An Exchange

Chapter Nineteen - Preparing for State

Penny

The football team made it to state for their division, and the whole school buzzed with excitment. We would have to drive all the way into Salt Lake City for the game, but everyone knew it would be worth their time.

At lunch, Maria and I finished eating and headed out to the field. We stood by the fence, as the guys weren't there yet, and chatted as we waited.

Out of nowhere, Dylan grabbed my hair and pulled me onto my knees. She'd been gone for so long I'd almost forgetten about her, but she was back with vengeance. Maria screamed and rushed at me.

"Hold her back!" Dylan yelled before her foot impacted with my rib cage.

I grabbed at my side and tried to stand, but she kicked me in the back and I fell forward. Being bullied was something I had become accustomed to and I was going to just take it, until Maria screamed my name. Suddenly, I felt responsible for what happened to her and my fight instincts kicked in. I rolled onto my back and kicked out at Dylan. She stumbled back, giving me enough room to stand. I turned to Maria being restrained by two girls. I ran at the one on the left and knocked her off Maria, who then smacked the other girl in the face with her free hand.

An arm wrapped around my neck and squeezed so I couldn't move. Dylan's voice hissed in my ear, "You come here and think you own everything..."

Maria struggled free and turned to help me.

"Get help!" I wheezed.

She stared at me, surprised, but as the two girls advanced on her again, she scampered away.

Dylan laughed. "You're all alone now, Penny. No one's going to help you. You see, Ryan's mine, and although it's your fault I was suspended, I'm not angry about it. Do you wanna know why? Because it gave me the chance to think and I realised something; you’re just another girl for him to get into the sack.

“You don't know Ryan like I do. He's not faithful, and will sleep with any girl who'll open her legs for him. So I figure he sees you as a challenge, and he's working this elaborate scheme to screw you.

“So, Miss Penelope Lawrence, I doubt this thing you have going with him will last beyond Christmas, because once he nails you, he will come back to me. And if he doesn't get you, he will simply find someone else to screw behind your back."

Her words stung. I didn't want to believe them. Ryan wasn't like that, not with me... was he?

I took control of my emotions, forcing myself to think as her arm clenched tighter around my neck, making me gag. I stomped as hard as I could on her foot. Her arm loosened, so I swung my elbow back into her stomach and found myself momentarily free, until the two girls grabbed me and held my arms back.

Dylan glared at me. "I'm going to kill you, Penelope—"

"My name's not Penelope!" I responded with a snarl.

She slapped me across the face. "What is it then? What's Penny short for?"

I glared up at her defiantly.

She squeezed my cheeks hard, digging in her nails. "You have some dirty little secrets, don't you? Well, I guess I'll just have to find them out and expose you to Ryan. Then he won't want you, will he? If you were a loser or something worse before you came here."

Her arm was snatched up and twisted around behind her back.

"Don't you lay another hand on her!" Giles snarled. He held her wrists against her back as she struggled.

Jonas ran straight at me with his fist raised, and the girls, remembering how he had hit Dylan, let me go and backed away.

Maria appeared from behind them and she rushed over to me. "Are you all right?"