Yeah, I'm the 'Big Bad Demon Slayer'

Chapter Eight

The wind ruffled my hair as I walked to school. It was around six twenty, and I was right on schedule for my routine venture to campus. After training was over at four this morning, I showered and changed into jeans and a loose blouse. Ever since I began training, I had gotten used to the icy bite of winter. Where there used to be a large down coat, there was now only a sweat jacket. I wondered how I ever thought this was cold.

Arriving at campus, I realized that I was now friendless. By saving the twins’ lives I had earned their hatred. It was a sad feeling, losing your only comrades. Feeling depressed again, I sat down under a tree in the courtyard and studied Icelandic. There was nothing else to do. At least Amma would be happy with me.

After what seemed only a short time, the bell rang and I shuffled awkwardly to class. Without Lia and Liam on my side, it seemed as though the perspective of the world changed. The world’s weight seemed to flip onto my shoulders, and for the first time I was truly aware of how much I stuck out like a sore thumb in a crowd. I hadn’t seen them all morning, and I hoped that I could avoid them for the remainder of the day. God, that thought alone made me disgusted with myself. Utterly disappointed with my sudden lack of confidence, the burn on my arm seemed to hum with glee. I slapped it absentmindedly, and people snickered at my strange behavior. Great. I shuffled to class and sat down in my assigned seat in the front.

Suddenly math didn’t seem as much of an enemy anymore.

* * *

After two more classes, the bell rang, dismissing my peers and me to lunch. After enduring the lunch line alone, I finally reached the front. As I pulled my wallet out to see if I had enough money, something large stepped in front of me.

“Where are your minions?” Chad sneered. Chad was a big, ugly guy that liked to pick on other people to make himself feel better. Ever since I stood up to him in the third grade (by dumping my lunch down his shirt), he’d had it in for me.

“Minions?” I ridiculed, arching my eyebrow at the strange nickname for the twins.

“The twins, clones, minions, whatever you call them.” he snickered, and I rolled my eyes. “Get on with it, Chad. Is there a point to this conversation, or are you just being friendly?”

His eyes narrowed at my dry sarcasm, and he grabbed the front of my shirt. The rambling conversations of the cafeteria dimmed as they took notice of my situation. “I’ll never be your friend, Snowflake,” he hissed, and I winced at his toxic breath.

“Jeez, Chad, have ya ever heard of mints?” I whined, and he pushed me onto the ground. The cafeteria formed a tight circle around us, blocking off teachers from being able to break apart the oncoming fight. I knew what was coming. Chad sized up, making himself look even bigger. I brushed myself off casually as I stood, refusing to let this get to me. Then I heard something that broke my heart.

“Get her, Chad. Make her crawl.” The voice was female, harsh, cold and cruel. My eyes met Lia’s hateful glare, and I winced. Liam was standing behind her, looking torn. Focusing on Liam, I asked quietly, “Liam, what’s wrong?”

“Chad, what are you waiting for? Beat her up.” Lia scoffed, and I realized for the first time how big of a bitch she was.

Chad didn’t need to be told twice. He decked me in the jaw, right where Ari had kicked previously in training. Ow, I thought as I stumbled backwards. Instincts kicking in, I ducked underneath of his next punch. It swished above my head, and I leapt behind him. Recovering from the confusion his punch not meeting anything, Chad bellowed, “Where’d you go, Twinkle Toes? Afraid to get beat up?”

The crowd started chanting, “Fight, fight fight!” Idiots, I spat in my mind. Chad tried to throw another punch, but I dodged it again. What slow punches. He was focusing too much on making his punches powerful, instead of accurate. Dammit Ari, now I can’t even fight without making an analysis. That’s when I realized that was the secret to staying focused in a fight: analyzing you foe’s mistakes and countering them. Chad threw another punch, but I caught it this time.

Surprise flickered over Chad’s face before I twisted my grip and flipped him onto the ground. Confusion mingled with the surprise engraved onto Chad’s face, and I smirked. The crowd was silent, at a complete loss for words. “I’m done with this,” I announced. I pushed my way out of the crowd, but not before glaring at the twins and picking up my backpack. As I pushed open the doors exiting the cafeteria, the large room erupted with cheering and applause.