the crusader

by Melody

Chap. 2

        AN: Aaah, where did we leave off? Oh yes:

My partner, Martin, looked up at me. "Situation ain't good boss."

I snorted. "Like this place ever has good conditions." We started to investigate. 

Enjoy!

        We were down at one of the most dodgy and precarious places in the school. Cafeteria, 1st floor. Chatty cheerleaders with their made-up faces and juvenile delinquents sporting faux gold medallions. Just the place where a terrible crime could erupt. Maybe it would be a swift and subtle exchange of money under a table, maybe it would be the hawking of spiked Snap2O's.  But whatever it was, ol' Martie and me were here to stop it.

        I walked over to one of the long-abandoned juice machines, gave a quick rap on its now unlighted cover, and whispered.

"Hi cha Hi cha. Jamaican patty please."

A voice hissed out from the depths of the structure. "The milk's gone bad again."

"I hate asparagus." I murmured under my breath.

There was silence, but a moment later, the door moved ajar slightly, a small hand came out, and pulled me in.

~

        "I'm telling ya, we gotta change the passwords. They're too predictable!"

I squinted. Hard not to, it was pretty dark inside there. "Sloppy Joe, first of all, it's your fault for going into such a shady business, and second, believe me, the pass words ARE not predictable."

Joe grunted. "If I wasn't in this business, Harper, you'd be dead and skinned right now. Not like your deals are any better or honest than mine."

        I sighed. I guess he was right, in a way. Not like I would ever admit it to him. No use anyway.  'Sloppy' Joe Ferris was as stubborn as me. But a guy like me needs acquaintances and info. And Joe is the number one grass. From his location, he hears everything, from what the teachers discuss to the latest gossip. Ever since they stopped using those machines, it's been his major hideout. Know how our whole class aced the pop quiz in Math last month? Yep, it was all from the words of Sloppy. I depend on him for my cases. Only thing though, you gotta hope he doesn't sell you out and have people chasing your tail.

"Yo, so where's shorty?" 

I heard noises from outside. Six graders must be going out today. Didn't blame them for the racket. They hadn't gone out for months.

"His name is Martin, you little skunk. Scouting out the bathrooms."

"So you do get your little minions to do the grubby stuff. I thought you were on a higher pedestal than that man!"

"Conk it, lunkhead. I'm here to get the scoop, not your wise-crack bullshit."

"Ok, Ok, chill!" Joe moved himself further away from me. "Just don't take that thing out!"

He shouldn't have reminded me, because I just clutched the weapon strapped to my belt tighter. "Don't make me shoot you, Sloppy."

I heard him sigh. "Fine, fine. 19th table, left side, boys, planting a a stink bomb some girl's bag."

"There, that wasn't so hard, was it?" I peered out from a crack in the door, made sure the coast was clear, and slipped out.

"Thanks for the tips. I appreciate it man," I whispered.

"Like I have a choice."

I grinned, and walked away.

~

        I just didn't understand. One-third of the students had gone out (possibly more, some of the seventh and eight would sneak out too) but the cafeteria still looked pretty full. I guess it was because everyone was either sprawled out or slumped over. 

I strode over to the left side and headed for the boys tables. Funny, the boys were supposed to sit in the front, but out of the corner of my eye I spotted a few of them hiding in the back. Now what could they be doing there? Up to no good, that's what. 

As I headed closer, I noticed they were all looking intently at another girl two tables away. Must be the stink-bombers. Seriously, of all the brainless pranks, it has to be a stink-bomb. What is so freaking funny about them? Sigh.

One of the guys was walking over to the girl, something clutched in his chubby fist. I looked back at his comrades. Overly-gelled hair, baggy pants about to fall off, snickering like idiots. No doubt they got the little dude to get in trouble for them.

I approached the nasty hoodwink. "Yo kid, what you got there?"

The boy stopped in his tracks, swiveled around (It's the Exorcist meets junior high!) and gave me a goofy smile. 

"Ugh, nothing, he he." Sweat beaded across his pudgy nose.

"Nothing, huh? Then hmm, what....(dramatic pause) is....THIS?" 

I had grabbed his fist and pulled out the bomb. Gross. It was slippery from sweat. The kid was looking at something past my head. I turned around and saw his friends gesturing wildly. One of them mouthed "Kaboom!" I realized that we both had been squeezing it way too tightly. It was going to blow any second. And the next thing I know, the little dude is charging right at me! 

~

         How was I supposed to stop this kamikaze-ing freak? Simple, I didn't. I just hurled the bomb in the air towards him.

"TAKE COVER!!!" I screamed. I also grabbed the girl they tried to victimize, and pulled her under the table with me.

A loud POP was heard and a moment later a mean stench enveloped the place. I got up and looked down at the girl.

"You okay?"

She stared back at me. " You saved me! What can I ever do to repay you?"

"You don't have to. It's my job. When there's trouble, I'll be there. When there's bullies, I'll be there. When innocent students are in danger, I will be there. " I put on my sunglasses (Stupid of me, but it provided a cool effect) and walked away.

"At least give me your name!"

I turned at the last moment. "Call me the Crusader," I said placidly.

She repeated my name under her breath. "I won't forget you!"

I smirked, and exited the lunchroom, narrowly missing a puddle of milk.

~Finis

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