A New Beginning

Charlie Again?!

Riley POV:
It's been about 2 weeks since the incident with Charlie. Every once in a while my knee collapses or gives out, or my stomach will feel like someone is stabbing it. But it's okay because I know I'm okay.

Lucas has literally not left me since the incident either. The only time we are apart is when I go to the bathroom. He stands by the wall adjacent to the girl's bathroom door. As soon as I walk out, he rejoins me at my side. He goes to my locker with me and patiently waits for me. He has me come with him to his locker and wait for him, which I don't mind doing. He also escorts me to all my classes, even if he doesn't have it with me, and then leaves for his. After class he comes by my class and walks with me to my next one.

But I don't mind all of this because Charlie threatened me again. I don't feel safe in a 20 mile radius of him. He told me that if I didn't go on a date with him and be his girlfriend then something would happen to my children.

That set me off. That set Lucas off. That set Maya off. That set Farkle off. That set Joshua off. That set about everyone in the world off.

Long story short, we were outside the school and I punched Charlie in the nose, pretty hard after he threatened my kids. Lucas had forgotten something in his locker, and nobody was near me at the time, so he left for about 30 seconds before Charlie showed up. Blood started trickling from his nose when he punched my stomach. The place where he kicked me not too long ago. I scream in pain and fall to the pavement. I curl into a ball as he yells, "Ha! Weakling!" And he kicks my arm with full force. I start crying and crying. I hear footsteps; I don't know who it is until I hear them yell. "Lay your filthy hands off of my best friend you little-" my best friend is cut off by Charlie punching her in the jaw and she hits the ground beside me.

Charlie has gotten very violent since I first met him. I hear two sets of footsteps coming now. I just keep hoping that one of them is Lucas.

"What'd I tell you before Gardner?! Hmm?!" My boyfriend yells approaching my attacker. I'm watching this whole thing from the ground, hoping that Charlie won't hit me again.

Lucas throws a punch at Charlie as Farkle comes over and helps Maya up. She probably needs more help than me anyways. The punch hits Charlie in the nose again. And another hits his jaw. Charlie screeches in pain, but doesn't give up. Charlie punches Lucas in the jaw as well.

Right after that, the principle comes out because he was on his way to his car. He notices me on the ground and Lucas and Charlie about to kill each other. "My office NOW!" He yells at us.

••••••••••••••••••••

When we get to his office, Maya and Farkle are already there. Maya has an ice pack on her jaw and Farkle is rubbing her back. I walk in first, Lucas second, and Charlie third. We all take our seats. A nurse comes in with 4 more ice packs. One for Charlie, one for Lucas, and two for me. I place one on my stomach and lean back a little so it stays. The other I put on my arm.

We tell what happened, and once again, Charlie has out of school suspension for 4 weeks this time. The rest of us are "victims" and aren't in trouble.

When Lucas, the kids, and I get home, the kids run off to do homework in their rooms. I plop down on the couch because I ache so much. "Baby, how about you change into something comfortable and then we'll put more ice on your bruises." Lucas says in a soothing tone. I nod and walk to my bedroom. This time I'm not seeing 4 of everything so I can do things by myself.

I change into black leggings and a John Adams Cheerleading t shirt. I put my hair in a messy bun and walk back out of the room. I lay on the couch how I was previously and close my eyes. "Babe do you want pain medicine?" Lucas asks me. "Yes please," I answer with my eyes still closed. Lucas brings me three ice packs, pain reliever pills, and a Coke. He sits beside my feet on the couch and I sit up to take the medicine, but shortly after I lay back down.

Lucas places my ice packs because it hurts to bend. One on my left knee, it started hurting when I hit the pavement, one on my arm, and one on my stomach. I moan a little when it first hits my shirt because it's cold, but after a while it's not bad. Lucas starts rubbing my feet as I fall asleep after a long and dreary day. Hopefully we won't be in a situation like this again.