Welcome to Oceanside High: Revenge of the Bully

Chapter 6

Saturday morning feels like I was hit with a bus packed full of heavyweight champions, and their workout equipment.

"I don't know why you do this to yourself." Dad says, laying a package of yogurt and cottage cheese on my bedside nightstand. He makes a point of aiming his finger at me. "Your mom blames me for your temper. How many times did I have to beg you to just see a therapist?"

I smirk, talking isn't my strong point when my jaw feels like its made of glass, especially when it's talk about therapy and anger issues. I sit up and grab the package. My shoulder is sore from all the hits I took like it were a battle shield.

"You think you'll be okay if I dip out for brunch with Kitty Kat?"

"Who?" I ask, ignoring the sore jaw, and then holding it with regret.

"Annabelle's mom."

I look at him, not sure if my bruised up face with its battle wounds conveys the sincere threat of 'tread lightly.'

He pats my leg. "Okay honey. You rest up and start thinking about this girl's boxing league. Ladies shouldn't be—"

"Dad." I interject, ignoring the pain. He's always considering women as lovely beings who should wear white gloves and prance rather than walk. Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating, but the way he portrays women...the guy will always be bound for disappointment. Mom never wants to talk about him, ever. She's moved on, she says it's most definitely for the better. "If I was a boy you'd tell me to knock his jaw into the far corner next time."

He pauses for a moment and then says, "But you're not a boy."

"But don't you see? That's the point. I should't be subjected to doing what men believe I should be doing. I should be able to do what I choose whether or not it's 'lady-like'"

"Okay. Calm down....I'm sorry. You're right. I sometimes don't see my own bias. But you're my—" he stops short before he can call me his little Honey Bunches. "You know what I mean. I hate seeing you like this. In fact, I've never seen you like this. I thought this boxing club wasn't supposed to be brutal."

"It wasn't supposed to be. I think LuAnne took things farther than she should've. Coach thinks it's because the crowd last night brought in a good chunk of money. Winner gets the admission money."

"Ah," he nods. "I see. What made all those kids from your school show up?"

I look at him, "Who the hell knows."

But I know, and I'm pretty damn sure of it. Seeing Donny and Billy ringside with Lindzey and her crew explains it all. Donny must've teamed up with Lindzey. Two-thirds of the Devil's Trio has now joined forces with the Bitch Squad to garner the audience needed to be at my defeat. But I showed them didn't I? But where was Travis McDurn? I'm amazed he didn't show up. Then again his whole routine at the after-school club might've been the real deal...what could be getting into him?

Dad leaves me to heal up and I lay around most of the day, looking at myself in the mirror, using make-up to try and hide some of the cheek bruises and giving up when the pain is too much to bother. So much for really showing up Lindzey and what she expected of me. It hurts.

It's not like I feel like going anywhere. Finally, a phone call breaks the monotony. It's Annabelle and she is excited as soon as I answer the call.

She practically shouts into the phone. "Hey!"

"Hey." I say, less enthusiastically. "What ya doin'?"

"After last night I wasn't sure you wanted to hear from anyone."

"Maybe. My head hurts and my shoulder too but mostly I'm fine. My pride is wrecked more than anything."

"Your pride? Donny is the one with the broken pride. Lindzey too, and her squad."