That time I got rejected three times on the same day!

Chapter 15

The dive roll had been a bad idea. In physical education I was top of the class. I was the strongest, fastest, and had the most endurance, even though I didn't look like it. The class and Mr.Jacobs, our PE teacher, were all surprised. Then the accidents started happening, a stray shot-put in my direction, getting pushed while running, and not recording measurements or times correctly. In retrospect I should have underperformed, just melded into the rest of the class as someone who was neither at the top nor at the bottom, but my competitive spirit wouldn't allow for it. I was limping along now, no speed, no mobility, no agility. Banging my knee had really slowed me down and there was no hope of escape.

My plan was to reach the classroom, but as I reached the staircase I felt a hand grabbing the back of my raincoat. The big bully had caught up with me. His right hand was still hanging limp, but that didn't stop him from pinning me against the wall with his forearm. With his other hand he reached into my shirt and pulled out the object that had protected me last time. It was my science textbook, hardcover and thick. The pine planks the Karate kids broke were designed to be snapped easily. This book was hard and resilient. The hardcover absorbed impact and the pages inside would flex and absorb shock. It was a trick I had learned in the country I immigrated form. Not even knives could penetrate a good book. The bully threw it on the ground and pressed me harder into the brick wall. My raincoat was making a plastic scratching sound. Some kids had gathered around and were now watching, waiting, hungering for blood and violence.

I felt the first punch drive deep into my gut. I doubled over and an elbow connected with my temple, knocking me to the ground.

"Fight! Fight! Fight!"

Voices around me joined into a chorus. My vision was blurry, black and white stars were flickering in front of me. I curled up, covering my head how I had been taught by my Sensei, 'Keep your guard up! Protect your head! You can take a hit to anywhere else, but if they smash your head into the ground you will die!' he had said to me. I felt sharp kicks connect with my forearms. My neck was tense and I kept my head off the ground and away from the wall. I felt a few more kicks connect with my shins before my attacker decided that stomping me was a better strategy. There was nothing I could do. I couldn't move, I couldn't roll away. It wasn't just one attacker either; I felt multiple kicks from all directions. A sweet darkness was calling me. I started to drift away. 'Don't give up. If you go unconscious now you are going to die. Don't give up.' the voice was my own, but not my own. It was coming from a faraway place. 'Never surrender.' echoed in my head.

The kicking stopped. A booming voice dispelled the chant. Adult voices. Familiar voices. I felt two strong hands grab my arms and haul me upright. I was still holding my guard up tightly. A rough hand pushed my arms apart and grabbed my face. I felt two fingers forcefully open my left eye. I couldn't see who it was.

"It's alright," said the voice.

It was Mr.Williams.

"Where's the nurse? Get the nurse!" he shouted to someone nearby.

I tried to push him away.

"I'm fine," I said, my speech slightly slurred.

"Doesn't look like you have a concussion," he replied with concern in his voice.

My vision started to return. I saw Mr.Williams crouching in front of me and two other teachers standing behind him. To his right was Neris. Mr.Williams turned to her.

"Good thing you called me. How did this start?" he said to her.

"I saw some boys acting suspiciously at the toilets. Those two from 8-A start a lot of fights, so I thought it was best to get some help."

Mr.Williams rough hands felt nice. They were just like my dad's hands.

"You are a magnet for trouble Henry," he said. "Don't think that this well get you out of Math class."

I smiled crookedly. I almost died asshole.

Mr.Williams hauled me up. Adrenalin was still coursing through my body. My fists were clenched tight and my legs were shaking. I saw a woman approaching from the distance; it was Mrs.Fredriks, our nurse and guidance counsellor. She was fretting. For a nurse she didn't deal well with stressful situations.

"What happened here? How horrible! Is he hurt?"

Mr.Williams played down the incident.

"Only a few bruises and scratches, he should be fine if he lies down in the nurse's office for a bit."

I need a hospital, CT scans, x-rays. I didn't say that though, it would have made Mrs.Fredriks faint. She came to my side and put her arm around me, supporting my weight.

"I'll take him right away."

Neris picked up my lunchbox and textbook.

"I'll also go with him," she said.

Mr.Williams cocked an eyebrow.

"I'm a friend," she said sweetly.

She positioned herself on the other side of Mrs.Fredriks, took my arm and put it around her shoulders. My feelings were all over the place. Neris was weird, weirder than me even. She had rejected me, but now she was also there when I needed a friend most. She acted kind of like my sister, but different. I didn't want that sort of relationship though, I loved her, I wanted to be with her. I wanted to scream. Not because of the pain my body was finally registering, but because of the vexing situation. I didn't know what was going on. I couldn't see inside Neris' head. I couldn't determine her motives. Together the three of us, Neris on the left and Mrs.Fredriks on the right slowly made our way to the nurse's office.