Another ball narrowly missed Aymes. “I think that kid is targeting you on purpose,” Dax muttered.
“Oh, definitely,” Aymes replied.
“Why?”
“I was picked over him for an athletic scholarship.” Aymes picked up the ball and tossed it back, only for a different one to bounce off his shoulder. He winced and rubbed the spot. “A lot of people are mad, actually. But mostly Mak.”
“Sorry about that.” Dax ducked to avoid another ball. “Also, I don’t get the point of this. Is it supposed to help us with volleyball?”
“No, Coach Lerch just makes us play dodgeball when we don’t have a game, instead of coming up with useful training exercises.”
Dax lowered his voice. “I can do more than just heal people, you know.”
“Really?” Aymes raised an eyebrow.
“Go ahead and take a water break, everyone,” Lerch called from his chair.
Dax and Aymes slipped into line at the fountain behind Mak, a muscular student with lime green skin who towered over everyone else. Dax took a moment to focus on the various bruises and scrapes he’d healed over the past couple of days. When Mak walked away from the fountain, he didn’t bother going around Dax, instead pushing past him.
As Dax stepped forward, Mak turned around, a sizable bruise running up the size of his face. “Hey!”
“What?” Dax asked.
Lerch looked up from his tablet. “What’s going on?”
“He did this to me!” Mak pointed to Dax, then at the bruise.
Dax lifted his hands. “How could I possibly have done that?”
Lerch was already staring back at his screen. “This is a no bullying zone.”
“Implying that there are bullying zones?” Dax asked, frowning.
“There is a bullying zone, and it’s called your face,” Mak said. “You better hope I don’t find you outside of class.” He stormed off.
“You okay?” Aymes asked. “I don’t think he’d actually fight you, but—”
“Oh, I’d be fine if he attacked me,” Dax assured him.
“You sure? He’s a lot bigger than you.”
“Yeah. I’ll be fine.” Elaborating on the fact that Dax had years of combat training from Jasper would just raise more questions.
“If you say so. Where are you eating lunch?” Aymes asked.
“Uh…” Dax and the others usually ate in Jasper’s classroom, but eating with Aymes might give him a chance to nab one of his devices. “I don’t know yet.”
“I’m gonna head to the cafeteria after class, if you want to join me.”
Dax nodded. “Sounds great.”