Chapter 23: A scary team

Ryan admits that he is not the most ideal group mate to have. He is neither the most intelligent nor the most physically built person to carry the team. Although he admits he is quite fat(in his mom's words he's only chubby not fat) and unattractive in areas where people tend to judge others, he stands to his ground that he is not really the most useless person whenever there is a group activity.

His friends were quickly pulled over by the already full groups, so it's already impossible to join them. He is thin faced that he won't be insisting on something that others really don't want. No matter how ordinary he is in the eyes of this class his bone is also filled with pride. If they don't want him, then he also doesn't want them! Simple as that.

After some deliberate thinking, he deemed if he won't make it in a group he wants, it's also fine to find company with his fellow classmates in misery.

That thinking was shattered when he saw the group he ended up with. He cursed his luck once again. How can he forget that most of the class will avoid this trio and those who didn't have a group will automatically be part of theirs? His insecurities will be hit again and again just being around them.

It was their Science Class. Their second subject after lunch. And like math, their teacher is not around. The students used this chance to prepare for their specialized class. And that is how Ryan goes to know who his team is.

He is helpless with the situation. Now all he can hope is that he'll end up with some self-esteem after this activity. Staying with people like them is sure to hurt him more than just his fragile self confidence. They don't know the pain of a hard worker with average talent. Discriminating it sounds, but to him it sounded well to him.

Now seated like an awkward fool together with Sophie Megans, a fellow leftover classmate in the midst of the notorious trio of the class. A brunette with a pair of hazel eyes. Like him she shares the same reason why he ended up with the impregnable trio.

Leila Dynes, Khelly Phines and Harvey Jones. Bullies in many subjects and the most hard to socialized people of the class. There seems to be nothing they are not good at, even their faces are more attractive than Ryan would like to admit.

The nervousness is real and natural in the face of those aforementioned descriptions. Not to mention the three have some sort of tactic understanding with each other that the two newcomers don't have. Imagine the pressure they have to bear just in their presence.

With what seems like eternity, finally someone had broken the ice. It was the blond haired and blue eyed girl, Khelly.

"HI!" The girl said excitedly. Her eyes are beaming with spirit and happiness. "Probably we don't need to introduce each other, but for formalities. I'm Khelly Phines, you can call me Khelly."

The girl offered her hand to both Ryan and Sophie. With some hesitation, they took her out and reached hand.

"She's warm" The two thought. Feeling quite welcome in her presence.

The two warmed up with Khelly fairly fast. And have a very favourable impression with the girl. Though it wasn't the same with the other two who kept their silence.

In Ryan's opinion Harvey was always scary. He after all fought with their class president on the first day. Not to mention he had the hobby of pitting their teacher if they somehow didn't satisfy his questions. He really is very intimidating.

Plus the Ryan haven't seen him without a frown in his brows, making his well proportioned face look terrible and unpleasant to look at. It just made the green eyed boy more a person not to be trifled with.

Leila on the other hand is very mysterious. She didn't have much presence, but she seems to be everywhere Harvey and Khelly are. She's also very intellectual and polite, but somehow out of place to him. Like she should not be there at all.

That said things went smoothly somehow. They got to know each other had an understanding of what they can do for the group. And Ryan knew that he is sure not to fail with how high spec his teammates are. Sophie pretty much agrees with him at this point.

Things went to stalemate though when it comes to selecting a leader. Ryan is sure as this average status in the class that he is not cut to be a leader. Neither did Sophie, she really doesn't have the confidence to face and shoulder the problems that the group may face. She remarked that she'll be down with a stomach ache from anxiety alone.

Khelly was pretty much fired up with the prospect of her being a leader. She went on and tried to convince Leila to agree with her, but to her disappointment the black haired girl turned to Harvey instead.

"Oh hell no!" Harvey said with horror in his face. "You are not throwing me on the line of fire this time around!"

With that statement, the two bystanders got an understanding that this kind of thing is usual with these three. They got to know that maybe the one they should be scared of is not the outwardly scary one, but the silent one instead? Talk about appearance being deceiving.

"I still haven't said anything yet." Leila said with hurt written over her face.

"You haven't, but you practically had the same face as you framed me to Ms. Holley back then!" The green eyed boy was a little shaken over his own words. As if he is remembering something he should not be revisiting. He then pointed his fingers to the blond haired girl as he said. " And I don't want this role at all. Let this annoyance take it than me."

From the little tidbits, Ryan concluded that they should have been once classmates. Although they didn't graduate from the same elementary school, they are close enough to fool around with each other.

If Harvey could read minds, he will retort harshly that they were not close at all. Due to circumstances, he believes he's better off without them. Being with them is indeed relaxing, but the stress they bring is just as tremulous.

The blond was enraged at being pointed out and returned the favour with even more fire. It was a surprise to see the smiling and warm girl transform into such in the very eyes of the newcomers.

Ryan and Sophie knew the two always have some sort of argument at a given notice. But they haven't actually heard the contents of these arguments of theirs. They often keep their voice down that only those involved get to hear it all.

The pair went on tattling with each other, fiercer than the last.

Leila coughed to gain their attention. It was light and not very loud, but it stopped the argument. Making a new addition to the group amazed her control over the fierce tigers.

"Leila!" Khelly cried pitifully. Eyes little teary and sad, almost as if a while ago it wasn't spurting fire. "Why him? I can make things better than him."

"Yeah why me?" Harvey said dejected. It was almost as if he cannot escape whatever decision the black haired girl had made. It's almost as if he is with his father where he is not allowed to make any decision for himself.

Leila comforted the distressed blond and said to the green eyed boy. "Well you are more tame than I remembered you used to be. It can't go on like that for long."

Ryan saw Harvey flinched over those words. It made him curious about what they were talking about. But the only thing he can be sure of, Harvey was much more scarier sometime before they became classmates.

"I know." Short answer of the boy. His face was dark, not at all liking what he was hearing. With challenge in his voice he said. "What can you do about it? I can't be the me of yesterday."

Khelly was a little consoled from Leila's comfort and behaved herself at the side. She became like Ryan and Sophie are in the conversation. A bystander that has no idea of what is happening, except the blond chose to act ignorant for the green eyed boy.

Staring straight into the eyes of the green eyes of Harvey, Leila said with conviction.

"Indeed you can't be the you of yesterday. But you can be more than the you of the past. Why must you ruin yourself in this manner you deserve more."

"If I don't push you to this role, are you going to waste your days like this? That's not the boy who used to make an enemy of me. That's not the Harvey who once ruled the class back in the days."

"Now are you still going to hide and lick your wounds or take this opportunity to strengthen yourself? This is just a step, start building yourself again. Where you stop me from slapping you with how you should be."

Harvey was silent after all those. A few moments later, the boy sighed a deep breath. Seemingly the boy was spirited and gave up all resistance.

"You always hit where it hurts the most. What else can I have in defense?" The boy said as he regained his bearing. "I can't have people lose their faith in me can I? I'll do it. Just don't force me and do things that exceed my bottom line. You can do that can't you?"

Ryan had the impression that something is changing with the boy, it's not instantaneous rather it's very subtle. Like a small ember of light in the vast darkness, if you're not close enough you can't see it.

"You need not to say. I promised before so I'm putting in my effort. Even if you won't want it, I'll make it happen. Many things in life need a little push and I'm providing that opportunity. " Leila said as she then cast her eyes over Ryan and Sophie's form.

"How about others' opinions? Not everyone understands every good intention that you give them. Most likely they would not hear you out. There are plenty of people like that in the world after all. " Harvey said as he comprehended something that Ryan just couldn't understand.

"I'll be doing my best to convince them to have it my way. If they still don't, I'll do it sly while making things beneficial for me. They will have no say on this matter."

Ryan and Sophie were frightened with the words uttered. Leila might have noticed it and smilingly said.

"Of course you'll have some opinions over it, I'll listen and weigh it to the overall situation. No one will make you conform with my stand. But I'll present my case well that you will have no objections. I condone coercion and I'm not very fond of using them unless necessary." Leila said with assurance. But her words only bring fear to the others.

Ryan and Sophie are sure that the real source of fear is not the no.1 intimidating guy in their eyes. Rather it's the one who has control over such a personality. This makes them muted and nod their heads like chickens plucking over their feed, afraid of offending the person in question.

After a few words and arrangements, they are set for their Summoning Class.