Once class was over, on Thursday, every one was ready to leave. Sra. Ramirez had piled the pop quizzes on hard today. Don and Nickole walked to study hall together with Ann following close behind and Eddie a few feet behind her. Don and Nickole stopped under the big pear tree and sat down at the picnic table. Ann went inside to get them signed in. "So, how do you think you did on the pop quiz?" Nickole asked.
"I don't know. I hope I did okay." Don answered shrugging. There was silence, then…
"Hey, Nickole," Eddie called from behind her in a taunting voice.
"Just ignore him," Nickole whispered, not looking around.
"What?" Eddie's voice came again, "you don't like me any more?"
"Leave her alone." Don said standing up.
"This has nothing to do with you," Eddie said walking over slowly toward them.
Nickole sat frozen to the bench not knowing what to do. "Just leave us alone. If you have a problem with us, then you'll just have to get over it." Don continued.
"Get over it? You want me to get over it?!? I don't have to do anything you tell me to do." Eddie spat turning bright red. He was now standing right behind Nickole who stayed rooted to the spot.
"Just stay away," Don warned.
"I don't think so," Eddie replied, and he grabbed a hold of Nickole's arm and pulled her off of the bench.
"Eddie, what are you..." was all she could say before Don threw the first punch. Eddie pushed Nickole out of his way so hard that she fell down. Then they were fighting.
Everyone came pouring out of study hall despite Mrs. Grant's best attempts to keep them all inside. Ann was running out to help Nickole up when she saw what was going on. Eddie and Don were still fighting. The fight was moving around the building and to the back. They were falling all over everything, a pile of bricks, tree stumps, and tree roots, trying to get a good shot in at each other. Then Mrs. Grant, Mrs. Brown, and Mr. Holt, who had seen the commotion from his car, ran over to where the boys were fighting and pulled Don off of Eddie.
"What do you boys think you are doing?" shouted Mrs. Brown clearly appalled by two of her best student's behavior, "Both of you go to Mrs. Bradley's office now!"
Don and Eddie were taken to Mrs. Bradley's office by Mr. Fredric, and Mrs. Grant sent everyone, including Mrs. Brown's American History class, back in to study hall. Ann and Nickole were then last ones back into the building.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Ann asked looking concerned.
"Yes, I'm fine."
"What happened?"
"One minute Don and I were just talking, and then Eddie came up to us and started saying weird stuff, and then he grabbed my arm, and that's when Don hit him," Nickole summarized.
"Wow."
"You've got to stop saying that," Nickole said, a little disgruntled.
"Do you have any idea how much trouble they're going to be in?"
"Yeah, I know."
Mrs. Grant came walking over, "You girls need to go back inside. Nickole, are you sure you want to stay here? You can go home if you want to."
"No thanks, Mrs. Grant, I don't want to miss class. Anyway, I have to give Ann a ride home."
"You don't drive?" Mrs. Grant asked turning on Ann.
"I can drive…I just don't have a car...yet."
"Okay, well then stay, but if those boys give you any more trouble come and tell me."
"Yes ma'am," Nickole replied, and she and Ann went back into the building.
After class Nickole and Ann walked out to Nickole's car, where they met up with Don. He looked extremely upset. "What happened?" Nickole asked,
"What do you mean?" Don replied,
"What happened when you went to Mrs. Bradley's office?"
"Well, since I started the fight, I was asked to leave campus."
"But you're still here..."
"Yeah, well you are my ride home."
"Oh yeah,"
"So, what happened to Eddie?" Ann cut in.
"He had to leave too," Don answered.
"We better leave before you get into any more trouble," Nickole said, and the three of them got into the car.