The Fall of Family

Chapter Seven

I stared at the little piece of paper.

A phone number.

A real, 7 digit number that will actually contact a real person so I can communicate with them.

Holy crap.

And it's Mathew too.

I clutched the piece of paper to my chest and smiled. I closed my eyes and I could imagine us, together, holding hands. With his adorable braces and his charming smirk too.

I sit back in my chair and reality catches up with me. I have a cellular telephone number to a cute, single, junior athlete, in my sophomore year. I could actually date him and he would bring me flowers and chocolates and we would talk to each other and maybe kiss.

Holy crap.

I don't even notice the bell ring and the Mr. Principal start the Pledge of Allegiance over the intercom. In fact, he is almost done before I noticed my English teacher giving me the skink eye from the doorway. I stood up quickly, fumbling the paper in the process and mumbled the rest of the speech, still watching my teacher giving me the same flesh-melting stink eye out of the corner of my eye.

After the rest of the pledging of my allegiance, I sit back in my seat and bent down to retrieve the paper. Before my fingers could reach it, a hand grasped it before me. I looked up at the face of the hand and see Abby.

Her smirking face is flushed with a mischievous look I could see a mile away. I look into her eyes and said "give it back" with the most demanding voice I could muster.

She looked right at my stone cold face; still with the same smirk, and said "why should I?"

Crud, I haven't written down his number yet, and I NEEDED that paper.

"Because I need it, that's why"

She looked at me with the most frustrating look I have ever seen and whispered, "No. And, who's the unlucky boy?" She giggled after her comment.

My face went red and I felt adrenaline starting to flow. "None of your business. Now give me back the paper"

She glanced at the number once more and I tried to grab it from her. She swept it out of my reach easily. "We'll see, once I text him to see who he is" and she starts to strut away.

My stomach starts to turn inside out. I needed to stand up for myself. My hands turned into fists, nails digging into my skin. I stood up and started to walk over to her, but the teacher walking into the room stopped me. I sat back down slowly and said many more words God wouldn't have wanted me to say.

I would have to wait until the end of the class period to get it back.

Crap.

After the long hour of boring English, with the addition of sneaking glances at Abby every once in a while, I finally built up enough courage to get the paper back in the hallway. The bell rang, dismissing us after a homework assignment given to us, and we all ran out the door.

After Abby left, I waited a few seconds and followed her out of the room. I saw her head above the crowd and followed the head a few inches above the crowd.

I followed her long enough for her to think I would've forgotten about her. I sprinted up to the point where she couldn't see me, but I could touch her if I extended my arm. I took a deep breath, and boosted myself in front of her.

I stopped in front of her and put a "let's get down to business" face on. I looked at her straight in the eye and said, "I need the paper back. Give me it now."

I must have looked stupid, because she laughed and tried to continue walking. I sidestepped in front of her and said in a flat voice, "NOW".

She looked at my in the eye and asked, "what are you gonna do to get it?" The anger inside of me burst and I lashed out.

I did it.

I heard shrieks and gasps all around me. She was on the floor, clutching her nose, her binder and phone a few feet away from her. I knelt down next to the sequin-splattered binder and opened it up. I heard her groan from the floor and I saw people start to stop, kneel next to her, and ask her questions. I found the paper in the pocket of her binder, and I slid it into my back pocket.

I would text Mathew from whatever punishment I would suffer from, as I looked back, I saw Abby on the floor, blood was splattered around her face and dripping onto her boyfriends jacket. Good I thought, she deserved it.

I walked to my second hour class, like nothing happened. I know later I will pay a visit to the vise principle, but for now, I was happy I stood up for myself and I wouldn't let me get pushed around.

I entered the room I just as the bell rang for class to start. The teacher gave me a funny look, but none the less, started class.

About halfway through second hour, my hypothesis became correct as the teacher's work phone rang. She answered it with her nice, pretty voice and looked at me after the conversation started, I started to pack up my things as she hung up and said in front of the class, "Maria, Mr. Jones would like to see you" I stood up and walked to the door, hearing some snickers on the way out. You think by now people wouldn't laugh at this kind of stuff, but some people are just not mature.

I closed the door slowly, feeling that would be the last time at least this week I would shut a school door.

I walked down the long, empty hallways, thinking of all the things the vice principal could dream of to punish me.

I walked up to his door and opened it, swinging it open and closing it furosiouly. Sitting my butt down in the bouncy chair facing the desk as Mr. Jones looked at me, above the frame of his glasses, watching my every step. I was happy I was here, because Abby deserved a bloody nose and I delivered it to her. To break the awkward silence, I said "You wanted to see me?". I felt as I was talking to nothing as the words echoed around the room.

He took the glasses off his long nose and rubbed his temples. He replaced the glasses and said "Yes. Do you know anything about the incident of Abby Kingman walking into the nurses office, with a very bloody nose, repeating your name over and over agian?"

I wasn't gonna lie, I took pride in what I did. So I replied honestly, "Yes" I said "I gave her the bloody nose".

He sighed and leaned back in his chair, twisting back in forth slightly, making me dizzy. I immediately felt very full for no reason, but I shook it off and listened to what he had to say.

"Do you know that by law I am supposed to punish any case of violence among students, and that that punishment blah, blah, blah"

I sat there and nodded and replied yes every time he looked like he needed an answer. After the short meeting, I landed myself an out of school suspension for the rest of the week.

At least I could text Mathew.