As a ghost in the night

Maybe I should've taken a bus

"Hey, faggot, where the fuck do you think you're going?"
laughter echoed behind him.
"Yeah, gayboy, you going to suck a teachers dick? Maybe your dads dick?" And that's all it took. I turn to face Zack and his posse.
"Look, just because you're trying to score here doesn't actually make me gay. Ask all you want, but you're going to have to look elsewhere for a cute piece of ass, cause I'm not interested, fuckstick." I go to walk past, but he steps in my way.
"You're going to regret that, fagola."
I resist the urges to laugh and punch this idiot at the same time.
"Did... Did you actually just say the word 'fagola'? Haven't heard that since the sixties. Like, really? And what is it I'm supposed I regret? Being poorly insulted by a group of bullies who aren't even scary? Nice try, but I've got bigger, more threatening things to worry about; like my math final. Now if you're still looking for that B.J; don't bother. Your heads so far up your ass you may as well just get off on that." I turn around and start going the long way to home room when I hear a guttural shout and running footsteps. Is this little shit going to try and fight me? I turn to face him, and I smile.
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I wake in a cold sweat, the dream quickly fading to a tenebrous series of images and emotions. Moving quickly, I get ready for school, deciding to skateboard today. I leave the house, headphones in, food in hand. As I ride, I study for upcoming midterms. Because of this, I don't notice them until I hear I hear a voice, clearly afraid, say "fuck off, man. I've watched you do some pretty shitty things, but I thought you were an ok guy regardless. Fuck you."
I stop my board, stowing my books in my bag, and the scene before me is one I've seen before. A group of boys, well known to be bullies, have a kid backed against a dead end alleyway. I haven't been noticed yet, so I decide to intervene. I chose well, because the biggest in the group is on the verge of going far overboard and beating the piss out if whoever they had pinned.
"Well, gentlemen, I must say I'm... Disappointed." They all whip around, expecting an adult. Their faces shift in excellent syncopation from surprise, fear, and finally, a smug mixture of amusement and relief. In this last expression I can see they've all dismissed me as no threat; perfect, they let their guard down. A grin, carefully designed to be gleeful, casual, and slightly psychotic plays across my face as I continue.
"a group of guys like you, all the size of trucks, so under confident you all gang up on a kid who maybe far smarter, but is undeniably less prepared for a fight? And I'm going to guess he did nothing malicious to you. It's a shame, really."
I stick my hands into my pockets and approach them slowly, continuing the strategically executed intervention, "I rather hoped the lot of you might pose even a slight threat, but I'm clearly mistaken. I'd be lucky if even one of you has ever bullied anyone who ever properly fought back. And thus, I am disappointed."
I stop several feet from them, seeing that while uncomfortable and slightly shaken, a a whole they still assume I'm bluffing. The obvious leader, unshaken and unconcerned at the small boy in pastels in front of him, smiling and full of talk, takes a step forward.
"I don't know who the fuck you think you are, but this ain't your business. So fuck off before I make you." He begins to turn away, assuming he had ended it. Idiot.
"Sounds fair; I leave, or you try and make me. So what's your plan?"
"Look punk, I'll make it clear; get the fuck out now, and I'll let you keep your teeth."
"You know, i'd say the same to you, but you'll get your teeth. I'll mail them one by one after I take them from you. Have I made myself clear?"
I see his weight shift to his right side radically, the classic sign of a poor fighter trying to end it in a hit, and I decide to end it fast; school starts soon, though now I'll probably skip. Realistically, there's five against me, all strong. That leaves at least a 20% chance of one of them landing a hit, and school sucks with a black eye.
I watch casually as he cocks his whole right side back for a haymaker, and he punches. It's strong, but slow, and goes beyond predictable; it's painfully obvious. I don't even bother throwing him or having fun with it; I step in and behind him, turning as I go. Once I'm behind him, I keep turning, placing my lead leg under his back leg, and I use the motion to bring my fist down hard on his neck. The hit turns him, and pushes him to stand on his back leg, which my leg is keeping him from doing. Short and sweet, he collapses. The turn leaves facing everyone else as I planned, the first boy at the back of my feet, trying to stand.
"Anyone else think beating up on that kid is worth fighting for?" I ask, hoping none of them would bother. One kid rushes forward, but it's obvious he's checking on the kid behind me, so I let him pass. There are three kids left, and two put their hands up and leave, but the other still looks conflicted. I walk right up to him, and when he still doesn't throw a punch, it's obvious he won't unless I do. So I push past him and go to the scared kid, my usual personality showing again, not my "I'll fuck you up, stay away from me" fighting face. "What's your name?" I ask, knowing he's unhurt.
"Nick. And you're Chase, right? We're in the same lit. Class. But... Why?" I'm about to say something, but i realize the retreating footsteps behind me had stopped, right outside the alley. I turn, and I see a shape arc through the air at me. Remembering nick is behind me, I bat it to the side, pain glimmering across my hand. "The cowards are throwing rocks," I think, and it's the last thing that goes through my mind before I hear a crack, seemingly from deep within my head, an the world goes dark.