dontcha just LOVE jerks(Blade, open)

Johann slammed Titus against the locker." Hahahaha...whatsamatta? You a mutie? Why not talk,huh?" He slams his fist into the metal beside the younger, smaller boys head." Cmon...I asked you a question!" Titus stared at him wideyed, only to gasp as the bully jerks the book out of his hands." Whoops!! Fell out of your hands...let me hold it for ya,hahaha." His cronies chuckle behind him.Titus jumps for it, only to get slammed again.

Leo walked into the hall his hands in his pocket. Headphones in his ear he couldn't help but let his head bounce up and down as he listened to his new favorite band. It wasn't a new band actually an old one that he happened upon recently. He loved finding old music so when he found an album of Mongolian Chop Squad he had locked the song Brainstorm into his phone.

Imagine his surprise when his favorite song was interrupted by the sound of flesh colliding with the metal locker. Taking off his headphones he saw what looked to be someone being bullied. Usually the bystandar effect would have overtaken Leo but he noticed something about the victim. It was one of his classmates. Weighing his options, if he left Titus to fend for himself and was seen doing so it would be social suicide in the class. Yet if he helped the boy it would raise regard within the class but may lower his overall social status by associating himself with a 'nobody.'

Without a word he would walk up to the bullies and snatch the book out of the bully's hand and opened it. Reading the title he read the first few pages. " The Illiad. Wow man, you really pick some hard books to get into. Have you tried the Odyssey yet?" he said having already read the book for class. The bullies would turn their attention towards Leo. They should have known who he was, he was the third most popular kid in school but it looked like they were unaware of this fact. They still out numbered Titus and Leo so it seemed they were going to attack Leo as well. "Hey guys, there are easier ways to get a hold of books like this. Have you ever tried the library?" he asked.

Titus winces, gulping as the bully rears back his fist, but the "fun" was interrupted by one of Titus's classmates,Leo.Titus, blinking at his question, nods, still not speaking.The bullies state in shock, then begin to growl." Veeeeeery funny...I think you'll look even funnier after we pound ya."They step toward menacingly, only to be interrupted yet again by a girl.Titus looks at her, then nods, adjusting his sunglasses,which had slid down and were about to fall off,hiding himself behind them again.The bullies blink, then grin." Weeeeeell, sure,cutie, that's fine. But I'm sure well be of much more use to you." The leader waggles his eyebrows, flexing, and the crony's cackle." Well be here waiting, you know...just in case."

Leo stood there as it looked like the matter was going to be resolved and made his intervention worth nothing. Suffice to say he was quite annoyed that his heroic display had been amounted to nothing. It took a moment for Leo to keep calm. He didn't like taking unnecessary risks and he hate being ignored. His body's density began to shift and Leo almost fell through the floor. Well you know what they say, no use crying over spilled milk, Leo thought stabilizing himself. At least that was what Leo thought to keep himself from doing something stupid like continue to pick a fight with the bullies.

Seeing that his spot light had been taken as not only the victim's attention had been taken but also the enemy which also meant that the audience attention had left him to. Not that it looked like the boy was going to get out of the situation relatively unharmed. There was no reason for Leo to stick around. He turned around and returned his headphones to his ears and let Slip Out play in his headphones. It was his favorite feel good song. Holding the book he would continue his way down the hall.

He estimated that there would be a 65% chance that the kid would be re-approached by bullies. Considering that most bully would be deterred by the presence of a female. It wouldn't be enough to keep them away. Telling a teacher would probably be the best course of action, at least that was what Leo thought. Though a teachers influence will only last till they get out of school. Then it would be pounding time.

Titus shakes his head,following her, his voice at a low whisper like usual." No....I'll help. They'll have to...they'll have to go through me." He promptly shuts his trap. That was more than he usually said, and it wasn't said firmly,.Despite that, there was a certain strength in his words.He looks at Ella."...thank you..." Then,he looks around.Meanwhile, the three jerks were walking along the hallways, laughing." Didja see that mute squirt? How pathetic! Too bad two noseys stepped in,.." The leader snorts." Ey...well take care of those two...And I'm sure I can convince that cutie to see my side,hahahaha."

Leo continued walking to a place where he could chill out. He lost control of his powers for a moment so now he needed a place where he could recoup and regroup. This place ended up being a single room right next to the band room. It was precariously placed so that it wasn't well known to anyone but Band Members and the popular crowd. It is currently being used for a storage room. It was where a few of the couples went to make out it was the second most conspicuous place next to the theater. Sitting there on one of the boxes Leo went over the scene in his head.

While he did get some points for attempting to stop the bullies, considering that the girl had deescalated the situation the net gain was abysmal. So there went his chance to rocket even higher on the social hierarchy. Suffice to say he was quite frustrated at the current failure. So now he was stuck in the room ditching first period so that he could stabilize himself. Though at the moment his hand had already went through the box he was sitting on.

Titus nods." T...that's okay." He gulps, hearing the bullies voices,but follows her instructions, looking down to the floor as they pass." Eeeeeey...its Quiet Boy! And the cutie,hahahaha!What,don't you two like us?" They begin to follow the two, and Titus bites his lip, concentrating and forming a plank near the leaders foot, who promptly falls down, and Titus quickly fades it away." Boss, what happened?" " I...I don't know..." Titus couldn't help it, he chuckled. But hearing them get back up, he gulps." Maybe you should continue on....I don't think they're interested in you enough to come afte you."

Leo remained in the room. Shifting through various objects in the room Leo tried to get his thoughts together. He decided that he would have to wait for his next chance to get himself on the next level. At the moment he was second rate on the popularity scale and a nobody among b101. If he wanted to rise above the level of a nobody he would need too do something.

He would need to get some friends. Stabilizing he would pull out his cell as he thought back. He had planned to use the last event to try and befriend Tidus. Unfortunately that wasn't going to happen so he looked at the book he still had. Leo sighed, at least the book would start a conversation. Next on his list would be Eli. Mainly due to the fact she was the first person he ever talked to into the class. Not only that he vaguely remembered seeing her hanging with a few of his friends. Was she Ted's ex? he wondered. Either way so long as he was careful he wouldn't accidentally step on any toes.

Titus nods, keeping up. He felt,admittedly, like a puppy, or perhaps like a young child, being tugged like this. That's alright,though. At least she hadn't left him behind....He smiles slightly as she looks over Leo, then blinks as she puts boxes in the door,going over and helping her. He then looks at Leo, walking closer so he could hear him." Uhm...thank you...for your help..I don't think they would have been gentle........I'm sorry...." He looks down at his feet.

Leo looked up to see that his private space had been invaded. Luckily it was by some friends rather than enemies. Looking at Ella Leo couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. What a mom he thought. Then she proceeded to barricade the door like she was afraid of something. Leo just asked, "So did I miss something while I was here for a total of... 20 minutes?" he asked looking at his phone for a time check.

Leo then turned to Titus the shy boy who for all in tense purposes was now speaking to him thanking him for his help. Slightly confused over what exactly was happening he just said, "No problem man, anytime! Also before I forget. Here is your book." Leo remembering the book hands the book back to titus before looking around expecting an explanation to arrive in some way shape or form.