I just let her keep on pounding on me, I knew what I did was stupid and wrong and I deserved it, she kept throwing punches, I kept taking them.
"Get the fuck out of here!" she said, shoving me towards the door. She threw my cowl at me; I caught it and turned slowly, exiting the house. I walked down the street, throwing the cowl on and wallowing.
I got home, climbing in my window and hurling my cowl as hard as I could at my mirror.
"So stupid!" I said, punching my wall as hard as I could, my fist powered through the sheetrock and I put my head against the wall. I was on the verge of tears, I was actually about ready to lie down and die. I fell back onto my bed, thoroughly pissed at myself. I couldn't even sleep it was so bad, I hated myself that much.
Mindi's knuckles where scraped and bleeding. They stung like a bitch as well. She was kneeling on the ground, hair cascading down her torso. She was sobbing, she was pissed at Kyle for something she did to him as well, and the way she had treated him was disgusting.
"He deserved it." she mumbled to herself, trying hard to justify her actions. Truth be told, she couldn't. Justifying actions to someone is easy, but not to yourself, even when she feels its right. She washed off her knuckles, sobbing still.
The next day, I was at lunch, sitting away from the guys this time. I was eating quietly, trying to keep from moping. Then I saw her, Mindi was looking at me. As soon as I caught her gaze she looked away. That only made me feel worse than I already had. I just stared back at my food, trying not to tear up. It was only a few days we spent being friends, but I felt a cold kind of detachment without her. I got up out of my seat; I was going to do something I probably shouldn't. I walked straight up to the line, but she had disappeared before I arrived.
"Fuck me." I mumbled. She wanted to be alone, and I wanted to talk to her. At that point, just her voice would have been enough to give me a smile.
"There you are Kyle." Lenny said, running up to me, "it's that kid Sam, he's getting his ass whipped bad." He stated. I first turned to walk away, but then I saw Mindi walking towards the brawl. I ran as fast as I could. Sam was pinned against the wall; the bully kept pounding on his face. My mind kept flashing with the events of the night before. More bullies joined in, he was going to get fucked up unless I or Mindi intervened. Mindi stepped up to the plate, driving her toe into the main bully's stomach. The other two tossed her away like nothing. Two on one, not good for Mindi. I rushed forward, driving my fist as hard as I could into the bully's temple. He collapsed to the floor, unconscious in one swing. The main bully was back on his feet.
"Paybacks a bitch." He said.
"And you're a cliché." I retorted. He threw a punch, connecting with my cheek. I stumbled backwards, into the concrete wall.
"Fuck!" I said, shaking my head out. I spat blood into his face as he came at me again. He rubbed his eyes and I took my opportunity. I grabbed his wrist, twisting it hard and flipping the bully over my shoulder. I grabbed him by his shirt and nailed him again in the face. He was out easy. Mindi shoved me backwards,
"I didn't need your help Kyle!" she said. I was speechless, she almost looked sorry for the words she said.
"Fine, next time I'll let you get pounded." I replied, brushing past her. I picked Sam up off the ground, slinging his hand on my shoulder.
"Kyle I'm-." She began, but I wasn't having it, not then. I kept walking, I didn't look back, I didn't even acknowledge that she said a word. It pained me to do, but I had to.
Mindi stood there, about to start sobbing. She had done this to herself; she turned the one friend she could talk to into something bad. Truth be told, she was missing him, as much as she wanted to hate him, she missed him dearly. All she could do was walk down the hallway before the principal and resource officer got there, trying to remain calm. It got harder and harder every minute.
"How can one boy cause me so much pain?" she asked herself. The answer was simple, four letters that formed a one syllable word. L-O-V-E, love.
I sat on my bed that night, staring at the cold, ridiculously oppressive ceiling. I felt my bed vibrate for the thirty fifth time. It was Mindi, I knew it. I wanted to pick the phone up, he wanted to so desperately, but I couldn't bring myself to talk to her after what I had said this afternoon. The vibrations stopped. My eyes teared up,
"Why am I crying over one girl." I asked the ceiling. No answer, "Of course you won't answer, you're a fucking ceiling." I muttered. My phone vibrated again, I waited, and waited, and waited. I grabbed it on the last ring.
"hello." I said my voice gravelly.
"Kyle! Kyle I'm sorry! I can't take it, I can't fucking stay mad at you. I've tried, but I can't stand it. I've wanted to hate you, hate you so much. But-." She stammered at the end.
"Mindi-." I began,
"I love you too much to hate you." She finished. I was awestruck; I didn't think she'd ever say it, "Could you come over? Please?" she asked.
"Where?" I asked.
"The Warehouse." She retorted.
"Yeah, I'm on my way." I said.
"Thanks Kyle." She answered.
"And Mindi." I said.
"Yeah?" she replied.
"I love you too." I finished. My phone beeped.