Free Fire And Steel (The Merryweather Chronicles Book 2) by Lesley Woodral

two gyms at Matheson High. One was built in the early nineties, big and thoroughly modern. It was used for all of the home basketball games and pep rallies. There was a weight room on the second floor, used by the football team mostly, and a full service sauna. That was the NEW gym. It didn't matter that it was already more than twenty years old, it would always be the new gym.
          The old gym was on the other side of the school. Built in the forties, it was made of heavy rock and lumber, with stained glass in the upper windows, and was only used for practices and some lesser school functions. The elementary school kids spent the afternoons in the old gym, playing dodge ball or tee ball. A lot of schools had done away with dodge ball, including Brandon's old one in Washington, saying it was too violent. That it made kids too aggressive. But the kids at Matheson didn't seem to have gotten that memo. A match could be found in the old gym most afternoons. The rest of the time, the old gym sat empty.
          Brandon hurried across the parking lot and entered the gym just as the Kruegers were beginning their assault on Albert. Luke held Albert's arms behind his back as Perry tormented the smaller boy. He poked Albert in the stomach with a stiff finger, slapping his face and saying. "You going to cry, queer bait? I want to hear you cry like the little bitch you are."
          "Leave him alone." Brandon shouted, moving out onto the basketball court. The old gym's floor was polished wood, as opposed to the artificial flooring in the new gym. The boy's shoes squeaked on the floor as the Kruegers looked at Brandon, then at one another. Perry stepped away from Albert and turned to face Brandon. Luke just looked at Brandon over Albert's head and grinned. Brandon took another step toward the boys and said. "Let him go."
          Perry looked at his brother. "You heard the orphan boy. Let the little queer go."
          Luke smiled and shoved Albert away, pushing the smaller boy hard enough to send him crashing to the hard wood floor. Albert hit hard, landing on his arm the wrong way. Brandon heard the bone snap from where he stood. Albert screamed, rolling onto his side and clutching his hand to his chest. Brandon moved before the Kruegers could realize what was happening.
          Luke was smirking when Brandon hit him in the mouth, knocking the big kid back a step. Perry tried to make a grab for Brandon, grinning maniacally. Brandon ducked underneath his hand, slamming a fist into the skinny Krueger's stomach, and snap kicked his knee.
          Perry dropped to the floor, holding his knee and choking on his breath. He glared at his brother and screamed. "Get him."
          Luke rushed Brandon, trying to use his bulk to take him to the floor. His mouth was bloody from where Brandon hit him. He roared as he charged forward, throwing his arms wide. Not the best choice in battle tactics. Brandon met the charge head on, bracing his legs and tucking his head down. When Luke reached him, intent on swallowing Brandon in his bulky arms, Brandon dropped and stiff armed the bigger boy in the stomach. The impact made Brandon's arm shiver and caused Luke's eyes to pop wide open.
          Brandon spun around the falling boy, slipping underneath his spasming fingers, and drove his foot into the back of Luke's knee, sending him to the floor. Luke bellowed like a bull. He rolled over and tried to stand, but Brandon smashed an elbow into the side of his head and Luke hit the floor.
          Perry was up. The lanky kid tried to ambush Brandon while he was focused on Luke. He leapt onto Brandon's back, trying to get an arm under Brandon's chin. But Brandon snaked out from under the arm before the choke hold could lock and spun, driving an elbow into Perry's face, smashing the boy's nose for the second time. Perry fell back, hitting the hard wood, and his head bounced with an echoing thud.
          The Kruegers both