Chapter 5
When Megan went to the nurse's office her left cheek was still swollen from David's left punch and she had gotten over crying but her face was still red, and she wiped the mascara from her eyes. She got an ice pack and some ibuprofen from the nurse and went to her first period class. She saw Darrell who tried his best to hide his shame and embarrassment of what happened to her, Megan was the first girl he ever had feelings for and this time she returned the feelings to him, and David decided to embarrass her and potentially ruin his first chance at getting a date with her.
Megan pulled her chair next to him and said "Hi Darrell, "what's wrong" nothing Darrell replied wiping his eyes Megan could tell he'd been very upset about what had happened, Megan continued I'll be fine and your brother hitting me wasn't your fault". "I know" he said I just feel bad that he did that to you, I wish I was there to stop him" and you wouldn't have a red face and a black and blue cheek".
"It's not your fault" Megan said to Darrell rubbing his hand, then their English class began and they paid attention to the lesson. During one of the breaks they started talk and all of sudden they were holding hands, Megan's heart raced and she felt happier near Darrell. Then the class ended and she said bye to him and they agreed to meet at her house after school to work on their English together. Darrell felt happier and confident that he was able to get a chance to hang out with Megan at her place.
Word got out around school that David had punched Megan in the face. When Darrell met David in their speech class Darrell came up to him and said "what was that for punching Megan this morning?" David scoffed "I don't know what the hell are you talking about Darrell" slapping Darrell's check lightly. Darrell told him "I know and saw what you did to her and you're going to pay for it". David laughed, "no I am not and you better not tell Mr. Hansen" if you tell him "there will be consequences". "Whatever Darrell said, don't bother me and I'm not riding the bus home with you or Abraham and Katherine".
After class Darrell caught up with Megan before heading to lunch they went to see Mr. Hansen the principal about what happened to her that morning. Megan explained everything what happened to her breaking down. "I see," said Mr. Hansen and Darrell you saw what happened right?" "Yes" Darrell said. "Ok, I will be speaking to David later today or tomorrow". "Ok Megan said come on Darrell lets go eat".
At the end of the day both Darrell and Megan went back by bus to her place to study their English and review each other's papers. When they arrived at her place Drake and Josh greeted them, before Darrell and Megan went to her room to study Drake noticed her cheek was black and blue and said "Megan what happened", Megan told him "it was Darrell's angry twin David who punched me, and Darrell tried to stop him but he was held back by David's friends". "Is this true?" Drake and Josh asked Darrell, Darrell nodded. "Ok" Drake and Josh said, "we believe you, you did your best to protect her, you're the right boyfriend for our sister".
Megan said, "Come on Darrell lets go study upstairs" she and Darrell took out their papers on their recent book reviews. Darrell read Black Beauty by Anna Sewell and Megan read The Concubine by Elechi Amadi. She read over Darrell's report it was very touching and then she started tearing up because he mentioned in the report how the horses who suffered at the hands of their owners were able to find peace in the end, and he compared it to how his own life. Darrell's father used to beat Darrell, his mother and his siblings over various issues and in the end, his father left and Darrell and his siblings were able to find peace. Then Darrell read her book report and it was very powerful about a woman who ends up killing every man she falls in love with and he edits the grammar and she does as well.
After reviewing Darrell and Megan sat on her bed together talking. "How come you never mentioned you had an abusive childhood?" she asked Darrell. Darrell said "I normally don't talk about it, except with close friends like Roger, Ted, Bill, and Robert. However my brothers and sisters talk about it with their friends". "Oh ok" she said "I'm glad you told me" she said with her arms around his arm. Suddenly her head was moving towards his and their lips began to meet and they had their first kiss. With her hands hanging on his neck Megan said "lets lay down on the bed". Darrell did so, and suddenly his heart began beating fast and they still were kissing.
Then Megan asked Darrell if he wanted to spend the night at her house, he said sure but he didn't have any sleepwear or his medicine. He called his old sitter Kimberly who was still watching his younger siblings (Bruce, Shirley, Diane, and Charlie) to bring over his medicine and she did. Darrell had dinner with Megan and her brothers and then they watched a movie and they went to sleep. Megan and Darrell cuddled with each other in her bed.