Reversing Roles

Chapter 6

Smug smiles appeared on both Alyssa's and Jade's faces as they entered the cafeteria, and a silence followed, along with dozens of curious gazes from their peers. Her and Jade had just spent twenty minutes dodging teachers and smoking behind the girl's bathroom. Then, Jade even convinced her to help her spray-paint the stall doors in the bathroom. Jade gave her an adrenalin rush, and almost made her feel wanted. She couldn't find that kind of care at home.

The girls made their way through the tables full of snooping teenagers, soaking up all the sudden attention. As they passed a big table full of ripped, meat-headed jocks, Alyssa heard one of them quickly whisper something into his friends' ear, then felt the disgusting feeling of a large, grimy hand make rapid contact with her ass. A gasp rippled through the room. She came to such a swift halt, and hastily whizzed around to face the jerk who committed the crime. Her eyes narrowed and her mouth gaped open.

"What the fuck, asshole?!" Alyssa screamed, her cheeks going bright red. The boy just laughed, and his mates slapped him on the back, in congratulations. Alyssa could feel Jade tense up next to her. Suddenly, all the feelings of sadness, abandonment, fear and horror that she feels at home on a daily basis, came flooding back to her. She violently bit down on her lip, to hold back tears, but her body began shaking. You are not weak. You are not weak. You are not weak. Don't let them see you cry.

"Try that again, Josh, I fucking dare you," Jade stepped in, fiercely. She shoved her balled up fist right up to the dickhead's chin. He breathed in sharply.

"Jade, don't," Alyssa croaked, tugging back at her friend, rapidly.

"No, Alyssa," Jade cried, retching her arm away. "This fucktruck needs to be put in his place!" She swivelled back around to face Josh again. He gulped.

"Aw, man, you're screwed," whispered one of the guys next to him, who looked like he was literally ready to flee the country. His other 'manly' friends looked like they were also ready to shit themselves. But suddenly, something unexpected happened. The very boy who sat next to her in first period Maths, the very first student from East High to ever talk to her, the charming, shy and cute boy with black-rimmed glasses and messy chestnut hair, was swiftly striding towards the group. Alyssa tilted her head. Grayson walked confidentially up to Josh, and straightened.

"Get out of the way, wimp," Josh scowled. Alyssa noticed that Grayson's fists were scrunched up tight, quickly paling. His eyes were narrowed and fire burned within them.

"G-Grayson?" she said, slowly and unsurely. Grayson's head snapped towards her, and he briefly studied her face, as if deciding what to do next. His eyes softened, but then he turned back around to Josh. In one quick motion, his right fist was sent flying towards Josh's unprepared face, specifically his nose. Josh's eyes widened, but it was too late. He was punched to the floor below, blood pouring from his nose, and an ugly, purple bruise already settling in the middle of his face. A sudden, unnerving silence blanketed over the entire cafeteria. Josh's friends were completely shocked and frozen, with wide eyes and dropped jaws. Jade's breath caught in her throat. No one moved a muscle. Alyssa's heart was beating so fast, that it was humming. She was rooted to the spot, and her limbs were glued to her sides, and her brain was paused, as if it couldn't register anything. What just happened?

"Ughhhh," Josh silently groaned, from the floor. He slowly sat up, onto his butt, lightly rubbing his practically broken nose. He pulled his hand away, examining the crimson blood that stained it, and growled. "What the fuck...?" he whispered. "WHAT THE FUCK?!" He immediately winced at the pain of his nose. Grayson didn't move, though.

"If you ever think about doing that to her again, or to ANYONE again, I will KILL you," Grayson threatened, loudly, his intimidating voice bouncing off the cafeteria walls. Josh was speechless. His blood began dripping down onto his shirt, but he didn't move. It was obvious that no one had ever stood up to Josh before.

Suddenly, Principal Boomer came hurriedly bustling into the cafeteria. He made his way over to the scene in a matter of seconds, carelessly pushing passed anyone in his way.

"What is going on here?!" he cried. "Oh my, goodness." He quickly pulled up a drowsy Josh from the floor, gasping. He then glared at the students surrounding the scene, trying to figure out what in tarnation happened. He then shot Grayson an icy look, as he stared at his bruised fist. Wordlessly, he nodded for Grayson to follow him to his office, and also wordlessly, Grayson followed. "Go work at a high school, they said. It'll be fun, they said," Principal Boomer grumbled to himself as he exited the cafeteria. Before Grayson left, though, he glanced once more at Alyssa. She was still frozen, her hazel eyes wide. A flurry of unexplained thoughts and questions jumbled inside her mind. His lips twitched into the smallest of smiles, and Alyssa's eyes sparkled. What is going on?!