Bobby was startled by this revelation. He never thought of Jenny as someone who had suitors. Granted she was pretty, but she was his aunt. Watching Mr. Hill just then, he realized that his aunt had at least one suitor in town whether she knew it or not. He was aware that Jenny gave up a lot to stay in town and care for Gramps. He did not realize just how much it was. His mother never really talked about Jenny other than sibling rivalry, so he never really paid that much attention when she ranted. Now he realized that his aunt actually might have had a life at one time beyond what happened on the ranch.
Bobby finally looked up at Mr. Hill. He saw the hurt in his eyes. “I could…” he started to say, then cleared his throat while shaking his head, “like, ask her?”
Mr. Hill caught his breath suddenly when he realized what Bobby had said. “No, no, don’t do that,” he said with a sigh of relief.
Mr. Hill quickly took hold of Bobby’s hand and shook it. “Tomorrow you can tell me how you came up with the equation.”
It was a clear indication their little talk was over with. Bobby looked slightly surprised. “Sure, dude, tomorrow.”
Bobby slowly got up and walked to the door. He stopped and turned back to Mr. Hill, who by then was wiping his brow. Bobby turned to the equation on the whiteboard and could not see what all the fuss was. It only made sense to him to make the changes he did. Bobby was about to say something but then decided just to leave.
The halls were empty by then. No one hung around long once the final bell rang for the afternoon rang out, and given the heat of the day they all sought the comfort of the open air. Bobby quickly stopped off at his locker, dropped off some books, and then stuffed his backpack with books he needed for homework. Although his aunt never saw him open a book that did not mean he did not study when they all were sleeping. Bobby just was not into flaunting the fact that he did hit the books. In all actuality, he enjoyed learning, and he enjoyed challenging his mind. That was why mathematics in all forms was his favorite subject. The more complicated the problem, the more he enjoyed solving it. As he shut his locker door, Bobby turned to the entrance down the hall and saw students still walking around the schoolyard. He would have to get past them and to his car before he would be able to breathe easier that this school day was over.
Bobby left the sanctuary of the school building. He slowly walked down the steps while glancing around the grounds and taking inventory of where everyone was. As much as the students did not like school, it seemed no one left the grounds with much enthusiasm, which boggled Bobby’s mind. But this was how students developed their hierarchy. The ones who dominated others were the most aggressive outside on the school grounds. It carried over into school. Bobby wondered if this was how it always was. It did not make sense, but then he never was a student of human nature. It had only been recently that his eyes were opened to this pecking order.
Matt and his jock friends dominated the outside basketball court as they always did, not letting the younger kids in on their game and making them watch in awe of their skills. Shelby Mall was with a group of girls off near the parking lot when she suddenly turned and started walking toward the basketball court. Once Matt got a glimpse of Shelby, he stopped playing, tossed the ball to one of his friends, and then walked over to where Shelby was walking. Matt grabbed Shelby by the arm and started dragging her off to the side of the school building near the janitor’s shed. It went unnoticed by all but Bobby who, once Shelby was near, never stopped watching her until she left the area.
“Let me go,” Shelby said, struggling to free herself.
Bobby turned to the basketball court to see if anyone would go to Shelby’s aid, but he could tell by the actions of Matt’s jock friends that no one would step in to help Shelby.
“You still mad because of last week?” Matt snapped.
“Nothing happened, and you know it. I’m tired of the lies you’re spreading about what an easy lay I am.”
Matt put his hand on Shelby’s breast. Suddenly Bobby’s inner disgust for the jock took over, and he quickly hurried over to where the two were struggling.
“It doesn't have to be like that,” Matt quickly added.
“You illiterate jock,” Shelby mocked.
It angered her listening to Matt talk. Although he was good in sports, the good grades he got in subjects like English and Algebra were token grades only to allow him to stay on the team. It did not do him a service to pass him on without him taking some responsibility for learning anything. In the end, if he ever got into college, it would all catch up to him about how ill prepared he was for a higher education.
Shelby broke free of Matt and quickly slapped him in the face. “Leave me alone.”
Up until then, Bobby had been inching his way toward the two, but when Shelby slapped Matt, he dropped his backpack and ran over to them. Matt was about to strike Shelby when Bobby caught his arm in midair and stopped the assault.
“Can’t you see she is not interested in the Neanderthal type,” Bobby said as he turned to Shelby to make sure she was okay.
Shelby mouthed a quick thank-you to Bobby. However, Matt would not let the situation rest, given that the ruckus caused other students to take notice and surround them. Matt’s masculinity was on the line if he let Bobby get away with putting a stop to his assault on Shelby.
“What did you say?” Matt yelled.
Shelby snickered at Matt as she stepped back quickly. She knew Matt would not let this go and feared for Bobby and what was to come. It did not take long. Matt’s assault on Bobby started with him grabbing Bobby’s shirt and pulling him closer. However, Bobby was quick to catch Matt off-guard by putting his leg behind Matt’s knee and shoving him backward. Matt went flying to the ground as the students who had gathered around them started snickering and laughing at the jock sprawled on the grass. It was humiliating for Matt, and he was not going to let it go so quickly.
Just then, Mr. Rowe, the Physical Ed teacher, and coach for the boy’s sports team walked out of school with another teacher. When they saw the scuffle, they hurried over to Bobby, who was still standing over Matt. Mr. Rowe grabbed Bobby by the scruff of the neck and yanked him back.
“That will be enough of this,” he snapped.
Bobby, not realizing who grabbed him, took a wild swing as he turned and then saw the coach. He had never had a good relationship with the coach, as Mr. Rowe never had time for anyone who was not into sports. Moreover, Bobby had a way of alienating most of the teachers, given his cocky attitude and lack of respect for anyone in authority.
“What the f…?” Bobby was about to say but then had the fortitude to bite his tongue.
“Listen to me, you hoodlum, I’ll have no such language on school grounds.”
“Let me go,” Bobby snapped as he struggled to break free of the coach.
Shelby quickly stepped between Bobby and Mr. Rowe while Matt finally got up and brushed off his pants.
“Mr. Rowe, Bobby, didn’t start it,” she argued.
Mr. Rowe stared at Shelby with suspicion. Although she was the sheriff’s daughter, he was not buying into the fact that she was standing up for someone like Bobby Drews.
“Shelby, you stay out of this. Your father wouldn’t appreciate your hanging out with this riff raff.”
“He’s not the riff raff here,” Shelby snapped.
Mr. Rowe ignored Shelby. He looked at Matt. “I would have expected a little better of you,” he said before turning to Bobby and sticking a finger in Bobby’s chest as if to stress his point. “And for you, tomorrow morning, the principal’s office. Be there, nine sharp.”
Bobby just looked up at Mr. Rowe, and then turned to Shelby and shrugged. He knew it was useless to argue with him, so all he said, was, “Cool.”