Show Me Who You Really Are

Five

"What do you mean you don't wanna go to school?" Gabi's mom asked. Gabi grabbed a pen and paper and wrote as fast as her fingers would allow it. "What if people make fun of me???" She wrote. Her mom sighed and pushed her hair behind her ear. "If they do, then they'll have hell to pay. I don't want you fighting this year. Understand?" She said with a fierce "mother-look".

Gabi nodded and finished putting on her clothes. She wore overalls with a nirvana band tee underneath and her brick wall converse shoes. She grabbed her backpack and her skateboard out of her closet and began down the street as Mia ran to catch up.

On the way, Gabi saw Ian and waved. "Hey!" He called as he jogged beside her. "Skater, huh?" He asked with a smirk. Gabi pushed off more on her skateboard and held the straps of her backpack as she used her weight to turn the board right down Grover. She wasn't going too fast but Mia and Ian still struggled to keep up.

The high school and middle school were literally a street apart from each other. Gabi and Ian waved as they turned left onto Berkeley and Mia turned onto Davenport. Gabi picked up her board and walked into the two double doors. A boy ran over to her. "Duuuude!!!" He exclaimed. Gabi instantaneously felt herself get tense. "Your board is frickin' awesome, girl!" He continued. Gabi smiled behind her binder as the boy drug his fingers down the undercarriage. "I'm Sammy. Sammy Veneto." He said holding out his fist. Gabi fist bumped him. "I-I-I'm, Gabi." She said. Sammy tilted his head. "Nervous?" He asked.

Ian finally walked in and at the sight of Sammy, he squinted his eyes at him. Sammy looked over Gabi and gulped so hard his new-forming Adam's Apple nearly cut through his throat. Gabi turned around to see Ian and smiled, unknowing of the situation. "Hi, uh, I-Ian." Sammy said.

Ian cut his eyes at Sammy and tugged at Gabi's backpack. Sammy felt his face get hot and walked up to Ian with his chest out. The boys were the same height, but Sammy lowered his head slightly as if he were taller. Ian responded by putting up his chin in a mocking manner then smirked. Gabi clenched her backpack as kids started to notice what was going on.

Sammy was trembling slightly, but wouldn't let that affect his bravery. Soon kids starting saying, "Sammy Veneto and Ian McCullough are gonna fight over the new girl." Gabi's cheeks grew bright red as kids began to cheer. Ian kept his composure as if they weren't there. "Look, Ian" Sammy began, "you ain't as tough as you act."

Ian chuckled. "I don't act tough, Sammy. You're just afraid of me." Gabi frowned at this new side of Ian. This wasn't the nice guy she met at the park. Sammy pushed Ian back, and although this showed tremendous courage, every kid fell silent in remembrance of what Ian had done in elementary school the last time someone attacked him.