The rest of lunch was torture for Marco. He kept shooting panicked glances between Jason and Brad's table across the cafeteria, where the three seniors were huddled together making plans and shooting murderous looks in their direction.
"Jason, listen to me," Marco whispered urgently, leaning across the table. "You cannot fight Brad Morrison. The guy benches three hundred pounds and he has been in like six fights this year alone."
"Has he won any of those fights?"
"That is not the fucking point!" Marco's voice cracked with stress. "The point is he is going to turn you into hamburger meat! And Kevin and Danny are going to help him do it!"
Jason took another bite of his sandwich, completely calm. "We shall see."
"We shall see? What the hell does that mean? Jason, you weigh like a hundred and forty pounds soaking wet! Brad Morrison could snap you in half!"
"Perhaps."
Marco looked like he was about to have a panic attack. "Perhaps? PERHAPS? Dude, you need to go find a teacher right now and tell them what happened. Get them all suspended or something."
"And then what? They come after me twice as hard next week when no one is watching?"
"Then we tell your parents! We call the cops! We transfer schools! Anything except showing up to get your ass kicked!"
Jason finished his sandwich and wiped his hands on his napkin. "Marco, I appreciate your concern, but I can handle this."
"Handle this? You have never been in a fight in your entire life! The only time I have ever seen you throw a punch was in gym class when you were trying to hit a volleyball!"
After lunch, Jason could feel eyes following them as they got up from the table. Word was already spreading through the cafeteria about the confrontation that was going to happen after school.
"Please," Marco grabbed his arm again as they walked toward the doors. "Please just think about this. There has to be another way."
"There is no other way, Marco. Sometimes you have to make a stand."
Fifth period was American History with Mr. Davidson, a heavyset man who had been teaching the same lessons for twenty years and could probably recite them in his sleep. Today's topic was the Industrial Revolution, but Jason found it hard to concentrate on factory conditions when he could hear whispers all around him.
"Did you hear about DuPont and Morrison?"
"They are going to fight after school."
"Morrison is going to destroy him."
"I heard DuPont called him stupid in front of everyone."
Behind him, two girls were having their own conversation in what they thought were hushed tones.
"I cannot believe Jason DuPont talked back to Brad Morrison like that."
"He must have lost his mind or something."
"My boyfriend says Brad is planning to really hurt him. Like, hospital hurt him."
Marco, who was sitting next to Jason, kept fidgeting in his seat and shooting worried glances at his best friend. Every few minutes he would lean over and whisper something.
"It is not too late to change your mind."
"You could say you were just joking around."
"Maybe if you apologize, he will go easy on you."
"Jason, are you even listening to me?"
Mr. Davidson noticed the whispering and called on Jason to answer a question about working conditions in textile mills.
"Mr. DuPont, since you seem to find the conversation more interesting than my lesson, perhaps you can tell us about the impact of child labor laws on industrial productivity?"
Jason looked up from his notebook. "Child labor laws initially decreased short-term productivity as factories lost access to cheap workers, but they ultimately led to improved worker safety, better education outcomes, and stronger economic growth as a more skilled workforce emerged. The laws also established important legal precedents about worker protections that continue to influence labor disputes today."
The classroom went quiet. Mr. Davidson blinked in surprise.
"That is... remarkably thorough, Mr. DuPont. Have you been reading ahead in the textbook?"
"I have been studying various legal and historical topics in my spare time."
"Well, excellent work. Perhaps more students should follow your example."
As the class continued, Marco kept scribbling notes and passing them to Jason.
You are freaking me out with this smart stuff too
Are you having some kind of breakdown?
Seriously what is wrong with you today?
Jason crumpled up the notes without responding.
Sixth period was gym class, which Jason usually dreaded because it meant changing in the locker room where guys like Brad Morrison held court. But today, as he walked into the gymnasium, he noticed something different. Students were staring at him with a mixture of curiosity and concern, like he was a car accident waiting to happen.
Coach Williams divided them into teams for basketball, and Jason found himself matched up against Danny Chen during a scrimmage. Danny had clearly been waiting for this opportunity.
"You are going to regret what you said at lunch," Danny muttered as they jostled for position under the basket.
"Am I?"
"Brad is going to fucking murder you after school. And me and Kevin are going to help him do it."
"How exciting for you."
Danny tried to elbow him in the ribs during a rebound, but Jason saw it coming and stepped aside, letting Danny crash into the gymnasium wall instead.
"Shit!" Danny bounced off the padding and glared at Jason. "You little fucking snake!"
"Problem, gentlemen?" Coach Williams jogged over.
"No problem, Coach," Jason said pleasantly. "Danny just lost his balance."
After gym class, they headed back to the locker room with Danny red-faced and frustrated while Jason looked like he had barely broken a sweat.
Marco was waiting by Jason's locker, still looking like he was about to throw up from anxiety.
"Dude, I heard Danny Chen threatening you during basketball. This is getting out of hand."
"Everything is under control, Marco."
"Under control? You have three seniors who want to beat you to death and you think everything is under control?"
Jason changed out of his gym clothes and back into his regular outfit, taking his time with each button and shoelace. Marco kept pacing back and forth, running his hands through his hair.
"Look, I talked to my older brother Tony during lunch. He says if you really want to fight these guys, you need to at least bring some backup. Maybe get some of the other guys who hate Morrison to help you out."
"I do not need backup."
"You do not need backup? Jason, there are three of them! They are all bigger than you! They all have experience fighting!"
"Do they?"
"DO THEY? Yes, they fucking do! Brad Morrison has been beating people up since middle school!"
Seventh period was the worst for Marco's anxiety. They had English together, and he spent the entire class period passing notes and whispering urgent suggestions.
Tell Mrs. Patterson you are sick
Go to the nurse and have them call your mom
Start a fight with someone else so you get detention
Fake a seizure
Mrs. Patterson was discussing symbolism in Of Mice and Men, but half the class was more interested in staring at Jason and whispering about what was going to happen after school.
"The relationship between George and Lennie represents the human need for companionship and protection," Mrs. Patterson was saying. "Even in difficult circumstances, we see how loyalty and friendship can..."
"Jason," Marco whispered urgently. "Are you listening to me? I have been thinking, and maybe we could get you suspended. If you get suspended today, you would not have to be here after school."
"Marco, please pay attention to the lesson."
"Pay attention to the lesson? You are about to get your skull cracked open and you want me to pay attention to a fucking book?"
"Mr. Rossi," Mrs. Patterson called out sharply. "Is there something you would like to share with the class?"
Marco's face turned red. "No, ma'am. Sorry."
"Then perhaps you could tell us what you think Steinbeck was trying to say about the American Dream in this novel?"
Marco opened and closed his mouth like a fish, clearly having no idea what the answer was. Jason leaned over slightly.
"The futility of pursuing impossible dreams in a society that crushes the vulnerable," he whispered.
"Uh... the futility of pursuing impossible dreams in a society that crushes the vulnerable?" Marco repeated.
Mrs. Patterson raised her eyebrows. "Interesting interpretation, Mr. Rossi. Can you elaborate on that?"
Marco shot a panicked look at Jason, who just shrugged.
"I... uh... think that covers it?"
When school ended at three-fifteen, Marco practically grabbed Jason by the shirt.
"This is your last chance, man. We can still get out of this. We can go to my house, tell my mom you are sick, anything. Please, Jason. I am begging you."