Two months ago
Vanessa shut the door to her car and began to run to the school. She was going to be late for her first class . . . if only she hadn't lost track of time helping her mother . . .
A tall, muscular girl dressed in black from head to toe stepped in front of her. Her dyed black hair was a mess of dreadlocks, all sticking up in various directions. Jewelry glinted in the sunlight, reflecting off of bracelets, rings, necklaces, pierced ears, eyebrows, nose, and lips.
"Well, well, if it ain't my pal Vanessa," she said. "Late, aren't we?"
Vanessa pushed ash-blond hair out of her eyes. "Tara, please, I've got to get to class."
Three more girls, dressed similarly to Tara, moved closer. "What's the rush? Princess Vanessa is too busy to talk to lowly scrubs like us?"
"No, it's not like that," Vanessa protested, backing away.
"Is there a problem here?"
Joe suddenly appeared beside Vanessa and draped his arm around her shoulders. Blue eyes stared coolly at the threat to his girlfriend.
Tara scoffed. "Ain't no problem here. We're just talkin'." She jutted her chin out at Vanessa. "Later, Princess."
As the foursome slinked away, Vanessa leveled flashing gray eyes at Joe. "You didn't have to do that."
"Do what?" Joe asked, surprised.
"Protect me," Vanessa told him. "I can handle myself. I don't need you fighting my battles for me." A pause. "But thank you. What are you doing here, anyway?"
Joe held up a math book. "Left this in the van with my homework in it. Er . . . how long has 'The Terror' been harassing you?"
"Joe," Vanessa warned as she headed for school.
"Just an innocent question," Joe said defensively, walking with her.
Vanessa sighed. "About a week now. She hasn't done anything to me, other than call me names and try to intimidate me. I can handle it."
Joe nodded, deep in thought. "It looked like it was about to get physical."
"Joe, I told you, I don't want you fighting my battles!" Vanessa exclaimed.
"I wasn't offering," Joe assured her. "Just . . . meet me at your locker after school. Okay?"
Vanessa relented, and with a quick kiss the two separated for class.
It seemed to Vanessa that Tara was following her all day long. Everywhere she went, Tara was not too far away. At one point between classes, Tara passed by Vanessa and shoved her roughly against her locker. Despite her words of that morning, she was relieved to see Joe waiting for her at the end of the day.
"Had a good day?" Joe asked as Vanessa selected the books she needed for that night.
"It was okay," Vanessa replied. She shut her locker and allowed Joe to steer her through the hall. "Where are we going?"
"In here." Joe opened a door and pulled her inside. It took Vanessa a moment to realize where she was.
"The wrestling room?" she asked doubtfully.
Joe tossed his backpack near the wall, then did the same with Vanessa's. Taking her hand, he led her to the center of the mat.
"What are you doing?" Vanessa asked, confused.
"Well, you were right this morning when you said I can't fight your battles," Joe told her. "But I can't just stand by and do nothing. I'm going to teach you some moves so you can take care of yourself."
A grin blossomed on Vanessa's face. "Really?"
Joe returned the grin. "Really. We'll meet here everyday after school until you feel confident that you can do this. Okay?"
"Does this mean I'll be able to take you on?" Vanessa asked sweetly.
Joe chuckled and took her arms. "The first thing you've got to notice . . ."
One week later
Vanessa berated herself silently for her stupidity. Again, she had lost track of time while helping her mother, and again she was going to be late for school. Jumping out of her car, she hit the parking lot at a run.
A hand snagged her arm and swung her around. Vanessa tore herself free and backed away from the sudden threat.
Tara grinned menacingly at Vanessa as her friends surrounded the hapless teen. "Hey there, Princess. Going somewhere?"
"Yeah, to class," Vanessa retorted. "Do you mind?"
Tara's eyebrows rose in surprise. "What's this? Princess has got an attitude. I think it needs adjusting."
Vanessa's heart raced as she quickly assessed the situation. She had spent a couple hours each night with Joe, learning how to fight. The past weekend had gone to learning some karate techniques that Joe had picked up from his brother. Now it seemed as though those lessons were about to be put to the test.
Reacting quickly, Vanessa swung her backpack at the nearest girl. It struck her solidly in the head, and she collapsed onto the ground, stunned. Spinning around, Vanessa threw her bag at a second girl, then kicked the third fully in the stomach. Within seconds, only Tara was left to fight.
"Your boyfriend ain't gonna help you now," Tara taunted.
Vanessa sneered. "He just did."
Drawing her fist back, she let it fly in a forceful right cross to Tara's face. Tara's body twisted with the impact, and she dropped like a stone.
Vanessa stared at the scene in shock, willing herself to calm down. Finally, she collected her backpack and headed into the school without another glance back.
