I didn’t know how to fight, but thankfully my height and momentum, along with a healthy dose of surprise, had given me the advantage, and we collapsed to the ground in a heap. Nothing more now than a tangle of limbs, we engaged in a flurry of blows. Most of them failed to connect to anything other than the tile floor, yet we continued to punch, knee, and elbow at one another. A vicious strike to my ear set it ringing; I did my best to return it in kind.
I elbowed him in the jaw, only for him to pull back and jab me in the stomach. Bile rose to my throat, and there was a distinctive iron taste from the blood sitting in my mouth. Still, I refused to relent and kicked at his leg that was over mine.
“What the fuck are you doing?”
Refusing to answer the piece of shit, I kneed him in the ribs until he was able to shove me away. I scrambled after him, but he had already gotten into a kneeling position, and I wasn’t strong enough to force him back to the floor. Easily prying my hands away, the guy stepped away from me. He put his hands up before his face, adopting an amateur boxer’s stance. Unfortunately, this meant I had lost any advantage I had and was now in very unfamiliar territory.
“Oh, I see what this is.” He relaxed, allowing his arms to fall to his side. “You’re pissed that I said something about that damn whore. She offer to bang you if you went around white-knighting for her?”
I lunged at him, expecting to use his brief moment of defenselessness against him. In hindsight, this was a bad idea. The element of surprise had been lost, leaving me vulnerable to his punches as he easily recovered to fighting form. One blow landed in my chest, and the other hook caught me high on the neck. The final strike was a solid blow to my cheek, and my legs gave out beneath me. I landed hard on my knee before collapsing onto my side, dazed and struggling to catch my breath.
“Grant, move!” Nicole shouted.
Trusting her command, I rolled to the left, hoping that would be enough to avoid whatever was coming. A boot stomped on the ground a few inches away from my throat. The girl wearing it scoffed in disappointment, raising her boot to try again. He joined in, kicking at my sides, which I was feebly able to block with my forearms. There was no chance I could defend against both of them.
The girl’s boot did not slam down again. Instead, Nicole tackled her around the waist, sending her leg sprawling sideways. They wrestled for a little until it was clear that Nicole had gotten the upper hand, straddling the other girl’s waist. She swung at the other girl, who by skill or pure luck, managed to deflect her hits. The guy didn’t take kindly to that, stopping his assault on me and turning his focus toward Nicole.
“No…” I groaned.
I grabbed his ankle and pulled myself closer to him, sinking my teeth into his pant leg and hoping that it reached his flesh as well. He hissed and shook his leg violently to get me off. I rolled onto my shoulder, tasting more blood from my split lip as I watched him stumble away.
“Break it up!”
The gym teacher stepped between us, forcing the other guy back. I pushed myself onto my hands and knees, letting out a hiss as the adrenaline faded.
“Grant, can you stand?”
My head throbbed, and every muscle seemed to protest what I’d put them through. Nodding, I pushed off with my palms to keep as much weight off my aching knee as possible. I rose onto my good knee, paused briefly, and then slowly forced myself to my feet. My legs shook beneath me, but I stayed upright. It was only now that I realized just how much they had touched me–every punch, every kick, every grab. My stomach twisted at the thought, and I shoved it aside before it could take hold.
The principal and science teacher had already separated the others by the time I looked around and realized the hallway had been cleared. “H-how much trouble?”
“Son, you’re bleeding, and you look like you’ve had enough for one day. I won’t be worrying about how much time you’ll be missing from school.”
“S’not so bad…”
“Never would’ve thought you’d be getting into fights.” He sighed, and I had to really strain to hear him over the ringing in my ear. “Come on. Let’s get you to the nurse.”
I started walking behind him, keeping a hand against the wall for support.
The nurse moved around beside me, checking my eyes and asking me a few questions while I struggled to sit propped up on my elbows. My pain hadn’t magically gone away, but her examination hadn't turned up anything particularly concerning, which gave me some relief. She retreated behind her desk, and I glanced away from the picture on the sterile white wall I had been staring at. Atop her stained wooden desk was a mess of paper and sticky notes, while the bandages and ointments were kept organized and tidy.
There was a knock at the door.
“Come in,” she called out.
Nicole stepped inside with an older woman I assumed to be her mom. My dad walked in behind them. “How is he?”
“Grant’s eyes appear fine, and he’s able to recall everything that happened. I’m not seeing anything that requires immediate attention, but given the hit he took to the head, he should still be checked out by a doctor.” She gave my dad a pointed look before leaving the room. “I’m going to step out for a second. Keep an eye on him. If anything changes, come get me.”
I nodded toward my old man, feeling a little stupid but uncertain about what else to do. My head protested the motion, forcing a sharp inhale. My hair being gently rubbed felt pleasant, however, and I leaned into the calloused hand of my dad. “How are you feeling, my little ankle-biter?”
“Like hot garbage,” I gurgled out, my throat dry. “And I’m not a huge fan of that nickname.”
“That’s a shame. I think it suits you.”
“I think reckless idiot would be more fitting.” Nicole looked at my dad like a kid getting caught with their hand in the cookie jar. “I apologize.”
My dad grinned. “Never apologize for telling the truth.”
The woman giggled. “You both shouldn’t tease him so much. He’s been through a lot.”
“And my son put your daughter through a lot too. I think he can put up with this much.”
I really wasn’t sure I was appreciating this tag-team bullying from Nicole and my dad. Nonetheless, a radiant smile crossed her mom’s lips, little crinkles forming around the tip of her nose. There was a gentle aura about her, and it made me curious how the apple had fallen so far from the tree. “Perhaps, but I’m proud of them for standing up for their friend.”
“We’re not friends,” Nicole protested.
“Then why fight that girl?”
“To save him from getting stomped.”
“Then he must be someone important to you.”
Her brow furrowed. “Mom, I mean this in the most respectful way possible, shut up.”
Amusement reflected in how she had to force the corner of her mouth into a straight line. She failed in the end, letting out a snort unbefitting of the elegant image she gave off. “Even you can be cute when it comes to this kind of stuff.”
My dad joined in, letting out a throaty chuckle. I was almost positive he had no idea what was going on, but he did love to poke harmless fun where he could, and right now Nicole’s mom and her were putting on quite the show for him.
For my part, I wasn’t nearly as gleeful. Nicole had shifted her glower away from her mom, and now I was feeling the full fury of it. Not wanting to be under her intense gaze any longer, I figured a change of topic was in order.
“How long are we suspended?”
“Thanks to Ms. Mercer being one tough cookie, and your otherwise spotless records, they only gave you a day.”
That was much better than I had expected, considering that I had attacked him without warning and that Bayshore High School had a strict non-violence policy. I was curious what she said to the staff to have them hand down such a light sentence to us. In the end, it didn’t matter much. I was just grateful to not be in any more trouble than necessary. I tried to smile at her, but I’m sure it came out as more of a grimace with how much the slight motion hurt. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
“And thank you too, Nicole. Sorry for dragging you into this.”
“Whatever.”
She left the room, slipping out the door that had been left open halfway. Her muffled footsteps grew further and further away until they were replaced entirely by the dull hum of the heaters in the office.
“I suppose that’s my cue to head out.”
“Teenagers, what can you do with them?” my dad asked.
“That’s something I ponder every day.” Nicole’s mom grinned. “I am glad you’re ok, Grant. And so is Nicole, even if that girl struggles to express it.”
With a flourish of her puffy winter coat, she took her leave before I had a chance to respond to such a bold claim. Nicole worried about me? Not even in my wildest dreams would I believe that. Hell would have to freeze over, and pigs would be soaring through the skies for me to even consider that a possibility.
The door shut with a faint click, and Dad closed the distance between us, plopping onto the bed. His shoulder bumped against mine, and his eyes were a little misty. “I was worried, you know.”
I nodded, having to look anywhere but at him. Crying in front of him would be so uncool.
“Still, I am proud of you, no matter what anybody else says. Standing up for a friend is never a bad thing.”
“I wish it was that simple.” I laughed, cutting it short when my body wracked with a cough. “I also wasn’t standing for most of it.”
He pulled me into a hug, resting my face in the crook of his neck. “Sorry, champ. I know it’s been a long day, but we’re going to have to get you to the doctor’s.”
“Great…” I grumbled.