Rule of the Fist

Chapter 12

Thrum, thrum, thrum.

For the first time in two weeks, Riley pushed off the ground of her driveway and rode her skateboard down the road. It was a relief to finally be ungrounded. And she didn't have to go to the guidance counselor either, although it would probably still take some time to earn Mr. Raymond's trust again.

Seaver hadn't been caught. Surprisingly, he'd been lucky enough to get back home before his babysitter woke up. They were idiots not to think of what would happen if he hadn't.

But Seaver still appreciated Riley covering for him. And he'd told her so.

"Hi, Riley!"

Chris, her neighbor, waved at her as he took off down the street. His bike had one of those stupid things on it that made it sound like a motorcycle was roaring every time he pedaled. Riley waved back as she continued her ride into town.

Eventually, she reached the park. Beyond it was a bridge where a creek bubbled underneath. Lots of kids from her school hung out here, and she saw a few as she skateboarded along the pathways. 

When she reached the bridge, though, her heart sank into her stomach. Jacob and several of his friends were gathered there. Jacob was sitting on one of the bridge's railings, which was against the park rules, Riley noted.

Jacob turned to Riley as soon as he saw her, glaring at her with those blue eyes as if he could look at her and know everything she was thinking. It was creepy. Riley stopped at the bridge’s edge and kicked up her skateboard, holding it with one hand. Jacob and his friends weren't exactly blocking her. The bridge was wide, but it was clear that she wouldn't be able to pass. Riley looked for Seaver among Jacob's friends, but he wasn't there.

"Hey, Robinson." Jacob's tone was neutral. 

"Hey." Riley's heart fluttered in her throat now. "What do you want?"

"Since you're already wearing a helmet," Jacob began, jumping off the railing and standing in front of her. "Maybe you wanna have that fight now?"

Several people laughed. Riley blushed as she fingered the chin straps on her helmet, which Mark and Judy made her wear. "Nah, I'm good."

"See, I told you, she's scared." Jacob smirked. "That must've been why she ran to mommy and daddy."

Riley blinked. "Wait, what?"

"Mrs. Green called my mom and told her that I kicked your ass that one time. I mean really? You told her what happened even though it was like, four months ago?"

Riley couldn't believe Judy had told Jacob's parents. After Mark had told Judy, she'd asked her not to. Why didn't she at least tell Riley she was going to call Jacob's parents? 

Riley tried to pretend that this news didn't bother her. "Obviously, your parents didn't care that much. I don't want to fight you. Please move."

Jacob just stepped closer and shoved her, making her fall back over her skateboard. "You said you would fight. Are you backing out now?"

Riley's hip hurt from the hall, where it had fallen against her board, but she picking it up. "I'm not backing out."

Jacob held his fists out. "Then fight."

Riley's legs wobbled. She started to lift her hands, then stepped. She remembered what Mike had told her. It wouldn't be a bad thing to back out, not this time. And she wasn't going to let Jacob make her think otherwise.

"No! Okay? I don't want to fight you."

Jacob seemed surprised by the sudden outburst. Emmy, who Riley realized was among Jacob's friends, stepped past Jacob and to Riley's side.

"Leave her alone, Jacob. She said no."

Now it was Riley's turn to be surprised. It was the first time ever, actually, that Emmy was sticking up for her in front of Jacob. Even back when they were friends. A warm feeling spread through her. 

"Thanks," she whispered to her friend. Emmy nodded. 

"Come on, let's get out of here." She picked up Riley's skateboard and the two of them walked off the bridge and away from Jacob's friends.

As soon as they were out of earshot, Riley let out a sigh of relief. "I can't believe you did that! Isn't he going to be mad at you?"

Emmy looked at her sadly. "He's not going to want to be my friend anymore, and that's okay.  I'm sorry, Riley. I never should have been his friend. You were right. He's not a good person. I thought he was, but he's not."

Riley was still not sure yet if she was ready to forgive her friend. "You wouldn't listen to me when I told you about him."

"Listen, Riley. You've been my best friend since I don't even remember. We had a fight. Sometimes, friends fight."

"It wasn't really a fight," Riley muttered. "You just sort of told me you weren't going to be my friend anymore."

She looked miserable. "When I left your house, I knew I'd done a stupid thing. It's not the same hanging out with Jacob's friends as it is with you. Sometimes they say mean things, even to me. They act like they're joking but it doesn't always feel like it."

Riley looked at her skateboard in Emmy's arm, thinking about what she had just done. It must have taken some courage to stand up to Jacob and his friends, like Riley had. And by doing it, she had basically chosen Riley over them.

"I've missed you," Emmy admitted. "I don't know why I said that stuff. I shouldn't have been his friend if it meant not hanging out with you. That was stupid."

Riley's eyes stung with tears. "I miss you too." Emmy held Riley's skateboard out as a peace offering.

"Friends again?"

Riley laughed out loud as she accepted her board. "Yeah, sure. Friends."

When Riley got home, she slammed the front door and dropped her skateboard on the ground. "Judy!" she yelled. "Where are you?"

Nate came in from the living room. He had headphones on and his Xbox controller in one hand. "What the heck are you yelling about? I could hear you over-"

"Where's Judy?" Riley interrupted.

Judy walked into the room. "I'm right here. What's wrong?"

 "How come you called Jacob's parents? And you didn't even tell me?"

As soon as she heard this, Judy looked down. "I'm sorry, Riley. I felt like someone needed to know. I couldn't just let this go. I'm sorry I didn't tell you." Then she looked up suspiciously. "How'd you find out?"

Nate took off his headphones and was looking at them both with interest.

"I heard it from Jacob," Riley said.

Judy's eyes widened and she rushed over to her daughter. "What happened? What did he say? Did he hurt you?"

Riley shook her head and took a step back. "No. He wanted to fight me, but I said no. Emmy made him leave me alone."

 "Emmy? I thought you guys weren't talking." Nate frowned. 

"We weren't, but we made up after she helped me."

"So you decided not to fight Jacob?" Judy said. 

 Riley nodded and Judy hugged her. "Good for you, honey. I'm proud of you."

Riley couldn't help smiling as she hugged back. Over Judy's shoulder, Nate gave her an approving nod. "Do you think I made the right choice?" Riley asked.

Judy studied her. "If you think you made the right choice, then you did. But for the record, I think you did. And just for that, I'm making lasagna tonight. Wanna help?"

Lasagna was Riley's favorite food. It was also her favorite thing to make. Judy walked away, looking back once over her shoulder.

"Sure!"

"Then come on. Oh, and put that skatebaord in the garage, where it belongs."

Riley rolled her eyes and smiled at Nate as she picked up her board.