Behind the school, there was a small shed that was once used to store groundskeeping equipment. But that department had acquired a larger shed and the old one was left abandoned in disrepair. It was well-hidden behind other buildings and the school had just forgotten about it. CJ had found it by accident a few years back and ever since, it had become a sort of meeting room for his gang whenever he needed to get them all together.

He paced back and forth in the empty shed, hands shoved deep in his pockets. The door opened with a creak and Big Jim entered.

"What's up, boss?"

"Take a seat. You'll know once everyone is here."

Jim was in a hurry, late for his basketball game, but he knew better that to reason with CJ, so he took a seat at the table they had stolen from the cafeteria. It wasn't long before the others joined them and took their place at the table. CJ studied the room to ensure everyone was there before he spoke.

"You all know Scott?"

"Lunchbox?"

"Yeah. Him. From now on, if you see him before lunch, I want you to mess with him. Make him sore. Make him weak."

Ben spoke up from the back. "But, Boss, you totally smoked that guy in front of the whole school. Why does he need any more humiliation?"

CJ placed both hands on the table threatningly. "Because he ain't gonna give up, Ben. You all saw him. He has grit, like I said. He'll keep coming back. And he has more determination than the lot of you. That's why."

"Why do you need our help, then? You proved you are stronger and smarter than him today already."

CJ kicked the table hard, sending it skidding on the floor and into the waist of the unfortunate kid in the back. Everyone stared in awe at their leader. This was far from the calm and controlled CJ they knew. They all cringed at his words as they flew like daggers in his fury.

"Did I ask for your opinion? Did I? No! I asked you to do something! And if you aren't going to do it, no one will recognize you by the time I'm finished! Now what do you say!?"

The kid in the back spoke with pain in his voice as he said "Yes, Boss."

CJ leaned forward menacingly. "All of you!"

"Yes, Boss!" The reply was loud and clear.

"We're clear. Get outta here."

***

CJ was right. Zachary kept coming back. Every day at lunch he would make the same challenge to CJ, and every day he would fail. CJ wouldn't knock him out. Just would pound him so harshly he couldn't get back up. By now, it had become an expectation. A normal event of lunch that the students would glance at as they entered the cafeteria.

Zachary was often late to his next class, but the teacher knew why and soon didn't even acknowledge him as he came in the room. No one did besides CJ's gang. Always trying to get a surprise kick or punch in when they could to satisfy CJ. And then there was Carl. Literally the only person in the school he could really talk to.

"Zachary!" Carl's voice made Zachary jump as his staring contest with his locker was cut short.

"You okay?"

"Santa Rosita! You scared the daylights out of me!"

"Sorry. You were frozen. Like...completely. With your hand still on the locker door and everything."

"I know, sorry. Just needed to think."

Carl sighed. "Well, if there's ever a time to do it, it's now. CJ's gang never hangs around after school."

"Yeah, I noticed." Zachary started packing his books in his bag.

"Listen, Zach. There's a reason I came to talk to you."

Zachary looked up from his backpack.

"I wanted to say thank you. Now that CJ and his gang have been focused on you, no one else has been under fire from them."

Zachary smiled halfheartedly. "Well, I'm glad. But I don't know how much more of this I can take."

"I know. Which is also why I made," He fumbled through his bag for a second, "This."

He pulled out what looked to be a super thin black vest. It seemed to be just the right size for Zachary.

"What is it?"

"Well, I'm a nerd, so I did what nerdy kids do. Made a nerdy invention. It's thin, I know, but that's so it'll fit under your shirt and it won't restrict movement. I've been researching metal elasticity and the flexibility and compression dynamics of ferrous and...non...I'm losing you, aren't I?"

"Yeah, sorry."

"This is made of metal strands and coils. Basically, when you get punched, the coils will tense and it'll spread out the blow into a larger area, making it hurt less than normal. It won't do anything about the momentum, so you'll still feel the force of the punch...but it will be kinda like a pillow in-between. Make sense? Zachary?"

A tear fell slowly from Zachary's eye. He had been beaten, thrown around, ignored, mistreated, manipulated, humiliated, and just plain degraded for the last week or so. And now, his one and only friend had presented him with a kindness that was completely uncalled-for and something Zachary wasn't prepared for. All the pain, hurt, and hate he bundled inside him just melted away and he embraced Carl, a mess, but a grateful mess.

"Thank you. Thank you so much."

Carl was startled by his reaction but hugged back.

"Of course. Just...you better win this time. Otherwise it'll be more than just a vest I have to make."

Zachary chuckled. "I will, Carl. I will."