What Should I do? | Shawn Hunter

i. Bloody Knuckles and Water Fights

OKAY HERE'S THE thing Kardern Osborn didn't count on happening: Getting lunchtime detention as the rest of his grade discuss tactics for the water war over sandwiches, wrapped neatly in foil by their parents. It wasn't exactly his fault -- okay maybe it was -- but then Nick O'Malley shouldn't have said anything about his mother when he was just trying to read in peace, because the next thing he knew he was in the boy's bathroom with a smashed mirror and a teacher looming over him giving him detention 

"I think you have learned your lesson, Mr Osborn, you should be careful to not destroy things next time," Mr Feeny tells him, knocking on his desk a few times in order to gain his attention and on the third time Karden finally looked up from his book 

"Yes, Mr Feeny?"

A sigh passed through the teacher's lips "You may go, Mr Osborn"

"Thanks Mr Feeny" Kardern tells him 

"I don't expect to see you in detention again Mr Osborn"

The words I won't die on his lips, he didn't want detention, that was the last thing he wanted he wasn't the trouble-making type like Shawn Hunter as trouble seemed to follow the boy like a shadow, he didn't like trouble he tried to stay away from it but sometimes trouble just came knocking at his door, filling him with a such an anger, all he can remember is physically shaking before stomping into the mirror and pulling back only to find his knuckles gushing with blood

Kardern held his book in his hand as he walked towards the cafeteria with Mr Feeny behind him as he saw Cory Matthews leaning against the wall soaked in water and Kardern smirked knowing that most people in his grade had probably turned their water guns on him, he was only sorry that he had missed it.

"Mr Matthews the drinking fountain is not a toy" Mr Feeny scolds the young boy and Cory smiles nervously while Kardern has to stop himself from laughing as he opens his book once again, ready to delve into another world because after all, he would rather live in the worlds that he would read about sometimes 

"You coming to the water war?"

Without looking up from the book, Kardern nodded his head and expected that to be the end of the conversation but the person decided to sit down and only then did Kardern decide to look up from his book to meet the eyes of Shawn Hunter 

"So what were you doing for lunch?"

"Got detention"

"What? Golden boy Osborn got detention?"

"Shut up Hunter, you act like you haven't had detention before"

"Ooh, Osborn has bite" Shawn smirked, but Kardern paid him no mind, knowing that if he just ignored him it would most likely go away after a while, he treated Shawn how he treated his problems over the years was, but the boy didn't go away -- not until he had the last word  "I like it, I'll see you later"

* * * * *

When school was over, Kardern returned home as there was still a few hours before the water war started meaning that he could use the time to do his homework and finish the book he was reading, after all, it was a really good book

The house was empty like always and a sigh left his lips as he threw his backpack on the sofa and went to the dining table to start on his homework, it wasn't much considering they were only eleven but it still took him a few hours considering he often struggled with schoolwork 

Finally, when Kardern had finished his work, it had been a few hours and he realised that he was already ten minutes late for the water war and he quickly picked up his small water gun and dashed out of the house making sure he locked the door behind before going to the local park where they were holding the event 

On his way there Kardern passed by Cory Matthews house and saw some people in his grade talking to him in the back garden. At least if he went over and asked them what they talking about, he would have an excuse as to why he was late to the water war, not that many people would ask him anyway 

"War brings out the beast in Minkus," Shawn tells Cory, hugging the boy close to his chest and Kardern nearly snorts at what Minkus was wearing. It looked like he was trying to stop traffic, it was definitely an eyesore 

"You kids and your water war" Cory laughed, although to Kardern it was obvious that he much rather be playing with the rest of the grade, than doing what looked like painting a fence, but he didn't comment, he knew what the value of hard work was and maybe if Cory painted the fence, he'd actually learn a thing or two "I'd love to join you, but I'm having way too much fun here"

"You're bailing on water war? To paint a fence"

"You say paint a fence, I say party"

Karden clearly saw that the eleven-year-old curly-haired boy was busy and his dad had always told him not to disturb anyone while they were busy so he took it as his cue to leave but he thought he would at least announce himself first before he took his leave, after all, manners were important, at least that was Kardern had learnt about in all the books that he had read "Well have fun with your party"

Cory looked over at the boy surprised, "Kardern when did you get here?"

"And now I'm going" 

"Hey, Kardern wait up!"

Not wanting to say anything Kardern gestured for the boy to continue, but Shawn didn't say or do anything and after a few minutes Kardern figured he wasn't going to say anything at all and so turned on his heel to leave but was pulled back by Shawn which finally made him speak "What?"

"Save me a go?"

All Kardern did was nod.