The Acolytes of Crane (Theodore Crane, #1)(46)

‘Hey Linc, let’s go hit the bumper cars. Dude, what was that? Who was that person?’ I inquired.

‘Don’t worry about it,’ he said lowering his voice to say something under his breath.

‘What?’ I asked. I didn’t hear what he had said.

He shouted, ‘I said, it is none of your damn business. Back off!’

‘Okay,’ I said, and stepped back out of respect.

This wasn’t working well. Lincoln was pissed off, and we didn’t even find…

Then, my heart froze. There, standing near the entrance, was Mariah. Pumped up with anticipation, I worked up my nerve and walked up to her. Seeing me, she smiled at me, settling my anxiety somewhat. I saw her moving her lips as she spoke to me, but I couldn’t hear. All the beeps, blasts, and laughs within the arcade were creating a din.

‘What?’ I yelled, pointing to my right ear.

‘I said, it is nice to see you,’ Mariah shouted.

I knew what to do. Weeks before, I had studied Spanish in the library’s reference section at school, because it would improve my chances with her.

‘Hola Mariah, como estas?’ I then asked her how she was, and she told me that she didn’t feel well. Her mother was going to pick her up in ten minutes. My heart sank as I realized that our task for today likely was not going to bring the accomplishment we had sought. Still, I thought she looked damn good, even if she was feeling under the weather. I thought I detected a hint of dejection on her face as she turned away. ‘Excuse me,’ she said as she walked over to the coat check attendant.

As she walked away like a vision, I started daydreaming about Mariah and I, holding hands as we bravely dodged laser shots together. Then I jerked myself back to reality.

I had to inform Lincoln what was going on, and I needed to do it quickly.

I zinged around the arcade frantically in search of my friend. When I found him, I rattled off everything I was thinking—in a sentence that sounded like it was strung together into one giant word. I said, ‘Dude-we-have-to-go-the-girl-she-is-leaving-Mariah’s-leaving-c’mon-c’mon-let’s-go-let’s-go!”

Lincoln got the hint right away. Returning his rented bowling shoes, he rendezvoused with me near the building’s entrance. As Lincoln and I rushed out to look for Mariah, it was as if a do-or-die dilemma had harshly slapped us in our faces.

The scene for a free-for-all confrontation was set. Jack Winters, the leader of the rogue pack that had shot paper wads our way earlier, was now grabbing Mariah around her waist, from behind. She was shouting angrily at Jack to let her go. Jack’s minions cheered him on. Lincoln and I glanced around desperately: there were no adults around.

Mariah was in trouble. My Mariah, even if it wasn’t politically correct for me to say so. Without a thought in the world, I spontaneously hollered at the bully. ‘Hey, get your hands off her, Jack, what is your problem?’

Jack gleefully retorted as he laughed for show. ‘My problem? I don’t think I have a problem, do you, Mariah?’

‘Let me go!’ she yelled.

I hesitated to take action, fully conscious that if something unexpected happened, I could derail the intentions of Zane.

Lincoln solved my dilemma for me. My impression of Lincoln as a quiet, studious guy was forever shattered as he came tearing forward like a beast unchained. He took three swift strides toward Jack and ferociously punched his shoulder. I gasped at his bravery.

Unhurt but aggravated by the sudden move, Jack threw his elbow in the direction of Lincoln’s nose and blasted his nostrils flat. My friend looked like he had been drilled with a croquet hammer. Jack laughed at all of us.

Jack let Mariah go and hopped toward me, extending his fists outwards like a prize fighter. He took jabs through the air with absolutely no fear, closing in on to me.

‘Huh? Huh?’ he sneered, dripping sarcasm. ‘You want some too, Ted? Your girlfriend Lincoln has a bloody nose. What is the matter, you wishing Jason were here to defend you? Everyone knows it was you that pushed him off that cliff!’

As the other kids, including Mariah, physically shrank away from our altercation, I stood there, breathing heavy. My peripheral vision collapsed, and a force within strangled my throat. Jack was about to move in for the kill.

Rather than be intimidated, I instead became resolute. There were only two issues that mattered to me now. First, he had accosted Mariah, the girl of my dreams. Secondly, this bully had directly challenged my manhood, and I had to defend it at all costs. I kicked my foot forward to take a blow at Jack, whatever the consequences.

Something froze my action. Instinctively, I remembered The Intervention. It was back. The Dietons, unseen to the others, wrangled me completely still. Someone was definitely monitoring me with a rolesk. I groaned inwardly.

Jack hooted at me with derision. As he was about to take a swing at me, there was another intervention. No, not the Dietons. It was Liam McCaffrey! Like a wild buffalo snorting and blowing hot air from his nostrils, he had grabbed Jack with two hands and elevated him into the air.

Showing no weakening as he lifted Jack like a pro hockey player would hoist the Stanley Cup in celebration, Liam growled at him. ‘You remind me of a grape I stepped on yesterday. I picked it up and ate it.’

‘Don’t do anything Liam, it isn’t worth it; he isn’t worth it,’ Mariah cried out.

Very reluctantly, Liam lowered Jack safely. Jack’s legs began to stride before they even hit the ground. He, and his posse, were gone in a blink. Released from my Dieton shackles, I ran over to Liam as if to give him a hug, but instead we slapped a high-five. Then we both tended to Lincoln.