no trouble putting his arm around his buddies' shoulders or playfully grabbing them in a headlock. On occasion, he'd meet the gaze of one of his pals and linger there for a minute, saying nothing. Perhaps he was just listening to his buddy rambling. But Leonard felt it could be something else. Especially due to the way Bailey angrily slapped away any hands that dared to make physical contact with him, even by accident, when the boys were out in public. Despite his open aggression, Bailey felt an affection for his pack he was unwilling-or unable-to express in mixed company.

Something else soon became apparent to Leonard. A new pattern. At regular intervals, Bailey and his boys appeared wearing identical clothing. The quartet was dressed in tans and olive drabs; military attire. Bailey led the group in a commando sweater and camo pants. The foursome clomped through the halls in army boots, clearing a path wherever they went, looking more like a strike force than a cluster of classmates. Bailey wore decorative dogtags proudly around his neck. The engravings on his tags reading "STRAIGHT AND NARROW" and "REAL MEN ONLY".

That night, there was a gay bashing outside the Dimensions gay night club. Not surprisingly, all of Bailey's pack could provide alibis for each other.

The following weekend, it was the same thing. The boys appeared at school in military attire, that night there was a gay bashing. But there was never any proof of who did it, or evidence left behind. The attacks were fast, sudden, and brutal. The victims were all hospitalized, but no fatalities. Yet.

Every Monday found the pack exchanging high-fives and gruffly shouted "Yeah!"s as they marched in their civvies down the corridors. Anyone wondering what inspired their celebratory behavior was met with icy stares and a "What're YOU looking at, faggot?"

Leonard decided it was time to put a stop to this. It was no longer simply a matter of personal revenge. It was a question of safeguarding the community. Leonard wasn't gay, but he certainly had nothing against those who were. Taking down the pack leader would in all likelihood dissolve the pack. And to do so, Leonard decided he was not going to hurt Bailey. He was going to help him.