Josh went back into the house without me. It took me awhile but I finally convinced him that I was fine. I loved him more then anyone, but there were times when I just had to be alone, and after my father had nearly killed me I thought that now was only one of these times.
Although I wanted to get as far away as possible from that swimming hole, I felt lured to it. I sat by the side, letting my feet touch the water. If I knew how to swim then Pa wouldn't have come to close to ending my life. But then another thought passed through my head… or would he find another way? I knew that Pa didn't like me much, I was his only child that he ever hit and I was the only one he didn't talk to at some point or another. Why though? What was so detestable about me?
I may have laid by that swimming hole for ten minutes or an hour, but I jumped up when I realized I had school today. Although I was a fairly good student, I couldn't afford to miss class today, not when I was so close to graduating. Speedily, I ran back to our home. I didn't want to have to confront Pa yet so I went through the back door. In a hurry I was dressed and out the front door. I didn't see Josh either, so I figured he already went to school without me.
It was quite a distance to the school, but I made it there in twenty minutes of running. By the time I came to the door of Mr. Franklin's English class I was filled with cramps and out of breath. Slowly I opened up the door. Mr. Franklin wasn't the nicest man around and I didn't want him to throw one of his all-time famous tantrums on me.
"Ms. Sweeny, your late." He stated in his high-pitch screeching voice. Mr. Franklin was one man whose voice did not match with his body. He was a short, but very plump fellow with rosy red cheeks and green eyes. Anyone might think of him as a younger version Santa Claus, but I knew different.
"Sorry Sir." I muttered as I made my way to my seat at the back of the class—the same seat that was beside Josh. But Josh wasn't there!
"Where is your brother today, Ms. Sweeny?" Mr. Franklin asked sounding annoyed.
"I don't know" Was all I could manage to say. I had never gone trough a day of school without Josh. I know that some people think of me as pathetic to latch myself onto my brother so much, but I didn't see those people offering me their friendship.
"Well then, take your seat! I haven't got all day!" He shrieked.
I mumbled some profanity under my breath; even though no one could hear me I had to get my anger out some how.
The rest of my classes I didn't have with Josh anyways, so it didn't make a big difference. But at lunch I had to go to the far-side table and eat alone. Maybe I was paranoid but I could feel people's gazes on me. While others even had the nerve to point and laugh! My anger boiled, how dare they! Before I knew it, three girl were walking over to my table.
"Brooke, where's your boyfriend?" they asked giggling. I knew all three girls well. The leader was Sissy Read, followed by Anna Martin and Gerbert Haines. I hated them all.
"My brother Josh is at home." I said with me teeth gritted.
"Aw, poor Brooke! All alone at this big table!"
"Thanks for your concern" I said sarcastically.
"We brought you something."
"What?" I said, growing more fearsome of there presence. I suddenly noticed that the whole lunchroom was silent and staring my way.
"This!" Sissy screamed as she poured her bottle of Diet Pepsi all over my blouse. At the same time Gerbert and Anna threw their milk on my face and hair.
I was in complete shock. What had I done? Why did everyone want to see me suffer? Why was I always hurting inside?
Before I could answer my own questions I got up from my seat and pounced on Sissy. Clawing my nails at her precious face and pulling her long blonde hair. We rolled over on the lunchroom floor while students cheered. They weren't cheering for me though.
Kicking, punching, slapping, clawing and screaming I tried to inflict any damage possible. That was until the school principle came in to separate us.
"She's a monster!" Sissy screamed. I saw I had beaten her pretty bad. Blood poured through her nose, lip and various scratch marks and her eye was swelling up. Taking just one look at Sissy, the principle decided I was a monster and ordered me into his office.
Walking out the lunchroom I heard myself being called various, but equally horrible names. I ran to the office, just to escape it all. When I got there, I through myself down on the chair, so many emotions went through me right then that I was sure Pa wouldn't hesitate to kill me. I wanted to start crying, but didn't because there was someone else in the room. I stared at him closely; I had never seen him before. But then again, I don't pay all that much attention to people.
"What are you in here for?" He asked when my staring became to intense. He had jet-black hair with pale skin and the greenest eyes ever. It was looking at the male version of Snow White.
"I got into a fight. And you?" I asked
"Told my teacher off." He said with a teasing smile.
"Which one?"
"Mr. Franklin… what's your name" He told off Mr. Franklin! Already I was beginning to like him!
"I'm Brooke Lynn, nice to meet you." I said politely.
"Hi, I'm Damien." He extended his long hand. I shook it quickly, and then the principle called me into his office. Cautiously I walked in.
"I don't want to waste my time explaining the situation to you. You know what you did, and for that you're suspended for three days. Your parents aren't answering the phone at your house, so I've decided to let you have the benefit of telling them…. You're dismissed."
Me? Tell Pa I suspended from school for reckless behaviour? But just this morning I had nearly been dead, now I was really in for it!
