***
In the morning I was feeling better. My vital signs had stabilized and my bodily functions were normal. I was even able to eat breakfast. Before I was discharged however, a doctor paid me a visit.
"Good morning, Mister… Rock," he remarked while examining my chart. "My name is Dr. Chan." He stood there reading it while shaking his head and frowning. "Let me ask you a question. Do you have a death wish?"
"No, not at all."
"You are in phenomenal shape. I have never seen an 18 year old boy with such complete and perfect muscular development. You're obliviously an athlete. Being an athlete, why in the world would you go running in the extreme heat of yesterday and doing it without either eating or hydrating yourself beforehand? Why would you run in that heat without taking some kind of beverage with you? This was either a gross act of stupidity, or a suicide attempt."
"I wasn't trying to kill myself, Doctor. I made… an error… in judgment."
"You are fortunate that a nurse was nearby to assist you and call an ambulance as well."
"It won't happen again."
He nodded his head. "I'm going to release you, but make sure you keep yourself hydrated and also take it easy for the next day or two. Understood?"
"Yes, thanks."
Stacy arrived to bring me home. As we drove, I asked her what happened to Keith.
"An hour after you left, he received a phone call from his father telling him that his grandfather had passed away. He and his family have flown to New York State. He won't be back until Saturday. Thirty minutes later those men showed up."
"I'm glad AJ was safe," I remarked.
"She managed to get away," replied Stacy while sighing. "We have a back-up plan that if the girls can't get into the safety room, they're to run outside and then down to the nearby park. I told them it's safer to be among a crowd of people than to be alone. Of course, we had never before experienced an encounter like yesterday. While I called the ambulance for you, Shannon went down to the park to look for her. She found her hiding near some playground equipment."
"How's Shannon doing?"
"She's… hanging in there. But she's been traumatized. Last night she woke up crying. Right now she's keeping the incident bottled up. She needs to release her feelings."
"Yeah, you're right. I understand." I noticed a perplexed look suddenly come over Stacy's face, as if she was deep in thought.
"Lance, I'm curious. What was your childhood like?"
"I don't know. Why do you ask?"
"Because sometimes you talk and act like a typical teenage boy and then there are times when you behave like… like someone who's twice your age."
"Is that good or bad?"
"It's… just different."
As we pulled into the driveway, I told her I wanted to go to school. At first she was against the idea saying that I should stay home and rest a little more. However, I convinced her I was fine and that I would be okay. After changing my clothes and grabbing my book bag, we headed back out to the high school.
"You're late. Take this note and give it to the receptionist," she remarked.
Because homeroom was now over, I went straight to biology class. Reina gave me a why-are-you-late-look. I smiled and then shook my head while rolling my eyes. I opened my biology textbook and inside the front cover there had been inserted a photo-copied piece of paper. A close examination revealed it to be a page from Shannon's diary! The headline was titled, "A Diamond in the Rough." It read: On Friday evening a diamond in the rough came into my life. At first I thought he was only a lump of coal. Yesterday, however, when he courageously protected me from the stress and pressures that are a part of my life, a genuine diamond emerged! His shape has many facets, some of which I'm still trying to understand and appreciate. He is rock hard, has flashes of brilliance, and is exquisitely cut. But he is not perfect. This diamond still has flaws which occasionally show up. However, I know these imperfections will disappear as this 'Rock' finds his proper setting in life. YOU are a diamond in my life and the bravest boy I have ever known! With all my heart I thank you for caring about me, and for rescuing me! She had signed it with a heart.
I glanced over at Shannon and she flashed me a huge smile. Instantly, I felt butterflies in my stomach! I noticed Reina had been reading the note over my shoulder. I folded it up and then slipped it into my pants pocket. I was on cloud nine the rest of the period! When class was over and as we were leaving, Reina asked me to save her a seat at lunch. I agreed.
At lunch I sat with the usual gang while saving the chair directly across from me. I was looking around for Shannon and I spotted her making her way over to my table. She came up and humbly asked, "Is this seat taken?"
"Yes, by me." remarked Reina, who had abruptly appeared out of nowhere while quickly sliding into it. Shannon appeared embarrassed and she began searching around for another place to sit. I was speechless. Reina looked at me and smiled. The football gods (or thugs as I referred to them) now made their entrance. I saw Greg Schulman and another guy glancing around, while the rest of his pals began their routine pillaging. He spotted Shannon, and then he sauntered over to where she was now sitting at the table next to me.
"Hey goddess, your boyfriend asked me to guard your body while he's away! You are going to the dance tonight, right?"
"I guess so," she replied while nodding. He spun around, mouthed yes, and then walked away while giving his friend a low-five hand slap. His statement about her boyfriend got me to thinking. Keith was her boyfriend. I had no right to even think that our relationship should or could go beyond the formal friendship that it was currently at. I turned my attention to Reina.
"You're one of the quickest, quietest persons I've ever met, kunoichi," I remarked to her in Japanese. She paid me no mind, however. She was looking around at the football players and she appeared disgusted.
"Why should we have to fight for a place to sit when there are four empty tables we could be using? Why are they allowed to take whatever they want, even if it does not belong to them?" she angrily asked in Japanese.
"I don't know."
"Why do you not stop them?"
"What makes you think I can stop them?"
"Because you are a samurai, and a samurai's honor would not let him sit idly by while this bullying of innocent people went on in front of him!"
"What makes you think I'm a samurai?" I asked surprised.
"You carry yourself with the confidence of the dragon. Your body has the power of the tiger. I also see the boldness of both in your eyes. You are samurai, and you could kill them all!"
"Now wait a second here, Reina! I'm not about killing anyone in this cafeteria!"
"Why not?"
"Because that would be a completely dishonorable act."
She gave me a look of disappointment. Switching to English I said, "Besides, this is not my problem. I'm leaving to go home on Saturday. I'm returning back to Canada."
"Why?" she asked, shocked.
"It just didn't work out. There's no place for me to stay down here."
"I am sorry for you, Lance-san."
"Hey Canada, did I just hear you say you're leaving?" asked Jill.
"Yeah, Saturday afternoon."
"That's too bad. You're a really nice guy. I'm going to miss you."
"I'm going to miss you too, Jill. And all of you guys as well, even though I've only known you all for less than a week."
The bell rang signaling the end of lunch period. "Hey, Jill?" I asked, as we made our way out of the cafeteria. "Could I hitch a ride back home with you after school today? I want to ask you a question."
"Sure."
At day's end, Shannon came up to my locker as Jill was standing by and waiting for me.
"Do you need a ride home, Lance?"
"No. Jill is giving me a ride. But thanks anyways."
"Oh," she replied while glancing at Jill. Jill raised her hand in a friendly hello gesture.
Shannon said, "Hi," then turned
and walked away.
As we drove home I remarked, "I need you to do me a big favor after I leave."
"A big favor, huh? What would that be?"
"I want you to tell Shannon the facts you were told about Keith; about his real intentions for wanting to go out with her."
"You can't be serious."
"I'm dead serious."
She pulled the car over to the side of the road. "Do you know what you're asking me to do? You're asking me to betray a confidence for a second time and face Mitterhauser's wrath if he and his friends find out it was me who told her. I can't do that, Canada!"
"I'm asking you to help a girl who could use an ally. Do you want to hear that she was taken advantage of and that Mitterhauser got his way with her? You told me you cared about her."
She shook her head while staring out the window. Finally, she said, "This is a huge request. What are you willing to do for me in exchange?"
"What would you like me to do?"
She stared at me, and then an intense look of desire came into her eyes while her lips parted slightly.
"Sorry, Jill, Shannon and I share the same conviction."
"I guess I should have known that," she replied, with deep disappointment. "Why can't I ever get a hot looking guy?"
"Will you do it then, as a favor for me?"
"Let me think about it."
"Fair enough," I replied as we pulled up to the house. "Thanks for the ride!"
"I'll see you tonight at the dance."
"Yeah, I almost forgot about that. Take care!"
Upon entering the house, I was greeted by Stacy and Shannon in the middle of a loud, heated debate taking place upstairs! I didn't want to be nosy, but this was the first time I had heard them arguing like this and it aroused my curiosity; so I tuned in.
"No, Shannon. This is my house. I make the rules," said Stacy.
"But mom, he can stay in Teri's room! It's not even being used."
"Would you listen to yourself? On Sunday night I couldn't get him out of this house fast enough for you. Now you're begging me to let him stay here for the whole school year."
"Why don't you ask him if he wants to stay?"
"No! He took his life in his hands yesterday when he confronted those men. He should never have been put in that position. It's not fair to him and I will not allow his life to be endangered by staying here. If your father sends those men back and they find him, they'll kill him. I'm certain of it. I would never be able to forgive myself if that were to happen!"
"But mom, I—"
"I see how you now feel about him. But just keep reminding yourself that Keith Mitterhauser is your boyfriend. Lance Rock is going back to Canada in three days. I forbid you to get emotionally involved with him! Is that understood?"
Shannon's reply was to slam shut her bedroom door!