This time, I don't dodge. I stand my ground, waiting until the last second before sidestepping. As she rushes past, I stick out my foot. Ashley trips, sprawling face-first onto the ground.
A collective gasp rises from the crowd. I hear whispers, see phones recording the fight. But I don't care. All I can do is focus on Ashley, who's struggling to her feet again, blood trickling from her nose.
"You bitch!" she screams, her voice cracking. "I'll fucking kill you!"
She lunges at me once more, but this time I'm ready. As she reaches for me, I grab her wrists, using her momentum to spin us around. In one fluid motion, I pin her against a nearby car; her face pressed against the cold metal.
"Listen carefully," I hiss in her ear, my voice low and dangerous. "I don't want Danny. I don't want anything to do with your pathetic little world. But if you ever come at me again, I'll make sure you regret it,suka."
I release her and step back, my heart pounding. Ashley’s makeup smeared with tears and blood. The parking lot is deathly silent.
But she doesn’t back down. As she comes flying toward me, the school doors open and the teachers come rushing out.
Ashley tries to pull me down again by my hair.
I react instinctively, ducking low and driving my shoulder into Ashley's midsection. The air rushes out of her lungs as I lift her off her feet, slamming her onto the hood of a nearby car. The metal dents with a sickening crunch.
"That's enough!" a booming voice cuts through the chaos.
Police sirens sound in the distance, coming closer and closer as the teachers rush to separate us.
Ashley slides off the car, whimpering and clutching her side. I stand there, chest heaving, adrenaline still coursing through my veins.
The chaos of police sirens and shouting officers surrounds us, swirling like a hurricane in the parking lot.
As the cops storm towards us, I am thrown against a car and handcuffed with force. Despite their rough treatment, I can't help but smirk at the absurdity of it all. Ashley is dragged away by the officers, tears streaming down her face.
Iz rushes towards me. “Shit! Becca! Are you okay?”
Meanwhile, Ashley sobs uncontrollably, her finger trembling as she points towards me in search of reassurance from anybody.
Always the helpless victim. Makes me sick.
But I remain cool and collected, my expression blank and emotionless.
The cops shove me into the back of a patrol car while Iz surveys the aftermath of the brawl.
Iz leans on the car. “What can I do? You want me to call my mom? I can make a statement in your defense.”
His kind words prompt a rare smile from me. "Actually, there is one thing you could do," I say with a mischievous glint in my eye. "Tell Danny to pound fucking sand."
The door slams shut and we begin to drive away, leaving behind the mess and memories of the fight. I stare out the window, lost in thought, as we fade into the distance.
Isitonthecold, hard bench in the police station, my heart racing as I wait for my father to arrive. He always struts into this place like he owns it, flashing his politician's smile and oozing charm. But as soon as his eyes land on me, his face falls into a deep frown.
"Becca," he says through gritted teeth.
"Dad," I reply, trying to meet his gaze despite the guilt that tugs at my stomach.
He lets out an exasperated sigh and rubs his temples, a habit he only does when he's stressed. "What happened this time?"
I shrug nonchalantly, even though my insides are churning with nerves. "Not much."
"Rebecca," he warns.
"Dad, I haven't been in a fight in ages."
He shakes his head disapprovingly. "That's neither here nor there at the moment. This happened on school property!"