Author's note: This is story is dedicated to my good friend Fun but shy girl. She's stronger than she thinks and an incredible person. Seek her work here, her stories are awesome.
It's no secret that people change, either because they move to a new place, because they grow up or simply because time goes by, most of the time these changes take their time and those around them have the opportunity to either adapt or move on. But there are cases when change is so sudden and so radical that it is too complicated for those around to understand it or even adapt to it. That was the case of Emmy Mendoza and her friends Sophia, Sydney and Olive, the four being new to highschool in Portland Oregon. Since her arrival her life in elementary and middle school was somewhat peaceful, specially mid school when she met her three friends and formed what they called "The Four Amigas", they even went as far to help her with her disorder so she could be up to par so they all could get to highschool together, but there's no secret that high school is something completely different, something that can change lives, especially that of pre-teen boys and girls that become targets of bullies. And all it takes to to bring someone to a breakpoint is to push too much. It all began one morning, it was the first month the amigas were spending in Portland's main district highschool. One of the things Sydney Reynolds didn't like was that Emmy's locker was far from where the other amiga's were located. And that particular morning the latina was getting her math book when a not so good looking girl, who was a senior, approached and looked at her.
-Hey - she said pushing her
Shocked Emmy turned
-uh hi I'm
-...the sponsor for my lunch, how much money do you have?
The latina was perplexed
-I… just 20 bucks for my lunch and
-...that's perfect, give them to me. NOW.
-But
She couldn't finish, her body crashed against the lockers as she was brutally pushed, she felt the pain of the metal against her back, yet she couldn't think much as she was pulled and it was not gentle.
-I don't think I heard right, you said I can take the money right?
With a nod the latina pulled the bill from her pocket and handed it to the girl who in turn, pushed her against the lockers one more time.
-I'll see you tomorrow princesita
Slowly Emmy made her way to her math class, Sophia, who had the same class noticed that her best friend was somewhat silent and barely taking notes. At lunch they were surprised to see her having only a glass of water.
-Is that supposed to be your lunch? - Olive asked
-I… uh… had something to eat already…
Sophia was perplexed.
-When? We played soccer together. I didn't see you eat anything while you ran in the field.
Upset Emmy got up, but in the process hit the table and the water spilled on her, making it look as if she had a very embarrassing accident.
-oh no…
-Emmy… -Sophia tried to help her
-LEAVE ME ALONE!
All that day Emmy had to endure the jokes of everyone that saw her in the halls. The following day she was grabbing her books when the same girl as the day before approached her and without any warning pushed her against her locker, since her head was down as she placed her books in her backpack her nose crashed against the steel and began to bleed.
-boo hoo… give me your money princesita, I don't have all day. - she demanded.
Holding a napkin to her nose she handed her the only money she had.
-Good. That's how I like you princesita.
Crying, she sat on the floor before going to class. Again her friends here worried to see her with only a glass of water as they ate. In order not to upset her they decided to keep quiet. But that afternoon when they went to the bike store Sydney noted that Emmy drank her smoothie really fast.
-Whoa there, you're going to get a brain freeze there…
-sorry… - Emmy said
Later that night Max noticed that Sydney was preoccupied.
-What's bothering you?
-It's Emmy… something is happening to her… she's not eating at school and I swear I saw her taking a banana from the shop today…
-Hey, you know you and the amigas are free to eat anything you want from store, there's no crime there - Max replied
-That's not the point, she was hungry… she didn't eat anything all day long until she got to the bike shop…
-You think her family is having financial issues?
-I'll talk to her tomorrow… - Sydney said
The following morning Sydney was on the way to Emmy's locker when she heard a thud and an exchange right around the corner
-Perhaps I haven't been clear enough, princesita, you're supposed to bring me money every day, not whenever you think you should.
-i'm sorry…
Then a slap, when she ran she only found Emmy crying as she sat against the lockers
-Emmy? What happened?
-nothing… I… I tripped and hurt my ankle…
Sydney opened her eyes wide, she could swear that was not what had happened
-Let me help you up, let's go to class…
But if Emmy thought that was the worse of her problems, things got a turn for the worse the following day when Sophia gave her the money she had brought for school supplies for her to safekeep while they were on soccer practice. As she was preparing for her next class her hands began to tremble as the same girl that kept bullying her approached.
-There you are princesita, you haven't been avoiding me right?
Scared Emmy shook her head. Without saying another word she took Emmy's bag and pulled the money out.
-well the princesita came loaded today
-NO WAIT! That's not mine!
-Of course it's not yours, it's mine - she said pushing Emmy to the floor
Sydney was coming out of fencing class only to find an agitated Olive waiting for
-Olive what's wrong?
-Come with me, quick!
As the approached Emmy's locker they could hear a discussion
-...I TRUSTED YOU! - Sophia shouted
-AND I'M SORRY!
-THAT WON'T FIX IT! WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO NOW?
-Guys what's going on? - Sydney asked
-Just that Emmy here lost the money we were supposed to use for school supplies and for our lunch.
-Emmy what happened?
-I… I don't know…
-Great, she doesn't know… now I'll have to explain to my mom why I need another fifty dollars…
That day after class Emmy just wanted to be alone and to make her way to the smoothie shop longer she took a detour crossing over a small mall near, as she walked in she heard voices shouting and one of them was of a young woman.
-WHAT ARE WE TRAINING HERE?
-KARATE SENSEI! - a choir of voices screamed back
-AND WHAT DO WE DO?
-STRIKE FIRST! STRIKE HARD! NO MERCY! - the voices screamed back
She didn't realized she had walked in, what she saw amazed her, it was a group of boys and girls her age, all practicing karate, they were taught by a young woman in a black uniform, she had her brunette hair tied in a ponytail with a black headband, on the wall there were the pictures of two men wearing the same outfit, under, the names of John Kreese and Terry Silver.
-In this dojo I train future champions, I train fighters and all I ask is your undivided attention, WHAT IS IT MISS LORENZO?
The scared girl pointed at the latina looking at the pictures on the wall. Emmy almost screamed when she turned and the young woman was right in front of her.
-Found what you were looking for?
To be continued…