When Heroes Fall

Chapter 6

The bus lurched to a stop in front of the two-story school building. The brick was old, but not in a fashion that made the school look prestigious, rather the cracked orangish brick only served to make the building look dilapidated. The '80's design did not help make the building look any better. Still, a stream of students mingled around the entrance of the building, enjoying the fresh air before spending the day in humid and dim classrooms.

Matt threw his backpack over his shoulder, trudging off the bus. His back still hurt from the fight two nights ago against Chaos and her rogues. He pushed back against his grimace, nodding to the bus driver as he stepped onto the sidewalk. Avoiding the jagged cracks and pushing through the crowd, Matt walked to the front door. The halls inside were just as crowded as outside. Matt navigated his way through, making his way to his rusted, gray locker.

Matt stopped short, spotting Andres leaning against his locker with a small group of friends. Mouth going dry, Matt's gaze flickered between where his locker was and where Andres stood. Class would start in less than ten minutes, but it wouldn't take long to grab his book and head to first period. Matt turned from his locker and strolled over to Andres, hands in his pockets.

"Hey," Matt said, slipping into the small circle. Andres looked up at him and beamed, his smile making Matt's heart quake. Next to Andres stood a girl at least a foot shorter than him with jet black hair pulled into a tight ponytail. On the other side was Ross, with butterfly clips in their cropped hair, holding their textbook to their chest.

Andres nodded at him. "Hey, Matt. How's it going?"

The girl, who Matt recognized from the class under him but could not recall her name, crossed her arms. "Is this that parkour video boy you're always talking about?"

Red flushed Matt's cheeks. "You, uh, you've watched my videos?"

Andres chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, a few, you're—um, the videos, they're cool."

Ross and the girl exchanged glances, both rolling their eyes. Matt turned his head away, coughing into his hand in a lame attempt to hide the vicious blush flushing his face.

"Nice, nice," Matt mumbled, still studying the floor.

"Okay, I'm over this," the black-haired girl shifted her backpack on her shoulder. Matt looked up. Meeting the girl's cold stare, he considered her bored expression. Under her soft make-up, Matt noticed a faint purpling around the flat bridge of her nose. A bruise.

"Lien, be cool--" Andres started,

"What happened to your face?" Matt asked suddenly, staring at the girl, Lien. Lien blinked, startled.

"Excuse me?"

Matt nodded in her direction. "Your face. You have a bruise on your nose?"

Everyone turned their focus on Lien, varying levels of concern painting their features. Ross leaned in, tilting their head to the side as they pushed into Matt's personal space. Andres furrowed his brow, a small frown pulling on his mouth.

"He's right," Ross bit their lower lip, "Lien, who did this?"

Lien backed up, spine stiffening. She shot a scowl at Matt. "I'm fine."

Before anyone could say anything else, the school intercom crackled to life. Everyone in the hall seemed to freeze, listening the staticky announcement, "Everyone, please proceed to the auditorium immediately. Please proceed to the auditorium immediately."

"Guess we should head to the aud," Ross muttered, readjusting the books in their arms.

Lien, obviously glad to be done with their questions, swiveled on her heel. "Come on," she said, twirling her hand in the air, beckoning them to follow. Ross pushed through the space between Matt and Andres, trailing after the shorter girl before she could be lost to the sea of students that now surged toward the auditorium. Andres nodded in their direction.