Skip was sandwiched between Mike and Xander. They all wore tough-guy looks.
“Going for a little ice cream, kids?” Skip said it like ice cream was for babies.
“Hey, Skip. What’s up?” Brett stepped forward.
“Just get out of here, Brett,” Skip said. “This has got nothing to do with you. This is me and the dummy.” He nodded toward Landon.
“Mr. Sanders said no more fighting, Skip. Neither of us wants to get suspended.” Landon tried not to sound afraid, even though he was.
Skip made a show of looking around. “Yeah, which is why we’re standing on Pondfield Road instead of in the cafeteria. Sanders can’t touch me here, and you’re twice my size, so I can do whatever I have to do to protect myself.”
“Who’s gonna believe that?” Genevieve fired out.
Mike decided to get into the fray. “How about Xander’s dad? Chief of police.”
Brett shook his head. “Look, you guys don’t want to do this. Do you know how stupid you’re gonna look wearing your butts as hats?”
“What hats?” Skip narrowed his eyes at Brett. “What are you even talking about, Bell?”
Brett clenched his hands and took another step forward. “If you don’t get the heck out of here, I’m gonna kick your butts so hard, you’ll be wearing them for hats. Those hats.”
“There’s three of us.” Mike spat his words, but he wasn’t moving closer.
Brett snorted. “I only see about two. One for Skip and about a half each for you two clowns.”
Furster and West looked at Skip to see how he’d respond.
“Look, Brett, we’re teammates. This isn’t about you.”
“You’re right. We’re teammates,” Brett said. “All of us.”
“Not him.” Xander pointed at Landon.
“Yes, him,” Brett growled. “Last time I checked, he was on our team. And besides, he’s not the one who took your girlfriend, Skip.”
“I know he didn’t take my girlfriend. He’s like her big pet Wookiee.” Skip laughed with his friends. “That big dork isn’t gonna take my girlfriend.”
“Yeah,” Brett said quietly but with a hard edge, “’cause I did that.”
Skip’s eyes went from Brett to Megan, back and forth several times, before settling on Brett. With a blood-curdling yell, Skip launched himself.