"That was very brave of you," Sinead told me.

I stopped eating. "What?"

"Helping out that kid from the hallway yesterday," she replied.

I set my fork down. "Oh, that."

"I'd never would've done that," she admitted. "Especially after that thing of the red card."

I smiled. At least someone thought my actions were brave. Unlike Jake, who had expressed his disappointment. Last night, though, I promised myself that if I ever came across an opportunity, I'd make sure to give Ian a piece of my mind.

"By the way, tomorrow's the color day," Sinead announced excitedly. "Do you know what you're going to wear?"

"My parents bought me this pretty dress," I told her, shrugging.

Sinead grinned. "Oh, I'd love to see you in a dress. You're really pretty, you know? And I'm sure that all dolled up, you'd look even better."

I grinned truthfully. "Thanks, Sinead."

"It's the truth," she replied. She picked up her tray. "I'd better-"

I gasped as she crashed into a tall guy.

Ian.

The whole cafeteria went silent as the plates all landed on the ground. I gulped. Ian's uniform was full of left-overs now. Judging by the look on his face, he wasn't so pleased about that.

"Excuse me," he began, flicking off a piece of chicken. "But what's your name?"

Sinead was at loss of words.

"What's your name?" Ian demanded, stronger.

"S-sinead," she whispered, looking dow.

"Sinead," Ian repeated. "Feels ugly on my tongue."

I looked down at my food.

"Did you know that this uniform was custom-made to fit my regulations?" he continued, hissing at the redhead.

Sinead shook her head. I could tell she was about to burst into tears.

"I'm s-sorry," she whispered, not daring to look up.

Jonah looked uncomfortable. "Ian, cut her some slack, would ya? She's new-"

"Did anyone ask for your opinion?" Ian spat.

I silently gasped, and so did the rest of the school. He'd never treated roughly or raised his voice at one of his crew.

From the corner of my eye I spotted Jake, already sitting at their usual spot. He was watching the scene unfold from afar.

Jonah looked away.

"Here's the thing," Ian began. "I believe in something that goes along the lines of an eye for an eye."

Sinead drew in a dry sob. She was clearly scared. I wanted to do something. I truly did. But I felt myself glued to the seat.

"I'll have to spill my food all over you," he continued. "Of course, that won't really pay for this uniform. But laughing at your chicken-covered self might make me reconsider giving you a red card."

The students gasped and murmured in shock.

Ian held up his tray, ready to spill it all over Sinead.

My friend.

My friend, who looked so vulnerable and ready to break in pieces.

As soon as the tray was about to tip over, I jumped up, slamming my palms against the table.

"Stop!" I exclaimed, flaring with anger.

Ian obeyed, turning to look at me with shock. Even Sinead had mustered to raise her head up. Her eyes were sparkling with surprise.

"Please," I whispered, looking down. I managed to calm myself down. "She... I distracted her. It was not her fault."

The entire school remained silent for a few minutes. For me, though, it seemed like hours.

"Fine," he said, moving away from Sinead. He walked toward me. "You're the girl from before, right? The idiot who was helping out Ned with his stuff?"

I silently nodded, looking down.

He chuckled, smirking. "Then I'll be spilling two trays of food all over you."

My head snapped up as Ian demanded Hamilton's. He wordlessly handed Ian his tray.

"You'll be paying for both your actions and your friend's," he announced.

The words came out before I could contain them. "No."

Cue the gasps.

"What?" Ian bluntly asked.

I stood up straighter. His shock made me surge with strength. "I said no."

Ian laughed, clearly amused. "And what will you do?"

All of Ian's brutalities flashed in my mind.

He deserved what was coming next.

I pushed the trays toward him, making the food spill all over him.

"Gah!" Ian exclaimed, jumping up. He looked disgusted.

Sinead's green eyes were wide, and so were the rest of the school's.

"You'll see," Ian hissed, pushing me.

I managed to steady myself, not letting my feet waver.

As Ian stomped out of the cafeteria, followed by his minions, Jake stood up. He gazed at me with a smile and followed Ian.

No matter how many angry looks were thrown at me that minute. How many pitiful glances, or ones of admirations. Jake's proud smile had made me feel like I'd done the correct thing.

Until the next day.

I was 'all dolled up', like Sinead had said. But people weren't looking at me because my dress was pretty. People were looking at me because they knew what was coming next.

With each step I took, people moved out of the way, letting me pass. They all stared at me as I stopped in front of my locker.

I raised my chin up defiantly. I wasn't going to let myself down because of a jerk.

I opened the locker.

And there it was.

The red card.

"Amy Cahill, Junior from Class B has gotten a red card!" everybody began to announce.

I could only stare at it. Until I felt the first egg break on my back.

Author's Note: sorry that this chapter is short. I just didn't want to add too many things in. Plus, this was sort of written in a rush. I don't have much time to spare nowadays, but I didn't want to leave you guys without an update for a long time.

JesseCPK: yup, they are. I thought that having her parents would be better than Nellie and Fiske for this scenario.

AUniqueGirl: glad someone caught the reference! I love Sara Shepard's works.

Volcanic Lily: Of course! Jake will have a very important role in here, after all.

Serika Ootori: Yay, so I'm not the only one who has heard of it!

Rhetorically Yours: Well, sort of... you'll see ;)