by Autumn Brown
“Who?” Taylor asked him, looking around him to see what or who he was talking about.
“I’ll grab her. You grab Taylor.” Zane said to me. He made it sound like a football play. He didn’t seem too worried about Sandy, only Taylor.
“She’s not going to try anything here.” Taylor told us. “The principal’s office is too close.”
She had a point. Most fights didn’t happen this close to the principal’s office. Maybe Vicky was going to say something mean, then be on her way. She was a pro at that.
“You bitch. Someone told me they saw you with Dwayne Friday night at the party. You lied to me.” she yelled to Taylor as she closed the distance between us.
“What?” Taylor asked her. “I was not with Dwayne Friday night. I haven’t been with Dwayne since we broke up last year.”
I hated it that she’s had so many boyfriends. That was one reason I was holding off on asking her out. I hated to be one of many. Not that she was a slut, because she wasn’t. But I felt like the longer I waited to ask her out, the longer our relationship would last.
“I was with him. I told you that.” Sandy stepped in between them.
Zane stepped between Vicky and Taylor. I stepped beside Taylor closer. I didn’t mind protecting her. I wasn’t sure what I could do; maybe hold her up out of Vicky’s reach.
“Your friend isn’t going to cover for you either. Roberta told me that Sandy was with Alan Friday night.” Vicky yelled even louder to Taylor.
“After Dwayne. Just ask Dwayne.” Sandy told her quickly. It kind of made her sound like a slut admitting that she was with two different guys, but girls seemed to do that a lot out here.
“I did. He wouldn’t tell me who it was. That means it was Taylor.” Vicky told Taylor.
“No it doesn’t. I would tell you if it was me. It wasn’t me. I was with Spencer all night long.” Taylor argued with her again.
“Like I believe that you’d kiss that.” Vicky said, pointing to my face.
Damn! What a bitch! She was no beauty queen by anyone’s standards. The guys made of fun of Dwayne for dating her because she was so big, and so uncoordinated. She was rude and crass. She was a big girl with a fat face. Who did she think she was?
Zane grabbed Vicky around the waist and held her. I followed suit and grabbed Taylor around the waist. She had a tiny little waist. I liked holding her.
“Just let it go.” I said to Taylor. “She’s not bothering me with that.”
She wasn’t. I’d heard it all before. I only hoped Taylor wasn’t listening. I hoped she wouldn’t decide that she no longer wanted to date me after hearing everything Vicky was saying. Especially after everything Terri said the other day.
“You’re such a bitch, Vicky.” Sandy said to her meanly. “No wonder Dwayne wanted to make out with me, and every girl he came in contact with Friday night. You’re a bitch. Who would want to kiss you?”
I laughed at Sandy. The girl had some spunk. She’d better be careful. Vicky may take them both down.
“Show her the hickey.” Taylor told Sandy.
Sandy pulled the neck of her T-shirt down some to show off her hickey that Dwayne had apparently given her Friday night. “He sucks at sucking neck by the way. This actually hurt.”
“And, you know that’s the exact place he likes to give hickeys too. Don’t you, Vicky?” Taylor asked her. She pulled down the neck of her T-shirt to show her that she didn’t have a hickey. “I don’t have one.”
Vicky’s face flashed full of anger. She lunged toward Taylor, but Zane’s grip stopped her in her tracks. I pulled Taylor to the side quickly thinking that Vicky was coming toward us. I wasn’t sure Zane could hold Vicky back, but he did.
“I will kill you for that one.” Vicky yelled to her.
I didn’t understand why Vicky didn’t believe Sandy. She had the proof on her neck, but she was still out for Taylor. It didn’t make sense. Maybe she had some hidden agenda here.
“Me? Why? I’m not the one with a fresh hickey on my neck. I think she’s got one on further down, too. Don’t you Sandy?” Taylor taunted Vicky. Was she trying to get herself and Sandy both killed?
“I do.” Sandy said, but with a mischievous smile on her face as if there were something going on between her and Taylor. “I can’t show it out here in public though. That would be slutty.”
Taylor laughed at her. “And, my best friend is not a slut. But your ex-boyfriend is.”
Zane and I were both laughing. Girls talked a lot before fights for some reason. Guys just slugged it out and were done with it.
“I will kill you for that one too. When I see you without these two guys, I will kill you.” Vicky threatened her through gritted teeth. “The only guy that will have you when I finish with you, is that ugly guy next to you.”
I saw Taylor’s face fill with anger over that comment. I couldn’t believe she cared that much. Her entire body stiffened in my arms. She wanted to beat her up. I knew there was no way in hell she could, but her just wanting to, made me feel so good.“Zane. Let her go.” she said through gritted teeth.
“Taylor. No.” I said to Taylor. It was enough that Vicky’s comments upset her so much.
“No way.” Zane agreed with me wholeheartedly. He didn’t want Taylor creamed any more than I did.
“I need to be back from my three day suspension before the game Friday night. Let her go please.” She said calmly but with determination.
Zane and I looked at each other, debating on what we were about to do. Were we about to let Taylor get creamed? She’s too pretty to be walking around school with a black eye or a busted lip. Zane let Vicky go. I let Taylor go. Vicky lunged at Taylor with both hands and pushed her hard. Taylor swayed backwards, losing her balance but didn’t fall to the ground. She’d caught herself before she went down. I wanted to close my eyes. This was going to be gruesome.
Vicky came at her again, pushing her again. Was this a pushing fight? Taylor pushed her back, but Vicky didn’t move as easily as Taylor had. Vicky was a lot bigger than Taylor. She slugged Taylor in the chest hard. Ouch! That hurt me to see it. I could tell Vicky had never been a fight in her life. She pounded Taylor’s chest. Her technique was so girly.
She swung at Taylor again aiming for her face this time. Taylor easily dodged it this time. Maybe I’d written her off too early. She was really quick. Then Taylor took a swing at Vicky’s face. Her technique was not at all girly. She made contact. Good contact. Way to go, Taylor! Vicky bent over and grabbed her face, surprised that she’d been hit. She stood up straight again, holding her face. She was mad as hell too. She struck out again with her fist, but Taylor blocked her punch. Damn, I hadn’t seen that move since my boxing days when I was thirteen. Vicky swung at her several times. Taylor blocked every punch that came her way.
Vicky kicked at her. She couldn’t kick very high. She was overweight and couldn’t get her leg up very high. Taylor jumped back a little, reflexively, causing Vicky to miss her completely. Taylor did a round house kick, and kicked Vicky on the side of the face. It knocked Vicky off balance. She swayed away from Taylor. Taylor immediately dropped into a fight stance with two fists in front of her chest. Damn! Was Taylor into Karate or something? That was a smooth move. Maybe there was hope for her yet.
There were a lot of cheers and boos. The crowd of blood thirsty kids had gathered around us. Zane was yelling out instructions for Taylor. I wasn’t sure she was listening though. I didn’t say anything.
Vicky looked at her completely shocked, as she shook her head to shake off the kick. I could tell the pain was catching up to her. Then Taylor dropped to the ground and did a leg sweep. She knocked Vicky’s feet out from under her. Vicky fell backwards, hard onto the pavement. Damn. That was a kickass move. I couldn’t believe she’d gotten the best of Vicky. I would have bet money on Vicky if I’d been betting on this fight. Judging from the rumbling comments from the crowd, they were thinking the same thing.
Taylor jumped on top of her, sitt
ing on her stomach. She held Vicky’s hands to the ground with her knees, pinning her. “I was not with Dwayne Friday night, Vicky!” She yelled at her.
Vicky wiggled and bucked, but then she finally quit resisting and became still. She’d given up. She was still very upset. Totally pissed. She huffed and hissed.
“And, don’t you ever say anything about Spencer again!” Taylor warned her before stepping up off of her.
I loved that part. The crowd had really thickened, and she was yelling out that she liked me enough to fight for me. It looked like the whole fight was about me. I beamed with pride.
Two security guards walked up and took Taylor and Vicky to the office. We walked behind them, along with the crowd. School fights were always exciting, but this one was really exciting. I couldn’t believe that Taylor had kicked her ass.
While Taylor and Vicky were in the principal’s office, Zane, Sandy, and I waited on the verdict. Several kids came by to comment on the fight to us. Everyone was thoroughly impressed with Taylor.
“Vicky thought she was going to kick her ass for sure.” Sandy said, bragging on her friend. “I think that’s why she wanted to fight her instead of me. She thought Taylor was a wimp because she’s a little cheerleader.”
“I sure didn’t think she’d kick Vicky’s ass.” I told them. “She’s twice her size. Where did she learn to block punches like that? And, kick like that?”
“Her dad used to be a Green Beret.” Zane told me.
“Cheerleading!” Sandy laughed the word out.
“Wow! So her dad taught her all of that?” I asked.
“Every weekend. He trains all of his girls like they’re soldiers. Taylor hates it. I bet she doesn’t hate it so much now.” Zane relayed the information to me.
Funny. I didn’t know that about her, or her dad. She definitely had an interesting family history. We wondered how many days she’d get for this. It was so unfair that she was going to get suspended. First of all, she didn’t make out with Dwayne. Second, she didn’t start the fight, but she sure as hell finished it.
Zane and I decided that maybe we could help her out somehow. We walked into the office where Taylor and Vicky were. The office assistant tried to stop us, but we barged in anyway. Sandy waited outside. We were determined to at least try. That’s the least we could do for Taylor.
“Coach Robbins. This was not Taylor’s fault. She was pushed into this. She didn’t want to fight. Vicky attacked her.” I spoke first.
“Yes. It’s not really fair that Vicky can just bully anyone she wants into a fight, then they get suspended too.” Zane added. He’d known Coach Robbins a lot longer than I had. “We just wanted to say that we saw the whole thing. Taylor didn’t want to fight, but she had no choice.”
I nodded. I hoped he would at least listen to us. He shook his head, then dismissed us.
“I’ve heard you. Now, you two can leave.” He said to us.
We knew that was all we could do. We waited outside with Sandy for the punishment to be delivered. Taylor and Vicky walked out together. Vicky had a really pissed look on her face, but Taylor was smiling.
“How did it go?” Sandy asked as she hugged her.
I wanted to hug her, too, but I didn’t feel like I knew her well enough to be hugging her just yet.
“One day suspension. I can come back tomorrow. Thanks to you two. That helped.” She told us.
“One day? I’ve never heard of that.” Zane said. He was excited.
“I was really lucky.” She said. “So, I guess I’ll see you guys tomorrow. My parents are going to ground me for sure.”
I rubbed her arm. Sandy and Zane both hugged her. She turned and walked toward the parking lot.
Taylor POV.
Mom was surprised to see me home during the day. I handed her the note and told her my side of the story. She flipped out. No, she completely freaked out. I don’t think I’d ever seen her that mad, and especially not at me. I was the good kid, the one that didn’t get in any trouble. She was so disappointed. She assigned me the entire house and dishes for the coming week. I had to completely clean the house, not just the sweeping and the mopping, but wash the walls and clean behind the bookcases. Oh boy.
She took my phone, and grounded me for two weeks. I could still cheer, but I had to come home right after the game. No parties and no dates in other words. That one hurt the worst.
I had all of my chores done by the time Daddy came home. I knew it would look better if I’d resigned myself to the punishment. I was in the living room cleaning when he came in the door. Mom was waiting for him at the door with the note that the principal had given me. She handed it to him.
“Your daughter got in a fight today at school. She’s suspended until tomorrow.” Mom told him.
“A fight?” Daddy asked me. “Did you win?”
He was in a good mood. Thank God! “Yes, I did.” I told him victoriously. I knew that would help my case. He would hate that he was putting us through all of his army training and have us still losing fights. I went into a play by play of the fight for my dad. His face filled with satisfaction as I told him about the moves he’d taught me, and how well they worked.
“What was the fight about?” he asked.
“A boy!” my mom said as if she was disappointed in me.
“Vicky thought I kissed her boyfriend, but I didn’t. She wouldn’t believe us that it was Sandy who kissed him. She wanted to beat me up for that, but Zane held her off. But then she started saying really mean stuff about Spencer. And he was right there listening to it all. I told Zane to let her go.” I relayed to my dad.
He looked at me with a smile. “I’m not grounding her. You can ground her if you want to, but I’m not going to punish her for standing up for that boy. He’s a good kid, and he couldn’t punch the girl.”
I smiled at my dad. For once in my life, I felt like he was actually proud of me. I’d lived my entire life trying to make him proud of me, and this is what does it? Odd.
“You were taking up for Spencer?” Mom asked.
I nodded my head. “She was being really mean, Mom, trying to embarrass him in front of the entire school. Calling him ugly, and talking about how no one wanted to even look at him, and he should just go off somewhere and die.” Okay, I was embellishing a little, but come on...Who wouldn’t in this case?
“Okay. Do the dishes tonight, and you’re done. We won’t ground you. But fighting won’t stop people from saying mean things about that boy.”
“I stopped her.” I told my parents. “She won’t be doing that again.”
My dad gave me a funny smile. “I’m proud of you, Taylor.” He patted me on the back.
I went to the kitchen and started on dinner. It was part of my regular chore list, not the punishment chore list. After dinner, I did the dishes. My mom gave me my phone back. I immediately texted Spencer, Zane, and Sandy to tell them the good news. They were ecstatic, almost as happy as I was.
I picked Spencer up on the way to school the next day. We talked about the fight on the way. I was a little embarrassed that I was practically a guest on the Jerry Springer show. School was going to be weird today. I had a lot of explaining to do. Everyone had to hear about the fight. The teachers told me what I’d missed. I had to carry around a note to all of my teachers explaining the suspension. Most of my teachers didn’t count it against me. I did get one zero on a test, but it wouldn’t hurt my average too much. I’d still make an A in English. That class was too easy.
Spencer and Zane ate lunch with Sandy and me all week long. On Thursday, our practices let out early. Zane decided that he wanted to go to Spencer’s house for some reason. I felt like a third wheel, so I bowed out. I went on home. It was the first time I’d been home early in months. I called Sandy to come over and stay the night. We took my motorcycle out for a ride. Sandy had started me riding years ago. We used to sneak off to Hassayampa store when we were fourteen. We didn’t even have a driver’s license then, let alone a motorcycle l
icense. Now we both had our licenses. We still laughed about our wild and careless days back then.
I wanted to go by Spencer’s house to talk to him and show him how sexy we looked on the bike. We drove by, but Zane’s car wasn’t there. Darn it. They must be out cruising around. I started to text them, but I didn’t want to look like I was too forward.
“Hey, let’s sneak off to Hassayampa store like we used to.” Sandy yelled to me from the back of the bike.
I laughed at her, then shifted into the next gear. She had to grab tighter to hold on. No wonder the other kids thought we were gay sometimes. We probably looked like a couple riding the bike like this. We took the bike down the back roads to Hassayampa. We were legal now, but the back roads were more fun than the paved roads sometimes.
Spencer POV.
