Go Away (#TheWattys2015)

Chapter 23: A Little Revenge

The next morning I shot out of my bed drenched in sweat. My breath came out ragged and I shook away memories of the previous night. My hair was fuzzy and my braids were clearly falling apart. I looked at the time. 6:00. About an hour to get this mess under control.
Once all of my braids were undone, I had a curly heap of hair that, in a way I thought, looked pretty nice. I liked it. I hopped into the shower and got out quickly.
My clock showed that it was 6:50. I hurriedly pulled on some jeans, black combat boots, a grey shirt and jean jacket, and ran downstairs. My mom sat at the kitchen table, waiting with a bowl of cereal prepared for me. I slowed down. "Hey mom."
To my surprise, she walked up to me and hugged me.
"Tasha explained why you came home so late and crashed last night. How are you feeling?"
I shrugged. She frowned and held up my chin.
"I'm your mom little girl. You can be honest with me." I sighed.
"Honestly mom, I don't know. I feel a little shaken up really." She nodded, satisfied with my answer. "We don't have to talk about it now if you don't want to. I don't want you to be late for school so...what do you say if we can have some soda on the couch and talk about it when you get home?" I smiled. "Sounds cool."
She hugged me tight and headed upstairs.
"Hurry up and eat. I'm going to bed."
"Night mom!" I called up the steps. "It's morning!" She shouted back and I laughed.

When I walked into the school a lot of people turned to look at me. I realized I had never worn my hair out to school before. I smiled shyly at some of them and quickly walked to my locker. Everything was fine until Casey showed up with her group of friends. "Hey loser," she said.
"Nice hairdo. It fits you perfectly. You look just like you should. Ugly and insane." I sighed and tried to ignore her.
"Hey! I'm talking to you." Tasha was by my side seconds later. I turned around and faced Casey while Tasha helped me take out another textbook. "We need them for math today and that's about it." I nodded and tucked it into my backpack turning away from Casey. We started to walk away and stopped when Casey yelled:
"I'm talking to you loser!"
Tasha spun around on her heel and I prepared myself to hold her back. "Listen Casey. No one cares about what you have to say. Daija's hair looks ten times better than your blonde mess ever does. You're just jealous because Zack rejected you and he clearly likes Daija better. So step off. Not every guy is dumb enough to fall for you and catch herpes." Casey gasped and I stared at Tasha in shock. Clearly I had missed something. Casey growled and Tasha steered me away from her and her group of followers. We walked down the hallways and I burst into fits of laughter. Tasha laughed with me.
"That. Was. AWESOME." I panted. Tasha smiled at me and tried to catch her breath. "What do you mean by Zack rejected her?" Tasha placed her hands on her knees trying hard not to start laughing again. "She flirted with him over text and he rejected her. He told me about it afterwards." I laughed again and she laughed with me.
"Finally, a guy smart enough to reject her." Tasha sighed and smiled at me. It was the type of smile that said she knew something I didn't. "You sure it's not just 'cause you two like each other?" I choked on my own saliva.
"That is, no, we don't like each other. We're friends."
"Mmhmm." I pushed her playfully and we headed for class laughing the whole way.
Zack showed up after us and Tasha smiled at him. I blushed and hid my face and he raised an eyebrow at us.
"Did I miss something?" Tasha's smile widened and I hid my smile which was also growing.
"Nope. Nothing."
He sat down next to us slowly and I couldn't hold it in anymore. I burst out laughing again and Tasha joined me. The teacher walked it and closed the door.
"Ladies," he said sternly.
"Is there something you would like to share with the class?"
I stifled my laughter and Tasha answered "no sir" and we fought down giggles.
"Very well then. Class open up your books to page 334."

After school I was walking over to my car when suddenly hands grabbed me and dragged me to the back of the school. I screamed and fought and another hand was slapped over my mouth. Finally I was shoved against a wall and faced with Casey and five of her minions. This wasn't good.
"Aww, is your little body guard Tasha gone?" Anger bubbled up in my stomach.
"What do you want?"
"Oh nothing in particular. This is just a little revenge." Revenge? All around me her minions pulled out cans of silly string and attacked me. I screamed and Casey slapped me. They sprayed silly string all over me. On my hair, my clothes, my shoes. I was covered in silly string and they laughed at me. All around me they laughed and Casey's laughed was the loudest.
"Not so tough are you? You're just another ugly nobody!" I lunged at her and her minions held me back and threw me against the wall. Tears streamed down my face and kids in the parking lot turned and stared at me as I ran to my car. Casey and her minions' chants followed me.
"Ugly! Ugly! Ugly!" Everyone's eyes were on me. Some people were laughing. I frantically jabbed my keys into my car and sped off, nearly crashing into another car as my tears blinded me.