The Learning Curve: Chapter 12
Forks High School, Boys' Locker Room
"Hey, Cullen!"
I clenched my fists at the sound of that voice and finished pulling my gym shirt down before I turned.
"What do you want, Newton?"
His face twisted into what was probably supposed to be an intimidating expression, and I wanted to punch the asshole already.
"What were you doing with Bella yesterday?" he asked. "I saw the two of you go off to your car at lunch."
I hated what his tone implied. "We were talking about an English project," I lied.
Mike narrowed his eyes and leaned toward me, only emphasizing how much shorter he was. "I'm not an idiot, Cullen. I have the same English teacher; there is no project."
"It's extra credit," I lied again, and I turned back to my locker to retrieve my gym shoes.
"Bullshit. Everyone knows what you're like with girls. I'm just surprised she turned out like that."
I whirled back around. "You think you can cover up the fact that she dumped your miserable ass by calling her names? It's not her fault she's too good for you."
"I'm glad we're not together anymore. She's probably been cheating on me the whole time. Fucking slut."
My fist collided with his face. The blow sent him to the floor, but I didn't stop there. I was going to do as much damage to the fucker as possible. My parents wouldn't like it, but some things just deserved to be resolved with violence.
"Cullen! Newton! What the hell?" I heard Coach Clapp yelling, and then several sets of hands were pulling me away from the bruised and bloody Mike Newton.
"He's a fucking psycho," Newton complained. I barely held back a snarl.
"Explain yourself, Cullen."
"He was making derogatory remarks about a woman, sir," I said through gritted teeth.
"Was it your mother?" he asked, as if that made any difference.
"No," I said reluctantly.
He pursed his lips. "Fine. You're both going to the principal's office. The rest of you, start running laps, and I'd better not hear any moaning and groaning about it."
We were marched to the office where I first had to explain the event to the principal, then to my father who had been called in, then to Chief Swan who was there to talk Newton out of pressing charges, and who did that job with much more vigor after he heard it was his daughter's honor I was defending. I tried not to think about him ever finding out what I was really going to do to his precious girl's virtue.
Eventually I was sentenced with a three-day out-of-school suspension, which didn't make my dad at all happy. I was grounded for a month, but that didn't worry me too much when there was hardly anyone around to keep tabs on me.
Left to my own devices at home, I didn't spend any time thinking about what I had done, as instructed. Instead, I watched bad daytime TV and wondered if Bella would still show up this afternoon.
