" It’s Ben... He challenged you."

The moment Oliver spoke, Miles noticed that the people in the stand were changing the location of their seats, as if they were picking the best angle to watch the upcoming show.

A lot of students were also turning up on the field.

"Challenged me?"

Just then, he noticed a group marching from the far side of the field.

There were three people.

Chris, Ben and Tyler in gridiron jersey

"Are you kidding me?"

Looking closely, he noticed the girls from the swim team who were supposed to be training were also present, having stopped what they were doing. He saw Rachael and the Hayes triplets who he had seen naked.

Josephine too, and Chloe.

Seeing him stand with no motion to turn tails, Theo nudged Miles by his elbow while avoiding eye contact with the incoming bullies.

"Oh to the gods, they are coming. What are we going to do now?" In a panicky tone, Simon struggled to stand up.

"We?" Miles raised his brows.

"No guys, this is my fight. You guys should stay out of it." Miles shook his head, showing he was okay and could do it alone.

A look of relief flickered on Theo, Simon and Oliver’s face, they wanted to retreat back into their cowardly shells but exchanged glances and suddenly put up a strong front.

"No Miles, we’ll stand with you. We’ve feared them enough." Theo said with a brave look that took everything he could muster.

"Hmm." Simon nodded in support.

"If we don’t stand up now. We’ll keep cowering even to their shadows. This is for us too Miles." Oliver explained.

"I don’t mind breaking a few bones either." Simon added, forcing a grin while showing his chubby arm.

"What the fuck?" Miles spoke bluntly, speechless by their camaraderie words.

’Is this some kind of movie?’

Staring at their earnest look for a moment, he finally nodded.

’Sure, if they want to visit the Nurse Office later on, they are free to.’

" Don’t regret your choice though."

Turning to Chris and co, he suddenly realised the reason the three summoned their courage was because they didn’t want to feel left behind by him.

___

"Huh? Who the hell are those dork heads?" Some students noticed the three standing behind Miles and began to share their opinions.

" A group fight? Great!"

The excitement spiked while the unknown trio started to become known. And today, after this face off, they would either be jokes or gain respect.

The murmurs and charter quieted down the moment Chris stopped a few metres away from Miles. Tyler and Ben flanking his sides with their bulky physique in gridiron gear, except for helmet.

Whilst, except for Miles, his crew were a joke.

"I thought you tucked your tails behind your legs and decided not to come to school today." Chris scoffed.

"Give me a break bro, as you can see, I just got here. Besides..." Miles paused, his eyes flickering on the group as if searching for something, before he added... "Besides, saying something like that while going down from 5 to 3 is kinda stupid. Don’t you think so?"

Many students clapped a hand over their mouths while trying not to erupt into cheers. Miles’ rebuttal hit straight where it pained the most

Because yeah, where were Kelvin and Daniel.

_

Not far away, the school’s coaches, except for the basketball coach, sat together with popcorn while watching the scene unfold.

Imagining being paid to do just this. As long as no physical brawl ensued, whatever happened would be a result of practice between students.

_

Hearing Miles mention his two missing members, Chris’s face became slightly ugly.

Kelvin couldn’t leave the basketball practice for this, and as for Daniel? He called the latter several times yesterday but he didn’t pick up.

This morning, he stopped by Daniel’s house and discovered the house was empty with no one present.

While he was about to leave, a suspicious neighbour who had been watching him told him the son of the woman had been carried by ambulance service vehicle.

He didn’t think much of it and concluded it was Daniel’s plan to slip out of their plan. He had been behaving strangely after all.

What a twist.

"No need, I am enough." Chris said, shifting his gaze to Miles’ pair.

" What an ally you’ve got there ." He sneered.

"Thank you, to be honest, I feel honoured." Miles sarcastically said.

"Though it would be more intriguing to know what you’ve challenged me to, considering all this attention." Miles voice turned stern, his gaze meeting Chris’.

Then tension in the rose as if it was about to release a high voltage. The face off between them drew an excited silence from the spectating students.

Ten seconds later, Chris finally conceded with a look of enlightenment on his face.

"I challenge you to dodgeball. 3 versus 4 doesn’t sound bad does it?"

Miles drew an interesting look as he nodded in agreement, whilst a wicked, cunning smile plagued Chris’ lips as he stretched out his arm, palm open and Tyler placed a prolate spheroid pigskin(football) on it.

"Let’s spice this up shall we?"

The crowd erupted into instant cheers.

Miles smiled but the other two behind him almost gave up.

"We are going to end up dead aren’t we?"

Simon muttered.

Inwardly stunned, Miles seized up his opponents.

They were good at acting, but he already figured out that this was what they planned from the beginning.

"Don’t tell me you aren’t gonna take off your armour, Knights."

Miles motioned at the body pad they wore beneath.

" Don’t mention, I can give your quivering allies to wear them instead."

" I wish I could take on that offer too, but they are brave souls. A little bit of pain surely won’t faze them."

Behind him, Theo, Simon and Oliver nodded dumbly.

With that being said, Chris, Tyler and Ben took position on the other line while Miles stretched his limbs with Theo, Simon and Oliver behind him.

"Let’s break some bones."