Chapter 4: The New Kid

I was released from the hospital shortly after, well I say shortly but it was about three weeks. My name is Jessica May Roberts, and I am a survivor of sexual assault. Though, I wouldn't be able to say that if not for my hero? The mysterious man who saved me that night. I still don't know who he is or where he came from, but I have the world to thank him for.

Arthur, that bum, said he was looking for me all over that night and when he found out that I was in the hospital he was scared shitless. However, I am grateful to have a friend like Arthur, he actually ditched school for three weeks to take care of me in the hospital. Honestly, I don't know what I would do without him. I hated hospital food, like I know it's healthy and all but like it was nasty as fuck. He brought actual good food, like burgers and chocolate. He also brought over all of my homework. He really took "care" of me. I could've lived without the homework though. That's the awesome little brother that he is.

I rejoined that best friend of mine at school. "Hey Arthur."

"Hey Jess."

I forgot to mention, but Arthur got really beat up these past three weeks. Not serious injuries but I noticed the small bruises and cuts on him every time he came to visit me. He told me it was his new construction job, but that sounds like a complete and utter lie. Total bullshit. But, if he doesn't want to share it right now, he must have a good reason not to, and I'm okay with that for now. "How's the cripple," Arthur teased.

"First, I'm not crippled. SECOND, you want to be one?"

"Bitch please, I go all WATCHAA! On yo ass." It was always nice talking to Arthur. He never questioned or asked about what gave me hardships in the past. It was as if he wanted to avoid it. He always made me laugh. Honestly, if there was a girl who crushed on him, I would totally help her out. He was straight boyfriend material just not husband material.

It was a new week, a new time. What happened three weeks ago was a thing of the past. At least that's what I thought.

********

"Alrighty class, y'all know I'm old school so I'm going to introduce our new student," Mr. Johnson, the philosophy professor, blandly spoke, "Mr. Dickinson, would you please stand and introduce yourself."

"Alright," a voice called out from the back, but to me I swore I heard this voice before. The man stood up. I turned around to check my suspicions. Sure enough, it was the detective from the other day. His last name was Dickinson? "My name is Kane Vin Dickinson and I hail from North Dakota."

Kane Vin Dickinson? Who the fuck? That's not his name. Unless what he told me was fake. Why would a detective lie to a victim? I glanced towards Arthur, which ultimately proved useless because he was already knocked out. Detective Zachary, or Kane, continued on with his introduction. It was all the same shit people usually say, I come from here my name is blah and I like blah blah blah, the same boring stuff. After that class resumed. I shot a glance towards "Kane" and noticed he was staring down not me, but...Arthur?

"Kane" approached after class acting all cheery. He said he wanted to be friends, being the new kid and all. Arthur, being Arthur, could've cared less. He just nodded his head and said, "Uh-huh, cool." Arthur stopped for a bit and said he'll catch up but had to make a run to the bathroom. I took advantage of that time. I pulled "Kane" aside and began my interrogation. "So do detectives lie as much as you do? Mr Dickinson," I snarled at "Kane."

"We do," Detective Zachary dropped his act, "when we're doing this thing called undercover. You heard of it yeah?" He rolled his eyes at me.

"Why the hell are you doing undercover work here?"

"It doesn't concern you."

"It sure as hell does! I see the way you've been eyeing Arthur."

"Listen Ms. Roberts, I just told you I'm here for official purposes only," he grabbed me by the collar and whispered, "if you insist on interfering I will arrest you for obstruction."

Arthur returned from the bathroom and noticed us, "Already flirting eh?" He teased.

"We're not," I replied painstakingly. Zachary, still eyeing Arthur decided now was the time to move in on him. "So Arthur, you free after class?"

"Pretty much."

"Cool, cool," Zachary nodded. "Wanna go boxing with me?"

"Boxing?"

"Yeah, like PLOW PLOW BOOM." Zachary threw his hands up in the air and began punching it.

"I don't fight," Arthur replied.

"I'll teach you. Be there and be square."

"Be where?"

"The gym of course. Where else is there a boxing ring my guy."

"I'm not your 'guy' we just met."

"I have a feeling we'll get along very well."

I could not believe what I was hearing. Was the detective really challenging Arthur right now? Arthur couldn't hurt a fly. I told Arthur he didn't have to but all he said was, "I guess, I mean according to you I need friends."

"Yeah but that's not what I meant!"

"What it'll be fine, he seems like a genuinely fine guy." He shrugged his shoulders. "I'll see you at the gym later 'kay Jess?"

"Okay," I agree reluctantly. Arthur can't fight, like at all. He never had the ability to. He was only fit because he's also a gym freak.

Later at the gym, there wasn't a crowd which was good. I didn't want the whole school to see Arthur get his ass handed to him. Arthur and Zachary stood in the ring wrapping their hands. "So Arthur? You box much?"

"I don't fight."

"Wow really?! A big guy like you?"

"I'm big because I workout. Speaking of big, you're pretty shredded yourself," Arthur joked. I didn't understand. Arthur looked comfortable in the ring, almost too comfortable. They walked up to the center of the ring. "First to three?" Zachary suggested with a smile on his face.

"Uh okay," Arthur responded shrugging his shoulders.

I couldn't believe my eyes. They touched gloves and Arthur backed away almost immediately. He and I could tell, Zachary was no mere amateur. He seemed like he was a different person. It was as if a soul possessed his body. His eyes were dead set on Arthur, and he emitted so much killing intent. Yet that wasn't as surprising as compared to what I saw at the other side of the ring. It was Arthur. He wasn't a fighter right? Why did he look so calm? Why wasn't his eyes afraid? He was almost like, like Zachary but deadlier. He scared me.

Zachary lunged at Arthur. His fist flew straight from his thighs to Arthur's face. It was incredible. His straight jab was faster than the eye could perceive, but Arthur dodged it by a hair. Amazing, it was simply amazing. Arthur was quick, maybe he wasn't a good fighter, but holy hell his reactions were quick. He kept dodging every jab Zachary threw. Left….right...left, right, left, all of Zachary's jab were missing. "Arthur you sure you don't fight man," Zachary smiled, "You're dodging everything!"

"Nah, I've always had quick reactions," Arthur responded.

"Alrighty then," Zachary backed off and assumed a different stance. It wasn't your standard boxing or streetfighting stance. His stance, it was if, he was master in the art of fighting. "Let's kick it up a notch!" He didn't lunge but dashed this time. He was too quick for Arthur. A kidney blow, followed by two straights. Arthur was just getting beat. He was the punching bag to Zachary's fists. I couldn't watch. Arthur wasn't fighting back. I almost yelled at them to stop, but Arthur's eyes. They weren't dead. Arthur dodged Zachary's next blow. His body cranked to the right, a powerful blow. He tightened all his muscles and flung all of his power at Zachary. It was the perfect moment. Zachary couldn't stop his momentum. He was going to eat this strike from Arthur. At least he was, Arthur stopped right before his fist rested upon Zachary's cheek. He smiled and said, "Hehehe, almost." Then, he collapsed. Zachary, frozen, dropped one single sweat. "I knew it," he smiled happily, "he's one hell of a guy."

"ARTHUR!!!" I screamed, and ran towards him. I cradled my friend. "How could a detective be so cruel?" I antagonized Zachary.

"Don't worry," Zachary calmed me, "Arthur is completely fine, just a little tired." He walked towards us, "Here, I'll carry him." Though I didn't want to believe his words, he seemed correct. Arthur wasn't badly wounded or anything. If anything, he was fatigued because he put his body through a new kind of stress. There wasn't any blood or serious bruises. Zachary picked up Arthur, and was smiling once again. "Arthur, heh, I think we'll be best friends."

I rolled my eyes. "If this is how you say hello, you're a jerk." Zachary laughed and joked in response. "Hi my real name is Zachariah Barone, call me Zachary, nice to meet yah."

"I'm Jessica May Roberts, and this is Arthur."