’Did... he just?’

Hannah’s heart quivered, her face turning pink.

Her usually composed face when at work was marred with the delight of a young girl.

Fortunately, Miles had gotten out of the car and was walking towards the lively, but less bustling entrance since most students had gone in.

’I should have kept quiet.’ Hannah thought, her longing gaze staring at Miles’ departing back.

"He grew well Greg..." she muttered, blushing.

Just then, as she was about to turn on the car’s engine, she noticed the students nearby pointing at Miles. Looking carefully, she saw their expression and was stunned.

’...Is he some kind of big shot now?’

___

Today was Wednesday, meaning there would be a general PE period for all classes till break time. Real lessons would begin only after the break was over.

As for other club or sport activities, participating students were excused from lessons to train and practice. Sometimes it would be done after school or weekends.

On Friday, each class had an exclusive PE period that gave them time to catch up on their studies.

Stepping into the hallway, Miles was met with an echo of his steps and a few students tilted their heads in his direction.

The hallway was almost deserted and empty, those present at the moment were those attending to their lockers.

Walking past the silent stares, Miles unhurriedly headed to the class. It was empty, no one was present and only bags could be seen placed on each table.

’Is there some kind of event going on?’ Stunned, Miles dropped his backpack and headed to the boys general locker room to change into his sports wear.

A trendy mix of black and gold colour sweat pants.

Pulling down the zip to expose his white inner shirt a bit, Miles calmly strutted out.

On days like this, the school was often divided into 3 audiences after participating in 30 minutes of non-optional exercise.

There was a basketball audience, a swimming team audience and a football audience.

Two indoors and one outdoor.

Contemplating for a moment on which to pick, he decisively chose not to go to the basketball due to the attention he was bound to attract.

’A little bit of sunlight then. I need to stretch my limbs too. 30 minutes of Dodgeball should be enough.’

Concluding his thoughts, he took the path to the field, hoping to have a relaxing time. But the moment he walked up to the field .which had been divided to host five different sports—Tennis, Dodgeball, Racing and

Football —

"Yo! That’s him!"

A student in the stand spotted and shouted causing many to turn their heads in his way.

"It’s Miles!" Another shout erupted.

"He really came! "

"At last, things are about to get interesting. We are getting bored of waiting."

Things scaled up so quickly that many started to make calls for their friends to appear. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

On the field, Gridiron section.

"Chris, he’s here."

Having been alerted by those in the stands, Tyler took off his helmet the moment he also spotted Miles walking nonchalantly across the other side of the field,and walked towards Chris who had just tackled down a team mate in practice.

"Hmm." Chris nodded, his eyes glinted with malice as he gazed at Miles’ figure.

"Tell Billy we are going to clock out." Chris said to Tyler.

Although they were bullies, in the Gridiron was the captain, senior and undeniably the strongest so they couldn’t just do anyhow they wanted or would be kicked out with a valid point.

"I was about to." Tyler nodded and turned back.

At this moment, Ben arrived after running from the back.

Tyler glanced at him and focused his attention back on Miles.

" We’ll make sure to break his bones.

__

Earlier, more than thirty minutes ago. In the bustling hallway , just as students arrived and were clamouring. Four figures stepped in and halted it into silence.

" Listen attentively you bitches and worms!" Chris’s voice blared, instantly drawing a look of outrage but no one dared to rebut.

Instead, their eyes darted towards him with interest.

After seeing he caught their attention, Chris’ face turned solemn, his voice laced with the meanest tone.

"Miles! Yesterday was a fluke! You better be ready to have your ass handed to you. Meet us at the field and come with your bandages, I don’t want to end up picking your bones yourself." He roared but unfortunately didn’t get any response since Miles who was an active early comer was still on his mother’s bed.

The whole school abuzz, rumours spread that Miles had gone to hide, some that he knew what was going to happen and didn’t dare come to school today.

__

" Shit, we got to tell him."

Oliver, Simon, and Theo cursed as they quickly sprang towards the field, knowing Miles had no clue that Chris challenged him.

___

"Huh—? Why are they shouting?"

" They are shouting my name?"

Miles muttered to himself upon hearing the distant, unclear shouts from the stands when he got on the field.

He didn’t bother glancing around for Theo and Co, since they were an avid audience of the swim team. How could they watch Gridiron?

But as he approached the group of students playing Dodgeball, mostly freshmen from the look of it, he noticed they began to point at him while murmuring to themselves.

" Crap,they dropped the ball and are running away?"

Miles was stunned.

" Miles!"

" Miles!"

" Miles!..."

’Am I hallucinating?’

Hearing his name being called repeatedly, distant at first but got increasingly closer , he intuitively turned and spotted three figures waving at him as they ran.

’Theo?’

Recognising the trio, Miles felt speechless by the sight of the chubby one, Simon, after he almost stumbled flat.

"What?!"

Miles called back at them but they weren’t able to respond and kept running.

Eventually they got to him and Theo collapsed, breathing desperately.

" What the fuck?" Miles said, confused as he stared at them trying to catch their breath before being able to speak.

Oliver managed to recover first—

" It’s Ben... He challenged you."