The Owl Within

Chapter 2 Jocks and Nerds

     As I walked into class with Callie by my side, carrying my 5 notebooks and 2 textbooks, I watched as a dark-skinned hand came down and slapped my books right out of my trembling  hands. I was about to look up as my glasses were gone in a flash, leaving nothing but blurriness for me to see. I herd Callie yelling at whoever hit me.
"You think your cool by bullying other people!?" She screamed.
"Cal-" I started before I got cut off by a booming voice.
"What is going on here," Mr. Marlow looked over me.
"N-n-nothing," I staggered.
"Very well. Move along now," he helped me pick up my stuff, "where are your glasses, Theo?"
"W-well... " He waited.
"Big Mouth- I mean Brady knocked him down and stole his glasses. Again!" Callie yelled. One single tear dribbled down her cheek.
"Now, now Callie," Mr. Marlow recalled, " we mustn't worry. I will return his glasses ASAP. Please make you way to your next class."
   I watched as he walked down the hallway straight into Brady's classroom.
"Oh, Theo. I'm so sorry. Why does this happen all the time?" Callie said. I shrugged.
"There's nothing you can do. Just please don't cry. I hate to see you like this."
" I hate to see you get bullied everyday!" Another tear leaked out.
"Let's go," I started to make my way to science class. Callie sighed and followed me.
I really don't like Big Mouth Brady. I sat down, put my belongings in the desk, and took out my science/math textbook. We had one textbook for those two subjects, and one for social studies and English. As my math teacher, Ms. Evans, told us to turn to page 38.
I really don't like Big Mouth Brady.
                                                                     *         *        *
At lunch, me and Callie sat at our normal table, just us and the other empty seats.
I pulled out my lunch, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and apple and one small cookie. I started munching on my PBJ,  as four bulky boys plopped down next to us.
"Hey look it's little geek Theodore and his girlfriend California," Brady smirked his evil smirk.
Nerd not geek. I thought.
"You just mind your own business. And we're just friends," Callie said, sounding determined.
"Oh look. We all know where you two go every morning. Up in a tree to smooch!" His gang burst out laughing, while Callie's face turned red with anger and embarrassment.
"He's my friend!" She yelled.
"He's my friend!" Brady mimicked her. I wanted to stand up to, so very bad, but my instincts were just pulling me down. I sat helplessly as Callie's face turned bright red.
"That enough! I'm tired of you and your little servants picking on us just because we're different! Just because we're smart! You guys are just dumb-buts! You don't even know what 2+1 is!" She stood up with her fists bunched up.
"So," he said, "strength beats smartness any day!"
"No," I murmured.
"What? Did I hear little owl-freak say something?"
I almost peed my pants.
"I-I..."
"Don't be afraid, I'm not gonna hurt you," he cracked his knuckles and chuckled.
"I said no to your statement 'strength beats smartness any day'. "
"And what about it?" He smiled evilly.
"I think it's wrong,"  I said. I felt more confidant, "I think that smartness can out rule strength any day.
"Oh really," he laughed.
Our table was called to leave for outside period, and Brady and his bunch followed my every step. Once we were outside, he kept on teasing and I actually got more confident. But suddenly, I said something to strong.
"All you do is play video games. Your just a lazy, dumb, couch potato."
Brady's face was shocked. Then he twisted it into a slow, tremendous smirk.
"Your. Just. A. Geek."
"Nerd, not geek, you camel," and that's what got him.
"G-E-E-K."
And then all I could see was darkness and stars.
* * *
Ow. Ow! That hurts that really hurts! I grabbed my eye, which was covered in some wrap, because I couldn't see out of it. I slowly rose up, noticing the 'wash your hands' and 'eat healthy and exercise' posters all around me. I looked to see with my one eye, Callie beaming happily right beside my nurse bed.
"Your awake!" She wrapped her arms around me, surprising me, because she had never done that before.
"Thank goodness your ok! You don't know how much trouble Big Mouth Brady is in!" She smiled.
I don't know why, but a flood of happiness and warmth flowed through me. To see her smile made me smile. So I did. My eyes followed hers, and I was almost completely
spaced out until I herd a voice saying, 'eo! Here's a cup'. But it was actually, "Theo, he's up."
The nurses small face leaned over me, as she studied my swollen eye.
"He really punched you hard, didn't he," she shuck her head. I nodded slightly.
"I'm afraid your parents are unable to come and get you, no matter how serious this time is, so you are going to go home with Callie. Is that OK?"
I nodded again.
"And you guys both have excuses from any missing homework," she smiled and winked, "well, they will be here in a couple of minutes so why don't Callie help you pack up."
I slowly arose from my bed, and hulled up my backpack. We left school and hopped in the Adele's car. My head was screaming inside, because of the pain in my eye.
How am I going to see Murphy with one eye... Was my last thought before I quickly fell asleep in the car.