Choiceless

- 1 - Brian

As I enter the classroom, I see the teacher handing out tests. I pause and try to remember anything about a science test. It's the last week of school, so there shouldn't be anything...

"Hurry up, Brian. You're already late," says the teacher.

Mumbling curses under my breath, I take a seat. I take out my pencil case and fill out the Name and Class field:

Name: Brian Waters
Class: 9 Selective

-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-

A familiar sensation overcomes me as I wince from the headache Thryko gives me. Words materialise before my eyes as I wait, feeling a sense of impending sense of dread. Overwriting everything I can see, these are the choices I am given to follow.

. . .
1. Roll up the test paper and insert your middle finger into it.
2. Flip the table and scream, "The world is 95% ice cream!"
. . .

Huh. A no-brainer. At least all the tables are separated in exams and tests. I stand up steadily, ignoring the stares of my classmates. I grab the edges of the table and prepare myself.

I push the table forward and flip it over. It lands with a loud THUMP, in contrast to the silent atmosphere of the class taking exams.

Phew.

The teacher fixes me with a glare.

I stare back coolly like it's the most normal thing in the world.

The headache comes back, demanding my attention.

Shit.

"The world is 95% ice cream," I shout.

~ ~ ~

Hands clenched, I close the door of the Principal's office. The bell rings, signalling the end of Period 2. I head out to the playground for recess, my bag hanging off one shoulder.

I sit down on a bench, and spot a group of boys coming towards me. The tall one, presumably the leader, smirks at me.

"If the world's 95% ice cream, what's the other 5% for?"

This causes an uproar of laughter among the group.

-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-

A surge of adrenaline rushes through my veins.

This is it.

The words run across my field of vision.

. . .
1. Knee him in the groin and run.

2. Spit in his face and insult him. Prepare for a fight.
. . .

They'll probably catch me if I choose 1. That leaves me with...

I get up and meet his steely gaze with a defiant one. I bring my mouth to his ear and whisper.

"The rest are idiots like you who don't know how to keep their mouths shut. You'd melt the ice cream with that hot head of yours".

I pull away and look at his enraged face. I grab his shirt with both hands and spit in his face.

His mates rush forward, but he raises a hand to stop them. The hand suddenly moves towards me, curled into a fist.

Time slows down as I duck. Rising back up, I uppercut his chin. He looks dazed for a moment, but immediately launches a below the belt kick.

Pain sears through my body like a flaming arrow. I stagger backward and look around for a moment. A crowd has formed a ring around us. A couple of teachers try to get in, but to no avail.

There's no escape.

I gather what's left of my strength and headbutt him straight in the stomach. I follow it up with a barrage of swift jabs and end it with punch square on his nose.

He falls back back and coughs. Blood is splattered over his face, his nose crooked in a shape I wouldn't envy.

His friends help him up. A glare from my eyes disperses the crowd and strut out, hands bloody, head held high. He gives me a glance.

This isn't over.

I shrug and grab my bag just as the bell for Period 3 rings.