Alanna served her detention dutifully. She also got a little respite, because Ralon, terrified of retribution from her friends was giving her a wide berth. She knew though that it was only a matter of time. Her broken arm meant that she ended up learning how to use her less dominant arm and George taught her many different ways to incapacitate an opponent even when she was incapacitated herself. After two months her cast came off and they began training in earnest. Alanna sometimes felt like she was going to die at the end of the day, but every morning she would wake up at four o'clock and start her exhausting day all over again.
One day after a particularly brutal session with George, Alanna lay on the floor gasping for breath.
"Up," George barked. "Once more."
Alanna forced herself up off the floor and the two teenagers circled around each other warily. Alanna, remembering that Coram had told her the best way to finish a fight was to attack and get it over with swung at George, who neatly ducked.
"Have to be faster than that," he with a grin.
Alanna lunged for him again and he danced out of the way. He then threw a fist at her face, which she just about avoided. Alanna then, being highly unsportsmanlike kicked him in the shin and while he was focused on his leg elbowed him hard in the stomach. He let out an oof sound and went down and Alanna stood above him panting.
George looked up at her, a thoughtful look in his eyes. "I reckon if you can get me down you're about ready," he said.
"For what?" Alanna asked, envisioning more difficult moves for her to learn.
"To finish this," he said, getting up and dusting himself off.
"I can't fight Ralon yet," she cried. "No George you have to teach me more."
"I've done all I can," George said. "Now the rest is up to you."
Alanna swallowed, very nervous all of a sudden.
"Now don't worry about it," George said gently. "You'll be able to do it no problem."
Alanna had an uneasy sleep that night. Despite what George said she was not at all convinced she could beat Ralon. Her mind kept replaying all the memories of him kicking her ass again and again.
"Stop it Alanna," she told herself firmly. "You'll be alright. Everything is going to be fine."
The next day during sports hour Alanna decided it was now or never. She waited till the PE teachers left, took a deep breath and walked to the centre of the gym where everyone, including Ralon was exercising.
She took another deep breath. "Ralon Malven is a coward and an asshole," she said, loudly and clearly. "He picks on people he thinks can't fight back probably because he has a tiny dick and the only thing that makes him feel better about it is bullying people smaller than him."
Ralon had stiffened up when he first heard her begin to speak and now he turned around his face a bright shade of red.
"What did you say?" he hissed.
"I said you have a small dick Malven," Alanna taunted. "And no balls."
"What's he doing?" Raoul whispered to Jon. Raoul was half ready to intervene but Jon put his hand on his shoulder stopping him.
"Lets just see how this plays out," he said quietly, an odd look coming into his eyes.
So Raoul stood down. And Ralon stomped towards Alan who suddenly looked incredibly small next to his imposing bulk.
"Mother of god let him know what he's doing," Gary prayed silently, but with a look from Jon he also stayed where he was.
"The only reason you're being so brave is because you have your friends to hide behind," Ralon sneered. "You aren't even worth my time Trebond."
"They won't," Alanna said quickly. "I don't need them to fight my fights."
"Well they've fought all your other ones," Ralon said slyly. "Are you sure they won't step in."
"Not when they see me kicking your ass," she said, sounding far more confident than she actually felt.
With a squeal of rage Ralon flew at Alanna but for the first time she was totally ready for him. She neatly sidestepped him and threw her fist into his stomach.
Ralon was winded but not down. However he definitely sensed that something had changed. He became warier. Knowing her arm had been broken, Ralon, assuming it was weak, grabbed a hold of it and tried to twist it. After Coram's exercises Alanna was easily able to twist out of his grasp and punched his jaw. That was when Ralon lost his temper and lunged at her. Using his own weight and velocity, Alanna easily threw him to the floor and almost sat on him while pinning his arms down.
"Done?" she asked through gritted teeth as he struggled futilely.
He glared at her but nodded. She got off him and began moving away. With a yell he got up off the floor and came flying at her. But used to this after George's commonly underhand tactics she easily avoided him and punched him straight in the nose, hearing a satisfying crunch. He collapsed, rolling around on the floor and holding his bloody nose.
"I think I'm done here," she said coolly.
"I'm going to kill you," Ralon shouted from the floor as she walked away. "I'm going to kill you."
"I'm sure you will," she said with an equal measure of condescension and disgust.
"Knew you could do it," Jon said as the five of them walked out of the gym.
"Yeah I was all ready to step in," Raoul said excitedly. "And then Jon just holds me back and says 'lets see how this plays out.' And you did it Alan! You kicked his ass."
But suddenly Alanna wasn't feeling quite alright.
"Hey I'll catch up with you guys later," she said, sounding a little queasy.
She hurried to the nearest bathroom and threw up. Although this was something she had been looking forward to for a very long time, she couldn't quite get Ralon's squeals of pain out of her head.
"Hello?" she heard someone say. "Is there someone in there? Are you okay?"
Alanna wiped her mouth off and opened the door.
"Hey Mr. Olau," she said weakly. "I'm okay, just had a bit of a bad stomach."
"Are you sure?" he asked, sounding a little worried.
"Actually I did something I don't think I should have," Alanna admitted.
"Does this have something to do with Mr. Malven?" Mr. Olau asked.
"How did you know that?" Alanna asked.
"Well I just passed the gym," Mr. Olau said. "It's quite a circus in there."
"We fought," Alanna said, not quite sure why she was telling her history teacher this. "And I beat him. But it doesn't feel quite right for some reason."
"Well he wasn't exactly innocent in all of this was he Alan?" Mr. Olau said. "You know we might be old but none of us are entirely oblivious. Everyone knew the Malven boy was beating you up. We couldn't do anything because you refused to admit it but we knew."
"I didn't like beating him up," Alanna confessed. "It just felt wrong."
"Are you going to make a habit of it?" Mr. Olau asked.
"I don't think so," Alanna said.
"Then it's fine," Mr. Olau said, with a smile.
"Thanks," Alanna said gratefully.
"And Alan," Mr. Olau added as he was leaving. "I think I should probably forget we ever had this conversation. For both your sake and mine. So don't mention it to any of your friends."
"Already forgotten Mr. Olau," Alanna said.
However despite the fact that Mr. Olau didn't take her confession to Vice-Principle Naxen, the whole school was buzzing with the news and she found herself outside his door.
"Come in," he said, after she knocked.
"Good evening Mr. Naxen," she said politely.
"Evening Alan," Mr. Naxen said. "I'm afraid this isn't going to be pleasant."
"I know," Alanna said, but she kept her head held high.
Mr. Naxen read her the riot act but she could tell he wasn't really into it. He also informed her that Ralon's father had decided that because his son wasn't safe at Corus Academy anymore he was coming tomorrow to pull him out. Alanna had to hide a smile at that. She didn't feel even a little animosity towards him. She knew he was only yelling at her because he had to. She strongly suspected that he was actually quite proud.
"I'll have to send a letter to your father," he said. And you're suspended for a week and restricted to your dormitory. The only time you're allowed out is mealtimes."
Alanna's mouth suddenly became very dry. If her father got a letter saying his son Alan had been fighting it was highly likely that he would become very suspicious.
"I just need you to confirm your address," he said, pulling out her file.
"Yes sir," she said, her heart pounding.
He rifled through it and frowned. "It says here Coram's your guardian," he said. "Your father didn't put his address down."
"Well Father was pretty glad to wash his hands of us," Alanna said a little bitterly.
"Same old Alan," Mr. Naxen grunted, and then looked at Alanna embarrassed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"
"It's alright sir," she said.
"Well I suppose the letter will go to Coram then," he sighed. "Though I'm sure he already knows by now. You're dismissed Alan. Go to dinner then get straight back to your dormitory."
"Thank you sir," Alanna said and she left.
She got back to her dorm room and to her surprise her friends were all waiting for her.
"Did Dad yell at you a lot?" Gary asked grinning.
"Yeah," Alanna said. 'But I think he was kinda happy."
"I'm sure he was," Alex said dryly. "The whole school was rooting for you Alan."
"Where did you learn how to fight like that?" Raoul asked enthusiastically. "I mean you're little but you sure do pack a punch."
"Coram," Alanna said. "And George." The four boys all knew about her friendship with the local drug dealer.
"You don't seem very happy," Jonathan noted.
"It didn't quite feel right," Alanna said. "I mean Coram taught me his army stuff and George gave me all these tricks. Ralon doesn't really know anything."
"Are you worried you're a bully now?" Jon asked quizzically.
"Well…" Alanna trailed off.
"Bullies don't feel guilty," Jon said firmly. "And lets be honest they usually pick on people smaller than them. Good luck finding someone smaller than you Alan."
"And don't worry," Raoul said cheerfully. "We'll keep you on the straight and narrow."
"But in the meantime I think it's time to celebrate," Gary said. He handed Alanna a bottle of Heineken.
"Where did you get that from?" she asked.
"Your friend George thought you might have something to celebrate tonight so he slipped me some," Gary said. "He told me he'd get rid of the bottles tomorrow so you shouldn't worry."
Since that was exactly what Alanna was worrying about she blushed.
Gary passed out the other bottles and the five boys held them up.
"Here's to Alan," Raoul said theatrically. "He might be small but within him resides a heart of a lion."
"Here here old boy," Gary said in a mock British accent.
They clinked their bottles together and drank. Alanna felt a warm feeling in the bottom of her stomach that had nothing to do with the alcohol.