The Change

Chapter Two

I was standing in line waiting to pay for my lunch when a group of cheerleaders walked up. They started with their usual taunts and harsh words, all of which simply went over my head. Why was it always the popular kids picking on the lower social ranking ones? It was a sick cliché that never made any sense to me. Eventually, Ziggy came to my aid. He paid for my lunch and we were about to walk off when the head cheerleader, my arch nemesis, spoke up.

“Oh look, her baby daddy. Tell me Delanie, is the baby really his? Or are you so much of a slut that you forgot?”

                I felt an anger rise up in me that I had never felt before. It was like my whole body was on fire and I couldn’t stop it. It started in my toes until it traveled up to my head and my head felt like it was about to explode from pressure. I felt my mouth fill with a sweet liquid that I didn’t recognize as I slammed my tray on the ground and turned around.

“I would suggest you shut your mouth, Elizabeth.” I spat harshly. “Wouldn’t want a repeat of first grade, would we?” I took a step forward and her whole group stepped back. You could see fear in her eyes but her face was set to not back down. She wouldn’t want to look bad in front of her followers.

                See, even when we were kids, Elizabeth and I was enemies. She used to pull my hair and throw dirt at me. I would always get upset and go home crying. I never cried in front of her though. I wouldn’t let myself. But I never understood how one little girl could be so mean and hateful. It didn’t comprehend in my mind. One day on the playground, I was swinging high in the swings with Ziggy trying to go higher than me when I felt someone yank my swing, bringing me to a stop. It was Elizabeth. She told me she had wanted the swing and pushed my off. I fell on my face and my tooth that I had been wiggling in and out the past week ripped out. There was blood everywhere, all over my new dress. I was so upset and angry that not only had she knocked out my tooth, she ruined my dress. I stared at her as she laughed at me and ran at her. Literally attacking her. Now, a first grader can’t do much damage but I did quite a lot to her before a teacher noticed and pulled me off of her. I was suspended for three days and she has had an extra hate towards me ever since. When she wasn’t wearing all of her gunk on her face, you could see a scar on her cheek. Yea, I did that. I was damn proud of it too,

“I’m not scared of you, freak.” Her voice announced, wavering slightly. “You’re just a great, big nobody and that’s all you will ever be.”

“Yet, I will be more of a person than you could ever be.” I told her with an eerie calm.

                Elizabeth smirked before she spit in my face. I blinked as it hit my cheek. My hand slowly went up to wipe it off as I stared between my wet fingers and her triumphant face. It all happened so fast that I hadn’t been able to stop myself in time. The fire that was raging inside of me. It was like a warm liquid was slowly spreading throughout my body. Suddenly it took hold as my body moved forward by itself and grabbed Elizabeth by the neck and slammed her into the nearest table. I slammed her head into the table and punched her in the nose. You could hear the crunch of her nose and her scream as she widely tried to get away from me. The punches didn’t stop as I continued to hit her. As my fist went to come down a fourth time, a strong hand caught my bloodied hand and calm spread throughout my body. I looked up to see Ziggy staring at me with a deep frown on his face.