Marina smiled wickedly. “Want to settle this? Woman to woman?”
I rolled my eyes. “When you show me a woman, sure.”
“What did you say?”
She lunged at me and Clint stepped in front of me again. She started beating her fists against his chest, but he didn’t move. Roy stood behind his girl like a fucking coward, letting her wail on my man. But, even though Clint’s fists were gripped tight, he didn’t swing one punch.
He simply let her get it out of her system before she backed away.
“Yeah. And that’ll be your girl’s face if she ever talks to me that way again.”
Clint shook his head. “You won’t touch Rae.”
Roy narrowed his eyes. “You threatening my girl?”
I snickered. “No. He’s not. He’s simply telling you Marina won’t touch me without consequences.”
Roy licked his lips. “And what kind of consequences are those?”
Clint sighed. “The kind of consequences that get you both expelled and thrown in jail for all the underage drinking parties you throw.”
Marina hissed. “You mean the parties you helped us throw? The parties you got drunk at? The parties where you hooked up with random bitches and boasted about it later? Yeah? Those parties, you damn drunk?”
Michael came to my side. “Doesn’t matter what he did in his past, so long as he’s moved past it.”
Allison came up to Clint’s other side. “Yeah. We don’t care about that stuff. We only care about what he does now.”
I nodded. “Which is why you two aren’t worth it. Clint, they aren’t worth it. Let’s just sit back down, okay?”
I looked up at him, hoping he had relaxed. But he hadn’t.
“I’m good. I’ll sit down once they leave.”
I tried to tug him into the seat, but he shrugged off my touch. He looked down at me and winked, but it didn’t provide me with any solace. I didn’t like where this was going. I just wanted everyone to go back to their respective places so we could eat and get the hell back to class.
Roy snickered. “You got something to say, asshole, then say it.”
Clint nodded. “Fine. I will. I’m tired of you and Marina pushing me around. Pushing us around. I’m tired of you thinking you’re a big shot when the only reason you got into your position is because I took pity on you. Befriended you when I didn’t have anyone else. It’s time someone taught you a lesson. It’s time you were reminded of who’s better with their fists.”
“Oh, you want a fight. Is that it?”
I placed my hand on his chest. “Clint, don’t do this.”
He shook his head. “I don’t want a fight. But, sometimes, that’s the only way people listen. Getting the ever-loving shit beat out of them. If that’s what it takes for you to get the picture, then I’m all for it.”
Marina stood behind Roy. “Get him, baby. Break that fucking jaw of his.”
Roy put up his fists. “Fine, then. Come on. Hit me.”
Clint shrugged. “You first.”
Roy didn’t hesitate. He swung at Clint and he shoved me out of the way. Michael caught me and pulled me away from the scene as I watched it unfold. Allison ducked and Michael rushed for her, clamoring over the lunch table to get to her. He picked her up and climbed back across the table as Clint caught Roy’s fist mid-swing and twisted his arm. He backed Roy against the wall. Marina cried out and whipped around, looking for some sort of support for Roy.
But everyone at their table kept their backs turned.
“Someone help him! Where the fuck are you guys!?”
Her cries echoed across the cafeteria and I saw students turning our way. With each punch Roy threw, Clint caught them. Not once did that asshole land a punch. Clint brought his knee up into Roy’s gut and took him to his knees. The stupid boy heaved for air as Marina fell down beside him. Clint hovered over them, a dark look on his face. Not once had he swung a punch, though. All he did was warn. And promise.