Matt Archer: Monster Hunter (Matt Archer #1) (17 page)

One down.

“Dude, I’m sorry, I’m…sorry.” Carter spluttered apologies
and knelt down to check on Barton.

In the meantime, the other two came after me. Since I was
already on the ground, I swept my leg behind McCoy’s knees. He crashed down on
top of Barton. As he slid off Barton’s back, he accidentally kicked Carter in
the side of the head before landing on the sidewalk with a thud. I hopped to my
feet and backed up into Barton’s yard. Sanders came running.

He tackled me and we collapsed onto the snowy grass, him on
top of me. After my fights with the Bears, this didn’t seem fair—Sanders wasn’t
even six feet tall, let alone eight. I got a knee under him and flipped him
onto his back. Before he could get up, I rolled him onto his stomach, forcing
his face into the snow, and wrenched his arms behind his back.

“Stay down, got it? We’re done.” I gave his arms a tug to
make my point clear.

“Yeah, man. I’m done,” Sanders squeaked. I let him go and he
rolled around, moaning.

Carter and I stood up at the same time. He looked at his
friends, all of them worse for wear, and clenched his jaw. It was just us.

“I’m gonna kill you, Archer,” Carter said. “I mean it.”

Use your
attacker’s momentum against him
.

Carter lowered his head like a charging bull, probably
convinced he had good line of sight, and rushed me. But I was faster than he
bargained on. I sidestepped him and gave him a shove in the back. He tumbled
into the snow, his arms barely breaking his fall in time. Not knowing when to
quit, he scrambled back up and ran at me again.

I hauled off and rabbit-punched him in the kidneys as he was
mid-stride. Carter staggered around the yard, his face purple.

But that wasn’t enough for me. I was fighting years worth of
torment—for myself and every other kid he’d knocked around. Anger pounded in my
head. I was gonna finish this. I stalked Carter down and grabbed his collar.

“Don’t you ever insult Ella again! You hear me?” I cocked my
fist, ready to send him lights-out, when a car slammed on its brakes in the
street.

“Matt!” Mamie screamed. “What are you doing!”

Brent was already out of the Toyota. “Matt, come here.”

His voice stopped me dead—I’d never heard Brent bark like
that. He sounded like Uncle Mike in Major Tannen mode and, with a jolt of fear,
I let Carter go. He sank to the ground. Trembling with unsatisfied rage, I
headed for the car. I stopped in front of Brent and said the only thing that
made sense.

“They started it. Four on one.”

He glanced at the bleeding kids lying in the snow, his
forehead creased. “You okay?”

“Little bruised, that’s all.”

“All right…we’ll talk about it when I’m finished cleaning up
here. Go get in the car.” He nodded to Mamie, who was staring at me like I’d
grown horns and a pointed tail. “Mamie, drive him home. I’ll bring his bike
back after I sort this out.”

I crawled into the car as Mamie went around to take Brent’s
seat. “We came to give you a ride. Mom’s still working at home, so we were
going out for pizza. Matt…” She trailed off, sounding choked. “All four of
those boys are
bleeding
!
And you were….”

Every cell in my body still wanted to jump out of the car
and beat Carter to a pulp, but Mamie was freaked out enough already. I took a
breath, trying to calm down. “It’s okay, Mamie. It’s okay.”

“But…the blood.” Her hands shook on the steering wheel.
“Your face, the expression you had. You looked like…like a killer.” She snapped
her mouth shut, like she wanted to swallow the last word.

I put my head in my bloody, bruised, dirt-covered hands. “That’s
because I am.”

The fallout from my fight with Carter’s gang wasn’t
pleasant, but it could’ve been worse. To my surprise, neither Brent nor Mamie
said a word to Mom. Mamie was quiet on the drive home, but by the time we made
it to the house she didn’t seem all that scared of me anymore. She diverted
Mom, keeping her in her office so I could go up for a shower without showing
off my battle scars. I stared at my soap dish, hot water thumping my shoulders,
wishing I could stay in here forever. Then Mamie knocked, disrupting that plan.
She wouldn’t let me put her off for long, I knew that much, and eventually the
hot water would run out. I turned off the shower; time to face the music.

It wasn’t late but I put on fleece pj pants and a t-shirt
anyway. I didn’t have a reason to dress up on a Saturday night—what exciting
lives monster hunters led. Feeling very alone for some reason, I took one last
look at the bruise Carter had given me, then sighed and opened the door.

Mamie was waiting for me just outside the bathroom, first
aid kit in hand. She steered me toward my bed and went to work on my busted
knuckles. “Matt, are you okay?”

For once, I didn’t mind being smothered with concern. I
needed it. “I don’t know.”

Mamie finished wrapping my right hand and gave me an
ice-pack for the bruise on my cheek. “Maybe you should get some rest tonight,”
she said. “If the colonel calls, I’ll tell him to shove off.”

I tried to laugh—it came out as more of a grunt. “He
probably won’t call, but I’d give anything to hear
you
tell an officer to shove off.”

She stood and put her hands on her hips, looking like a
pigtailed version of
Wonder
Woman
. “There’s more to me than you know.” With a wink, she left.

It took me a little bit to realize she was repeating my own
words back to me, from the night she found out about my job. Then I really did
laugh.

When Brent brought my bike home, he dragged me out to the
garage. “Those kids are a mess. The guy with the broken nose is the only one
you
didn’t
maim! How the hell did you manage to fend off four guys at once?” He didn’t
sound pissed. He sounded impressed. “I mean, that kid, McCoy? He almost busted
his tailbone on the sidewalk. Thought I was going to have to take him to the
ER, but it turned out to be a bruise. He’s gonna walk with a limp for a few
weeks, though.”

I’d nearly sent one of them to the hospital. Great. “They
surrounded me and were planning to hold me down so Carter could beat the crap
out of me. I guess adrenaline kicked in.” Now that it was over, I felt a little
sick about the whole thing, even if I was right. “Carter’s been riding me all
year. I must’ve just snapped.”

Brent raked his hands through his hair. When he spoke again,
his voice was softer. “Bullies suck. That’s a universal truth. I
was
one for a while,
so I know.” He closed his eyes and his face twisted with pain at some memory I
knew I’d never hear about. “I’m glad you took it to them. Guys like that
deserve a trashing every once in a while. Does wonders to have your ego
deflated.”

I stared at my feet. “Yeah, I guess.”

Brent gave my arm a tug to make me look at him. “If they
bother you again, tell me, okay?”

“Okay.”

“With Uncle Mike gone, I’m the closest thing to a man you
have around,” he said. “I’m trusting you to let me know if you need back-up.
Even if it’s just to clean up the mess afterwards.” Brent let go of my arm. “I
told those morons I’d call their parents if they claimed you started it. I
think they’re embarrassed about losing a four-on-one fight. Trust me, they
won’t say anything.”

“Thanks for stopping me today. I probably would’ve really
hurt them if you hadn’t been there. No telling how much trouble I would’ve been
in then.” I stuck out my hand, feeling it was more adult to shake on it.

Brent grabbed my hand, then surprised me by pulling me into
a guy-hug. “You’re welcome, butthead.” He let me go with a shove and we laughed
when I stumbled into Mom’s van. “You’re gonna have to tell me where you learned
to fight like that.”

“Self-defense class,” I said. Taught by Green Berets, but
what Brent didn’t know wouldn’t kill him. “Came in handy.”

Brent started at me, a disbelieving, but proud, smile on his
face. “No kidding. I’m going to pick up some pizza. You’re probably starving
after burning all those calories.”

I smiled back, feeling my appetite return. “Get me a large
Supreme. Extra cheese.”

* * *

My birthday, February tenth, rolled in. It was a Monday, and
the day didn’t start off too well. I didn’t hear my alarm and overslept, my
locker door got stuck so bad that I was late to homeroom, and I slipped in the
hall after second period, earning a round of applause as my butt hit the floor.
Things didn’t improve at lunch. The cafeteria wasn’t serving anything I
liked—not even Salisbury steak. That was the last straw. After getting a tray
of soggy eggplant parmesan and canned corn, I stomped over to Will and flung
myself into a chair.

“Dude, cheer up. It’s your birthday! Hey, I brought
something for you.” Will dug around in his backpack and pulled out a little
cardboard box. “Millicent made it, but I did the words.”

He’d brought me a chocolate cupcake. “#1 Monster Hunter” was
written in icing on the top in Will’s barely legible scrawl.

“Thanks, man,” I said. “I mean it.” I pushed my tray away
without eating anything and started on my dessert. Will’s housekeeper was an
awesome baker; the cupcake melted on my tongue.

“Glad you like it. I tried to talk her into making you a
bourbon cake, but she didn’t think that was such a good idea.” Will grinned at
me.

I felt my bad mood shake off a little. “Probably not. The
chocolate’s enough to help, though.” I crammed another huge bite into my mouth.
“This morning sucked. I gotta figure out a way to make the afternoon better.”

“No kidding. You look like your dog died,” Will said,
prodding his meatloaf with a fork. “What’s in this stuff?”

“The parts of the cow that got leftover after they cut it up
for steaks.” I shook my head in disgust. “So any ideas on how to improve my
day?”

Will looked around the cafeteria. “Yeah. Lick the icing off
your teeth and go ask Ella out.” He nodded in the general vicinity of her usual
table.

A bolt of heat ran through my chest. “Hmm. Let me think. I’m
already in a bad mood. Getting shot down on my birthday isn’t going to help.”

“Enough,” Will said firmly. “We’re doing this. Besides,
Tasha’s with her. I haven’t had the chance to drool today.”

Tasha, Ella’s new BFF, had mocha skin, shining black hair
and the attention of a half-dozen guys at any one time. That wouldn’t stop
Will, though. After running his fingers through his hair, he hopped to his
feet, then swaggered to Ella’s table without waiting for any more excuses.

I sank down in my chair, feeling the flush in my chest
spread up my neck to my face. Will knelt down between Ella and Tasha. Ella was
facing my direction; she nodded a few times while he talked, then stood. Will
took her chair, still chatting up Tasha. Ella headed my way.

“So, it’s your birthday, huh?” She plopped down in Will’s
chair. “Happy fifteen.”

“Um, yeah, thanks.” I gave her a nervous smile. How awesome
would this birthday be if I finally asked her out? My ears started to steam.

She smiled back. “Will says you’re having a tough day. You
okay?”

My best bud was either a genius or a snotrag. “Better now.”

Wow, that was smooth. Ella must’ve thought so, too, because
she giggled. Either that, or she was laughing at my attempt at charm. I decided
to believe the former; it
was
my birthday, after all.

The bell rang, warning us we had ten minutes until fourth
period. In a fit of courage, I asked, “Can I walk you to class?”

Ella blushed. “Sure.”

On our way out, Will jerked his chin at me in a cocky way.
If this worked, he was going to have a swelled head for days.

Ella and I wound our way down the crowded hall, toward her
next class. Totally nervous, my insides squirmed as if my birthday cupcake had
been laced with live worms.

“Um, so you have Mr. Todd for science, too?” I blurted out.
Not much in the way of small talk, but my mouth had gone dry and I couldn’t
think of anything more creative.

Ella nodded. “Boring, isn’t he? Having him right after
lunch, while I’m going into food coma, is the worst. I think I’ve fallen asleep
six times this year.”

That little exchange had been enough to get her to the
classroom. “Thanks for walking me to class, Matt,” she said. “Have a happier
birthday, ‘kay?”

She turned toward the door. It was now or back to square
one. I put a hand on her sleeve. “Ella, wait. Will you, uh, would you…Um, it’s
Valentine’s Day on Friday. How about a movie? I mean, going to a movie…with
me.”

That had to go down as the worst asking-out ever played. And
it went downhill from there.

Ella’s face turned pink, then hot-pink, then red. “Oh, um,
that…I’m really sorry, Matt, but I already have plans.”

My lungs filled with acidy air. Another guy had beaten me to
the punch.

But she went on, “My sister’s in town, home from college,
and she just broke up with her boyfriend, so I said I’d be her Valentine’s
date. Some other time, maybe?”

“Yeah…of course. Sure. That’s nice of you to take care of
your sister like that. Totally understand.” Once I finished babbling, I stared
at the floor, not sure how to break away and run down the hall in freakish
misery.

Ella touched my hand. Looking sad, she said, “Thanks for
asking. It was really sweet.” She gave my fingers a little squeeze then went
into the classroom.

I couldn’t decide if that was good or bad. Was she letting
me down easy? Or was she sorry she couldn’t go out with me? With five minutes
left to clear my head before class started, I headed toward my locker without
watching where I was going. Lost, I bumped someone with my shoulder. I stopped
to apologize, only to find out that I’d run into Carter. He didn’t have the
chance to wipe the arrogant smirk off his face before I caught it.

My fists curled on their own. The sting of getting turned
down by Ella and knowing Carter saw it happen snapped something in my middle. A
red curtain drifted across my vision.

I locked eyes with him. “What? You got something to say?”

Carter’s jaw twitched. Probably deciding whether to fight or
back down. “Tough luck with Ella.”

It wasn’t hard to miss the sarcasm in his tone and I took
step toward him. “Say that again. I dare you.”

It’d feel good to take some of my frustration out on this
assclown. Dangerously close to forgetting every promise I’d made to Mike, I
shifted my stance—bending my knees a little and turning my body away from him,
so I was less of a target.

“It’d be nice to use you for a punching bag,” I said.
“C’mon, give me a reason.”

Carter clamped his mouth shut and set off in the opposite
direction. I started after him, but big hands grabbed my shoulders, holding me
in place.

“No, Matt,” Will said. “You’d hurt him. Let it go.” His
voice was low and calm, but full of iron, too.

I stopped struggling, but Will held onto my shoulders until
Carter turned the corner at the end of the hall, then marched me to my locker.
“What was that all about? You know we can’t afford to get in trouble.”

My blood pressure shot up again. He had no right to tell me
what to do. “Piss off.”

Will’s face went completely blank. Even if I kept pushing, I
knew he wouldn’t engage. He folded his arms across his chest and asked, “What
happened?”

When I told him about Ella, Will’s kicked the locker next to
mine. “I’m sorry, man. That was my fault for setting you up.”

And I was being a total jerk. No matter how short my fuse
had become recently, I shouldn’t take it out on my best friend. I got my books
and took a long, slow breath. “You just gave me a nudge. I needed one. Don’t
worry about it.”

“I’m gonna worry about it, but that’s my problem,” Will
said. “Just take it easy, okay? Carter’s a turd—we both know that—but, bad day
or not, neither of us can afford to get suspended. There’s too much at stake.”

With a quick nod, Will strolled off for class. After one
last deep breath, I did too.

History was pretty awkward. Based on her flushed cheeks and
shaking fingers, I figured Ella had heard all about my run-in with Carter.
Neither of us spoke as I settled into my desk next to her and both of us paid
strict attention to Mr. Anderson throughout class. I glanced at her out of the
corner of my eye a couple of times; she looked kind of miserable. I vowed never
to put her on the spot like that again. If I was meant to get another chance
with her, it’d have to happen on its own.

When the bell rang, I gathered up my books, then fled the
room as fast as I could. I couldn’t stand to see Ella upset. I wanted to leave
school, Carter, and my screwed up love-life behind and start over. Will was
right. The knife counted on me. So did Colonel Black and the rest of the team.
I had to keep it together.

As of now, I would.

* * *

I trudged home from the bus stop because both Brent and
Mamie had stuff to do after school and couldn’t drive me. We’d gotten more snow
during the day and the sidewalks weren’t clear. Slush slopped over my
already-too-small new sneakers and into my socks. Seemed about right.

After I struggled to our driveway, I checked the mail. No
card from Dad. That was to be expected after he ignored Mamie’s birthday, but
it still hurt. If that butthole had any idea what I was up to these days, if he
knew I was already more of a man than he was, he’d see that I wasn’t worthless,
a mistake.