21st Century Masochist

I Am a Masochist . . . ?

"Love is patient,

love is kind.

It does not envy,

it does not boast,

it is not proud."

What bullshit.

___

Blood splattered across the shiny school hallway floor as a fierce right hook connected with a jaw. A buff leather-jacketed thug had his opponent pinned beneath him; his hits came in rapid succession. One. Two. Three. Oh shit! Did he break his nose?! The brawl -- or more accurately, beating -- was encircled by a thick crowd of spectators, recording each gruesome detail on their phones. They giggled and laughed; many cringed.

"What the hell is going on here?!" Vice Principle Fern shoved through spectators and gagged at the bloody sight of the fight. He pulled the two boys apart and cringed at the bloodied nose and face of the smaller victim; his brows furrowed not in sympathy, but more in chills. "Andrews. Lyons. In. My. Office. NOW!" The man roughly pulled the two by the shoulder, dragging the two to his office. Without turning back around, he called out, "And the rest of you; GO TO CLASS!"

The crowd quickly dispersed, still buzzing about the excitement. The whole ordeal quickly spread throughout the school, one tweet quickly going locally viral. . .

"Y'all, Monty Andrews just got his ass BEAT by Ethan lmao!!! It was fuckin brutal. . . don't kno what set him off but I guess it's always the quiet ones lol."

___

"James, before you fuckin ream me-"

"Vice Principal Fern, young man!! And watch your language!" the man hollered, veins popping from his forehead.

"I just want to let you know, sir," Ethan seethed, "I caught Andrews going through my locker; invasion of privacy right? Then he tries to say he 'didn't mean it' or some shit; what crap!" He turned to the now bandaged victim of his punches, and still seething, spit out, "This little bitch just doesn't understand that I guess."

The vice principal rubbed his temples with his fingers and heaved a hefty sigh. Fern waved a dismissive hand at Ethan and turned his strained eyes to Monty. The man left a heavy silence fall inside his cramped office before quietly saying, "Monty, you okay son?"

The smaller, much weaker boy shook his head yes in a timid reply. His leg shook up and down as his eyes darted between the vice principal and his abuser, still unsure of his safety. His thumbs were playing in his lap as his anxieties grew. Ethan scoffed at the reply and comfortably sat in his chair, glaring at Monty.

"Lyons. This isn't your first time in my office; but one more violent outburst like this-!" his hands dramatically waved at Monty and his wounds, "and you'll be expelled! Do you understand young man?"

Again, Ethan scoffed nonchalantly and rolled his eyes,  but he shifted in his chair uncomfortably. "Are we done here?" he sighed.

Fern just took a moment to look at him, hands folding on his desk. Another silence fell. Monty grew more anxious as Ethan grew angrier and more uncomfortable; the vice principal only stared at the two before stating, "Lyons, two weeks suspension and a month of detention and school service after that." Ethan picked up his bag and threw it over his shoulder, now making his way to the door. Fern added, "We'll be in contact with your father of course."

At the mention of his father, Ethan paused and glanced back at the man, glaring holes into his skull. He gruffly opened the office door and slammed it shut.

Another awkward silence.

"Monty; I understand if you want time off of school--"

"No!!" the young boy interrupted. "U-um, it's almost time for the midterms so. . ."