"Junior high alpha males" is funny? *scratches head*
(No, I get what you mean, two 10+ year olds thinking they're the toughest things in the world, it is kind of funny at that.)
And yes, you're right, "playground" does call to mind images of jungle gyms and swings! I was initally thinking about something like an empty parking lot or some quad-like area within the school, but somehow somewhere between my brain and my fingers the word "playground" slipped out.
It would be complicated to explain why, but let's just say that it would be impossible for these two characters to do the "locker message" thing as mentioned by jeno...I was thinking in terms of a face to face "Meet me in the vacant warehouse [or wherever] at seven tonight or the whole school'll know what a coward you are, you little punk!"
"Just you and me?"
"Yeah, just you and me, man to man, you &*%$*&^&*)(....Let's see if you're man enough to show and get your butt kicked..."
etc etc (see what I mean about sounding like Gandalf...? Okay, a very grumpy, very rude Gandalf...)
I was wondering how it would work for an adult to come in right as the "meet me there, you punk"s get exchanged...I mean, wouldn't the adult sorta quell that sort of thing, seeing as how he's a teacher and all? I don't see a 40 something male standing politely aside while two kids negotiate the terms of their "date"...!
I'm getting a better idea of how the date should go down (thanks, guys, btw!) But I feel like I still need to get some sort of fix on the dialogue. Any suggestions on that front?