The Meaning

7.1: Everyday Hero

Winter has passed, we're deep into Spring. It's 13th of April. The party is tomorrow. Cain still haven't figured out neither that vision he saw at the crossing, and neither why he saw that alley in his dreams. But by now, he forgot about it. He had 2 meetings with Richter since the last one with Diana. He sees things positively. He's a lot happier, he's friendlier. People can truly see what he's like. He was down, not near the bottom, but way down in the gutter. Now he's heading up. He's ready to talk to Bailey, but she's not back yet.  He often wonders how she'll react.

He just had a class with Kelly, so they come out of the classroom, they see a bunch of people in a circle yelling at something. 
Kelly: What's going on?
Cain: I don't know... let's check it out. 
They start walking there, as they get closer, they can see Ryan, the main jock in the school beating someone up. The person who's getting beaten up is Mickey. 
Cain: Oh no... I should help him.
Kelly: That Ryan guy is twice as big as you.
(She's right, my chances are really slim. But that's Mickey, what kind of a friend would I be? I'll just get beaten up though.)
Cain: I have to help him. 
Kelly: Cain!
Kelly tries grabbing him, but it's to late, he makes his way through the crowd and steps in.
Cain: Hey Ryan! Enough alright? 
Ryan: It's not enough, this little weasel exists to be beaten up. 
(Jesus, this guy really is dumb)
Cain: Why is that? Because your bigger and that's the natural order?
Ryan looks at Cain. Cain looks down at Mickey, he's roughed up quite badly.
Ryan: Do you want to get hurt too, huh? 
(Okay, words won't help here. If I try fighting him straight on, I'll definitely lose. I have to make him even angrier, so he attacks out of pure emotion. This might backfire.)
Cain: Okay, so you're projecting your mummy or daddy issues on me now?
The crowd goes quiet and they start whispering among each other. Some people can be heard saying: "Did he really just insult Ryan, is he an idiot?"
Ryan's expression turns angry.
(He shoots, he scores. Here we go.)
He screams and attempts a wild right hook on Cain, but Cain is able to dodge it. Ryan immediately follows up with another punch which almost hits Cain but he doesn't notice his right hand heading towards his head and it hits Cain in the face. He stumbles back, his nose is bleeding. He pretends he's really hurt by that, Ryan walks up laughing.
Ryan: Is that it, you little bitch?
(Okay, headbutt then you punch him in the pit of his stomach, then get a run up and push him into the lockers, if you're lucky that'll be enough.)
Ryan grabs Cain by his collar, Cain looks up and heatbutts Ryan. Both of them stumble back. 
Cain is the first to recover, so he lands a straight punch into his stomach, Ryan is completely stunned by that. Cain gets a run up and charges into Ryan and pushes him into the metal lockers. It makes a huge bang. Cain steps back to assess the situation and gets ready just in case Ryan's able to recover from that. But Ryan is gasping for breath, looks up at Cain, then collapses while groaning heavily.
(Holy shit, I'm still alive.) 
Cain catches is breath, and the crowd start clapping and cheering. He looks up and sees Bailey standing in the crowd, they look at each other, Bailey smiles then walks away. Cain starts shouting.
Cain: STOP DOING THAT! THIS IS NOT A FUCKING BOXING MATCH! YOU ALL SHOULD'VE STEPPED IN TO STOP THIS!
Everyone's looking at each other with guilt. Cain sits down next to Mickey. Kelly rushes in and crouches down next to them. 
Kelly: Cain, are you alright? You're bleeding.
Cain: I'm fine, it's only my nose. Check Mickey. 
Mickey's face is covered in all kinds of colours. His nose is broken, he's holding ribs, they might be broken. His lips are bleeding. 
As Kelly's checking Mickey for more injuries, she starts lecturing Cain.
Kelly: You shouldn't have done that. You are lucky that you are smarter than that jerk right there.
Cain: I am lucky, yeah. If I hadn't stepped in now, he might have injured him even more. But yeah... that one punch almost took me out. 
Kelly: What if he retalliates? Huh..? What if you won't get lucky next time?
Cain: Then I won't get lucky. That's the future. He might not try to get revenge.
Kelly shakes her head.
Kelly: I think I have some tissues. 
Starts searching her pockets and hands Cain one, then starts cleaning the blood off Mickey's face. Cain wipes his nose and starts squeezing the bridge of his nose to stop the bleeding.

The crowd has dispersed by now, someone notified a teacher about the incident. Mr. Robertson is heading towards them.
Robertson: What on earth has happened here? 
Cain: Ryan roughed up Mickey and I stepped into help Mickey. 
Robertson looks at Kelly. 
Robertson: And you, young lady?
Kelly: I'm just treating the wounded.
Robertson: All three of you will come with me to the principal's office. 
Cain: Sir, I think Mickey has a few broken ribs, and Ryan has some bruised ribs, so I think I'm the only one who's in good enough condition to talk to the principal. 
Robertson looks at Ryan and Mickey.
Robertson: Alright. 
Ms. Claire also arrives at the scene. 
Claire: *sighs* I'll get the nurse.
Cain stands up and follows Mr. Robertson. They go in to the office.
Mr. Robertson: There has been a fight between students, Cain right here is the only one in good enough condition to come here.
Clark: Well, it seems you are here for a disciplinary reason now. 
Cain scoffs. 
Clark: Alright, thank you Mr. Robertson, you can leave.
Robertson nods and leaves.
Clark: Sit down, Cain and tell me what happened.
Cain sits down, the bleeding has stopped, so he stops squeezing his nose.
Cain: Ryan Bellair and his friends have been bullying Mickey McClaney for quite some time. I don't know why but Ryan beat up Mickey. When I got there Mickey was already in a bad shape and on the ground, Ryan kicked him a few times. So I decided to step in, I felt like I had to prevent Ryan from beating Mickey up even more.
Clark: I take it you succeeded. 
Cain: Because I'm still in one piece, sir? 
Clark: Exactly. Any serious injuries?
Cain: I think Mickey's nose and ribs are broken, Ryan's ribs are bruised. 
Clark: You're lucky, you know. 
Cain: Yeah... Can't you do something against them, sir? It feels like they're free to do whatever.
Clark: Not much I can do. Telling them off never works, suspending them is useless 90 percent of the time. Their parents won't do anything if I notify them about this.
Cain: *sighs* I presume Ryan and me will get the same punishment.
Clark: No, even though you technically injured him, you did it to protect someone. So you'll get a softer punishment.
Cain is surprised by that. 
Clark: You'll get 2 weeks worth of detentions and he'll be suspended for a month.
Cain: Thank you, sir!
Clark: It's only fair. Maybe you taught him some humility, who knows. You are free to go. 
Cain stands says goodbye then leaves. Kelly is sitting outside the office waiting for Cain. She stands up and they start walking.
Kelly: So, what's the verdict? 
Cain: 2 weeks of detention for me, and Ryan's suspended for a month.
Kelly: I thought you were going to get the same as him.
Cain: Me too... How is Mickey?
Kelly: He's been taken to a hospital along with Ryan. How's your nose?
Cain: Hurts, but it stopped bleeding, I don't think it's broken.
Kelly: I was really worried.
Cain: I had to help him. 
Kelly: Well, now that you became an everyday hero, you should be more careful in the future.
Cain nods.

They reach the dorms. 
Kelly: You're gonna be alright then?
Cain: Yeah.
Kelly: Then I'm gonna go and study.
Cain: You do that.
Kelly hugs Cain and she goes to her room. Cain's slowly walking, he's a bit disoriented, that punch was hard. Paul approaches him.
Paul: Hey Cain! I heard what happened. Are you good?
Cain: Yeah I'll be fine. I got off easy both with the fight and the punishment.
Paul: I didn't think anyone had the guts to fight Ryan. I especially didn't think anyone can could beat him. 
Cain: He's not the sharpest knife in the drawer. 
Paul: Well I wanted to say thanks.
Cain: For... what exactly?
Paul: Well, I heard you bruised his ribs. I had bruised ribs in the past and I can tell you they hurt like hell. So that means he won't come to the party. 
Cain: Well... you're welcome I guess. But if you don't want him there, why invite him in the first place?
Paul: We kind of have to. If we don't, he'll just throw a tantrum, beat some people up then get in anyway somehow. 
Cain: I see. Well I'm glad I could help. 
Paul: Maybe you could beat up his group while you're at it. *laughs*
Cain: Yeah. 
Paul: As a reward, we are going to expand your plus-one privileges to plus-however-many-you-want. Just message me their names.
Cain: Okay, thanks Paul!
Paul: *winks* Don't mention it. Well I'll see ya tomorrow.
Cain: For sure. Bye. 
Cain smiles then continues his way to his room. Then he suddenly remembers that Bailey is back, so he thinks to himself, why not talk to her now? He goes up to her door and knocks. She opens the door.
Bailey: Hey Cain...
Cain: Hey Bailey. 
Bailey: What you did was quite heroic. 
Cain: Yeah I guess it was. 
Bailey: Are you going to that party tomorrow? 
Cain: Yeah.
Bailey: I would like to go, but yeah.. I wasn't really here at the school.
Cain: Well... I just got the memo that I can invite anyone, because I beat up Ryan. So... If you want to come I can sort it out.
Bailey: That's nice of you,  thanks!
Cain: No problem! Do you think we could talk? 
Bailey: Nah... I'm really tired. 
Cain: Oh.. okay.
Bailey: But tomorrow at the party we could... talk. *blushes*
Cain: Yeah, sure thing. Then I'll let you rest. See you tomorrow.
Bailey: See ya.
She closes the door, Cain sits down in his room and lets out a huge sigh. 
(This was one hell of a day. Monica could use some fun too. I'll ask her if she wants to come, she's doesn't live too far from the place where the party is going to be held.)
She writes her a message, explains everything about the party. She's a bit reluctant at first, but she says yes. 
Cain lays down and falls asleep.