"In games of war a true hero doesn't die for his country or for the foe; he
dies for the friend next to him"
Amanda walked down the hallway just as the last bell of the day went,she was on her way to 'the Dungeon' to talk to Harry. Word had spread quickly about Miranda and people had started gathering in the cafeteria once the three had returned to the school without any luck finding Miranda. A mutal decision had been made that once Miranda was found and a story came out, Andy had better start running. Amanda walked down the stairs as the class came rushing out at her. She moved to the side of the stairs and slowly made her way down. Amanda walked over to Harry's door and was met by him as he was closing the door.
"Hey,"said Amanda quietly.
"Hi,"said Harry stepping back a bit to give Amanda a good look into the room. As she did she found Miranda sitting in the middle desk of the front row. Her head was bowed down letting her hair fall in front of her face. Amanda immediately walked into the room and over to her.
"Miranda,"said Amanda gentily as she knelt down next to her desk. Amanda bit her lip as Miranda looked over at her slowly, both her eyes were bright purple and swollen, her lip was cut and stitched slightly. Reddish-purple brusies decorated her cheeks and neck.
"Oh my god babe,"said Amanda taking her hand,"He did this didn't he?" Miranda nodded slowly as tears started rolling down her cheeks.
"Don't worry sweetie, you have so many people are behind you,"said Amanda,"There's like fifty people up in the cafeteria waiting to kick the hell out of him." Miranda smiled slightly as she looked away and wiped her tears.
"What happened?"asked Amanda before looking over at Harry who had closed the door and walked over to the desk. Miranda looked over at him with fearful eyes, if he heard he would have to report this to the school board and it would just get complicated.
"Harry keep your mouth shut on everything you hear,"demanded Amanda. Harry nodded quietly never even thinking of reporting this girl's story.
"Last night, we were at his house and he was drinking, we were going to have a few beers but I wouldn't and he kept thinking it was weird. So we got in an arguement over why I wouldn't have a beer, it was so retarded,"cried Miranda,"So finally to shut him up and to get him to leave me alone about the subject I told why, because I'm pregnant. That's when he just lost it, first he blamed it on me then he went on raving that it wasn't his and I had cheated and I kept telling him he was wrong then he hit me and told me that he wasn't wrong. All I could do was keep pleading I was sorry and we could get rid of it, and he said he would get rid of it himself and he just kept hitting and kicking me. Eventually he dragged me out to the sidewalk and left me."
"That bastard,"muttered Amanda as she leaned up to hug the now sobbing Miranda.
"Have you been to a hospital?"asked Harry quietly.
"A niehgbour found me and drove me,"sobbed Miranda wiping her tears as Amanda comfortingly rubbed her shoulders,"I couldn't tell them what happened, if I did my parents would kill me for getting pregnant."
"Is it okay?"asked Amanda knowing she had to ask even though she didn't want to.
"I had a miscarriage,"said Miranda. Amanda bit her lip holding back the urge to leave that room and go up to the cafeteria and let the guys go after Andy.
"He beat my baby out of me,"cried Miranda loudly,"That asshole, he killed my baby."
"I know babe, and trust me he'll pay,"said Amanda.
"Miranda, you have to go to the police. Andy he can be charged and he'll never hurt you again,"said Harry knowing this girl had every defense in the world.
"No,"said Miranda almost yelling,"I can't. My parents will find out."
"But won't they find out when you come home bruised?"asked Harry.
"I'll just say it was a fight on the way home from school,"said Miranda,"I can't let them find out the truth."
"But,"said Harry who was cut off by Miranda.
"No buts, they can't know,"yelled Miranda,"And if you fucking say anything I'll go straight to Mr.Harper and tell him about you and Amanda. You think I fucking won't? She won't get shit, her dad is vice-principal he'll have his own excuse for her before you can even figure out what the hell is going on. I'm serious Mr.Senate don't fucking say a thing." Harry looked at the ground and took a deep breathe then looked at Amanda who gave him a look that told him he do as Miranda says or she was going to let Miranda go straight to Harper.
"I wanna go,"said Miranda getting up,"I need outta here." Amanda nodded and stepped back as Miranda got up and collected her stuff. Quietly she walked over to Harry who stood silent with a worried expression his face.
"Don't worry, we'll clear things up. Just step back out of this one please,"said Amanda with pleading eyes,"I'll come early and talk to you tomorrow morning." Harry nodded knowing that was what he was going to have to do.
"C'mon girl, where do you wanna go?"asked Amanda as she put a protective arm around Miranda leading her out of the room.
"Home,"said Miranda softly.
"Kay, we'll get someone to give you a lift home,"said Amanda as they left Harry alone in the room.
Amanda and Miranda walked into the cafeteria where a large group was waiting for them. They fell silent as they noticed the two girls.
"She needs a ride home,"said Amanda. Harleem and two of his friends grabbed their stuff.
"I'll give her a lift,"said Harleem,"And we'll check to see if that fucker is around." Amanda nodded.
"Miranda is that okay?"asked Amanda.
"Yeah,"said Miranda nodding as Harleem took her book and bag.
"We'll be back, don't do anything without us. We wanna get a few shots in at that bitch,"said Harleem. Amanda nodded as she gave Miranda another hug then let her leave with the large men. She then walked over to the crow who was waiting for her. She stood between Marty and Karen as all eyes were on her.
"He got drunk and beat her, bad,"said Amanda in a monotone.
"Why?"asked Karen quietly.
"That's her decision to tell,"said Amanda,"But trust me, he has to pay."
"That asshole is going to have get curbbed stomped,"said Luke McKee, one of the football players,"You fucking don't do shit like that and get away with it."
"Don't do anything you'd regret,"said Karen.
"Like fuck we will, it coulda been any girl,"said Luke,"Fuck Jake, your younger sister is dating that bitches' cousin."
"No fuck,"said Jake, one of Amanda's classmates in the dungeon and one of the guys who had no problem roughing someone up,"Send a goddamn message."
"No shit, enough of us have younger sisters and family at this school,"said Luke,"We take this fuck out and we send a goddamn message to every prick, you go fucking beating up girls." The talk quieted down as Ronnie and Lauren Davis walked through the cafeteria. The two teachers walked over to the group cursiously and looked around at all of them.
"We having a meeting here?"asked Ronnie.
"Yeah,"said Luke,"Just discussing some stuff."
"Like what?"asked Lauren.
"Nothing particular,"said Amanda.
"Oh c'mon you guys, a majority of the senior grades all in the cafeteria after school talking about nothing particular?"asked Ronnie sarcasitcally,"C'mon spit it out or we'll go get Mr.Harper and he'll get it out of you."
"Didn't know it was a damn crime to have a damn conversation with your classmates,"said Amanda cooly as she shifted her bag and walked out of the cafeteria. Slowly the rest of the people followed her silently.
****
It was eight thirty and the night was now pitch black with only the light of street lmap flickering down among the eight teens that stood huddled together closely waiting for Andy. Marty, Jake, Luke, Harleem, his friends, Peter and Nick stood around with Amanda protectively in the middle. They had Nick called Andy who was friends with him and get him to come and meet him to smoke some bud together. They were all silent as they waited knowing they were gonna have to be damn careful on how they were gonna handle this situation, they all knew for sure Andy was gonna be taking some shots.
"There's the fucker,"whispered Luke as they spotted Andy walking across the field at Winslow.
"Hey what's up,"nodded Andy as he came closer. Quickly and expertly the crowd surrounded Andy before he knew what was going on.
"Yeah that's what we'd like to know,"said Nick as Andy looked around.
"What going on?"asked Andy.
"Heard you like to hit girls,"said Luke,"We just figured you'd enjoy knowing what it's like to get beaten like a bitch."
"What? What the fuck with Miranda say,"said Andy,"She didn't tell you what she did."
"Will you shut the fuck up,"growled Luke before he swung his fist as Andy's face. Amanda stepped back carefully as she watched the guys take turns as giving Andy the blows and boots he deserved. It happened like a blur before her eyes, they didn't seriously injury him as much as they thought they should they just beat him up the way he had done to Miranda. She watched as slowly they backed off and stepped back away from him, she walked over them slowly and looked down at Andy who was groaning as he laided on the ground covered in gravel and dirt.
"Fucking piece of shit,"cursed Amanda before she spit on him. Slowly they wandered away in silence knowing without saying that they were taking a vow of silence for this. None of them were going to rat anyone over this, they hadn't done that bad to Andy just banged him up a bit, a few sprains maybe a break but all of it he deserved. Miranda was going to be the one suffering the long term effects.
****
Amanda walked down the street with Marty and Harleem towards her house. There hadn't been any words spoken still and there weren't going to be any. Amanda wrapped her arms around her as neared her house. As they came to the the stairs Amanda turned to them.
"See ya tomorrow,"said Amanda. Marty nodded.
"Aje, can I talk to you for a moment?"asked Harleem. Silently sighing she nodded and walked up the stairs with Harleem as Marty stepped back a bit but still kept a protective eye on Amanda.
"Now ain't the great time for this,"said Harleem,"But ah, I guess."
"I know what your going to say,"said Amanda quietly.
"So you've heard?"asked Harleem.
"Yeah,"nodded Amanda.
"So,"said Harleem looking for her answer on the dating subject.
"I'm sorry, I've got someone else,"said Amanda.
"Who?"asked Harleem.
"You wouldn't know him,"said Amanda shaking her head,"If maybe things were different there could be, but I'm sorry I'm devoted to this guy." Harleem bit his lip and nodded.
"I gotcha,"said Harleem,"Well if things don't work out with him you know where I am."
"I know,"smiled Amanda sympathically.
"And lemme know if he does anything to ya okay? I got no problem teaching another asshole a lesson,"said Harleem as he stepped back.
"I will,"said Amanda as she unlocked the door,"I'll see you tomorrow."
"Tomorrow,"said Harleem nodding at her before he went down the stairs. Amanda opened the door and looked back at Marty. She gave him a quick wave then went inside.
Amanda walked down the hallway just as the last bell of the day went,she was on her way to 'the Dungeon' to talk to Harry. Word had spread quickly about Miranda and people had started gathering in the cafeteria once the three had returned to the school without any luck finding Miranda. A mutal decision had been made that once Miranda was found and a story came out, Andy had better start running. Amanda walked down the stairs as the class came rushing out at her. She moved to the side of the stairs and slowly made her way down. Amanda walked over to Harry's door and was met by him as he was closing the door.
"Hey,"said Amanda quietly.
"Hi,"said Harry stepping back a bit to give Amanda a good look into the room. As she did she found Miranda sitting in the middle desk of the front row. Her head was bowed down letting her hair fall in front of her face. Amanda immediately walked into the room and over to her.
"Miranda,"said Amanda gentily as she knelt down next to her desk. Amanda bit her lip as Miranda looked over at her slowly, both her eyes were bright purple and swollen, her lip was cut and stitched slightly. Reddish-purple brusies decorated her cheeks and neck.
"Oh my god babe,"said Amanda taking her hand,"He did this didn't he?" Miranda nodded slowly as tears started rolling down her cheeks.
"Don't worry sweetie, you have so many people are behind you,"said Amanda,"There's like fifty people up in the cafeteria waiting to kick the hell out of him." Miranda smiled slightly as she looked away and wiped her tears.
"What happened?"asked Amanda before looking over at Harry who had closed the door and walked over to the desk. Miranda looked over at him with fearful eyes, if he heard he would have to report this to the school board and it would just get complicated.
"Harry keep your mouth shut on everything you hear,"demanded Amanda. Harry nodded quietly never even thinking of reporting this girl's story.
"Last night, we were at his house and he was drinking, we were going to have a few beers but I wouldn't and he kept thinking it was weird. So we got in an arguement over why I wouldn't have a beer, it was so retarded,"cried Miranda,"So finally to shut him up and to get him to leave me alone about the subject I told why, because I'm pregnant. That's when he just lost it, first he blamed it on me then he went on raving that it wasn't his and I had cheated and I kept telling him he was wrong then he hit me and told me that he wasn't wrong. All I could do was keep pleading I was sorry and we could get rid of it, and he said he would get rid of it himself and he just kept hitting and kicking me. Eventually he dragged me out to the sidewalk and left me."
"That bastard,"muttered Amanda as she leaned up to hug the now sobbing Miranda.
"Have you been to a hospital?"asked Harry quietly.
"A niehgbour found me and drove me,"sobbed Miranda wiping her tears as Amanda comfortingly rubbed her shoulders,"I couldn't tell them what happened, if I did my parents would kill me for getting pregnant."
"Is it okay?"asked Amanda knowing she had to ask even though she didn't want to.
"I had a miscarriage,"said Miranda. Amanda bit her lip holding back the urge to leave that room and go up to the cafeteria and let the guys go after Andy.
"He beat my baby out of me,"cried Miranda loudly,"That asshole, he killed my baby."
"I know babe, and trust me he'll pay,"said Amanda.
"Miranda, you have to go to the police. Andy he can be charged and he'll never hurt you again,"said Harry knowing this girl had every defense in the world.
"No,"said Miranda almost yelling,"I can't. My parents will find out."
"But won't they find out when you come home bruised?"asked Harry.
"I'll just say it was a fight on the way home from school,"said Miranda,"I can't let them find out the truth."
"But,"said Harry who was cut off by Miranda.
"No buts, they can't know,"yelled Miranda,"And if you fucking say anything I'll go straight to Mr.Harper and tell him about you and Amanda. You think I fucking won't? She won't get shit, her dad is vice-principal he'll have his own excuse for her before you can even figure out what the hell is going on. I'm serious Mr.Senate don't fucking say a thing." Harry looked at the ground and took a deep breathe then looked at Amanda who gave him a look that told him he do as Miranda says or she was going to let Miranda go straight to Harper.
"I wanna go,"said Miranda getting up,"I need outta here." Amanda nodded and stepped back as Miranda got up and collected her stuff. Quietly she walked over to Harry who stood silent with a worried expression his face.
"Don't worry, we'll clear things up. Just step back out of this one please,"said Amanda with pleading eyes,"I'll come early and talk to you tomorrow morning." Harry nodded knowing that was what he was going to have to do.
"C'mon girl, where do you wanna go?"asked Amanda as she put a protective arm around Miranda leading her out of the room.
"Home,"said Miranda softly.
"Kay, we'll get someone to give you a lift home,"said Amanda as they left Harry alone in the room.
Amanda and Miranda walked into the cafeteria where a large group was waiting for them. They fell silent as they noticed the two girls.
"She needs a ride home,"said Amanda. Harleem and two of his friends grabbed their stuff.
"I'll give her a lift,"said Harleem,"And we'll check to see if that fucker is around." Amanda nodded.
"Miranda is that okay?"asked Amanda.
"Yeah,"said Miranda nodding as Harleem took her book and bag.
"We'll be back, don't do anything without us. We wanna get a few shots in at that bitch,"said Harleem. Amanda nodded as she gave Miranda another hug then let her leave with the large men. She then walked over to the crow who was waiting for her. She stood between Marty and Karen as all eyes were on her.
"He got drunk and beat her, bad,"said Amanda in a monotone.
"Why?"asked Karen quietly.
"That's her decision to tell,"said Amanda,"But trust me, he has to pay."
"That asshole is going to have get curbbed stomped,"said Luke McKee, one of the football players,"You fucking don't do shit like that and get away with it."
"Don't do anything you'd regret,"said Karen.
"Like fuck we will, it coulda been any girl,"said Luke,"Fuck Jake, your younger sister is dating that bitches' cousin."
"No fuck,"said Jake, one of Amanda's classmates in the dungeon and one of the guys who had no problem roughing someone up,"Send a goddamn message."
"No shit, enough of us have younger sisters and family at this school,"said Luke,"We take this fuck out and we send a goddamn message to every prick, you go fucking beating up girls." The talk quieted down as Ronnie and Lauren Davis walked through the cafeteria. The two teachers walked over to the group cursiously and looked around at all of them.
"We having a meeting here?"asked Ronnie.
"Yeah,"said Luke,"Just discussing some stuff."
"Like what?"asked Lauren.
"Nothing particular,"said Amanda.
"Oh c'mon you guys, a majority of the senior grades all in the cafeteria after school talking about nothing particular?"asked Ronnie sarcasitcally,"C'mon spit it out or we'll go get Mr.Harper and he'll get it out of you."
"Didn't know it was a damn crime to have a damn conversation with your classmates,"said Amanda cooly as she shifted her bag and walked out of the cafeteria. Slowly the rest of the people followed her silently.
****
It was eight thirty and the night was now pitch black with only the light of street lmap flickering down among the eight teens that stood huddled together closely waiting for Andy. Marty, Jake, Luke, Harleem, his friends, Peter and Nick stood around with Amanda protectively in the middle. They had Nick called Andy who was friends with him and get him to come and meet him to smoke some bud together. They were all silent as they waited knowing they were gonna have to be damn careful on how they were gonna handle this situation, they all knew for sure Andy was gonna be taking some shots.
"There's the fucker,"whispered Luke as they spotted Andy walking across the field at Winslow.
"Hey what's up,"nodded Andy as he came closer. Quickly and expertly the crowd surrounded Andy before he knew what was going on.
"Yeah that's what we'd like to know,"said Nick as Andy looked around.
"What going on?"asked Andy.
"Heard you like to hit girls,"said Luke,"We just figured you'd enjoy knowing what it's like to get beaten like a bitch."
"What? What the fuck with Miranda say,"said Andy,"She didn't tell you what she did."
"Will you shut the fuck up,"growled Luke before he swung his fist as Andy's face. Amanda stepped back carefully as she watched the guys take turns as giving Andy the blows and boots he deserved. It happened like a blur before her eyes, they didn't seriously injury him as much as they thought they should they just beat him up the way he had done to Miranda. She watched as slowly they backed off and stepped back away from him, she walked over them slowly and looked down at Andy who was groaning as he laided on the ground covered in gravel and dirt.
"Fucking piece of shit,"cursed Amanda before she spit on him. Slowly they wandered away in silence knowing without saying that they were taking a vow of silence for this. None of them were going to rat anyone over this, they hadn't done that bad to Andy just banged him up a bit, a few sprains maybe a break but all of it he deserved. Miranda was going to be the one suffering the long term effects.
****
Amanda walked down the street with Marty and Harleem towards her house. There hadn't been any words spoken still and there weren't going to be any. Amanda wrapped her arms around her as neared her house. As they came to the the stairs Amanda turned to them.
"See ya tomorrow,"said Amanda. Marty nodded.
"Aje, can I talk to you for a moment?"asked Harleem. Silently sighing she nodded and walked up the stairs with Harleem as Marty stepped back a bit but still kept a protective eye on Amanda.
"Now ain't the great time for this,"said Harleem,"But ah, I guess."
"I know what your going to say,"said Amanda quietly.
"So you've heard?"asked Harleem.
"Yeah,"nodded Amanda.
"So,"said Harleem looking for her answer on the dating subject.
"I'm sorry, I've got someone else,"said Amanda.
"Who?"asked Harleem.
"You wouldn't know him,"said Amanda shaking her head,"If maybe things were different there could be, but I'm sorry I'm devoted to this guy." Harleem bit his lip and nodded.
"I gotcha,"said Harleem,"Well if things don't work out with him you know where I am."
"I know,"smiled Amanda sympathically.
"And lemme know if he does anything to ya okay? I got no problem teaching another asshole a lesson,"said Harleem as he stepped back.
"I will,"said Amanda as she unlocked the door,"I'll see you tomorrow."
"Tomorrow,"said Harleem nodding at her before he went down the stairs. Amanda opened the door and looked back at Marty. She gave him a quick wave then went inside.