So I'm John Lawrence's son

The hubbub of the schoolyard was a constant hum, drowned out by the loud music blaring from the speakers. For Samantha, however, all that noise was nothing more than a backdrop to the storm brewing inside her. The gossip Kyler had spread like wildfire, and now everyone was looking at her with evil smiles and venomous whispers.

In the cafeteria, Moon and Yasmin, her old friends, joined in the chorus of laughter and scornful looks. Sam tried to find a place to sit, but even Aisha, her old ally, avoided her. "Don't bother me, Sam. Go talk to Kyler, since he won't leave your mouth," she said, with cutting irony. The words hit her like a punch. Her eyes stung, but she refused to cry there.

Blood boiled in his veins. I wasn't going to let it go. With his head held high, he walked across the cafeteria under the watchful eyes and found Kyler sitting with his friends, having fun at his expense.

Sam hit him hard on the back. "Do you think it's funny to spread lies?"

Kyler turned around with a mocking smile. "Look who showed up! The girl who loves to play the saint."

His friends laughed. "You guys know about that billboard with the dick in her dad's mouth? We know who she gets it from!" he said, loud enough for the entire cafeteria to hear.

A wave of laughter erupted around him. Sam felt his face burn with anger. "I didn't do any of the things you're saying!" he snapped, his voice shaking with fury. "You're just making this shit up to humiliate me."

"Oh yeah? Then why did you run out of the theater?" Kyler teased, glaring mischievously. "Didn't you like my touch?"

Before Sam could respond, a firm voice rose above the hubbub. "Leave her alone, Kyler."

Jack. He walked closer, his eyes fixed on the bully. The cafeteria fell silent.

Kyler glared at him with derision. "What's up, Jack? You gonna defend the little princess now? Watch out, man. I've tasted that bitch before, and the taste of my cock must still be in her mouth."

Jack clenched his fists. "You son of a bitch," he growled. "How could a piece of shit like you do something like that? Your dick must be as small as my pinky finger."

The cafeteria erupted in laughter. Kyler turned red with anger. "You'll pay for this!"

Jack smirked. "I'm right here, partner. What are you going to do?"

Kyler didn't think twice. He charged at Jack, but Jack easily dodged it and retaliated with a punch straight to his rival's nose. Kyler staggered back, stunned, but tried to kick Jack. Jack quickly grabbed his leg and pulled him forward, knocking him to the ground with a loud thud.

Kyler's friends stood up, ready to intervene. The first was a tall boy who tried to throw a punch, but Jack dodged and landed a quick blow to the opponent's mouth, making him spit blood. The second, stronger boy, grabbed Jack from behind, but Jack elbowed him free and spun around, kicking the boy in the stomach. He fell to his knees, out of breath.

The last to try his luck was a thin, agile boy. He attacked with a flurry of kicks, but Jack dodged each one with precision and responded with a spinning kick straight to the head, knocking him out on the spot.

Kyler, seeing his friends fall, tried to run away. Jack grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and pulled him back. "You're not man enough to talk about her," he growled, before landing another well-aimed punch to Kyler's face, who fell to the ground, groaning in pain.

Jack bent down and looked directly into his opponent's terrified eyes. "If you open your mouth to talk shit about Sam again, the next beating will be worse. Got it?"

Kyler, sweating and humiliated, nodded.

Jack stood up, breathing heavily. Beside him, Sam looked at him with a mixture of surprise and gratitude. "Are you okay?" he asked.

"Yes," she replied, with a shy smile. "Thank you, Jack."

"No need to thank me," he said softly. "I know you wouldn't do such a thing."

At that moment, Miguel, Demetri, and Eli entered the cafeteria, drawn by the commotion. They saw Kyler fallen and Jack standing victorious.

"Dude, are you okay?" Miguel asked.

Jack nodded, still with a smile on his face. "Not bad for a Monday."

Miguel looked at Kyler, who was cowering on the floor. "That guy deserved this."

Jack nodded. "He deserved it. And if it comes again, he knows what to expect."

Miguel did not respond. He knew Jack wasn't one to fight without a reason, but he also knew it wouldn't stop there.

Kyler, hurt and humiliated, swore revenge.

Sam, on the other hand, now looked at Jack in a different way. A spark lit between them, "What she already felt for him intensified in a very strong way after that, no one helped her and the one she already liked before proved to be the only true one among all those she called friends, her heart filled with warmth and she knew that this was just the beginning.