CHAPTER 37:

"Broken -
Yeah, you've been living on the edge of a broken dream.
Nothing -
Yeah, that's the only thing you'll ever take away from me.

I'm never gonna stop,
I'm never gonna drop,
Ain't no different than it was before.

...

If you wanna step up,
You're gonna get knocked down."

Drowning Pool (Step Up)

My arms came up in defence as I retreated towards the door. Marcie grabbed my wrists and sunk her nails in.

Retreat! Retreat!

I'd reached the door when she stood on my foot and tripped up our momentum, forcing me to fall to the ground with her following suit. The fall didn't perturb her as she quickly had my arms pinned to the ground while my feet lay across the bathroom threshold. I tried to get my legs under her to kick her away.

I got my knee to my stomach and pushed my foot against her chest with all the force I could gather. She flew back through the open bathroom door and I crawled backwards across the linoleum corridor. Marcie's face did not look pretty right now as she huffed like an animal ready to pounce again.

Just as quickly as I'd gotten rid of her, Marcie had charged back at me. My legs got ready to kick since I didn't have time to get back on my feet. I had long legs and I wasn't afraid to use them! But she grabbed my legs and I tried to kick them free with no result. Where the hell does she get this strength from?

Just like a crocodile, I rolled over hoping to twist out of her grip. It worked and as I was lying there on my stomach, free from her clutches, I realised I had the chance to get up and run if I acted immediately.

Just as I put a leg up to stand, Marcie jumped on to me and straddled me from behind. She pulled my hair which made me scream. Fuck! That hurts!

Suddenly Marcie rolled me over with the grip that her legs had on me. What is she going to do now?

But when I turned over, I found her in Clara's chokehold, baring her teeth. Clara must have tackled her or shoved her off me. This was my chance to get up. Just as I rolled back on to my stomach to attempt to get to my feet again, Marcie kicked me in my side and I fell on to the floor in pain, gasping for air and relief from the stinging in my side.

Marcie elbowed Clara in the ribs, freeing herself, then rolled me on to my back, straddled me and screamed with a guttural sound as she pushed her hands against my throat. Another rough scream joined in as Clara pulled on Marcie's hair and readjusted her previous chokehold.

"Fucking die!" shouted an angry Clara.

"Fuck you, bitch! Kill yourself!" cried Marcie. "This is between me and Nora!"

I screamed, "You're fucking psycho!" when Marcie scratched her nails across my cheek and neck.

And suddenly it was over. The weight was off my back and I was pulled to my feet by Elliot. I turned around and found Patch holding Marcie back and Jared holding Clara back. Marcie doesn't need a guardian angel, I do!

One comment from the crowd said, "It's like the girls' bathroom erupted with PMS rage!"

"Have you girls sorted out your issues now?" Jared asked, holding Clara's wrists firmly.

"Not even close!" hissed Clara, directing her anger at Marcie.

"Bring it on, bitch!" yelled Marcie, taking a step toward Clara. Patch grabbed her arms and pulled her back, enforcing an arm around her waist and imprisoning her arms and her body against him.

Then Jared said in a calming tone, "Don't worry, girls. There's nothing that a little chocolate can't fix."

"Shut up, Jared!" I cried, offended at his belittling of the situation.

Jared eyed me. "Double dose for you."

"Oh no, Mrs Gray is here," mumbled Elliot as he held my arm.

Vice Principal Gray entered through the parted crowd and in a firm voice asked, "What happened here?"

"Girl fight," replied Jared.

"Who started it?" Mrs Gray asked.

"Marcie," Clara and I said at the same time.

Marcie whipped up a defence: "Nora intentionally aggravated me!"

If anything, I tried my best to defuse the situation, not even throwing in a hit during that whole time. I kind of wished I had, knowing she was going to get as violent as she did.

Mrs Gray aimed her stony gaze at me.

"She's lying! Ask Clara. She was there," I cried.

"It's true. Marcie started everything," Clara nodded her head in innocent agreement.

Mrs Gray shook her head. "Detention for all of you." Moans came from all three of us.

"Then give Nora a suspension for being a whore!" Marcie cried, wriggling in Patch's grip.

"Double detention for you," said Mrs Gray. Marcie rolled her eyes.

That afternoon, each of us spent detention in separate rooms. I had a feeling the teachers were more upset about having to spend an unnecessary afternoon in the classroom. Detention for me was less than an hour (thanks to my lazy supervisor) and I was grateful to get off as early as I did. The more time I had at work, the more money I'd make. I was starting to sound like Elliot.