“Shit…”

Frank sneered down at John. He and his cronies must have been looking for him after his lucky escape this morning. ’Here goes my quest…’ the gamer sighed to himself.

“We didn’t get to finish our talk this morning.” The ugly lug started cracking his knuckles again.

’Did this idiot learn intimidation from bad 80s movies or something?’ John just watched in stunned awe as Frank rolled his shoulders and puffed up. After yesterday, he realized Frank was just another guy. Sure, he was big, but he had no powers, no hidden strength or magic. ’Funny that, all of a sudden, he just looks pathetic.’

“I’ll have my bag tomorrow, Frank. You guys should get to class.” The lanky nerd looked the three jocks over, not really expecting them to back off.

They moved to surround him, the two lackeys practically indistinguishable from one another. The one on the right opened his mouth, and John’s nose wrinkled at the stench on his breath as he spoke, “You’re not getting out of it that easy, loser.”

’Yup, definitely a bad 80s movie.’ Rolling his eyes, John shoved his way past the meatheads. “Well, I need to get to class, and you guys need to shower and brush your teeth. Get lost.”

They were easier to **** past than Bly, and the lanky teen smirked to himself, ’I’m not doing this today.’ Unfortunately, it really wouldn’t be that easy. A firm, meaty hand gripped his shoulder, and he was forcibly turned back around.

“We’re not done with you yet, Nerdman.” Frank’s voice would have sounded gruff if John couldn’t detect a slight pubescent break in the tone.

Holding back a snort, the gamer, brushed the hand off as the warning bell for class sounded throughout the hall. “Actually, I think you are.”

The slightly smaller lackey shifted uncomfortably and looked around at the thinning student body, everyone was beyond used to John’s daily torment. “C’mon, Frank. Let’s just get to class,” he paused, looking their target over, “we’ll get him later.”

“Yeah, sure, mom,” Frank laughed, shoving John a few steps back. “Later, Dipshit.”

The trio turned and walked away, only the small one giving a remorseful glance back at the nerd they beat up every day. ’No way in Hell was it that easy.’ John watched them leave, holding his breath until the jocks turned the corner to the next hall. He listened, their heavy footsteps fading to be drowned out by the sound of his pounding heart. ’They’re really gone…’ His shoulders slumped and he braced his hand on the wall. ’I can really do this, I can do this quest.’ John’s mind started working through the possibilities. Surviving two run-ins in one day was rare, but after the morning, they didn’t deem him worth their time. Granted, by then he was usually fairly beaten up or cowering in some corner, but not today. Maybe, just maybe, they would stick to their pattern.

Cautiously optimistic, John continued on his path and slipped back into his row of lockers, momentarily forgetting why he needed to stop here. He gave himself a moment, rubbing his sore eyes as the second bell brought his headache screaming back to life. ’I should just go to the nurse. Hopefully sleep this headache off.’ He changed directions to go to the medical wing, skipping his Sociology class with the feminist teacher that hated him just for being born male.

The nurse, though, was adorable. Mrs. Winslow was a short, slightly pudgy woman with copper skin and brown eyes that always felt like they looked past any feigned illness. She never let John go home faking a stomach ache, but she would let him hang out for a period if he lied hard enough. Today he wouldn’t even need to lie, he honestly had the worst headache of his life, and it was starting to make him sick. He **** the relieved smile off his face as he stepped into her office. The beds lining the side of the room were empty, but there was a student sipping a cup of an amber liquid in one of the chairs by Mrs. Winslow’s desk. He cast Observe on the student and the labcoat wearing nurse as he walked in.

’She’s a cutie, too. I am surrounded by them all of a sudden.’ Anna, a slightly chubby blonde, looked up at him sheepishly with bright blue eyes, and John watched her cheeks darken when he smiled at her. ’Yup. 100% cute’

“Mr. Newman, what can I do for you today?” Mrs. Winslow looked up from her desk. The fact she knew his name spoke volumes to how often he was in here.

He winced internally and looked down at the tiny woman. “I, uh, have one hell of a headache. I was hoping I could sleep it off?” He tried showing the pain on his face, not much of a stretch considering the buzzing and brightness of the florescent lights was like a knife to his temples.

“Headache?” The nurse stood and stretched, touching his forehead with her hand. He pulled back with a hiss, her hand was like ice. “John, you’re burning up. I need to take your temperature. Here, I’ll get you some water, you lie down,” her words came out in a rush and John had trouble understanding her, but she ushered him to the corner bed and he relaxed into it.

These beds were the worst, an exam table would be more comfortable, but the pillows on them weren’t bad if you could get past the smell of disinfectant permeating the faux leather surface. A moment later, a cup of water was sitting next to him and the curtain was drawn to block off some of the light. Prudence rubbed a device across his head and pressed it behind his ear before it beeped. “102! John, I’m sending you home. You rest, I’ll go call your mother to come pick you up,” she scurried back to her desk, and John closed his eyes, cutting himself off from the outside world as much as possible.

’102 is pretty high, I wonder if that’s a werewolf thing,’ he tried clearing his thoughts. Mumbled voices from the women in the room were partially muffled by the curtain and the stench of the pillow kept other scents from overwhelming him.

“John?” Mrs. Winslow’s voice was soft, almost a whisper. “Your mom’s here to get you. She’s waiting out front.”

Guilt hit him all of a sudden. ’She worked all night, and here she is picking my sorry ass up from school.’ He groaned as he sat up slowly. His headache was back down to a dull throb, but John knew with a temperature that high, the nurse had to send him home.

The only student in her office now, the gamer smiled at the small woman. “Thank you.”

“Do you have a bag? I could get a security guard to walk you out…” Her pudgy face was lined with worry and he fought back a smile.

’She looks like Mom does when I’m sick.’ “No, ma’am,” he gave her a small nod, “no bag, and I can walk myself.”

She held out her hands as if she could catch him if he fell while he stood. “Alright. Feel better soon.” With another worried glance at him, the nurse went back to her desk to work.

’Better get out of here before-’ The blaring of the class bell cut off his train of thought, and he groaned.