It Started with a Dare

37

Emilee and I made our way into the school the next day. Marcus met us by my locker. "Emilee, can we talk?" he asked.

Emilee nodded, and they went off toward the front doors. Marcus ran a hand through his hair and said something that made Emilee smile and erupt into tears. She threw her arms around his neck.

I smiled. I was glad everything worked out. Then, I thought about my own problems. Ridge hadn't been on my mind for the past twelve hours, and now, I thought about him, I bit my lip. I needed to figure what I was going to say to him.

I looked across the hall, and there enough was Ridge with his eyes on me. I swallowed and averted my eyes. I shut my locker after I grabbed my books then made my way to homeroom, sparing Ridge one last glance.
××××××
I ran as fast as I could when we had to in gym. Ridge had been on my mind all day, and I couldn't get him out. I pushed my legs even faster and watched the track ahead, trying to focus.

I clenched my jaw as once again his face clouded my thoughts, the pain coming back. I hated this. Why did he have to do what he did? Wait, why did I let myself fall in love with him?

I let out a growl and pushed my legs even faster. They were screaming in pain, but I didn't care. I did my last lap, finishing my mile run in under eight minutes. I was the second one done.

"Good job, Sawyer," Coach Lowell said.

"Thanks," I told her, breathlessly.

"Go get some water," she said. I smiled and made my way back into the school. The water fountain was to my left. I bent down and chugged the water.

"Hello, Braelyn."

I stopped and looked up. Wren smiled. "How have you been?" she asked.

"I have nothing to say to you," I said, and I made my way to the door.

"Ridge seems heartbroken, and I know you are. It's kind of pathetic really. Your relationship being a lie, yet you two love each other," Wren said.

I whipped my head to her. "I don't know what that has to do with you," I said.

"Oh, I don't care if it's none of my business. It's just a matter of time before I scoop up Ridge like I did Jared," she laughed.

That's when I snapped. I slammed my fists into Wren's nose. It began to bleed, and Wren screamed, "I think you broke my nose!"
××××××
"Braelyn Sawyer," Principal Green said. "You've never been in here before. May I ask why you're in here now?"

"I punched Wren in the face," I said calmly. There was no use in lying. They caught me on camera.

"Why?" he asked.

"She set me off," I answered.

"That's when you come to me. Fighting is never the answer," Principal Green said.

I scoffed, "Principal Green, with all do respect, you cannot sit there and tell me that you never fought in high school."

He sighed, "That I can't. You're a good student, Braelyn, which why I have decided not to suspend you. There's only what? A week left in school the your Junior year is over. Just don't get into anymore trouble, Braelyn. If you have a problem, then come talk to me. Understand?"

I nodded. "Yes, sir."

"Okay, go to class."

I got up and made my way out of the office. Emilee was waiting for me. "What did you do?" she asked.

"Hit Wren in the face," I admitted.

She gasped, "That was you?"

I nodded. "Yep. How's her face?"

"Her nose is bruised bad. Are you suspended?" she asked.

I shook my head. "No, he told me that I was a good kid, and since there was only a week of school left, it wouldn't make sense," I told her.

"What did Wren say that set you off?" Emilee asked me.

"It doesn't matter, so drop it," I said, swing my locker open. "It over now."

"I still can't believe that you punched her," she said.

"Emilee, drop it," I said, slamming my locker shut.

"Fine."