Blinders

Chapter Two: The Mighty Fall

A/N: Mild violence (nothing serious)

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Mikey's P.O.V.

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"So, how were your morning classes?"

I shrugged at Cassie over my lovely lunch of peanut butter on white bread. "Boring, I guess. Mr. Ross is very interesting, though. You had him last semester, right?"

"Yeah! He play whatever band you want if you ask. I think he misses his boyfriend in a certain band."

"So what WERE you drawing in history?"

"Oh! That! I got bored, so I drew you as a character in a book I'm writing. Where did I put that-- oh yeah!" She reached into her pocket and pulled out a folded square of looseleaf. "Oh, wait, here he comes. DUCK!"

A tall boy in a varsety jacket sauntered up behind Cassie and grabbed at her chest. "Hey, dyke," he whispered against her ear. "Ready for me to turn you straight again?"

"Ugh! Get OFF of me!" she yelled, shoving him back. "You're disgusting!"

"You're disgusting!" he snapped. "Who's your little queen friend?"

"My name's Mikey!" I said, standing up. The bench rocked back and forth with a clatter. "The hell is wrong with you?"

"Mikey, huh? Well, how come you got boobs? You a freak too?" He reached over Cassie and started grabbing at me. I ducked down. He grabbed my shoulders and shoved me.

I flipped backwards over the bench. My head cracked against the floor.

Why are the lights so bright?

What the hell?

What was that ringing?

Oh, shit. This was bad.

The boy leaned over me. He mouthed a few words. Then spit dripped down onto my face. He strode away.

From a thousand miles away, Cassie's voice yelled, "Mikey? Mikey! What did he do to you?  Oh, shit. You need to go to the nurse."

"No, no. I'm fine," I insisted, slowly sitting up. "Just tripped. I'm fine." 

"Mikey, your head is bleeding."

"I'm FINE. It's just a scratch." I wiped at my forehead with my sleeve. "Just get me a Band-Aid."

"You could have a concussion. It sounded like you cracked your skull!"

"I have five older brothers. I get beat up all the time. I'll be fine. I'm immune to head injuries."

"No. You're going to the nurse's." She grabbed my sleeve and started dragging me down the hallway. "That's Jason Godwin. He's awful."

"Can you slow down?"

She huffed and grabbed both of my arms. "Grab on. I'll give you a piggyback ride. You look like you're going to faint."

"Cassie, I'm fine."

She slung me over her shoulder, ignoring my yelp of surprise. "Oh, don't make that noise. I'm a tough kid. Now let's go."

I sighed in defeat and let my head dangle forward. She started singing "Carry On Wayward Son" as she ran.

The nurse glanced up as she ran into her office. "Cassandra, what are you doing?"

"Uh... this is Mikey. They got into a fight with Jason Godwin and hit their head. I'm worried about them."

"Mikey? New student, huh? Cassandra, put him down and I'll take a look at his face."