Chapter 4 - Rumours and a Fight
The bell for lunch rings and once again – I’m stuck in the doorway. I manage to squeeze through the mess of sweaty teens due to my size but once through, I’m squashed against the wall due to my lack of strength to push through. High school’s kind of like those animal shows. You’ve got the whole ‘Survival of the Fittest’ thing going on; if you’re short and weak like me, you tend to get trampled on and pushed aside.
A head of mussed auburn hair catches my eye in amongst the crowd and I smile in relief.
“Whoa! Watch it buster!” Mitch yells as she violently shoves a guy pressed up against her, away. She stomps over to me “God, the guys at this school! They think they can grope you at every turn! I mean what is with that?”
I don’t really know what to say so I just nod my head and agree.
The strong smell of greasy unidentifiable cafeteria food immediate invades my nose as we turn a corner down a hallway leading to where I suppose we’re eating.
As soon as I walk in I’m overwhelmed by the smells and sounds inside the cafeteria. I feel the uncomfortable tingle of eyes focusing on me and I notice a couple of girls sitting at a table glance at me before whispering exaggeratedly among themselves.
They’re looking at me as if I have a kick me sign on my back and loser written across my forehead.
I quickly look over my shoulder and rub my forehead just to make sure as I follow Mitch to the lunch line but I already know why. This morning’s escapades didn’t take long to get around.
Mitch peers around a particularly tall boy’s shoulder to see what’s on offer today as the line slowly moves forward.
“Anything good?” I ask tentatively, aware that everyone within a twenty foot radius is craning in to listen to what I’ve got to say.
Mitch turns around and makes a face at me, “Most of it looks ok, but I’d stay away from ‘Meatloaf Surprise’.” She shudders.
“It’s probably soy meat or something…”
“Yeah probably,” Mitch laughs.
“Are you serious?”
“Yeah that’s her, the girl in the purple top, next to Marshland. She’s the one that Lucy’s targeted! She came to school with the McLane’s this morning.”
I glance around the cafeteria and catch people still staring at me. I hear other bits of conversations as the line slowly moves forward.
“You know what I heard? Apparently she’s got a foam pad or something stuffed down her pants to make her butt look bigger.”
“Ew! As if!”
“I also heard she got plastic surgery for her whole face!”
“She’s got a nice ass.”
“I’d tap that.”
“Wonder if she has a boyfriend or not…”
“I heard she doesn’t!”
“Did you know she got a boob job when she was 14!”
“Seriously? You can do that?”
“Chyeah – she did.”
“Apparently she’s already hooked up with Trent!”
“Really? It’s her first day here and she’s already built herself a crappy reputation.”
I scoff at the extent these rumors have built up to. How did me stuffing tissues down my bra end up with me getting a whole face re-construction? Jake McLane had gone way too far.
Mitch raises an eyebrow at me, “How’d you get mixed up with Trent Miller?”
I shrug, “Ran into him and his friends when I lost you on the way to class. Wes came and told them to get lost, but they were acting like first class jerks.” I frown at the memory.
Mitch gives me a sympathetic look when she sees the look of discomfort on my face. “Hey,” she says softly, “Whatever they did, don’t let it get to you, ok?”
I nod my head firmly more to convince myself rather than her, “Yeah.”
“Ah, the angels have heard my prayers!” Mitch exclaims suddenly as she scoops up a chicken salad wrap.
I survey the food that’s left before scooping up another chicken salad wrap and some French fries. I grab a bottle of water and then follow Mitch as she beelines out of the cafeteria and into the sunshine, heading to a picnic table with a girl waving her arms enthusiastically at us.
“Mitch! Where have you been?” The blonde, bright-eyed girl demands as Mitch sits down opposite to her. “You will not believe not believe what happened.”
I falter, unsure if I should sit down or not. Mitch sees this and pats the bench space next to her, “Maddy, this here’s my new besty – Hailey.”
Maddy’s eyes light up as she puts her hand up in a salute of some sort, “It’s nice to meet you Hailey.” She shoots a dry look at Mitch, “I thought I was your best friend though.”
Mitch frowns back at her, “You never liked it whenever I said it so I’m afraid you’ve been replaced.”
The two immediately start up a snappy yet playful argument over best friends which soon reverts to other matters which have no relevance whatsoever.
“Mitch, you know that batman is a real superhero.”
“He’s just a guy with no life in a suit. He doesn’t even have any powers.”
“You take that back!”
“Why should I? It’s the truth! He just drives about at insane speeds in his batmobile and knows a couple of ninja moves. Ryan Reynolds as Green Lantern on the other hand, wow. He definitely knocks batman’s socks off.”
“Batman is able to do everything Spiderman, Superman, Green Lantern and all those other superheroes do. Sure he doesn’t have powers, but that makes him superior to them.” She turns towards me, “Don’t you agree Hailey?”
I smile, finding their banter amusing, “Well personally, I like b–”
Mitch puts her hand out, “Oh please don’t go on! I don’t want to hear it.”
Maddy smirks as he reaches down to her bag to retrieve a box, “Batman rules Mitch. It’s final.”
“I was actually going to say I like Bolt.” I interrupt before another argument can break loose.
The two sit back a bit stunned, mulling over what I’ve said. Maddy grins, “Not a bad choice Hale.” She shoots a sly look at Mitch, “It’s miles better than Mitch’s Green Lantern anyway.”
“When Ryan Reynolds comes knocking on my door decked out in his Green Lantern suit, we’ll see who’s laughing.” Mitch mutters.
Maddy opens the box to reveal a cacophony of brightly colored beads from which she takes out an unfinished bracelet, “Mitch, the day that Ryan Reynolds comes up to you of his own will, will be the day I finally admit that Batman isn’t the best superhero ever to grace this Earth.” She strings on the beads as she braids it at the same time and Mitch sits back with a sulky expression.
“Wow,” I say in awe, “Did you make all the bracelets you’re wearing too?
She grins at me, lifting up her arm and jangling them on her wrist, “Yeah, I like making jewelry a lot.”
She takes off one of her bracelets and gives it to me. I study it and find that the beads have been put onto separate strings and plated in intricate knots and loops.
I give it back to her, “It’s amazing!”
Mitch, momentarily coming out of her sulk, grins, “I don’t buys jewelry anymore Maddy’s stuff is just like the pros!” she takes a necklace out from underneath the neckline of her sweater for me to inspect.
Maddy smiles proudly, “I can make you a bracelet if you want.”
I nod my head at her, “Of course I’d love one! But only if it isn’t too much trouble.”
“Oh no! It’s not! This is my life, I love making jewelry.”
Mitch continues advertising Maddy’s wears, pulling up the sleeve of her sweater to reveal a bracelet of her own.
“What color would you like?” Maddy asks, taking out various reels of colored thread, “You can pick more than one.”
I bite my lip as I survey them, “Well the rainbow colors would be nice, or a blue one, or a purple one… Argh! I don’t know!” I finally exclaim.
“Well how about I make you a rainbow bracelet and a blue mobile strap… Do you have any piercings? I could make you some studs if you want.” She pushes back her hair to reveal two sparkling flowers resting on her left ear.
“Wow, it looks like something you’d buy out of a shop!” I exclaim as I say pull some of my own hair back to show her my purple studs, “And I have my ears pierced too.”
“Ladies” a hand snakes over my shoulder and grabs a couple of my fries, “How are we?”
I look up in surprise to see Wes munching on my chips. My look of surprise immediately turns into a frown when I see Jake next to him, grinning like the idiot that he is.
“Mind if we sit with?” He asks pleasantly. My new friends stare back, stunned. Maddy looks slightly awed whereas Mitch seems to be completely focused on not making eye-contact with either of them.
“Uh, s-sure” Mitch finally mutters. I’m surprised to see her blush and she concentrates on eating her food. Jake plants himself next to me on the bench, uncomfortably close. I try to make myself as small as possible but to no avail I’m squished.
“So,” Jake says as he puts his arm around my shoulder. I slap it off and continue eating my wrap. “How was your day so far?”
I grunt in response; there is no way I’m talking to this jerk.
The table falls into an awkward silence. Maddy decides to break it. “So, I don’t take the rumor mill seriously or anything, but I need to know this. Are you guys friends? Boyfriend/Girlfriend?”
“No!” I say at the same time that Jake says, “Yes”.
Before I can give Jake the punch he deserves, Wes gets up and sits between us. “Our parents are really close friends so we grew up with each other for a bit before they moved to Australia. They moved back two weeks ago and then her parents went off on an anniversary holiday so she’s staying at our house until they get ba–”
“Wait a second,” I but in, “Since when am I staying with you? I finally got them to let me stay at home by myself! Why am I staying with you?”
Wes looks a little uneasy, “Well, our parents told us you were coming to stay with us. You’re mom kinda called last night and told them.”
Anger clouds my vision as I realize what Jenny’s done, “What is that woman’s problem?” I demand at a bemused Wes, “She thinks she can control my life! She’s not even my real mother!”
Everyone stares at me in stunned silence at my sudden outbreak like they’re doubting my sanity. “Sorry,” I mutter, “Just forget about it.”
Jake suddenly grabs a whole bunch of chips and stuffs it into his mouth and my mouth hangs open as I look down at the scrawny burnt ones left at the bottom of the box. “Just defusing the tension.” He says with a chip-filled grin. I look down at the box and back up at him and then down at the box again. Just like that, my outburst is forgotten and my murderous behavior is brought to light as I try to avenge the horrible death of my chips, my new friends laughing and egging me on as I push back my confusion and annoyance to the recesses of my mind, choosing to deal with them later.
*
The bell signaling the end of double Math and the start of Monday afternoon freedom is met with the usual jam in the doorway, the pushing, shoving and groping of one student to another… and of course the stares and whispers as I make my way to my locker. The rumors are just as bad as this morning, but I don’t let it get to me because they’ve been seriously screwed with. Apparently I have had a face re-construction, a boob job, a tattoo on my left shoulder blade of Orlando Bloom’s name, implants in my butt, piercings in all kinds of wacked up places and a rich daddy who pays for it all.
“Hale? Helloooo! You there?” Mitch waves a hand in front of my face and I blink rapidly, shaking myself out of my day dream, finding myself in in front of her locker.
I sidestep out of her way, “Oh, sorry Mitch.”
Mitch laughs, “No problem , so how was calc? Fun?”
“Well it wasn’t too bad… we didn’t really do work today.”
“Lucky thing,” Mitch grumbles “We did half a chapter and then we’ve got the rest of it for homework. It’s due tomorrow and I’ve got practice tonight till 5: 30 and Coach will kill me if I skip.”
She keeps babbling on about the antics of different people in her class and I nod my head and reply appropriately as we make our way to the entrance, shoving along with the rest of the crowd who are dying to get to freedom.
Once out, Mitch gives me a bear hug in goodbye before running off to soccer practice. As soon as she’s gone, it’s like a good luck spell as broken and suddenly I find myself being shoved and jostled from all sides as bodies surge around me. Before I know it, I’m not in front of the parking lot anymore and instead find myself belched out of the body of teens onto some bushes lining the side of the main school building.
“Urgh.” I groan as I try to get off them. “Is it really so hard to walk out in an orderly fashion? I mean seriously?” I feel a tug at the side of my shirt and I notice a long thread from my sleeve is caught on a bush right next to me, the bottom of my top completely unraveled. “You’ve got to be kidding m–”
“You asshole!” Someone yells, breaking me out of my mental rant. I whirl around in surprise [making the thread even longer] to see two figures a couple of yards away from me in some sort of passionate embrace.
Two very male-looking figures.
One of them draws back an arm and suddenly a fist goes flying in to the other guys face.
Ok, definitely not hugging.
I watch, frozen, as the two continue to try to duck and throw punches, yelling profanities and trying to tackle the other to the ground. I recognize one of them, dreadlocks guy that was with that douchebag Trent. The other one though, I haven’t seen much of him. He’s a bit on the lean side, tall, wide-enough shoulders but much more weaker looking than buff dready’s. I find myself mentally cheering for the other boy now that I’ve deduced that I literally can’t move from where I am and grab someone to help unless I want my whole shirt to unravel – which I don’t.
I continue tugging at the ends of my shirt, caught up in the bush while keeping an eye on the fight. It’s occurred to me that I should probably call out for them to stop or something, but if they turn on me… well, I don’t think I’ll be able to get away so easily.
Lean guy throws a punch in dread’s face and then knees him in the stomach with surprising agility and force. I flinch unconsciously with every blow, dread now rising within me, as I see dreads keel over for a second before his fist goes flying up into lean guys mouth. Maybe lean guy isn’t someone I should be cheering for either…
I gasp a little when I see blood trickle down his chin and before I can say a word, he tackles dreads to the ground and punches him one last time, square in the nose. Blood gushes down dreads face and lean guy gets up swiping at his chin with the back of his hand. “Don’t ever go near her again. Got it?” he growls before turning around and walking towards the front of the building – towards me.
I stand stock still as I watch him approach, getting a better look at his face. Like the rest of him, it’s slender, with a hard jaw. His light milky brown skin is bruised, his shoulder length hair tousled but still half tied up. It’s only until he’s right in front of me that I realize I’ve been standing there gawking at him like an imbecile. A feel scared, standing in front of this guy, capable of breaking a nose. Now that I’ve seen what he’s capable of, I’m rethinking not making a run for it and forgetting about whatever happens to my shirt. He lifts an eyebrow as I take on the age old saying of ‘maybe if you stay still enough then they won’t bother you’.
“You’re in the way.” He says, his brown eyes are careful as he speaks.
His voice snaps me out of my reverie and I begin hurriedly trying to free my shirt from the damn bush, tensing for the moment when he’s going to punch me for not being fast enough.
“I-i-I’m s-s-sorry.” I stutter, yanking at the thread, only to make it longer than it was, once again.
Suddenly his hand reaches towards me and I close my eyes waiting for the sting against my cheek, only to feel a sharp tug on my shirt. I open my eyes in surprise to see his slender hands shaking off the now broken thread. He clears his throat and I immediately move aside. He brushes past me as calmly like he didn’t just beat the shit out of dreads. “You’d better get out of here.” He says as he walks away.
I stare after him for a few seconds before shaking myself out of my confusion. Grabbing my bag off the ground, I glance one more time behind me to see dreadlocks guy sitting up, more interested/worried about the blood still trickling out of his nose than little old me. I run out towards the front lawn, towards the parking lot, wanting to get as far away from what I’ve just seen, my emotions still a little haywire.
“Hailey! Over Here!” A voice suddenly calls out. My head whips up in surprise and immediately my eyes narrow as present events get pushed aside for past ones.
“What are you doing here?” I ask impatiently as Jake jogs up to me.
“I’ve been given the duty to take you back!”
I look around at the almost empty parking lot, “Where’s everyone else?”
Without considering how I feel about him right at this moment, Jake drags me over to his death-trap and pops the seat up to grab two helmets, “They don’t have room in their car so you’re riding with me your majesty.”
“Won’t your girlfriend get upset?” I mumble, unconsciously rubbing my shoulder.
“What?”
“Nothing.” I mutter.
I sound jealous. Not good.
I grab the helmet from him as he shrugs. They must be in one of those weird relationships where they can go around with whoever they want but they’re still labeled as ‘together’.
I sigh, shoving the only thing that’ll probably protect my head from smashing open on the road – probably. The foreign boy punching dreads in the face flashes through my mind and I fidget uncomfortably as I try not to think about it. “Does this school have a lot of delinquents?” I find myself asking Jake.
He looks at me like I’ve lost my mind, “Not that I’ve seen.” I raise my eyebrow, causing him to shrug, “Sure there’s the brawl or two over stupid things, but that’s basically it I guess. Why?”
I shrug, “No reason.” I close my eyes, setting my mouth in a determined line as I now try to mentally prepare myself.
It’s only for today. You can start walking once you know how to actually get to school.
He gets on.
That is, if you still have the use of your legs after this…
I get on.
God, if you’re listening, take pity on me and please give this bike a flat tire or make it breakdown.
The engine roars into life.
I groan internally, I should know by now that God hates me.
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Hey guys, hope you're all enjoying the new Surviving! Just a reminder that NOT ALL OF THE PLOT IS THE SAME! The fight scene with the new guy in it will be revealed in chapters to come! He's not Linc :P
Treat the new Surviving as a 'new story' if you want, that way things won't be so confusing! So keep your minds open! xxxsteph