"Go to Hell, you bastard!" He yells out.
Michael's fist gives Liam a forceful blow to the face, and he's pushed back onto the table, which has trays full of food on it. Blood drips from his nose, and he narrows his eyebrows angrily. Salad dressing, ketchup, and pieces of sandwiches cover his clothes now, and a few faint giggles are heard from a nearby table. I didn't dare make a single sound. I'd lost my voice again due to my nervousness, but this time I really needed to say something or else Michael would be crushed by Liam's giant meaty arms.
"What the fuck was that for?" He asks angrily, wiping off a streak of blood from his nose and getting up from the table.
"For making my life a living Hell!" Michael raises his arm to hit him again, but Liam catches it in his own hand then swings him over against the table, covering him in food as well.
"So that's how you want to play it, huh?" A faint smirk appears upon Liam's lips, and I knew for sure now that he meant trouble. They had battled so many times in the Online World, but what would the outcome of it be now that they were actually fighting in the real world?
"Guys, stop!" I yell out, attempting to break up the fight.
Michael groans in pain, wipes off the food from his clothes, and steps in front of me, giving Liam a hateful glare. "Serena, stay out of this. This is our battle, and our battle to fight alone. I can't let you get hurt by this monster ever again."
Liam quickly lunges towards him, swinging his fist to Michael's left cheek. "Better watch your mouth, Sullivan."
Suddenly, students from nearby tables crowd in a circle around Michael and Liam, chanting their names, and some of them even take out their phones to record the event. "Fight! Fight! Fight!"
Out of all things, why would they cheer them on at a time like this? Honestly, I was beginning to think that I would never understand High School kids.
Before Liam can do anything else, Michael pushes me out of the way, defending me from the beast in front of us. He grunts and then gives Liam a competitive smirk. "Alright, enough with your pitiful attacks. Even if I'm not in a video game anymore, I still have the same agility as I do in Alfheim Online." Just then, Liam's jaw drops open, as if he'd just been able to comprehend what Michael was saying. Well, at least he knew now that Michael was Lycus and I was Allora.
As Liam opens his mouth again to say something, Michael has already prepared himself for his next move. "Now's a good time to put my fighting skills to use." As Liam runs to him, Michael avoids his attack by jumping up onto Liam's shoulders, and slamming Liam's head against the wall. Liam struggles to stand for a bit, but he manages to get up with the help of one of his friends.
"Your moves aren't all that bad, Mike." He says with an evil grin. Bruises now cover his cheeks, and he has a black eye due to Michael's fierce attacks. "But I'm going to win this once and for all to make up for all those times that I wasn't able to."
Michael is suddenly pinned to the wall by two of Liam's friends. Both of them looked just as strong as him, so it wasn't hard for them to hold down Michael against his will. He struggles to get himself free from them, but he fails. Now Liam is walking straight towards Michael, with his fists ready to attack.
Why can't I move? I have to do something about this!
My legs felt as if they had been glued to the ground and my throat ached too much to even speak. I couldn't bear to look at Michael or Liam. I force myself to turn away so I wouldn't have to witness this horrible fight any longer.
"LIAM GREENE. GET YOUR HANDS OFF THAT BOY THIS INSTANT."
The voice was very deep, threatening, and adult-like. Obviously a teacher or maybe even a coach.
I look up to see that everyone crowded around Michael and Liam had moved aside to let a tall and beefy man pass through along with Isaac and Alyssa by his side. Had they told him about the fight happening?
As soon as the man speaks his name, Liam instantly put his fist down, and his friends that had pinned Michael to the wall finally let go of him. Luckily, Liam hadn't left a single scratch on his face yet. The teacher/coach speaks once again, this time to both of them. "What the heck is going on here?!" He yells right into Liam's ear, and he winces a bit.
"C-Coach Russel..." Liam purses his lips together, terrified of the man in front of him.
"Well? Speak up, Greene!" He shouts back.
"H-he started it!" Liam stutters, pointing to Michael.
A few other people speak up as well. "It's true!"
Coach Russel shoots a glare at Michael. "Is that true?" Before he can even reply, the tall man interrupts him. "You know what? I don't even care. Both of you are coming with me to the Principal's office to get this settled once and for all."
Once he finishes speaking, both Liam and Michael follow him out of the Cafeteria. I'm tempted to follow them, but I make myself refuse. But to my relief, Michael looks back at me one last time and gives me a bit of a hopeful smile. Then he disappears out of the Cafeteria.
"Well that was... interesting." Comments Alyssa awkwardly.
"Need a hand?" Isaac reaches out his hand to me, and I take it as he helps me back onto my feet.
"How the Hell are they going to explain all this to the Principal?" I ask.
Isaac shrugs. "I'm having a bit of trouble taking it all in myself." He sighs. "To think that I've hated him for years, and all this time he ended up being my best friend again through Alfheim Online. It's weird to think about."
"Do you believe me now?" I ask him a bit pridefully.
"Of course I do." He replies. "I'm sorry I ever doubted you, Serena." He gives me a shy smile, and I decide to accept his apology.
"So let me get this all straight." Alyssa interrupts. "Michael is Lycus, Isaac is Aaron, Liam is Draco, and Holly is Vivian?"
"Apparently so." I say. My mind wanders over to Michael again. How bad would he get in trouble? He'll be suspended for sure, no doubt. "I'm just so worried about Michael. What if he gets in really bad trouble?"
Isaac purses his lips together for a moment to think of a reply. "If he does, I'll testify against it. All three of us should defend him. He's been there for us so many times, so now's our chance to do the same."
I nod. "Great idea. They'll have to believe us if three witnesses defend him against Liam!" For once I actually felt a bit of hope.
"We should totally do it." Adds Alyssa.
Just as we're about to walk out of the Cafeteria and make our way to the Principal's office, a voice on the intercom stops us.
"Serena Carson, Isaac Thompson, Alyssa Sterling, and Holly Greene to the principal's office. Again, Serena Carson, Isaac Thompson, Alyssa Sterling, and Holly Green to the principal's office."
I stifle a laugh. "Well, that was easy."
.....
"So let me get this straight," states Principal Williams. He points to Michael and then to Liam. "You two were friends. But then this game shows up." He holds up the game case for Alfheim Online that Isaac had let him borrow. "And then you two find each other and become rivals in a virtual reality video game. But you didn't know that you knew each other in the real world."
He points to me, Isaac, and Alyssa then back to Michael. "And you three are his friends in the video game, but you didn't know until today." He turns to the other side of the room and points to Holly and then Liam. "And you are his sister who assisted him in the game."
He sets down his hands into his lap as he continues to speak but looks to me. "And you were captured by Liam for... three days? And then Michael, Alyssa, and Isaac went to save you. And today Michael found out that it was Liam who had captured you."
"That is indeed true." I say.
"And I assume you and Michael are also... dating... Am I correct?"
I nod, but quickly glance over at Holly, who looks down to her feet shamefully with a bit of a pout to her ruby red lips. "Yes, sir."
"So this... Virtual feud is what caused the fight that occurred between the both of you?"
Michael nods. "Yes, sir."
Liam stands up from his chair in disagreement. "I didn't even know I knew him in the game until he said it during the fight!"
He bursts out, angrily.
"Calm it down, Mr. Greene, or I'll make the outcome of this even worse than it already is for you." He looks back to Michael then continues, "This is indeed a very difficult situation to handle, but although Liam is guilty for the outcome of the fight, both of you must face the consequences for fighting in school property and disrupting the students in the Cafeteria. Michael shall be given a week of detention, and Liam shall be in detention for two months and taken off the football team for the season. Holly shall be in detention for a week and removed from the cheerleading team as well for being an accomplice in Serena's kidnapping."
"What?!" Holly demands, rising up from her chair. The once innocent and cute girl in my Biology class had suddenly turned into a wild beast. "I don't deserve this! I have practice after school, and a tournament tomorrow!"
"And I have a game on Friday! You can't do this to us!" Agrees Liam, also standing. Michael didn't even bother to yell about his punishment. He probably knew that he deserved it for starting the fight.
Principal Williams narrows his thick eyebrows. "Oh yes, I certainly can. You forget that I'm the principal of this school, so I choose whatever punishment it is that you deserve." He raises his deep voice in a more furious tone. "You might as well accept it now before I make it worse. Also, this would usually be an issue sent straight to the police."
Holly instantly sits back down in her chair, her lips pursed into a straight line. Liam does the same. The principal sighs and says finally, "And as for the rest of you, you are now dismissed to go to your classes. Ask Mrs. Collins out the door about writing you three a tardy pass so you won't have to explain to your teachers about why you were gone for so long."
...
After school, Michael, Alyssa, Isaac, and I all met up outside once classes were dismissed. After being in the principal's office, I was certain that we'd all finally become friends with each other, both in real life and the virtual world.
"I can't even thank you guys enough for standing up to the Principal earlier today and defending me against Liam." Says Michael, looking down shamefully. He rubs the back of his head nervously. "If it weren't for you guys, Liam just might have actually won the argument since his parents are actually friends with the principal."
"Well of course we helped you." Isaac says with a smile, ruffling Michael's hair playfully. "We're all friends here aren't we? We were just returning the favor." He looks over to me and Alyssa. "Right?"
Alyssa speaks for me. "Definitely. Without you, I would have been robbed and maybe even killed in ALO by Liam and Holly."
"And I would have been imprisoned for the rest of my life by Liam and Holly." I say, leaning in to give Michael a quick kiss on the cheek, resulting in a slight blush appearing in his cheeks. "You were there when we needed you most, so obviously we had to do something in return."
"I really don't know what I'd do without you guys." Michael admits. He puts his arm around Isaac. "So we're... friends again, right?"
Isaac chuckles. "Totally. Just don't plan on stealing my video games again, anytime soon."
Michael bursts out laughing. It felt nice to see them actually getting along, but then again, they already had back in Alfheim Online. It was still good to know that they were friends again, finally. "I won't, I promise." He replies. "As long as you let me play your video games again."
"How about we just have another video game battle over at my house? Then we'll see." Isaac asks, his lips curving into a smirk.
"It's a deal." Michael smirks as well.
Just then, the familiar sound of a bus's old engine parks in the driveway. I tug on Michael's arm. "Hey, we have to go so we'll get a good seat!"
"Oh, right!" He nods. He seemed like he didn't want to leave, but just as he's about to speak, Isaac interrupts him.
"Go ahead." He says. "See you later, lovebirds."
Alyssa giggles. "See you tomorrow."
Once we say our goodbyes, I drag Michael to our bus stop and we sit down in our usual seat. "That went really well." I say. "By the way, now that everything's the way it's supposed to, are you not friends with Liam anymore?"
Michael scoffs. "Of course not! I don't see why I'd want to be friends with the guy who captured my girlfriend, imprisoned her for three days, and almost got us killed. So I think it's safe to say that we won't be seeing him for a while now that he'll be in detention for two months. But at least now I'll get to spend some more time with you." His hand lingers over to mine and holds it in his, making me feel safe and protected.
After plugging my earbuds into my phone, Michael and I share them to listen to some of my music. "You know, that song you sang to me when I went to your house really wasn't bad. You should get signed to a record label for having such an incredible voice."
"Oh, so you actually liked my song?" He smiles, and it practically makes my heart melt. "I'll write more, if you want me to. Hundreds more." He squeezes my hand a bit. "Just for you."
I can't help but blush and give him a giddy smile. "I'd really like that." I yawn. "But right now I'm a little tired." I normally wasn't tired during the afternoon since I'd normally be playing ALO, but after having so many things happen today, I guess I just needed some rest for once.
I lean my head onto Michael's shoulder and close my eyes.
We don't speak for the rest of the way home, but I must say: Michael's shoulder definitely makes a very good pillow.
