The Shift Chap. 3

As he and Diamond walk into the school, he sees Brayden striding toward them with a frown on his face.

"What are you doing with this freak?" Brayden says, looking at Diamond as he finishes striding toward them.

"Nothing you need to worry yourself with." She says with the driest voice Regasulus had ever heard.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Brayden says, stepping closer.

"Back-off. Now." Regasulus growls. He notices that there is a hint of Zircons voice in there. He steps in front of Diamond, intercepting Brayden.

"What are you going to do 'bout it freak?" Brayden says, taking another step forward. His hand reaches out, grabbing Regasulus's shoulder trying to throw him away. What happened next Regasulus could barely process, it happens so fast he almost didn't see it happen. As Brayden grabbed Regasulus's shoulder, Regasulus's arm shoots up grabbing Brayden's arm. His arm moves on its own it seems, until he figures out it's Zircon. As he twists Brayden's arm, it forces Brayden to kneel. The look of fear crosses his face, when Regasulus twists a smidge harder.

"Next time you mess with me, or the girl, you will not see another day!" Snarls Zircon's voice out of Regasulus's mouth. He notices a few school kids had walked up, watching the fight. When they heard Zircon/Regasulus's threat they started backing away, looks of fear tracing their faces.

"You really are a freak!" Brayden exclaims, after Regasulus drops his arm.

>>That was fun! Let's do it again sometime! Zircon says in a joyful voice, after Brayden scrambles away.

"You could have got me beat up, but that was kind of cool." Regasulus says to Zircon in his head.

"Wow! That was the bravest thing you've ever done!" Diamond says, with such gratitude in her voice he thought she was going to kiss him again.

"I-It was nothing." He says leerily. He really couldn't handle another kiss. Not after he just fought the most popular kid in school. As he walks Diamond to class, he ponders on what Brayden will do to him. Brayden never let anyone talk back to him or fight him, not without doing something horrendous to the other person. There was one person who stood up to him for tripping him, making the teen spill his lunch on the floor. Regasulus remembered that the kid got a facial restructure, after standing up to Brayden.

"See you at lunch, my knight in shining armor!" Says an excited Diamond, as she enters class. As Regasulus heads to class, he hopes that Brayden has enough soul left not to take his anger out on Diamond. He stops in the bathroom, taking a moment to clean his face.

>>You 'know you really should tell the girl how feel. Suggests Zircon, his form taking up the mirror.

"I'm not sure."

>> Oh c'mon! It's not that hard! Just tell her you want to go on a date. It's that simple.

"Easy for you to say, your some interdimensional mind-controller."

>> Dude, if you don’t, I will do it for you. And I promise you won't like that. Zircon says, finishing their argument. When Regasulus enters his class, he sits in his seat, preparing to ask Diamond on a date. Two hours later, Regasulus heads to lunch. As he arrives in the cafeteria, he skims a glance over the room. He doesn't see pink hair anywhere.

>> She's sneaking up on you. Turn around now. Zircon informs Regasulus.

"Got it." He stiffens his back, pauses then spins on heels facing Diamond.

"How did you know I was here?" Diamond questions, bewildered.

"Just instinct." He says, suppressing a smile. If he could fist bump Zircon, he would.

Diamond cuts her eyes at him. "Whatever! Let's go get some lunch! The tum-tum is growling something fierce!" She exclaims, dragging him toward the lunch line. They enter the line, grabbing a tray. For some odd reason he was having Deja-vu, he just couldn't put his finger on it. As they get their food (Burgers, Diamond's favorite.), they find their normal table. As he starts to take a bite of burger, Zircon starts to shout in his head.

>> Watch out! He's throwing something at you! He warns.

Regasulus jumps out of his seat, spinning around. He grabs the tray mid-air, before it would have hit him in the back of the head. He sees the Brayden is running at him, his fist poised to make a blow.

>> Want me to take over? Zircon asks.

"Naw, I'll handle him." Regasulus says with confidence.

As Brayden gets closer, Regasulus takes up a firm stance. "Get him Regasulus!" Shouts Diamond, from a safe distance. Brayden is upon him; he throws the first blow. Regasulus easily dodges, stepping out of the way. Brayden topples on the table; he turns around lunging at Regasulus. Regasulus isn't as quick this time, he tries to sidestep but Brayden's fist connects with the side of his lip. He almost instantly starts to taste blood. As Brayden comes in for another blow, Regasulus finally gets fed up. As Brayden throws his blow, his fist slams into Regasulus's palm.

"Whaa?" Says Brayden, shock filling his voice. Then Regasulus pulls Brayden forward, throwing his head into Brayden's. "AARRGHHHHH!" Cries Brayden, falling to his knees. Regasulus stands above him, glaring.

"Stay down. I don't want to hurt you." He says, turning around.

"Never!" Brayden Shrieks.

As he stands up, flipping open a pocketknife. Regasulus takes in the knife, fear tracing his spine. "Reggie! Get away from him!" Diamond screams. He hears other students shouting, saying that it's gone too far. As Brayden races at him, he prepares to try and take the knife from his attacker. But he is too slow, Brayden jabs the knife into Regasulus's stomach. "NO!" Screams Diamond, then he hears her gasp. He looks down where the knife stabbed him. He sees that there is no blood, and that the knife is shattered.

>> I got you kid. You’re under my protection now. He hears Zircon snarl.

Then his arm socks Brayden in the stomach, sending him hurling across the room. He walks toward Diamond, cupping her teary face in his hand.

"Don't worry. I would never leave you." He says, kissing Diamond on top of her head.

He places his hand on the small of her back, guiding her out of the lunchroom. As they exit the school, they head toward his truck. He finally decided that he was going to get some answers. Next stop: Home.

To Be Continued...….Chapter 4 coming soon!