Troy was a star quarterback at the community college.
He was handsome, wealthy, athletic, and accustomed to getting whatever he wanted.
His father, Richard Dawson, was one of Bakersfield's most successful developers.
Troy had spent years making life miserable for Caleb.
He had shoved him in hallways.
Mocked his clothes.
Called him names.
Once, he had dumped an entire cafeteria tray over Caleb's head while his friends laughed.
Caleb had learned not to fight back.
People like Troy rarely suffered consequences.
People like Caleb did.
Troy spotted Bear.
His expression changed.
A slow smile appeared.
"Well, well."
Greg and Liam followed him toward the booth.
Troy leaned against the table.
"Look what we have here."
Bear barely looked at him.
His hands were searching desperately through his pockets.
His glucose tablets were at the clubhouse.
He had forgotten them.
Troy laughed.
"What's wrong, old man? Bike finally too much for you?"
Caleb kept wiping the table.
He tried to ignore them.
Maybe they would leave.
Maybe Bear would recover.
Maybe this wouldn't become his problem.
Then Greg reached forward and flicked the death's-head patch on Bear's chest.
"Nice costume."
Caleb's jaw tightened.
Bear attempted to push himself upright.
He couldn't.
Troy laughed louder.
"You guys think you own the roads."
He slammed his palm against the table.
Bear flinched.
"What's wrong? Forget how to ride?"
Caleb looked toward Arthur.
The old owner was reaching for the telephone.
Then Caleb heard himself speak.
"Leave him alone."
The diner went silent.
Troy slowly turned.
"What did you say?"
Caleb's heart began pounding.
He should have stayed quiet.
He knew that.
Instead, he repeated himself.
"He's sick."
Troy walked toward him.
"Mind your business, busboy."
Caleb swallowed.
"I'm serious."
Troy stood inches away.
"You think you're somebody now?"
"No."
"Then act like it."
Troy turned back toward Bear.
He grabbed the biker by the shoulder.
Bear was barely conscious.
Troy shoved him.
The massive man slid from the booth and crashed onto the floor.
Arthur shouted.
"Stop!"
Troy laughed.
Then he raised his boot.
Caleb moved.
He didn't think.
He didn't calculate the odds.
He simply ran.
He threw his body into Troy's legs.
Both young men crashed to the floor.
For one second, Caleb felt something like victory.
Then Troy punched him.
Pain exploded across Caleb's face.
He fell sideways.
Greg and Liam laughed.
Troy climbed over him.
"You stupid little punk!"
Caleb tried to stand.
A kick struck his ribs.
He collapsed.
Another kick followed.
Caleb curled into himself.
Then he looked at Bear.
The biker was lying helplessly on the floor.
Caleb crawled toward him.
Troy kicked him again.
Caleb didn't move away.
Instead, he wrapped his arms around Bear's head.
He used his own body as a shield.
"Stop!" Arthur screamed.
Sirens sounded outside.
Troy froze.
He looked toward the window.
Police.
His scholarship.
His father's reputation.
Everything suddenly mattered.
"You’re dead, Mitchell," Troy whispered.
Then he and his friends ran.
Minutes later, paramedics rushed into the diner.
They administered glucose.
Bear slowly returned to consciousness.
Caleb sat against the wall, holding a bag of frozen peas against his swollen eye.
As the paramedics lifted Bear onto a stretcher, the giant biker turned his head.
His eyes found Caleb.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Bear raised one enormous hand.
Not quite a wave.
Something more meaningful.
A promise.
Then the ambulance doors closed.
And Caleb thought the incident was over.
He was wrong.
It had only begun.
The Price of Being Brave
Three days later, Caleb could still feel every kick.
His ribs hurt when he breathed.
His left eye had turned a deep purple.