Bad Blood

8.

We were in our final year of school. Everything depended on us getting the right grades to get into college. I was confident that I was on top marks, but for Dan, I worried. This downwards spiral he'd got into was making him not care about staying in education. Even though we had our dream job to work towards, all he wanted was to get the hell out of there. I had a feeling that if it wasn't for me, he would never have shown up at all.

I came out of the school and could see a commotion just outside the gates. Children were running towards the jeering crowd, shouts of 'fight!' floated over to me. I was curious to see who it was between. I pushed my way through the hoard and to my horror, I could see Dan on the floor, his nose bloodied and his glasses smashed. Martin stood over him, his arm drawn back, ready to delve another blow.

'NO!' I screamed and rushed towards them. I pushed Martin so hard that he hit the ground. He instantly jumped back up and went to swing at me. I braced myself for impact.

'GRACEY!' Dan was now on his feet and had rushed forwards, coming in between me and Martin. I saw the fire in his eyes as he pounded Martin, right in the face, two, three, four times. I'd never seen him be violent. Something must've snapped inside him. Almost five years of constant belittling and name calling must've built up and exploded. When Martin hit the floor, Dan kicked him hard in the stomach. I pulled Dan back, holding him tightly.

'Thats enough.' I whispered. I could feel his heart racing in his chest.

'Do not fucking touch me or her again.' He said, before spitting blood from his mouth onto the floor by Martins head. Pete started shouting that the headmaster was coming.

'Run!' I told him.

We got away before the teachers could catch us. We were both laughing from the adrenaline. I couldn't believe how brave he'd been. I was proud of him for standing up for himself for once. And also terrified that we were going to be in so much trouble. We ran all the way home and I snook him into the house, running right to my room and locking the door. We collapsed onto my bed, both out of breath, holding our sides with stitch.

'I can't believe you did that.' I panted.

'I couldn't take it anymore. I waited for him to come out and I just started on him. I'm sick of it, Gracey. It's the only way I can make them stop.' I turned on my side to look at him. The bleeding had stopped but I could see the bruises coming up underneath the drying blood. I reached over into my makeup desk and grabbed the cotton wool pads.

I dabbed his nose and he recoiled.

'Sit still.' I told him.

'It hurts.' He whinged.

'I'm not surprised.'

'My mums gonna go mad.'

'Yep.'

I snook him back out a while later and walked him home. I was scared incase Martin and his gang were waiting for us. This could go one of two ways. Things could get better and it would all stop. Or they would kill him. But when we got there and the coast was clear, our next worry was what his mum was going to say when she saw his face and hands.

'Want me to come in with you?' I asked. He shook his head.

'No point you getting in trouble too. I'll be fine. Thank you for cleaning me up.' He hugged me quickly and ran inside. I waited a moment and sure enough, I could hear his mum shouting. I got out of there pretty quick.

The next morning as we arrived at school, the headmaster was waiting at the gate where the fight had taken place. I watched the colour drain from Dans face, or at least the parts that weren't purple.

'Good morning Mr Smith and Ms Taylor. Would you like to come with me?' We glanced at each other with wide eyes. We were in so much trouble. I held his hand and squeezed it, trying to convey that I would back him up. I could just see our futures slipping away before our eyes. We wouldn't be finishing school, we wouldn't be going to college and university.

Martin was already in the reception, his face worse off than Dans, and I was told to sit down whilst Mr White shut his door, both boys inside. I waited outside the head teachers office for what felt like hours. I could hear shouting. I was so scared that we were going to be excluded. What would we do if we got kicked out? We'd never be allowed to see each other ever again.

The door opened and Martin came out first. He glared at me for a moment. Then my name was called. I sat beside Dan, not daring to look at him or Mr White. I was scared that if I made eye contact, I would began to cry.

'Now I've heard their version of what happened, I'd like to hear yours.' I took a deep breath.

'Well you see Mr White, Danny has listened to them calling him names for months and months and then the other day I threatened them and then today I came out of school and Dan was on the floor and I tried to break them up and then Dan jumped in and punched Martin and he deserves it because he's a horrible bully. I'm not even sorry that he got hurt. Actually, I'm glad he did cos maybe now he'll leave Danny alone.'

Mr White regarded me for a moment, taking in all I'd said. I wished he'd speak. I wished he would start shouting at me. The silence was worse.

'Violence is never the answer. If there is anyone bullying you, then you come straight to me. What Mr Smith did is very serious and I could get the police involved-'

'How is that fair?' I butted in.

'But in this instance,' he continued without hesitation 'because Daniel is a star pupil and I'm sure it won't happen again, I won't be phoning the police. I just hope both of you have learned an important lesson. You are facing months of detention and litter picking, Mr Smith.'

'Yes sir.' Dan said, looking down at the ground.

'Ms Taylor?' He urged me for a sign that I agreed. I didn't want to agree. I wanted some justice. Why should Dan be punished for being bullied? He'd done nothing but stand up for himself.

'Yes sir.' I said through gritted teeth. Arguing with him would only make things worse. I'd already lost Dan after school for the foreseeable future. And he would have to spend every afternoon with Martin. Mr White hoped that forcing them together would help. I wanted to have detention too, but I'd been banned from the school grounds after hours. All I could do was wait outside the gates for Dan to come out and hope Martin didn't talk to him.

By the end of the five days, Dans bruises had faded and the two boys had, by some miracle or threat on Martins part at being excluded, agreed to tolerate each other. And that marked the beginning of the end for my best friend and I.