“Arf!” Demon agreed unexpectedly, his second beer already gone.
Janis kneeled down to pat Demon’s head. “Damn D, did you inhale that beer? I hope the pizza gets here soon. I think D is three sheets into the wind… lightweight.”
Demon immediately crouched into attack form, circling the now howling Janis, who covered her face with both hands, unable to control her laughter.
“I’ll get you another D.” Mike strode to the kitchen. “Anyone else?”
A chorus of demands for refills drew laughter from Jenny and Dan who accompanied Mike into the kitchen. They brought back wine coolers and beers in time for the doorbell to ring. Dan went to pay for the pizza delivery while Jenny and Mike passed out the drinks. Mike poured Demon’s third beer with Janis supervising. Demon started yanking on her jeans pant leg, dragging her off balance, with Janis laughing and trying to fend him off while everyone else rooted him on. Finally, after the pizzas were spread on a table in the living room and a movie chosen for watching ready to go, Dan raised his beer in toast.
“Here’s to the best damn dog that ever lived.”
A raucous clinking of glasses and bottles with yells of affirmation followed.
* * *
Mike stood outside Arroyo High School, the first day of his senior year only fifteen minutes from beginning. No one approached him. He had been a loner before being adopted by his friends in the class ahead of him. Now, as he split off from Joanie, he was alone again. Rather than a problem, Mike felt it to be a blessing. He grinned, looking around him at the familiar campus. After promising his Dad to make it a stellar year in scholastic achievement, Mike was eager to start. It was then Mike noticed Brad Sanderson accompanied by three other teens he recognized from the football team accompanying him.
Mike glanced over to make sure Joanie and her friends were clear before turning to face the approaching group. “Hi Brad. Hey guys, I hope the team goes undefeated this year.”
Sanderson smirked, exchanging knowing looks with his friends. “I’ve been looking forward to a run in with you, Rawlins. You ain’t shit without that stupid dog. Your bitch-tease of a sister-”
Mike’s roundhouse kick smacked against Sanderson’s left temple like the crack of doom. It left the accompanying members of the football team looking down at their teammate on the ground wondering how he got there. Sanderson’s hands and feet moved spasmodically, still acting on the signals issued from the brain before Mike’s kick. Then he began to snore. Shocked gasps from the gathering crowd of teens lapsed into an uncomfortable silence.
“Any of you other groupies want to say anything about my sister?”
Although two of the teens were offensive linemen weighing in at well over two hundred pounds, and the third was a first string linebacker on defense nearly Mike’s height and weight, no one broke the silence. Mike nodded, gesturing for them to step away which they did. Mike looked around at the crowd of kids.
“Anybody have a bottled water on them?”
A kid with glasses and a book bag nearly as big as he was held out a water bottle to Mike.
“Thanks. I owe you.” Mike opened the bottle and splashed some in Brad Sanderson’s face while slapping him on the cheek lightly. “Wakey, wakey, Bradley. Time for school.”
Sanderson thrashed around weakly amid chuckles and giggles from the on looking students. Muttering nonsense with eyes blinking into consciousness, Sanderson coughed, sputtered, and boosted himself up into a sitting position, the blank look on his face at first illustrating the fact he had no idea where he was. Mike knelt down, cradling Brad’s head in his hands.
“You’re at Arroyo, going to school on the first day of the new year. Don’t ever even whisper anything about my sister again, or the next time I’ll break something important on you. Do you understand me, Bradley?”
Sanderson’s gaze focused with dawning realization. He nodded. Mike stood up and pointed at Brad’s friends. “Make sure this gets around to all your other little friends, boys. Don’t ever mention my sister… ever.”
Mike waved at the crowd and walked toward the Arroyo High School entrance. “Have a great day, kids.”
By day’s end, Mike’s encounter with Brad Sanderson and his football buddies had spread like wildfire. Where Mike walked, students got out of his way. Although not envisioning the effectiveness of what he’d done, Mike took it as a good omen he might have a school year where all he had to do was study and attend classes. He figured Sanderson could have him arrested for what he’d done, but Mike knew Brad confronting him with three football players would be a tough sell for a victim. After the Santana fight, a lot of things seemed less important, but he wanted to avoid disappointing his parents at all costs. Even that was under consideration when the alternative involved him taking crap from anyone.
It being the first day of classes, introductions to curricula and attendance took up most of the class time. The teachers made sure everyone knew how to reach them and what policies were to be adhered to. At lunch, Mike found a spot in a corner of the cafeteria with only a few kids after getting a soda outside at the Burger King Franchise they had on the campus. He debated whether to eat out in his car, but Mike figured it would be better to stay visible.
He unwrapped the tuna sandwich his Mom had packed. Before he could take a bite, Mike spotted the kid who had given him a bottled water to wake up Brad with, angling toward him, followed by a small posse of four seniors he recognized. When the group following the kid saw Mike, they went the other way. Thin and a little over five and a half feet tall, wearing glasses that seemed to envelop his face, the younger student glanced at the retreating followers he’d had with relief. When he saw Mike watching him he waved.
“Hi… you probably don’t remember me from this morning, but-”
“I remember you.” Mike held out his hand which was grasped excitedly by the new arrival. “I’m Mike Rawlins. Thanks for the bottled water. Can I pay you back for it?”
“You just did. I’m Denny Stossle. Can I eat my lunch here?”
“Sure. Are you having trouble with those guys that were shadowing you?”
Denny shrugged. “I get trouble from nearly everyone. I’m a sophomore in their Physics class. They didn’t like it. I think they believe our teacher Mr. Rayburn grades on a curve and I’ll ruin it. You’re a senior, aren’t you Mike?”
“Finally.”
Denny chuckled. “Do you know those guys that were stalking me?”
“Yep. If you’re worried about them, don’t. They’re sitting at a table now near the front watching us. They think we’re friends. I’ve had problems with three of those guys that ended badly for them. I know just what you’re going through and no, I don’t have a clue why some idiots spend so much time torturing other kids. Some of the football players tried to stuff me into a drainage ditch when I was a sophomore.”
“I’ve already heard. You gave them a lead pipe serenade. After the incident this morning all the stories about your dog, Demon, and your friends who’ve graduated circulated along with the dial tone you got Brad Sanderson. I even heard you broke a gangbanger’s arm in MMA on Friday night. You’re famous. Can I have your autograph?”
Mike cracked up, laughing appreciatively. “You’re okay, Denny. Do you have any classes with my Sister?”
“We have first period English together.”
Mike waited a minute but Denny didn’t elaborate. “Well?”
“I heard the rules this morning. I’m not ending up like Sanderson. The person you mentioned that I have English with shall be known as ‘She Who Cannot Be Named’. If you round housed me like Brad, it’d kill my whole family and my cat, Jinx.”
Mike was laughing so hard he didn’t notice Joanie walking up behind Denny with her arms crossed in angry disapproval.
“Quit acting like a clown and tell me what the hell you did to me, Mike! I’m a pariah.”
Denny had launched out of his chair sideways after hearing Joanie’s first words, hands over his head
in defensive fashion, which made Mike laugh even harder. Joanie pointed at Denny’s chair.
“Sit down, worm.”
Denny did as he was told, quickly folding his hands in front of him while staring straight ahead as if he were at detention. It took a few more minutes until Mike could speak.
“Sit… sit down, Joanie. This is my friend, Denny. He says he has first period English with you. As to this morning I had to correct Sanderson’s speech patterns. The only words he knew before the adjustment had you and bitch-tease in the same sentence. When he woke up, thanks to Denny’s water bottle, Brad demonstrated restraint. Now what’s all this about being a pariah? I have to make a note. Dad will flip when he finds out you know how to use the word pariah in a sentence correctly.”
Denny, still staring straight ahead, chortled unintentionally, earning a quick slap to the back of his head from Joanie.
“Are you laughing at me, worm?”
“No, ‘She Who Cannot Be Named’. I was clearing my throat.”
“Denny’s joking about not taking a chance of ending up like Brad in relation to the fact I told the Brad buddies I better not hear them ever mention your name again.”
Joanie giggled at first before the realization of what Mike’s threat might mean. Her features returned to brow knitted, tight lipped anger. “Oh great! So, the only boy allowed to speak to me is the worm here?”
“Wow, Mike. I have exclusive access to ‘She Who Cannot Be Named’?” Denny’s eyes straight ahead comment garnered a second head slap.
“Stop calling me that, worm.”
“His name’s Denny. He’s in your English class.”
“I know he is. I’ve heard all about him. He has a genius IQ, and he’s slumming at Arroyo for the express purpose of ruining every curve in the school.”
“Am not!” Denny barked out without moving.
“I hope he is,” Mike said. “I wish he was in all your classes so you’d have to work for your grade instead of skating along.”
Joanie gasped. “What? You take that back!”
“I think I have history with her too after lunch.” Denny turned slightly toward Joanie. “Can I walk you to class?”
Mike chuckled at Denny’s remark while snatching Joanie’s hand before she could launch yet another head strike. “I like this guy. He’s the first friend you’ve had I approve of. Quit hitting him.”
Joanie’s rage turned into desperate denial. “Did someone short your deck? He’s not a friend of mine! I just saw him in class for the first time today. He-”
“I’m not stalking you,” Denny interrupted, making calming motions with his hands. “I was trying to be funny. Your brother was nice enough to keep me from getting stomped before lunch. Thanks Mike. See you later.”
Denny gathered his bag up to go.
“Anytime. Bye, Denny,” Mike replied, watching his sister’s mouth working but no words emerging as Denny walked away. “Nice one, Sis.”
“I didn’t mean… I… nuts!” Joanie hurried after Denny.
Mike took another bite of his sandwich while watching Denny cringe defensively as Joanie tugged on his shirt. She quickly leaned toward the boy, keeping her voice down as others at the tables near them looked up attentively for gossip. Denny nodded what Mike took to be understanding. The two walked out of the cafeteria together. Mike smiled and took a gulp of his soda as Joanie and Denny walked by the table of seniors that had been following Denny before lunch. They looked down at their table as the two passed.
Chapter 14
Information Technology Tech Recruit
“Your brother is something else.” Denny broke the silence as he walked alongside Joanie, still in shock the best looking girl in the sophomore class was at his side by choice. Joanie wore a cowl necked, black sweater dress with the hem at mid thigh, her long brown hair flowing loosely past her shoulders. To Denny, she was beautiful.
Joanie nodded, glancing back at the cafeteria. “Yeah, he’s like an old geezer in a teen’s body. He’s a great brother but he does and says things like he’s my Dad. Now I’m on the no fly list for Homeland Senior Security.”
Denny laughed. “I doubt it’s that bad. I heard how Mike got you back from ‘The Hanging Tree’ rave. I bet you were glad to see him that night.”
Joanie blushed. “You don’t know the half of it. Those jerks were really going to hurt Stan and Jerry for helping me. His friends who graduated are the best. You probably heard about our dog Demon and the ghost-bustin’ gig, huh?”
“Yeah, I did! That was the reason I stopped by where Mike was facing off with the football players this morning. I’m a news junkie and YouTube fan so I’ve watched everything about Mike and Demon since the Alcatraz incident. Is Demon really as freaky cool as the video clips I’ve seen of him?”
Joanie shook her head, slowing as they neared the classroom. “Demon can’t be described. I’ve stopped trying to analyze him. As to Mike, I think when he faced down Nate Denkins at ‘Hanging Tree’ that’s when he decided to get into MMA.”
Denny’s surprise made Joanie giggle. “He faced down Nate Denkins?”
Joanie nodded. “When Denkins refused to get Stan and Jerry’s clothes out of the tree, Mike stripped off his jacket, put his fists up, and said, ‘if you don’t, I’ll bust your face up until even your own momma won’t recognize you’. Denkins took one look at Mike’s face and got up in the tree. Mike can get scary. Friday night when he dislocated Terry Santana’s shoulder to win the match, I saw him smile. He’s usually so sickeningly nice, it shocked me.”
“He’s a guy with skills. Mike doesn’t run around plaguing other kids just because he can. What you’re seeing with the other guys around here is part fear, but mostly respect.”
Joanie looked over at Denny. They were nearly identical in height. It looked to her as if Mike had a new groupie by the seriousness of Denny’s expression. “You’re probably right. I’ve never seen Mike take a cheap shot at anyone. He bends over backwards avoiding trouble. I just hope he hasn’t scared away every boy in the school from talking to me.”
“I’m a boy. I’m talking to you.”
“You’re Mike’s groupie, worm. That doesn’t count.”
“It does in Denny land.”
Joanie laughed, noticing they were nearly the first ones to arrive. “C’mon. Let’s get into class. Maybe if you’re good I’ll let you do my homework.”
“Not happening!” Denny followed Joanie into the classroom. “If Mike found out, he wouldn’t rearrange your face. He’d rearrange mine… although now that I think about it… maybe mine could use a little rearranging.”
Joanie smiled and sat down near the back. She pointed at the seat in front of her. “You’re funny. Sit there, worm.”
Denny did as ordered, turning when he was seated to face Joanie. “You know of course speaking to me or sitting near me will mess up your popularity quotient even more than Mike’s edict.”
Joanie glanced around as the classroom began to fill. She faced Denny then with a seriousness that wiped the grin off Denny’s face. “I think it’s about time I started being a little more like Mike. You’re right about the way he’s looked at around the school. I saw it last year and every time his older friends visit even now. They respect him. I’d like to see respect in other students’ eyes when they look at me, and the only way I get it is earn it.”
“Be like Mike, huh? I think I’ll give it a shot too. I’m having no luck being me so-”
Joanie pushed his forehead with the palm of her hand. “You’re such a worm. Was Brad okay after Mike woke him up?”
“Yeah. I hung around to see what he’d do. He was pissed. His friends were trying to calm him down. One of them told him to forget about it and watch his mouth, because they didn’t want anything to do with Mike. I think it was dawning on him that payback just wasn’t going to happen, but he could keep poking the bear until he got his face torn off.”
“He was nuts to come up on Mike like that,” Joanie said. “I
hope he doesn’t have a concussion or something. You’ve heard those stories about people not having any problems after a head injury and then dying later.”
“I’ll look for him during the rest of the day,” Denny promised. “I doubt he’ll be seeking you out. Can you give me your cell-phone number?”
Joanie didn’t hesitate. She wrote the number down on a notepad paper and handed it to Denny. “Thanks. I’ll call you if I don’t see him or he’s acting funny. Is there any chance of my meeting Demon?”
“I can arrange that. Maybe you could give me a hand with my Biology and Plain Geometry homework. We live over on Mersey Avenue in the Washington Manor area.”
Denny grinned. “I’ll ask Mike if I can help you with your homework. I know where you live from the kidnapping incident. It was in the papers. Do people bother your family a lot… you know, reporters, or people thinking Demon can help them?”
“They came around the house sporadically,” Joanie answered. “All calls not on our recognized list get forwarded to Laura. She handles all the Demon Inc. business.”
“Demon Inc, huh?” Denny rubbed his chin. “Maybe I can apply for a geek job. I’ll volunteer with Mike until I prove my usefulness.”
“Maybe. An IT guy would probably come in handy. I-”
“Look at you!” A blond haired girl in black skirt and pink blouse plopped into the desk to the right of Joanie. “Fraternizing with the curve killer. Bad girl!”
Joanie giggled. “Hi Mandy. The worm here has volunteered to tutor us in any subjects we require him for. Isn’t that right, worm?”
Visions of tutoring sophomore hotties flickered through Denny’s mind. “Of course. By your command, Mistress of the Dark.”
Mandy laughed. “He’s funny.”
“His name’s Denny. He’s Mike’s groupie.”
“I heard about Brad Sanderson and his merry band of football baggage frontin’ your brother this morning. Did Mike really knock him out?”
“One second he was calling Joanie names and the next second he was on the ground snoring,” Denny replied. He glanced toward the back of the classroom. “Here comes Ms. Whittier.”
Demon (The Mike Rawlins Series Book 1) Page 19