CHAPTER FIVE

Trent's Pov

I barely had time to react before Damien's fist collided with my Jaw in a powerful right hook. The force of the blow knocked me back a few steps, pain exploding across my face. I tasted blood in my mouth from where my teeth had cut the inside of my cheek

"You asked for it, Jerk!" Damien growled, spitting towards me. I touched my throbbing cheek and glanced around the cafeteria.

Everyone wore sorry looks clearly thinking Damien had won. But I'll be damned if I let him make me look like a fool in front of the whole school!

As Damien turned back ready to leave, I darted forward, spun him around and slammed my shoulder into his gut.

He doubled over with a grunt.

I brought my knee up hard, catching him under the chin. Damien wobbled but stayed on his feet. As he reared back to throw another wild punch, fury sharpened my reflexes and I dodged it easily. I tackled him around the waist, driving him into a nearby table. He crashed into the plates and food scattered everywhere.

"Not so tough now, are you?" I taunted through ragged breaths. Around us, students were screaming, some chanting, " Fight! Fight!"

Damien looked up, eyes wild and tackled me to the ground. We exchanged blows as we rolled across the floor. I grunted as his fist slammed into my ribs. Pain flaring at my side.

"Stop, please Stop!" Ella cried as she rushed over, tugging desperately at his shoulder, but Damien shoved her off, making her fall to the ground.

Seeing Ella thrown aside so roughly sparked an anger in me I didn't expect.How dare he lay hands on her! But wait, why do I even care? She's not my friend. If anything she's usually against me. But still, seeing Damien shove her like that stirred something in me.

With renewed energy, I flipped Damien over, straddling him as I landed a few satisfying punches to his pretty boy face. As I grabbed a cafeteria tray ready to smash it on his head, I was suddenly yanked off of Damien by the collar but that didn't stop the spaghetti from dropping on his face.

But It was Mr Stevens, the principal.

"Enough!" His voice echoed through the sudden silence of the cafeteria. He looked at me fiercely, then turned his hard gaze on Damien's form sprawled helplessly on the floor.

Damien was covered head to toe in chunks of the noodles and spagetti sauce. I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep myself from bursting out laughing right there.

"You two. My office. I better get a thorough explanation of what's going on here and it better be good!"

His grip on me was like iron on my shirt hauling me off of Damien. He reached down to grab Damien up too but Damien slapped his outstretched hand away.

"I can get up myself!"

Slowly he pushed himself off the floor, an insolent glare fixed on the principal as if daring him to try and touch him again. My attention was drawn to Ella still on the floor. Mr Stevens followed my gaze to see her sobbing softly.

"You too, Ella. Come explain what happened here."

I surpressed a laugh as Ella shot me an accusing look. This wasn't my fault. He had started it and I just finished it.

Ella then lifted herself up from the floor, using her palms to wipe away the tears staining her cheeks. She brushed off her clothes, keeping her reddened eyes fixed on the floor and began trailing after Mr. Stevens.

I tried not to wince as pain flared in my cheek and ribs. Damien stomped past me holding his nose though the bleeding had stopped and bumped my shoulder roughly without even looking my way. I set my jaw, glaring daggers into his back before following them out.

As we walked, Ella hurried up to Damien with her brows knitted as she touched his swollen cheek.

"Baby, are you okay? That looks really bad."

Damien slapped her hands away roughly. "Don't touch me!"

"I...I'm just trying to help...."

"If you wanted to help? Then you should have just stayed out of it! But no, you had to get in the middle and lucky you, you fell."

"Because I didn't want you doing anything stupid that would get you wounded!"

Damien let out a mocking laugh. "What? So now I can't defend myself. Is that why you're worried? You don't think your man is tough enough?"

"That's not it at all! You know that."

"Well, you've got a funny way of showing support.

I folded my arms and scoffed loudly enough for them to stop. "Oof and here I thought you two were the model couple......"

They both turned to glare at me. "Stay out of this, Trent!"

I put my hands up in surrender. "Sorry please continue with your riveting soap opera. Just pretend I'm not here......"

Damien took a threatening step towards me. "You know if Mr Stevens wasn't here, I'd smash that snartass grin off your face"

"Ohh, And get beaten again?"

Mr. Stevens turned back to glare at us, his jaw set sternly. I clamped my mouth shut, the jest dying on my lips.

I had totally forgotten he was there, but what's he going to do anyway. Let him play bad cop all he wants - it's not like he can actually do much to us. He knows he can yell and puff out his chest, but there's no way he'll actually dare hand down serious punishment.

"Save your Breath for my office." He bellowed.

Once we got inside, Mr Stevens sat behind his desk and pointed at the chairs across him

"Sit. All of you."

We took the seats facing his large oak desk. Mr Stevens settled into the fancy leather chair and folded his hands, staring at the three of us.

"Now then, would someone care to explain what happened out there?" His gaze zeroed in on Ella first.

"I...... Well, um...."

I could practically hear her heart pounding from where I sat. Her eyes kept flitting to Damien instead of meeting the principal's expectant look. I frowned. Was she actually scared of what Damien might do if she told the truth?

"I - I don't really know. It all happened so fast." She finally muttered, fiddling with the hem of her shirt.

Mr Stevens raised an eyebrow. "But you were right there when it started, correct? Surely you must have some idea."

But Ella simply kept mute, staring down at her hands.

Mr Stevens sighed, taking off his glasses and rubbing his temples.

"Well since we don't have a clear picture of what transpired, Trent I think you should apologize to Damien."

My head snapped as I gaped at him.

"What? Why should I apologize when he threw the first punch?"

"Regardless of who started it, Damien clearly came out worse from the fight. I mean look at him." Mr Stevens pointed at his face. "As the less injured party, you should be the bigger man and apologize."

"Fine..... I'm sorry." I grinded my teeth

Mr Stevens nodded. "Good, now we can put this unfortunate incident......."

"I'm sorry," I cut in. "That I didn't break your hand so you can't use it to punch anyone again, you punk!"

"Mr Donovan!" The principal exclaimed as Damien surged up to his feet.

He grabbed his backpack and glared venomously at the principal. "You know what, I don't have time for this bullshit. Come on Ella, we're leaving."

Ella started to rise slowly from her chair but before she could follow him, I reached out and grabbed her wrist.

"No, you don't princess. The principal isn't done yet." I said pulling her back down. Damien looked back, eyes blazing as he saw me holding Ella. For a second, it looked like he was going to come charging beck, but he contained himself and glared at the three of us.

"Whatever, this is bullshit."

He whirled around, stormed out and slammed the door violently behind him.

Mr Stevens face was bright red, a vein bulging his forehead as he starred after him. Then he turned back to Ella and I, breathing heavily.

"I never.... Well, in all my years......" He sputtered before collecting himself with effort. He smoothed his tie, exhaling slowly. "For now, out of my office. Both of you!"

As we turned to leave, he added. "And Trent, you can spend your afternoon scrubbing the bathroom clean."

I scoffed. "Yeah, don't think so. In case you forgot, I may have a couple of bruised ribs."

"Well, that's none of my business."

I fixed him with a daring look - one that reminded him exactly of who my father was.

The principal cleared his throat, glancing away uncomfortably. "Er Yes, well perhaps Ella should escort you to the nurse first to get checked out instead."

I smiled wolfishly and glanced at Ella. She looked startled at being volunteered for nursing duty.

"But Mr Stevens, I have class soon....."

He fixed her a weary look. "Do you have something more important to add, miss Thompson."

"No sir, I'll take him."

I smirked as we left the office, glancing at Ella

"Princess, think you can give me a piggyback ride to the nurse? My legs are kinda sore after that fight."

She quickened her pace to stride ahead without response, eyes fixed forward. I chuckled softly, shoving my hands in my pockets.

We turned the corner and Ella suddenly stopped, posture stiffening. I barely avoided crashing into her.

"Hey, what gives......." I started to protest, before noticing what had made her halt.

There up ahead, stood Damien with Amelia. Amelia reached up, gently caressing Damien's swollen cheek. He didn't look away, eyes locked intensely. Then she leaned in close and whispered something in his ear making him grin.

Ella stood frozen, face pale. She looked on the verge of tears. I opened my mouth, then closed it again. Nothing to say would help right now.