Welcome to Oceanside High: Revenge of the Bully

Chapter 4

Before I can take a spoon and scoop up some sweet corn Annabelle begins telling me all about her day, and all about what she'd heard.

"You must be joking. I never punched Lindzey! But Now I wish—" I quiet down when I realize my voice is loud and carries throughout the lunch room. "I wish I had dented her face into the back of her head instead of my locker."

"Chill." Annabelle reminds me as she pulls a slice of pizza off her platter and takes a bite. Through a mouthful of dough and pepperoni she muffles out the words, "Karma is a bitch."

"Then karma needs to kick it in gear because my first day of senior year has turned out worse than freshman year."

"What was it all about anyway?" She asks. I don't feel like getting into it but I haven't told Annabelle about much that happened at Billy Bowen's party since she was getting over her hangover and first day jitters. So, quickly I fill her in and I do it quietly over the loud cafeteria noises. When I'm done her mouth is open in shock. Still she somehow manages to scarf down the last of her pizza. She swallows the last of it and finally exclaims: "He—what! That prick!"

"Yeah." I grab my apple and take a bite out of it. Then I take two bites out of my turkey sandwich and a couple scoops of my corn. I really need the energy for league training tonight. Coach Lisander won't be happy if she sees me gripping the ropes after five minutes, and dragging my feet.

"Why didn't you text me?"

"Because I don't need my phone ripped out of my hand like Mrs. Church did last year during Civics class."

"Uggh. I'm so glad I don't have her this year."

"Me too."

Annabelle laughs. "I know. You've got who I got. Just not at the same time. Sucks."

"Eh, well..."

"What?" Annabelle leans in, a thin leftover string of cheese strains to stick to her lip before it falls onto the floor. Sometimes she can be so primal. Especially when it comes to food.

"Uh."

"Spill it!"

"I'm trying." I take a deep breath. "Mr. Scowlard walked me back to his office after the incident where I supposedly—"

"Allegedly," Annabelle corrects me.

"—Allegedly cracked Lindzey in the face with my fist. Anyway, It looks like I have to pay for the locker I dented with my fist, and look at what classes I really want to take, since, let's face it, I'm not as smart as you and I'm not even sharing any classes with you."

"Not true. I can help after school. You'll learn some new stuff."

"In the years you've known me have I absorbed much of anything?"

Annabelle shrugs but I see her face as she takes a swig from her milk carton. She thinks I'm right. She's smart. She knows I'm right.

"So, what."

"So, maybe I should do something I like instead of just trying to hang out with my best friend."

"But you do."

"Like what?"

"Boxing."

I huff. "That's one but it's not school accredited class."

Annabelle jerks her chin toward the exit door outside where the Juggernauts are seated. "....heads up."

"Hey!" Donny says, sliding into the seat next to me. Of which, most are empty, save for a girl across the other side of our big table. She's got her head down and scrolling through something on her phone. She doesn't look like she even knows we exist or that we're technically at the same table. I glance at her but then back at Donny.