“Even though I kept telling him,” Bobby said. “I can’t believe he actually tested that crap on himself just to prove I was wrong. How stupid can a guy be?”
“You know,” I said, “I was wondering the same thing. I thought you told me you weren’t stupid enough to set off the fire alarm.”
A huge grin crossed Bobby’s face. “Wasn’t me. I dared Rubric to do it. Bet him that he was too chicken.”
I laid my head on the table with a clunk. “We really have to talk.”
Out in the hall, the bell rang.
“Oh, what a world, what a world,” Kathryn said in her best Wicked Witch of the West voice, waving her arms and swaying. “Who would have thought that a good little girl like you could destroy all their beautiful wickedness? Oh, look out! Look out! I’m going. I’m going. Ooooh. See you after class, Rin.”
“See ya, Witchie Poo.” Kathryn was absolutely back. Life was good again.
The hall was packed, and I headed toward the locker rooms to find Mason. He had stuck a note on my locker asking me to meet him. I really wanted to see him. He wasn’t who I had thought he was. Or maybe it was more accurate to say that he was who I thought he was. Beneath that big, pantherish exterior was a genuine sweetheart who I wanted to get to know better.
I rounded the hall to the gym when, without warning, something slammed into me from behind. My forehead bounced off the locker, and I saw stars. I caught my balance and spun. A huge fist flew at my face, and I slapped it into the locker. A loud clang echoed through the hall. I turned to see Rubric’s face grinning sadistically. Boot Milner and Agatha Chew grabbed my arms and pinned them behind my back. Agatha looked at me, then turned her gaze away.
Tammy Angel strutted up beside Rubric. “Social Graces 101. Let the training begin.”
“Just when I think you four can’t get dumber without a lobotomy, you prove me wrong.” I pulled lightly against the Red Team’s grip. Their balance shifted just enough for me to toss them at my convenience. “Let go of me, or I’ll flatten you.”
Rubric laughed. “I doubt it. Egon isn’t around to protect you anymore.”
“But I am,” a small voice said.
A ninth grader I didn’t recognize stood with his hands on his hips, staring up at Rubric. “Touch her and you touch all of us.”
“How about if I touch you first?” Rubric shoved the boy on the floor. “Now you owe me five dollars!”
“I was really looking forward to a peaceful day.” I flipped my hands around and jerked. The Red Team yelped in pain as I wrenched them both into wrist locks. I released Agatha, then gave Boot a little extra twist, tossing her into Tammy. They both landed on the floor with a thud.
I bent down to help the boy up, glaring at Rubric.
“What are you looking at?” he barked.
“Trying to decide which of your appendages I should rip off and shove up your butt.”
“Tough guy, aren’t you?”
“Don’t know your males from your females. That’s sad, Art.”
“I told you it isn’t over,” Rubric said. “There’s still the matter of that five dollars you owe me from last time. Now it’s up to ten. Plus five for the dweeb. Pay up, or get messed up.”
“Arturo!” a voice called. “Mi amiga!”
Mason came strolling around the corner, his arm in a cast, the left side of his face bandaged. He walked with a slight limp.
Rubric’s face puckered. “Dude. What happened to you?”
“Cut myself shaving. What are you doing?”
“Hall monitor. It’s collection day.”
Mason eyes met mine, and he fought back a smile. Then he noticed my forehead, and his mouth tightened. He turned to Rubric with fire in his eyes. “Nice. How’s that working for you?”
Rubric stared arrogantly at me, then looked at the ninth grader. “I got fifteen coming from Peroxide. That’s just for today. Not bad, huh?”
“Nice bump on her head. You do that?”
“Yep.” Rubric looked at me and sneered. “Had to loosen her up.”
Mason got in Art’s face. “I’ll take my cut now. Thirty ought to do it.”
“Your cut?” Rubric squeaked in a suddenly girlish voice, taking a step back. “When did you start taking a cut?”
“Just now. Fork it over.” Mason held out his uninjured hand.
“Dude, that wasn’t the deal.”
Mason balled his hand into a fist. “New deal.” He drew his arm back and Art’s eyes nearly popped out of his head.
I reached out and gently put my hand on Mason’s fist. “That’s not fair. You wouldn’t let me hit him in the gym.”
Mason smiled slyly and dropped his arm. “True. Okay, Art, give me my money. Peroxide’s all yours.”
“Well, I didn’t collect yet,” Rubric said. He seemed suddenly nervous.
“Hop to it, then,” Mason said, folding his arms.
Rubric slowly turned to me. “Fork it ov—”
“Did you know she’s a black belt?” Mason interrupted.
“Huh?” Rubric stared down at Boot and Angel, then drew back a step from me.
“Yeah. Kung fu. Moves like lightning. Knocked Chuckie out. You were there, don’t you remember?”