Farm Tag

Chapter 5. « Fight. »

"Up, today's the first day of school!"

I roll over on the mattress, groaning in protest. I'm already imagining myself in class, for hours on end, cursing high school. I should give up school.

I hear my bed creaking behind me. I lie on my back and see Reid swinging his legs over me on his crutches and leaving the room.

I get up some time after him. Marshall already has his satchel beside him, his hair curled with gel. I frown, with gel? How long have we had this?

"Do you like my new hair? Reid did it!"

I look at the empty kitchen, which is usually always lit with someone in it.

"Where is everyone?"

"Dad started deliveries early this morning and Mom is weeding vegetables in the garden. Reid went to town, I think."

I go outside with my backpack over one shoulder. Mom is on the floor, pulling out a weed with her gloves and throwing it into the trash bag. She looks at me.

"Can you take your brother to school?"

"That's what I thought. Marshall, let's go!"

I see him running to his friends, showing them his Spiderman schoolbag. They look shocked and a little jealous. They try to touch his hair, but he backs away.

I arrive at school and Judy is waiting for me with her phone in her hand. I jump on her and give her a hug.

"So... your first night with your soldier?"

"Shut up, people will hear you!"

"But why do you want to keep it a secret? There's a lot of people who might respect you just for that."

We sit down on the tables, a crowd forming in seconds in the middle. Judy sighs as she watches.

"How can they be so energetic in the morning?"

"How can they actually fight on back-to-school day?"

Familiar blond hair pulls other blond hair, though her short haircut doesn't leave much to catch.

"Is this a fight between girls?"

"Shut up!"

I climb onto the bench to get a better look and see that the bobbed-haired blonde is a true rebel. She has a gothic style and a nose piercing. Her eyeliner glides down to her temples.

"Do you think we should help her? She's fighting Kimberley."

"Kimberley, the blonde slut?"

"That's her."

"Go, go, go!"

We leave our bags on the benches and make our way through the crowd, with the students all shouting at the same time. The boys are crazy about girls fighting but I manage to get into the circle.

Kimberley is about to punch the girl while the latter wipes her bloody nose. I catch the fist just inches from her face while Judy takes the opportunity to sink hers into this bitch's jaw.

"So you're already harassing freshmen now, Kimberley?" I ask, turning her wrist slightly.

"Don't touch her!"

I feel a blow to the back of my head. I turn around and discover another freshman. She throws her bag at my face but I don't let it get to me as I grab her hair and punch her, making her scream in pain. But I feel another hand tugging at my hair.