The Candles

3

The next week was tense between Logan and Ava but their act as siblings in school seemed to convince everyone. Logan hadn't been able to have a full conversation with Riley yet, but he would soon because that Thursday afternoon, Logan and Aileen as a couple were made official.

It didn't go unnoticed amongst the boys, who soon swarmed the new boy with warnings.

"Careful," said the school's douchebag. "She may be a good kisser, but her dad is weird. The whole town stays away from the Harris family. Soon, Aileen will be blaming you about stuff you didn't do. Your sister better step away from her."

Logan had ignored him. During lunch, as he hung out alone in the courtyard during lunch break (Aileen and Ava were in a hallway catching up with some homework), Riley and his heavy friends marched towards him. Riley grabbed his collar and shoved him into the school's facade. Logan's breath was knocked out of him.

"You better not hurt my sister's feeling," he hissed. "Trust me, you don't want to have my guys taking care of you." Logan glanced back at his group of friends, who flexed their muscles threateningly. Riley let go of him and walked away, flicking his leather jacket's collar up.

Logan left for his house that afternoon. Aileen and Ava had decided to go shopping in a local clothes store so he was left to walk home alone.

As he was walking down a silent sidewalk lined by small low houses, he heard sounds of struggling somewhere ahead. Logan paused, listening carefully. And then he was running as fast as his legs could carry him. He knew it was someone getting mugged. Or maybe it was the kidnappers.

Two thieves were beating up a teen still dressed in his school uniform in a house's driveway. "Hey!" shouted Logan, recognizing the kid. "Get away from him!"

One of the thieves turned to him and pulled out a knife. Logan stopped dead in his steps, but if it had been a gun, it would've been worse. Logan lunged as the thief swiped the knife down towards his belly. Logan stepped aside, grabbed his wrist and twisted his thumb until he let go of the knife in a cry of pain.

Logan expertly kneed him in the belly and let a powerful punch fly down on his temple. The thief stumbled, in pain. Logan lunged for the other thief, who gave one last kick in the kid's stomach before turning to Logan.

This one had some martial arts training. He let a roundhouse kick fly at Logan's head, who quickly ducked and flew forward while the thief was balanced on one leg. Logan knocked him down and put him in a shoulder lock. He let out a shout of pain and Logan let go before but not before letting his fist fly towards his nose. There was sickly crunch as the cartilage cracked. Blood spewed down his front and he looked dizzy for a second.

Logan felt something move behind him and he rolled aside. A rusty metal pipe crashed into the second thief's head, knocking him out cold. The first thief looked stunned as he looking in astonishment at his partner in crime. Both of them wore balaclavas to hide their faces but it was obvious they were in pain. The thief hurried away, leaving his partner behind in the haste.

Logan glanced at the lonely thief before rushing over to the kid.

"You ok?" he asked Riley. He held his stomach, but he didn't seem to have anything broken. Logan reached for the knife and slipped it into his pocket. It would help for police investigation. He helped Riley to his feet. Color had drained from his face and his right eye was swelling.

Riley nodded to the thief. "Get this guy out my driveway," he spat. Logan nodded and dragged the man out of the driveway. He help Riley into his house.

"Is anyone home?" he asked as he made him sit in a chair. Riley grunted in pain.

"My dad must be sleeping in his room," he said. Logan made an impressively good job at hiding his excitement. He was lucky.