Survival Of The Fittest

"Goddammit, Ric! You fucking smashed up my vehicle!" Boxer bellowed as he got up and started for the boy, his rage clearly building to the point where he might as well have turned green and ripped off his jacket. "Give my fucking baseball back!" If anything, Ric's taunts only seemed to make Boxer even more certain that Ric was responsible for smashing up his car, and if the principal or Ms. Bland wouldn't do anything in the next 5 seconds, someone else would be smashed up.

It was at that time that Eduardo decided to let Ric go out of fear of ending up in Boxer's way - and to minimize his own pain intake for the day. Of course, it might not have made much difference the moment Ms. Bland decided to open her mouth...and reach out to "catch" Karl as he tried to leave. Even though Karl didn't start the fight, being used as a projectile weapon was plenty enough to make him more than a witness.

"All of you three will now come to the principal's office!" She didn't seem to notice Gabe had exited...but Eddie had. Perhaps staying out of Boxer's way would have spared him harm now, but he quickly figured not getting that baseball back would end up getting him harmed more than any flying tray that Ric could send his way.

((Eduardo continued in What's in the Past is History))

Ric stood up to his full height (which, compared to that of Boxer, was not all that much) and proceeded to lose his cool, resulting in an even worse redux of his stammer.

"D-DON'T Y-Y-YO-YOU GET IT!? Y-YOU H-HAVE N-N-NO P-PROOF!! T-THE B-B-B-BASEB-B-BALL P-PROVES N-NOTHING! Y-YOU J-JUST A-ASSUME T-THAT B-BECAUSE S-SOME G-GUY T-TELLS YOU I B-BUSTED Y-Y-YOUR C-C-CAR T-THAT IT'S TRUE! Y-YOU N-NEVER F-F-FUCKING T-T-THINK!"

Ric broke down then and there, heaving and gulping huge amounts of air, tears spilling from his eyes and down his misshapen cheeks crazily.
Ms. Bland looked as if she was torn between comforting him and roaring at him.