C1 Rivalry

I tap my foot to the rhythm of the bandaged fingers on my lap. Aroused with boredom, I tilt my head towards the window and peek at Mr Jason's physical education class in the pitch at the bottom of the building.

"Excuse me Mr Greene, can you summarize the French revolution for the class? Or you would rather save your time for detention," Mr Sam asks, bringing his face closer to mine, such that his gray hair sticks out infront of his emerald eyes.

I simply utter an 'uhm', loud enough for everyone to hear, which earns me a paper suit at the back of my neck accompanied by laughter from my classmates.

I stare into the spring afternoon sun and bring my eyelids closer to prevent my tearducts from watering. "Detention it is," I hear Mr Sam mutter as he drives his attention towards the the class.

Suddenly, the 3pm bell rings bringing my Friday hell to an end. I pick up my books and sluggishly walk into the hallway, my almond eyes fixed onto the Adidas sneakers attached to my feet.

I feel a strong force bump into me and within seconds, I'm brought to my knees but don't bother to look up and face the embarrassment. Laughter echoes through the hall as my pictures make their way into almost every cellphone.

"Come on Kelly, do something. I'm tired of grinding someone who never stands up for himself," Ellie Rogers shouts at the top of his lungs, to the appeal of everyone in the hall.

"Rea," I hear Ellie call out to his twin brother, Reagan. I think he signals him to try his luck on me because he placed his foot on my back and slams me onto the floor.

A warm liquid spills over my mouth while I wince in pain. My hands roam around the floor and I manage to hold them out perpendicularly against the ground but I'm slammed back down as soon as I accomplish my first success, attracting another round of laughter from the crowd, as if they were watching a comedy show.

"Don't be scared, just come up and I won't hurt you," Ellie coos in a mocking tone but his next sentence draws anger to the surface my emotions. "Don't be like your mother who runs away from everything."

I snap out of my shell at the ringing of this sentence in my ears and before I realise, my face turns red and I throw Ellie onto the ground, making sure each blow I throw collides with his face.

I feel Reagan and other two guys from the football team clutch onto my shoulder but Ellie's repeated sentence takes hold of my emotions, exposing more fury. I rip myself away from their grips, pick up Ellie with his t-shirt collar and slam him into his locker.

"Leave. My. Mother. Outta. This." I say to his face, making sure I emphasize every word. I think I'm about to throw another punch at his face but I'm cut off by strong pairs of arms which tag at me and pull me back.

I close my eyes and suck into deep breaths at intervals for what seems like five minutes. On opening them, I notice Reagan taking off his leather jacket and he aims at me. Reagan punches me so hard that I'm driven into a world of unconsciousness.

***

I wrestle my eyelids and manage to snap out of unconsciousness. Looking around, I notice Ellie lying on a bed opposite mine, digging through his phone with Reagan sitting next to him. The school nurse pops in and takes our temperature readings but goes out once she discovers we are fine.

I take another glimpse at Ellie's pink swollen cheek which covers his left eye and I can't help but let out a chuckle, although it's not as low as I expected it to be because it draws the twins attention.

"What are you laughing at you rat," Reagan starts off but stops when the nurse budged in and tells them that their driver is here. "Come on Rea, spare his legs because unlike us, the underdog will be walking home," Ellie sets off his mean smirk and heads out with his brother to their awaiting limo.

The Rogers twins are ranked the wealthiest kids and of course the bullies. Reagan is the captain of the football team and Ellie is supposed to be the assistant but due to exceptions by coack, they are both captains. In most cases, it's usually girls to he teased but in Agestè high, I'm the major target for every bully.

I sigh for the millionth time today, pull out my phone and gasp the moment my almond eyes meet the screen. I grab my backpack and set off, having realised it's 6pm. Although I intend to hurry, my plans are slowed down by my aching body.

I manouver down the driveway onto the pavement and start my journey to silver estates amidst the fading glow of the sun. Thunder threatens through the darkening sky and immediately, heavy wetting drops fall from the azure.

Realizing that I left my umbrella in my locker, I painfully jog through the shower, with expectation of finding shade at the nearest store.

The rain gets heavier with corresponse to my runs and I soon notice a grocery store where I can take shed across the street. As I'm about to cross, bright headlights from a familiar black limo flash my eyes and it is parks next to me.