Caramel, Ginger.

Federal Offence

I take a deep breath to calm my beating heart down and face off with this arrogant prick, who by the way is way taller than I gave him credit for. Add the muscles, he's pretty huge. I'm screwed.
One thing I was gifted with though, is a perfect poker face, and I give him just that as we continue to stand in silence.
He finally breaks. "Well well, if it isn't the smart mouthed red head. You thought you could avoid me forever?"
Avoid him? I've only seen him once. What is he talking about?
"We live in the same neighbourhood, my house is two streets from yours," he explains when he sees the confusion on my face.
Oh shit.
I finally find my voice. "You do know stalking is a federal offence, don't you? Now get out of my way, and no, I don't need any more friends."
I try to move around him but he blocks my way again. Breathe baby, you've got this. Don't get angry.
"You think you can just walk away? You most likely destroyed my chances of ever having kids, you left me in pain, and you think I'm just going to let this go? I'm going to make your life a living hell, trust me on that."
Screw this. He's asking for it. "Funny how you can stand in my way and act like I kicked you for nothing. You almost killed us with your dumb and non existent driving skills, and then you had the nerve to insult my Mom and I instead of apologising. Don't make me repeat myself. Get. Out. Of. My. Way."
The idiot keeps staring at me defiantly, though I can tell he has noticed I'm getting angry. He's not moving that's for sure.
As if this isn't bad enough, another guy joins us. The slim one who was with him the day of the near accident. I groan inwardly.
"Look who it is. The queen of karate herself. You think you can just assault people and then get away with it? This is our turf little girl, and we'll destroy you for being so cocky."
I've had enough. "Look Dingus, I don't care if you're the kings of this place or whatever it is you think you are, I don't have time for you. If this macho bullshit usually impresses your Barbie dumbos into liking you then I'm afraid you're talking to the wrong girl. Now, Bananas in Pyjamas, get out of my way and leave me alone." I shove past them and make my way to the school building without looking back. My heart is beating so fast but I give myself an internal high five. Way to go, idiot. You're officially dead meat.
I make my way to what I think is the guidance counsellor's office so that i can collect my timetable and she gives me the usual talk about fitting in and joining clubs and all that nonsense. I don't really listen. When I exit her office, she follows me to the door and says, "And Azalea? Try to dress a bit more... appropriately next time. You're still new so I guess the principal will understand. "
What? "There's a dresscode here?"
She nods. "You could say that. Just try to be presentable and appropriate. That's the dresscode."
I roll my eyes as I make my way to my first class. English. Yay.
My heart drops all the way to the floor when I open thr door to the class and immediately spot the two idiots who accosted me a few minutes ago. They both turn to look at the door when I enter and shoot me death stares. The chatter in the room dies down.
The slim guy speaks up with a smirk. "Careful now, Master Jedi. We've seen enough of your karate skills to last us for the whole school term." There are snickers and whispers as everyone throws me weird looks.
I will myself to walk into the room and find an empty seat in the middle row just as someone near the front shouts, "Hey Panda, which strip club do you work for?"
This time the laughter is uproarious as people bang on desks and pat the guy who just insulted me on the back. He actually grins like he just won the lottery and I grit my teeth. Okay then. I put my bag down and walk over to his desk. Without saying anything, I grab a hold of his desk and pull it out of the way. It makes an irritating screech sound on the tiled floor. Before he can understand what's going on, I grab his chair legs. There is a loud crash as he falls to the ground in a hilarious tangle of arms and legs. I throw his back pack on top of him as books and papers fly out of it. He lets out a small shriek and covers his face with his hands.
The room is deathly silent. A pencil falls to the ground.
"Anyone else with something to say? No? Good. Don't fuck with me kids. I don't play with any of you spoilt idiots. I will mess your pretty little faces up. Are we clear? Good."
A tall middle aged man with silver-like hair enters the room just as I settle in my seat. "What is all the noise for? Mark? Mind telling me what you're doing on the floor this fine morning?"
Everyone turns to look at me. The man notices and walks over to my desk. "Well, this is a new face. Welcome to my class, Miss...?"
I clear my throat. "Briarwood. Azalea Briarwood."
He claps his hands as he makes his way back to the front of the class. "Miss Briarwood. I'm Mr Ross. Mind telling me what was going on in here? I get the impression that everyone is waiting for you to explain."
"I'd rather not, Sir. I think Mark can explain it better."
His eyebrows shoot upin surprise at my bold statement. He turns to Mark.
Mark looks so embarrassed it's almost comical. He explains to Mr Ross what happened and conveniently leaves out the part where he provoked me first. I sigh. Few minutes into this school and I already have detention. Talk about luck.
"I'll let this one slide, Miss Briarwood, on the basis that you're new. However, this school does not condone any form of violence or brawls, it will result in detention or your possible suspension. I suggest you keep your temper in check. Are we clear?"
"Crystal clear, Sir."
"Good. We can begin."
The class passes in a blur with me taking notes and everyone trying not to throw me weird glances. I almost laugh when I catch a girl near the front craning her neck to look at me, and when I stare back she immediately flinches and quickly turns back to her notes. Good.
Step one. Intimidate people into giving you space. Check.
When the class ends, I slowly gather my books while I wait for people to clear out. I'm not really a fan of crowds. People are still stealing glances at me and whispering, but at least now no one dares to provoke me again. The muscular guy and his slim friend pass by my desk and the muscular one whispers, "This isn't over, Panda," before walking out of the room.
"Don't mind them. You learn to ignore them at some point." I turn to look at the owner of the voice and find a tall, lean guy with long black hair tied into a man bun standing with his hands in his pockets. He's wearing black from head to toe and has a tattoo on his neck. He would have looked quite intimidating if he wasn't grinning at me. An actual friendly grin.
"Hie. I'm Dana and this is Steve. We're twins." A female voice says from the other side of my desk. I swivel around.
Whoa.
The girl is about my height with wild black hair framing her face. She's wearing a leather jacket, jeans and biker boots with studs on them. She has hoop earrings, plum lipstick and huge doe eyes that are thick with liner. She is so stunning, so beautiful that I take an involuntarily step back.
She laughs. "I'm trying to decide if I should be offended or flattered. The look on your face right now is so comical."
I snap out of it and give her  a small smile. "Sorry. You're really pretty. Even I don't compliment people, let alone another female, so yes, you shouldbe flattered."
Steve speaks up. "She gets that a lot. I don't like going anywhere with her, because being the overprotective twin brother that I am, I would probably punch enough ogling guys to actually end up in jail."
I laugh for the first time since I got here. "I don't blame you."
"Anyway, you're pretty cool. Would you like to have lunch with us and our friends?"
"Uhh...."
"Trust me, they're nothing like the snobs you just witnessed in here. They're pretty cool," she says.
I nod. "Alright. No problem. Let's go."
Steve grabs my backpack for me and we exit the room as they start explaining how the cafeteria system works around here.
I like them already.