[M e w]

And just like that he was by himself, watching her run and her hair fluttering in the wind. Warily he glanced back at the school, saw nobody, and then started to make his way around the building so that he could get on his route to his house. There were still kids hanging out around the school and he could feel their gazes on him as he walked, but he just kept his eyes set forward and didn't bother to acknowledge his classmates.
Robyn's words were still sounding in his ears, "Talk to you tonight."
Suddenly the weight of the leather bracelet on his wrist felt like a concrete glove, reminding him that there was much more to fear than a schoolyard bully.

When he got home he shut the door, yelled "I'm home", and started to run up the stairs to his room. He was hoping that he could get to his room without his mother seeing him but of course he wasn't that lucky. She happened to be upstairs and he nearly ran into her as he hopped up the last few steps.

"Woah Shannon, slow down the-" she halted, a gasp erupting from her mouth as she saw her son's injuries. He could immediately feel her hands on his face, and he winced as she brought her palm across his left cheek where Jason's fist had slammed into it.
"Ah, Shannon, sorry! What happened to you?!" she said, her voice increasing in volume with every syllable.
He groaned and pulled away from his mother, ducking under her arms and then putting a hand out to stop her from coming at him again.
"It's fine mom, I'm fine. Don't worry about me."
And with that Shannon turned away from his mother, her face scrunched up in worry, and ran to his room.
He clicked the lock on the door as soon as it shut and threw his backpack to the ground. He waited for a few moments to see if his mother would come to the door and try to coax him out, but after a minute relaxed when no sound came from outside his room.
He didn't know what else he was supposed to do now. He had homework but it all seemed ridiculous now; sitting at his desk and doing algebra equations when in three to four hours he would be fighting off shadowy monsters. In the end he found himself slipping out his window, carefully climbing down to the ground, and roaming the streets. There was no point in waiting in his room, curled up on his bed waiting for night to fall so that he could repeat the previous night.

- - -

Crossing her arms, Maddison allowed herself a humorless smirk at his playfulness.
"Shut it Cyclops. I just thought I'd... ugh... thank you for saving my ass last night. And you should feel honored, I don't say such things to just anyone you know," she said with a grimace.
She felt awkward having those words come out of her mouth, and she didn't want to prolong the moment.

"Look, just... take care of my bike, I'll buy another one. And as for the stupid Game, expect this thanks as a one time thing. I don't take you as the buddy-buddy type and neither am I, it was strange to meet up with you again but I don't expect to see you again."
This whole situation had taken her off-guard and she didn't appreciate that. She would want to take out her frustrations out in the Game ten-fold tonight, and she was eagerly anticipating the chance.
"I can send the money for taking care of the bike, don't worry," she added as a last remark before turning away from the other Player and walking off. The whole conversation felt weird but Maddison was known for her ranging moods and personality.
Right now she forced herself to forget about the chance encounter with thoughts of pushing her spear through the ugly faces of the monsters in the Game.

[Do you mind the colored posts? I'm wanting to make my replies all pretty so ya... xD
You can tell me if you'd prefer them to stay black though heh.]