Friend and Starting the journey

A/N this is chapter is a bit longer so just go with a flow.

"Hey, what are you doing?" A youth with spiky blond hair, brown eyes, a somewhat above-average face, and wearing gym clothes as if he was just returning from it questioned.

Hearing this question, all eyes turned towards him. The hooligans started searching their surroundings to see if, other than the boy, anyone else had come to this alley.

But after finding that they were the only ones here, the hooligans turned to see the boy and said. "Boy, get out of here if you don't want to die."

Of course they didn't find me because I was hiding behind a large dumpster.

The girl, after hearing them, called out to the boy. "No, don't leave me alone. Please help me."

"I will not leave until you let go of her, and if you don't, then I have already called the police; they will reach here at any time." He lied because his phone was out of charge, and he was just threatening them into leaving the girl alone. But his lie was exposed immediately.

"What nonsense I didn't see you using your phone, then how did you call the police?" One of them said and started laughing. "You think we are idiots that would believe you lie?" Another one spoke in a mocking tone.

"Now you can die with her, and no one will know about you, hee ehehehe..." A bulky man, their supposed leader said while walking towards the boy. He took out something from his side pocket that looked like a foldable knife. Another one joined him to flank the boy, and the remaining one started walking towards the girl with a lecherous smile on their face.

'I think I should intervene before things get out of hand' thinking this, Leon started walking towards the group and then said in a mocking tone. "Don't you think you should fight your own size?"

Hearing another sound coming from behind the hooligans, they turned to see who had come this time around, only to find another youth coming towards them in a calm style, having a light smile on his face.

"What the hell is going on here? Are all the youths nowadays this brave?" The leader spoke, doubt evident in his voice. "What is your own size? You should see yours first before speaking." Another goon voiced out his thoughts.

After walking for another few seconds, he is standing in front of them. "What? You don't believe me, but I can take down all of you in a few seconds." Leon spoke in a confident tone.

"Hey you don't need to fight them; just call the cops." The blond guy said to Leon.

"I know what I am doing, and I can handle them easily. You don't have to worry about me; just protect the girl over there." Leone replied and pointed towards the girl who was shaking out of fear.

Turning towards the goons, Leon spoke in a calm tone. "Now who wants to come at me first?"

"Do you want to die with them, boy?Don't be stupid and get out of here or hehehhehe ..." The leader of the goons said in a threatening tone. "Boss why are we wasting our breath on them I will just deal with him and continue our work." A hot-tempered goon yelled and started running towards Leon to fight him.

The goon reached Leon in a few steps and tried punching him with a right hook.

Seeing this, Leon sidestepped to the left and made an uppercut to the chin of the goon, knocking him out in one strike. All this happened in a few seconds, and no one registered it even after the goon fell to the ground; only after a few seconds did they react.

"What? How can this be? It must be a fluke." The stupid-looking goon commented. The leader, seeing that his men fall even before the fight starts, started to have second thoughts.

"A fluke, you say? Then why don't you try, or are you saying that you are scared of an 18-year-old?." Leon spoke in a mocking tone and smiled at them.

"You think we can't deal with you, huh? Then die." Shouting this, the stupid-looking goon charged at Leon. The same thing happened again, a knockout in one punch. Seeing this, the other two were reluctant to attack.

Leon noticed that the other two didn't move from the spot he taunted. "What are you afraid of me now?

They didn't let the taunt get into their head. They knew if they attacked him one by one, he would defeat them quickly, but what if they had a hostage? Then the tide of this battle would tip in their direction and they would win.

As if reading their mind, Leon said. "No, don't even think about it. That guy over there will beat the shit out of you, so don't try anything." While pointing towards the blond guy.

Of course the goons didn't believe him and still tried to attack the blond guy; well, let's just say it didn't end well for them.

After knocking them out, the blond guy walked towards the man who just saved him while saying. "Thanks for the help, but I think I could have handled them as easily as you."

'well there goes my nice mood. I forgot that his boasting skills are out of this world. But now that I think about it, he didn't tell me the reason for those bruises on the day of the ceremony, and now I know.' Leon thought and introduced himself. "It's okay, by the way; I am Leon West." Stretching his hand forward for a handshake.

"Oh, oh, sorry, you can call me Sam Maxwell." Sam introduced himself and shook Leon's hand firmly.

"What about you? are you alright?" Asking the girl standing behind Sam and moving towards her to get a closer look, Leon thought. 'I don't remember her from anywhere, and Sam didn't mention her back then. I think there is something fishy about her.'

The girl questioned, speaking in a shaky voice. "I...I...Ammm...I am so...so..."

"Wait don't be afraid; it's ok now; you can come down now; I saved you, didn't I? Just take a deep breath, IN..... , OUT..... , IN... , OUT...." Sam tried to calm the girl down while gently rubbing his hand on her back. After some time, he realized that the girl's breath was steady, so he asked again.

"How are you feeling now? Can you tell us about yourself and why they tried to attack you?" Sam backed away to give her some space.

"Yes, I am fine now, and thank you for saving me. My name is Sofia, and I don't know why they attacked me. I don't have any money or something expensive on me." Sofia answered truthfully but was still shocked about this whole thing.

"It doesn't matter now anymore; tell us where you live so we can drop you there." Sam said.

"Oh you don't have to worry about that; I can take a taxi from here." Sofia rejected his offer and walked in the direction of a street.

"Are you sure? You can always ask for help; you saw how I trash them, right...?" Sam walking behind her, trying to persuade her while bragging about himself.

While they were chatting, Leon called the police and told them everything that happened. After making the report, he walked in the direction of Sam and saw Sofia getting in a taxi and leaving while Sam waved his hand at her.

As Leon got closer, Sam turned around with a huge smile, saying the smile Leon spoke teasingly. "Do you like her? Did you get her number? Wait, why are you blushing now?"

Sam noticing the teasing tone, replied in a high-pitched voice. "No, I don't like her. I... I... I... didn't get her number, and I am not blushing. Who said I am blushing? Can you tell I am blushing?" The last question was just a remark he was thinking but ended up saying it out loud.

'Ahhh same as always around the girls. But I don't think I have the right to speak here because I was the same on my first date with Mia.' Leon thought and smiled lightly.

"Just chill; I was just teasing you." Leon laughed and patted Sam's back.

Sam calmed down from his blushing frenzy and spoke in an arrogant manner. "Blushing, I was just testing you. How were my acting skills? I was good, right?"

Leon knew Sam's antics, so he didn't take him seriously. But he laid a bait for Sam to catch.

"Sorry to inform you, Sam, but I have to go now because tomorrow I have to go somewhere, and if I don't get home now, my mother is going to kill me, so ta-ta."

"Wait where are you going tomorrow?" Sam said, and Leon smiled lightly while thinking. 'Got him.'

"Central City (mountain bridge city). Why do you ask?" Leon asked.

"I as well am going to Central City," Sam replied.

"Oh I am going to the college opening ceremony of Mountain Bridge University. Do you also, by any chance, happen to be heading there as well?. If yes, then we can go together." Leon said while faking a surprised expression.

"Then it's a plan. Quickly, take my number, and we can discuss this on our phone." Leon got Sam's number, and they left for their home, respectively.

As Leon reached home, he saw bags being filled to the brim with his belongings. He saw eight bags lined up in the living room fully loaded and his parents still stuffing two bags with his other belongings. Seeing the mess, he asked his parents. "Mom, Dad, what are you two doing? I don't need so many backs there, and Mom, why are you packing so much underwear?"

Hearing Leon's voice and his questions, Claire and Martin lifted their heads to see Leon standing at the entrance of the living room.

"Oh, baby, you're back. Do you want some water? " Claire asked in a happy tone.

"No,Mom, but what is that? Why are you packing so much underwear in one bag?" Hearing Leon's questions, Claire replied. "Oh, they are for daily use; don't you want them?"

"No, Mom. I have already packed my bags, and they are in my room. So you don't need to pack anything." While Leon was saying this, his mother's face turned from happy to sad real quick.

"What? You don't need those bags? You don't need us anymore." Claire made a sad face as if she was just going to cry.

"No, Mom, what are you saying? I just... Mmm... just… " Leon knew his mom was acting, but what can you do? She is a drama queen of this house.

"Okay, Mom, but I will only take one of those bags." Just as he said that, Claire's face beamed with joy as if the sadness just moments ago was not there anymore, and she handed him a bag full of snacks.

"Okay this one will do for now. Let's go have some dinner, and then you can go ahead to sleep in your room. Is that okay with you?" Claire said while jumping and walking towards the kitchen.

"Dad I said I will not take any more bags, so why are you still packing the bag?" Leon asked his father.

"Is that so, my son? OK then, let's go have some dinner." While having a smile on his face, he stood up and walked towards the kitchen.

'hmm .. i know that smile he is planning something, I have to be careful.' Leon thought and started walking towards the kitchen.

After having dinner, Leon went to his room, took a bath, and laying on his bed messaged Sam.

Leon: "We will meet at the station at ten o'clock sharp, and I have already booked two tickets, so don't buy any; just be there on time, okay?"

Sam: "Okay, I will be there on time."

Leon: "Do you want to add something?"

Sam: "No."

Leon: "Okay then, see you tomorrow."

•••

•••

•••

(1st May)

Next day, Leon woke up, took a bath, and headed downstairs for breakfast. After the breakfast Leon and his parents took their car for the station. Reaching the station, Leon and his parents moved towards the platform where the high-speed train will take Leon from here to the central city.

On the station, Sam was spotted and introduced to his parents; after waiting for 15 minutes, the train came, and both Leon and Sam went inside after saying goodbye to Leon's parents.

"The journey begins," Leon said with a melancholic smile.