Anton threw out a hand, and one of the wooden wall-benches groaned before skidding across the gym floor.
River scoffed, stepping to the side as the bench scraped past him, then it stopped.
Anton waved another hand, but River lunged and punched him.
My jaw dropped as Anton crumpled into the floor, out cold. Carla tried to break his fall, but she ended up going down with him in a heap of bony limbs.
Silence descended over the gym. A few students whispered. Someone ran for the door to the affinity gym to get Coach.
Carla shook Anton, then looked at me, then dropped her gaze as River glared at her. Carla trembled, keeping her head down in a pose that almost resembled some form of prostration.
That was…weird.
“Jesus, Aria, again?” Coach’s voice boomed across the gym.
It took me a moment to figure out what the hell he meant.
“What?!” I said, exasperated. “That wasn’t me!”
“No shit?” Coach raised his bushy brows as he took in the scene. I was almost offended that he didn’t believe me.
Coach eyed the purpling skin around Anton’s cheek where River had hit him. He sighed deeply, then swiped some sweat from his forehead. Aiden was right behind him, and he glared at River before pulling me into his chest.
River held Aiden’s eye contact for a little too long before his blue eyes locked onto me, then darted away when he noticed I was watching him.
What the hell.
Coach scratched his head. “Mac, I paired you with Aria because you’re equal in strength, not so she could instruct you on how to knock people out.”
“He didn’t do it,” Carla piped up. She shakily got to her feet, then scratched at her elbows. “It w-was me. I didn’t want Anton to fight.”
That’s not what happened,I told Aiden, who made a sound of surprise.
I glanced at River, who only looked bored. Coach’s expression said he didn’t believe any of them, but then he pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed deeply.
“Hit the showers,” he muttered.
Several students fled as soon as he spoke, not wanting to stick around for whatever was about to happen.
Coach lifted his ball cap to scratch as his shiny bald head while Aiden and I slowly tried to blend in with the crowd.
“Aria, Brandt, give me a break,” he barked. “Stay here.”
I groaned out loud.
“I didn’t do anything,” River said, sounding bored.
“Sure,” Coach replied.
Carla had already called a Health aide, and we all stood around awkwardly while the aide tried a few different tricks to wake Anton up. When nothing worked, another Health aide was called to bring a stretcher.
“God, this is stupid,” Aiden muttered.
“I know,” I replied.
“Yeah, at least Iykos woke up.” Coach muttered, then grimaced when I winced slightly.
“Damn. What happened?”
