Hey, guys, Pebble here! I just want to say thanks for all of the reviews and favorites and stuff :)

Maya shook her a little harder. Her heart felt like it would burst out of her chest. Luckily, she wasn't in a cartoon, so it didn't. Maya clenched her fist and grit her teeth. Slowly, she rose to her feet, ready to murder someone.

The whole gym was silent. Her footsteps echoed across the room. Her blue eyes reflected the gym lights, making her look almost demented.

The coaches all ran forward, but Maya managed to get to him before they reached her. She grabbed him by his shirt, pulling him down to her level.

"What. Did. You. Do?" she whispered harshly.

Brock smirked. "I knocked out your pathetic little friend there. No pain no game."

"First of all, it's 'no pain no gain,' and second of all, why? What did she do to 'rub you the wrong way?'"

She was careful not to say anything to anger him too much.

"She got me out," Brock shrugged.

"So you knock her out?" Maya spat. The nerve of this guy!

"Yeah, pretty much. Ya want me to do it to you?"

Maya scoffed, sounding way more confident then she felt. Her eyes betrayed her fear. She felt small. Every logical ounce of her mind screamed to run away, to back down.

But Maya Hart did not back down.

"Try me."

She said it firmly, none of the terror she felt coming out of her voice. She took a quick glance at Riley's unconscious form before meeting Brock the Jock's eyes.

She clenched her fists, ready to defend herself. The coaches seemed to be moving in slow motion. Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion. Brock aimed a punch at her face.

She grabbed him by the wrist, twisting it around. He yelped in pain.

The teachers seemed to be getting fast. Maya's heart raced. She was in big trouble.

A chorus of students yelling "Fight fight fight!" reached her ears. Brock threw another punch, this time hitting Maya's jaw. She let out an involuntary squeal, earning a menacing laugh from Brock. He easily threw her to the ground, and kicked her in the stomach several times.

Wheezing, Maya layed down, seemingly giving in. But she was not going to give in. She had a plan.

"You're even more pathetic than I thought," he laughed, kicking her in the eye.

The coaches were closing in on them, about to restrain him. That's when Maya's moment came.

She sprang up as fast as she could, kicking him in his private parts. He howled in pain while Maya smirked.

"That's it, you little-"

"Save it, Mr. Miller," one of the coaches barked, holding the angry ninth grader back.

They led him away. He turned, and glared at her before they reached the gym doors. The look on his face seriously scared Maya. Not that she'd let it show.

"I will make your life hell," Brock growled before being pulled away. "That's a promise."

...

"Riley, are you sure you're okay?" Maya's voice was full of concern. Her friend was holding herself up by her elbows, pressing an icepack against her head. Maya had a similar icepack, pressed agsinst her eyelid.

They were sitting at their usual lunch table, waiting for Lucas and Farkle. Neither if them had said much since Riley had woken up.

"Maya, I'm fine. I just have a headache, that's all," Riley said, sounding quite annoyed. "Stop fussing over me. You're worse than my parents."

Maya smiled weakly. "Sorry."

"Are you two okay?"

Maya looked up to see a very wide-eyed Farkle leaning over the lunch table. She removed the ice from her eye, revealing a swollen, black-and-blue bruise over it.

"Do we look okay?" she asked dryly.

"So it's true?" Farkle asked, sitting down. "You got in a fight with Brock Miller?"

"No, I punched myself in the face, Farkle, what do you think?" Maya said, exasperated. She put the ice back on her eye before taking a bite of her food.

Lucas made his way to the table, his concern written all over his face. Maya groaned, not in the mood to deal with him.

"Before you ask, Ranger Rick, we're both fine," she said before he could open his mouth.

He sat down. "This Brock guy is getting to be a big problem."

"You don't say," Riley grumbled, too miserable to try to flirt.

Maya stared at her for a second. This wasn't the Riley she knew.

"Riles, are you sure you're okay?" she asked.

"I'm fine!" Riley cried, throwing her hands up in frustration.

Lucas rubbed Riley's back. "Riley, calm down," he said soothingly. "Maya's just worried about you. We're all worried about you."

"Tell us what's wrong, Riley," Farkle added softly.

"Nothing's wrong, you guys. Nothing at all."

Maya huffed. "You always make me tell you what's wrong, Riles, even when I don't want to tell you," she nudged her. "What makes you think we won't do the same to you?"

Riley grumbled. "I'm just not in a good mood today, alright?"

"What happened to the Riley who told me the day was beautiful even though it was pouring down rain?" Maya asked.

"She got pegged in the head by a dodgeball," Riley said plainly. Maya sighed.

"Riley, Maya, I just got a call from the nurse!" A man's voice said gently. Mr. Matthews stood near the table. "Are you two okay?"

"Yes, we're just fine," Maya muttered.

"You got into a fight, Maya?" he asked. She nodded.

"Brock started it. He kno-"

"I heard."

"Then why did you ask?"

"I wanted to hear it from you."

"That doesn't make any sense!" Maya cried. Mr. Matthews shrugged.

"I just wanted to check on you guys. See you after school!" and with that, he walked away.

Maya sighed. It was going to be a long rest of the day.

Sorry, this chapter was a little too short for my liking. The next chapter will be longer, I promise!