Everything We Always Were

Nine: Why He Did

"What a little fucking liar," Kyler doesn't look angry. He looks scared.

"I don't have the energy for your bullshit right now, Kyler. Don't test me," I slam the locker door and make my way to the door, about to leave the locker room.

"That whore got what she deserved,"

And I see red.

I didn't find out until after study hall about the fight, one of Roni's art friends showed me the video at lunch.

"Have you seen this yet? Everyone is talking about it. Just happened after 4th hour. Your name was brought up apparently," She had said, handing me her phone.

The video showed plainly, James swinging a punch at Kyler. And hitting him in the jaw.

I didn't watch much more of it. I knew the reason he did it, but I didn't want to know the extent of what he did. It wasn't smart, if he injured Kyler severely in any way, he could press charges.

There were no warnings from James in 3rd hour, he said hello to me when he came in and offered me a piece of gum halfway through class, saying goodbye normally as well.

I remember the fact that I had overheard him talking about being on Kyler's team for dodgeball in the gym last week and that he hates how his gym hour is right before lunch because he's too hungry to take it seriously.

The video showed the fight in a hallway and I would bet anything that Kyler said something to James about me in the locker room after class and James couldn't stop himself long enough and lunged at him in the hallway outside of the gym.

I had asked her if James got caught by a teacher and she said no that he "really gave it to him" and then disappeared.

I take out my phone after she walks away and send him a message.

I saw a video of the fight. Where are you? What happened?

Before I get a response, someone slams a textbook down onto the table in front of me.

"How about you tell your pretty little boyfriend that whatever you told him before is a lie? If you don't, and he spreads that lie to the school, I will do much worse than you could ever dream." The voice genuinely makes me sick and when I look up at him, Kyler has blood in his mouth, his teeth a copper-red, and a swollen, blackening eye. It also looks like a few other bruises are forming on his jaw, cheekbone, and forehead.

"I didn't tell him anything, and if I did, it wouldn't be a lie."

"Watch your fucking mouth whore, and watch your fucking back,"

He storms away, pushing a few students out of the way of his path.

I'm in my truck.

The response is short and simple and could mean numerous things. You really can't tell emotions over text.

I stand up from the lunch table and grab my backpack, hurrying down the main hallway and out the doors. His truck is still in the same spot he parked it in this morning, and I make my way towards it, my phone vibrating again in my pocket, this time it's Roni in our group chat.

Did you guys see what James did? The video is everywhere. He fucked Kyler up!

Yeah, I saw it! Crazy. Creep deserved it though.

The second message from Fran makes me grit my teeth and shove my phone back in my pocket right as I reach the truck. It vibrates again, this time I know it's Roni and I don't open it.