Branara ~ Magnum

Chapter Four - Equality

KARA'S POV

I walk to school the next day with a bruised cheek. My stomach aches, I know there's a bruise there too.

Brandon tried to protect me, but his friends beat me up anyway. I don't even know anymore.

I reach Room 19.

"Hi."

Speak of the devil.

I turn around, and there is Brandon. "Hi," I say coldly.

"I'm sorry for what they did," he says nervously. "Are you alright?"

I frown. "Why do you care?"

He shrugs.

"Aww, look at Brandon and his pathetic little crush," a voice taunts.

I look up. It's Mitch. My skin burns with hatred. Both for beating me up yesterday and for calling me pathetic.

"Shut up!" Brandon yells, going red. "I do not have a crush on her!"

Mitch smirks. "Has anyone ever told you that you're a really bad liar? Because if not...now you know."

Brandon freezes. I watch his mouth move wordlessly.

Then I discover that I am frozen too, that I can't move, that I want to tell him it's okay. But I can't. Both because I am afraid, and because I'm not sure if it's actually okay. 

Then he looks at me, eyes widening in panic, and bolts.

Mitch laughs, then charges down the hill towards me.

At first, I am frozen. I don't know what to do.

I can fight this. If I'm going down, he's coming with me.

Determination hardens within me. I feel strength pulsing through my veins.

Mitch grabs me. I fight at first. Then I allow myself to go limp. Surprised be the lack of resistance, Mitch stumbles forward.

I twist myself free and punch him in face.

He grunts in pain and swings a roundhouse.

I find it so easy to dodge. Just step aside, Kara, you'll be fine.

Mitch jabs at my shoulder, I can't avoid this one. I wince as pain shoots through me.

I throw a punch at his nose. I hear an ugly crack.

He stumbles backwards, eyes glazed with reflex tears. Blood streams down his face. I watch as he looks at me, wide eyed, and runs back up the hill. I feel my sudden burst of energy ebb away.

"Bad idea," Lachlan says behind me. "But good job. That's going to make my week, watching Mitch getting beaten up by a girl."

I should feel proud, but I don't. I feel almost...ashamed, that I had to be like them. Use violence to prove that I am right.

And I feel something inside me that is happy, exhilarated, touched, even, that Brandon likes me.

And deep down, I know there is annoyance and frustration directed at Lachlan. Watching Mitch getting beaten up by a girl.

Because I was a girl? What, girls can't fight? Girls are weaker?

Fudge off, Lachlan.

Go learn the frickin geometric properties of equality, even though they have nothing to do with this scenario.