An Exchange

Chapter Forty-Six - Fight

March 2005

Giles

Penny listening closely as I told her my latest news on the progress of my car. We sat together in the cafeteria, and she asked me questions about things she didn't understand. As I answered a question about installing the gear box, Ryan leaned between us and kissed her. I glanced away.

Seth scrunched his nose. Zoe blushed.

Marty groaned. “Ryan, dude, settle down.”

Penny pushed Ryan off. “Yes, Ryan. This isn't the time or place.”

He laughed and pulled a chair up between us, shoving me back. I scowled and turned to my food.

“Ryan, I was talking to Giles,” Penny said.

“Oh, I didn't realize.” He smirked at me. “Sorry.”

I rolled my eyes. “Whatever.”

Spencer sat on the other side of Penny. He pointed his finger at me and raise his eyebrow, warning me to back off.

But Penny leaned across to me. “Giles, keep going.”

I shook my head. "It's not important.”

She huffed and looked at Ryan. “Where's your food?”

“I ate in class.” He grinned.

She tilted her head, focusing on me. “Giles, come join us today.”

“He doesn't want to do that.” Spencer stood and glared down at me. “Do you, Giles?”

Penny looked up at him, “He might. What do you say, Giles?”

Ryan looked at me as well. He clenched his jaw, raising an eyebrow, while Spencer folded his arms, flexing his enormous biceps. Intimidation went a long way with me when it came to those two. If I agreed to join them, not only would they give me everything they had, but the rest of their friends would get stuck into me too.

I met Penny's gaze. “You know me. I can't play football.”

She frowned, slumping, and glanced at Ryan. He shrugged, standing and taking her hand.

She stood and left with him and Spencer.

I glanced across the table at Seth, who clenched his jaw, pushing his food around his plate. Once they couldn't hear, he said, “Giles, why did you let them push you around like that?”

I leaned forward, feeling rather chagrined by Ryan and Spencer. “What am I go to do? They were just itching to fight me and I wouldn't stand a chance.”

Marty leaned back, resting his arm around Maria's chair. “Don't let them bully you, man. I've never put up with any of their crap.”

I scoffed. “Yeah, but you've always been too popular for them to try and take on, not to mention, you've never liked the same girl as King Ryan.”

Zoe raised a finger to speak. “I think you should have gone. Penny practically begged you to go with her.”

Maria frowned at Zoe. “You can be so naive. They wouldn't have given him a chance out there.”

“They would never do anything in front of Penny―”

“Not anything obvious anyway.” Maria flipped her hair back, leaning toward Zoe. “Football is known to be rough. Plus, after everything Ryan has done for her, it's not like he's going to screw it up over picking on Giles in front of her.”

I glanced between Seth, Ray, and Marty as Zoe and Maria bickered again about who they thought Penny should be with. I hated when they did it right in front of me. It made me so uncomfortable, especially because Zoe was set on me being with Penny.