Form of Friendship

(3 months ago)

''Okay class, today we'll be doing one on one hand to hand combat, and I'll be testing your battle IQ.'' 

Miss Laurant walks down the line of pupils holding a clip board with a list of their names.

''Okay, so here are the rules. There's only going to be one round, the fight only ends when one is on the ground for more than ten seconds. That's pretty simple for you to understand, right?'' 

''Yes ma'am!''

''Let's start the match ups, Apollo and Conrad. Step to the circle.''

Apollo and Conrad both go to the circle. They both stand ready to fight one another and wait for Miss Laurant to blow the whistle. 

She blows the whistle which startles Conrad, Apollo takes advantage of that and swiftly attacks him and lands one punch in upper abdominal making Conrad drop to his knees. He holds his stomach desperately grasping for oxygen, he starts coughing extremely and starts puking. 

Some classmates whisper to one another and others start snickering at how their prince was put to his knees. Miss Laurant blows the whistle indicating the fight was over, Apollo goes to Conrad while still on his knees and offers to help him up. He helps him walk to where the other students are.

''Okay moving on... Next on the list is Amari and Nathan.''

Nathan and his friends start snickering and they all hype him up.

''Too easy man, it's just too easy man!''

Ms. Laurant blows her whistle and they both run to each other, Nathan takes the first swing to Amari's face, but he swiftly dodges and gives him two quick jabs in the ribs. Nathan gets damage but is still on his feet with his arm still in punching motion, Amari grabs his arm and pulls him closer so that he can deliver the final knockout punch.

When clashing with the punch Nathan spits blood and faints immediately. The students look at Amari in fear as he stands over an unconscious Nathan. 

''Is he even human?'' one of the kids utter.

''Now Amari, I know it's combat but you didn't have to punch his teeth out!''

Miss Laurant checks on Nathan and claps his cheek, he barely opens his eyes and still hasn't registered what happened to him. She picks him up and takes him to the nurses' office.

''You're pretty strong kid.''

Amari turns and sees Apollo standing there, he keeps quiet and goes back to where he was standing before. Apollo follows him and stands next to him.

''You should spar with me sometimes and see who's stronger.''

''Why does that matter to you?'' Conrad interrupts.

''I wasn't talking to you, so mind your business.''

''He is my business, so whatever you say to him you say to me.''

''Hey kid, are you willing to have a fight with me?''

''If we do have a fight... what happens if I win.''

''I don't know, we'll become friends.''

''You... want to be my friend?''

''Yeah... I'll be your friend if you lose too.''

''I won't lose.''

''You want to test that out now?''

''Amari, you don't have to this.'' Conrad grabs his shoulder in attempt to stop him.

''Don't worry I won't punch hard this time.''

''The teacher didn't approve of this; you might get reflection.''

''What's that?''

''You'll be held in school for longer and do more schoolwork in the library.''

''Okay then we'll make sure I finish before she gets back.''

''Hey! Are we doing or not?'' Apollo shouts

The students all get their attention to the two who are about to fight. Everyone debates on who could win between the two. 

''Okay... we can start now.''

The second Apollo finished his sentence Amari disappears and reappears in front punching his stomach. He flies out the circle and lands on the ground.

''Wow... he's really strong!'' A girl shouts.

''That was for Conrad.''

Apollo lays on the ground while coughing, Conrad runs to Amari.

''I thought you said you'd hold back!''

''I did.''

Ms. Laurant returns, and all the students get quiet. She sees Apollo on the ground and in pain.

''What happened here?''

''...''

''If you don't start speaking now, the whole class will go for reflection.''

''It was Amari!'' 

''Amari... is that true? you did this?''

''Yes.''

''Then I'm afraid I have to put you in reflection, no fighting is allowed on school grounds without the teacher's presence. You'll have to go to the library after school.''

''Wait!... I was... I was the one who told we should fight, so give me reflection not him.''

''Then I guess I'll give the both of you since both of you were part of it.''

''But ma'am, if it wasn't for him Amari wouldn't have fought, he forced him.'' Conrad argues.

''Doesn't matter, he still agreed. They're both getting reflection and that's final.''

''Ma'am-''

''I said that's final!''

''Yes ma'am.''

School finally finishes and Amari heads to the library with Conrad. 

''I'll see at the tree house?''

''Yeah, okay.''

Amari enters the library and Apollo is already the sitting there reading a book. He offers a seat next to him for Amari. There's no teacher present yet

''Do you have a book?''

''No.''

Apollo hands him on the books on the table. Amari opens it and starts reading it.

''This book looks complicated.''

''It's not, it's a perfect book for people our age.''

''But I don't understand some of these words.''

''Lemme see.''

He looks at the word Amari is pointing at.

''Everyone knows what that means.''

''Well... I don't.''

''Did you start reading yesterday or something?'' Apollo jokingly asks.

''Yes.'' Amari answers with a straight face

''What? You do know that I'm joking right?''

''I'm not.''

''You're weird, but I'll still help.''

They start reading together and Apollo helps him the pronunciations of certain words. Apollo is surprised at how fast Amari consumes new information and how he understands quickly.

''Hey... I heard from that prince guy that you held in our fight earlier, is that true?''

''Yeah, I tried to, but you ended up flying so that means I didn't.''

''That means I have to train harder then, because I'll do anything to defeat you one day. I'll even force you to use your whole strength.''

''Why would you want to fight me? Aren't you already my friend?'' 

''I am... but if I want to become stronger, I'd have to fight you, because you're the strongest person I've fought till now.''

''Hey... if want to fight with me then you should come with me to my treehouse.''

''Okay! We can go, after we're done here.''

A teacher walks in the room and goes straight to the teacher's desk. He put his file and coffee down and organizes the desk in comfort for him.

''Okay, are you the only two that are present?'' 

''Yes sir.''

''Okay, you guys can do whatever you want, just don't walk around or make noise.''

The two boys nod and keep reading their books.