And She Didn't Even Try

Red Knuckles

¨She did WHAT!?!?¨

I can swear one thing at this moment, Elle's voice is painful when she gets overly excited over something.

¨Jeez Elle, tryin to blow out my ear drum or something!?¨

She was tugging on my arm and almost seemed like it was the end of the world or something. 

¨I'm sorry, It's just, you finally like someone!¨

¨I-I never said I liked her or anything!¨

My face got warm and it felt like the room just got exceedingly humid.

¨I know you do, cause you face is red! You're blushing Lune! I swear this just became SUCH a better day than it was before!¨

I covered my face and my chest caved in. 

¨I'm still angry at Catie for being such a bitch! I've had just about enough of her. When are you going to take control Lune?¨

My face got even warmer. My chest suddenly filled with a thousand needles and my knuckles yet again turned white. 

¨I was fine with her messing with me. But I'm gonna make her pay for messing with Ivy.¨

Elle's face turned into a shocked expression and a big smile came across her face. 

¨You're the protective type? I'm liking this side of you!¨

I give her a look and then I see John turn the corner. He scared Elle and laughed about it while she playfully punched his shoulder. 

¨Not funny John.¨

¨It was to me.¨

It's about time for Ivy to meet me by my locker.

¨Hey guys, I'm gonna meet Ivy by my locker. I'll see you guy later.¨

¨Go get her tiger.¨

Elle nudges my shoulder and grabs John's hand. I gave her a look, and she returned a 'yea, we're officially a thing' type of look. Well, I'm glad that they're happy. Now, I gotta go the rest of the day with Ivy. I don't know if I can handle this, this emotion, it's... so complicated. I turn the corner and she was already at my locker. 

¨Hey, have you been waiting long?¨

Ivy gives me a smile and her cheeks were all sorts of red.

¨Um, no. I just got here actually. Uhm, thanks for comforting me earlier today.¨

¨Oh, no problem. I see you as my friend, friends look out for each other.¨

I open my locker and put my History books in and shut the door. I'm ready to get out of here. 

¨I only live about three blocks away from here, so I usually walk. Is that okay?¨

¨Yea! I'm actually really excited!¨

We walk down the stairs and head out of the doors. Her hair turned a beautiful shade of red as soon as the sun hit her head. It made me want to run my hands through her hair. We kept walking to my house, the fall air turning her cheeks a light red. I just kept my eyes at my feet, hoping she wouldn't catch me staring. Then Catie appeared. Around the corner of the brick wall, with William trailing in behind. He looked like he had no soul. 

¨Ew, the freaks are hanging out with each other. Well, I'm glad you finally found a friend Lune! Someone who's just about as lonely and unattractive as you!¨

¨Catie, don't you think you're taking this a little too far?¨

Catie didn't even move her eyes away from mine as she shut William down with a cold one worded sentence. 

¨No.¨

¨Look, Catie, we are walking home. Just leave us alone okay?¨

¨You're not safe anymore Lune. There's no teachers around, and we're off school grounds. I can do whatever the hell I want to you pathetic excuse of a female.¨

Ivy was angry, and I could tell she had something to say. 

¨Ivy, let's just keep walking.¨

Ivy kept her eyes to the ground and reluctantly followed when I grabbed her wrist and started to walk around Catie. She wasn't having it. Catie took her hand and shoved my shoulder back as I passed, knocking me to the ground.

¨Don't you dare touch her!¨

Ivy shoved Catie, and Catie came back with a punch to Ivy's face, knocking Ivy to the ground. She didn't move. She just layed there groaning in pain. This time, my knuckles weren't white, they were red. They were covered in my own blood. I had squeezed my fists together so hard that I broke the skin this time. Next thing I knew, I was on my feet.

¨You stupid bitch! I'm gonna make you regret ever messing with me!¨

I charged and landed a nice and hard punch to Catie's face. She turned around and knocked me in jaw. I spat out some blood and gave her glare.

¨Is that all you got pretty princess? You messed with Ivy. You finally fucked up you stupid whore!¨

I knock her from the side of her face and she fell to knees in pain. William just stood there, frozen. He really was a sad excuse of a man. I kick Catie completely to the ground, she was now on her back. I climbed on top and pinned her down. I spit in her face and I couldn't keep it in much longer. 

¨All my life. ALL my life!!! You've made snotty comments, threw your food and drinks at me!!! Stole all the guys who ever loved me!!! And tortured me!!! I WILL NOT stand by again while you hurt her!!! You will NEVER hurt her again!!! NEVER!?!?! You hear me!?!?!¨

There was sobbing.

¨Yes! I hear you! I'm sorry!¨

¨I don't wanna hear your sorry excuses. I also better not hear anything about this at school. Just think, all the guys you've ever slept with, when they see your ugly, bloody, bruised face. I wonder what they'll say about you to everyone else. I bet nobody is gonna want to sleep in the same bed as you anymore. You fell down the staircase, got it?¨

All she did was nod. I got off of her and went over to Ivy. Her cheek was already swollen and bruised. I lifted her into my arms and carried her, and both of our backpacks the whole block home. I sat her on the couch and dropped our bags, and fell to my knees right next to her. The pain of Catie's punch was finally kicking in, and I carried everything here on pure adrenaline. My body was done for the night. Ivy opened her eyes and put her hand on my face.

¨You're face, it's bruised.¨

I closed my eyes and held her hand there against my face. I crawled onto the couch with her, and let her lay next to me.