"You attacked me."
"And you made me look bad."
Caleb stared at him.
"That wasn't my fault."
Troy shoved him.
Caleb stumbled.
Before Troy could do anything else, a voice came from behind them.
"Step away."
Joseph.
Troy turned.
Joseph stood in the doorway.
Six-foot-five.
Arms crossed.
Face expressionless.
Troy looked at him.
Then laughed.
"You."
Joseph didn't move.
"You've got five seconds."
Troy smiled.
"Or what?"
Joseph looked at him.
"Four."
Troy's friends stepped forward.
Joseph didn't flinch.
"Three."
Troy's smile faded.
"Two."
A dozen bikers appeared behind Joseph.
Troy looked around.
Then stepped backward.
"This isn't over."
Joseph nodded.
"I know."
Troy returned to his SUV.
Before getting in, he looked at Caleb.
"This is going to cost you."
Then he drove away.
That night, Caleb found his bicycle destroyed.
It was lying in front of his house.
The wheels had been bent.
The frame had been cut.
His handlebars were twisted.
Caleb stood there silently.
Sarah came outside.
"Oh my God."
Caleb didn't respond.
She touched his shoulder.
"Caleb."
He shook his head.
"It's okay."
"No, it isn't."
He stared at the bicycle.
"It was old anyway."
Sarah knew he was lying.
The next morning, Joseph arrived.
He looked at the bicycle.
Then at Caleb.
"Who did this?"
Caleb said nothing.
Joseph already knew.
He walked away.
Caleb followed.
"Don't."
Joseph stopped.
"Don't what?"
"Don't go after him."
Joseph turned.
"Why?"
"Because that's what he wants."
Joseph stared at him.
Caleb continued.
"If you hurt him, he'll say we're criminals."
Joseph was silent.
Caleb looked into his eyes.
"I don't want you to become what he says you are."
That sentence stayed with Joseph.
He nodded.