...A couple months later
(don't worry, it doesn't really skip that far. More to come.)Cease strolled past the gymnasium as he went back to class from the men’s room. Sure it was out of the way, but he was in no hurry. He peered through one of the oblong windows and watched the class sparring for the self-defense unit. He spied Karen sparring with one of the other girls and she was doing a really good job controlling her attacks and blocks.
The whistle blew and there was a pause in the sparring as the rows rotated and new partners were matched up. Karen’s new opponent was one of the massive linemen from the football team. He towered over her by at least six inches and had to out weigh her by over one hundred pounds. The whistle blew again and Karen initiated the first attack. After completing her move she backed off slightly and raised her guard waiting for his return attack. To her surprise, the attack was more of an onslaught. She started having a hard time keeping her defense up and began retreating. He continued to advance on her. Cease looked to find the teacher. Her back was turned away from Karen and her opponent. Karen slammed into a wall and curled up into a ball covering her head with her arms. The boy kept pummeling on her arms.
Cease barged through the door and came at the boy. Grabbing hold of one arm, he yanked him around and laid one solid fist into his stomach. By this time the class and the teacher started taking notice. Cease threw the boy to the side and knelt down next to Karen.
“Karen? Karen, it’s ok now. He’s gone.” He put his hands on her arms and felt her trembling. “Come on Karen, it’s okay...”
Cease was abruptly pulled away from Karen and thinking it was the boy turned around ready to beat him to a pulp. He was startled to see two of the security guards standing there.
“Let’s go,” the one holding his arm said to him.
“I ain’t leaving till I know she’s okay.”
“I meant now.” The second guard grabbed hold of Cease’s other arm and pulled him towards the door.
“Karen!” he called to her. She looked up. He could see her face was streaked with tears and her eyes were filled with fear. Then he was pulled out of the door and towards the Dean’s office.
Cease sat in the Dean’s office while the Dean talked to the teacher and the boy who was sparring with Karen outside the closed door. He watched as the Dean put his hand on the boy’s shoulder and smiled. Then the boy walked away with the teacher, a smug look on his face.
“Well, Mr. Bryant,” the Dean started as he walked in and sat down behind his desk. “I have been wondering when you would be visiting me again. It’s been a while. Carl says that he and Karen were sparring and suddenly you attacked him. Is that true?”
“He didn’t mention that she was curled up against the wall, did he. Some one had to stop him before she got hurt. Teacher wasn’t paying attention. I couldn’t let her get hurt!”
“And when did you get into the protection business? I know your record; fighting, truancy, disrespecting the teachers and the students, even had a weapon found on you. You can see why I have trouble believing that you were only trying to help her. I didn’t even realize that you knew our Karen.”
“She’s been… she’s…” Cease didn’t know how to explain without admitting that he needed help which he had always refused to admit.
“I should suspend you not only for fighting but for lying to me as well.” His mouth curled into a smug grin.
“I’m not lying!” Cease insisted.
“He’s not lying, Dean Franklin.”
Both men turned to the door. Karen was standing there.
“I'm sorry to interrupt, sir, but the door was open, and he’s not lying.”
“Please, Karen, come in,” the Dean stood up and gestured for the other chair next to Cease. Karen sat in the offered chair. “Now please explain.”
“What’s there to explain,” Cease blurted! “She just said I wasn’t lying.”
“Young man, you better be quiet.”
“Come on! This is…”
“Cease, please.” Karen said putting a hand on his arm. “Mr. Franklin, can I talk to you alone for a minute.”
“Of course Karen. Mr. Bryant, wait outside my office. I’ll call you back in when I’m ready. Oh, and close the door.”
Cease stood up and looked at Karen. She smiled reassuringly at him and he closed the door behind him. He sat outside his office for about five minutes wondering what could be taking so long. He hoped that she didn’t tell him anything about their study sessions.
The door opened and Karen came out. “Cease, go on in, and don’t argue with him. I did the best I could.” Now she had a smug look on her face. Cease got up and went in.
“Don’t bother sitting down, this will only take a second. Karen explained the situation. I won’t be suspending you but I have to discipline you for fighting. Therefore, you will report to detention on Saturday morning at 7 a.m. for the next two weekends. If you don’t show up for detention, you will get that suspension. I have enough to deal with, with prom coming at the end of the month. I don’t need any more trouble from you. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yeah.”
“Your seventh period teacher had your things dropped off at the secretary’s desk. Now go on to your last class. Mrs. Harding will give you a pass.”
Cease walked out and grabbed his things and the pass from the secretary. He started walking down the hall towards class when Karen came up next to him.
“So how’d it go?” she asked.
“Like you don’t know. What exactly did you tell him?”
“Don’t get so defensive! I just told him what happened in my P.E. class today. What? You thought I’d tell him about our study sessions, didn’t you? Please!” she said with mock offense.
“I’m sorry Karen, really.” He put a hand on her arm and they stopped. “I just can’t imagine what you said to make him change his mind like that. What did you tell him?”
“That’s for me to know, and you to wonder.” She smiled at him then quickly walked into their classroom.
Cease shook his head and chuckled. That girl is one piece of work, that’s for sure, he thought.
To be continued...