A/N: Oh man, this is the last chapter before Kate really starts to get involved in the main plot. I better start writing so I can stay ahead lol. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. Please let me know what you think and thank you all so much for the reviews. I really appreciate them.

Chapter 22

To say that Tammy's dad was upset would be an understatement. The man was furious. All three of us were seated in the chairs across from the secretary's desk in the office after we gave our stories to the principal and our fathers. Beth had called all of our families. Sam just got there first. Billy's dad had shown up and gave both of us cut eye. I stared him down as he walked by. Carol's father also appeared. From the sounds coming from the principal's office, none of the men were happy. Sam was by far the loudest.

"Hey, firecracker," I looked over at Billy who was leaning closer in the seat next to me. "You're a fucking badass. She really tried to kill you."

The door to the office opened and we all turned to look, expecting the nurse had come back with more antiseptic like I had asked. The scratches on my face, neck and arm stung but I was a little more worried about where her mouth had been and had told the nurse to clean the bite on Billy first. Who knew what he could catch from her. To our surprise, it was Hopper and Callahan.

Carol shrunk down in her seat slightly as Hopper nodded to Beth before standing in front of us.

"You wanna tell me what happened?"

Carol spoke as fast as she could. "It was her fault!" I tried not to roll my eyes.

"Sure, the dozens of witnesses will agree with that," I snapped back.

"Enough!" Hopper said sharply. "We'll start with you," he pointed to Billy. "What happened?"

Billy paused for a moment before he glanced at me. "Not much to say," he said. "Was walking down the hall when the bitch," he motioned to Carol, "decided to start a fight. She went to Kate and attacked her. I tried to pry her off when she scratched the shit out of her face. The psycho bit me. Kate put her down and then the teachers showed."

"Okay," Hopped said. He pointed to me. "Now you."

"Carol and I have been having...disagreements since the start of the year. God knows why. I was minding my own business when I heard some girls call someone a slut, so as I was telling them to knock it off because girls should support girls, Carol came out of nowhere. She tried to provoke me verbally. When that didn't work, she attacked me. I was trying not to hurt her as she was pulling my hair and scratching me. When she got a shot at my face, I hit her." There was no point in trying to hide the truth. "Then Billy showed up and pulled her away. She scratched and bit him and when he let go, she ran at me again. This time I hit her with more power. She went down and started screaming at me. Started listing all these things, some she did and others she hadn't gotten to yet, like spiking my thermos with Draino. Said she was going to cut my brake lines and told me to go die. I called her a psycho and that's when the teachers showed up. Mr. Hughs dragged me to the office with force even though I said I'd cooperate. Look." I showed him my arm which was still red from where he had grabbed it. It was probably going to bruise.

Carol shifted in the seat and Hopper turned to her. "Now your turn."

"All I did was try to hold a conversation with her," she said. "She's the one who antagonized me into hitting her first."

"That's all you have to say?" Hopped asked her.

"What else is there to say? It's not my fault she's a schizo. She's obviously lying and sucking him off so he'll lie for her too. Ask anyone, he's been all over her." She looked at me. "Isn't it enough that you're obsessed with Steve? You have to go after this one too? And I thought Nancy was the slut."

I made a face at her for the insinuation.

"Stop. I've heard enough," Hopper looked over at Callahan. "Watch them." Hopper walked over to the principal's office and walked in without even knocking. The room went quiet as he closed the door.

I closed my eyes and leaned back. And to think, I was worried about actual monsters.

oOo

Within minutes, the door to the principal's office opened.

"I'm pressing charges!" Sam snapped as he walked out. "Against him and the girl!" He headed straight to me. "Come on, let's get you home. Your mother is going to want to see you're okay." He tilted my head to the side and looked at the scratches. "Jesus, maybe we should get you to a doctor."

"I'll be fine," I said. I gave him a smile.

"Let's go, boy!" Neil called, leaving the room. Hopper was behind him.

"Remember what I said," Hopper placed a hand on Billy's shoulder. "Call me if you find yourself in some trouble."

I watched Neil as his jaw clenched. He didn't say a word, just stormed out of the room. Billy got up and followed.

"We're taking her in. You can follow us to the station." Hopper reached for Carol and helped her stand. "Come on."

"Why?" she pulled back. "I didn't do anything!"

"Because you're going into holding until we get this figured out and talk to witnesses. You want a lawyer, call one, but right now I have two people accusing you of threatening to kill her," he motioned to me. "So you're being processed. You can come by yourself or I'll put these handcuffs on you and drag you through the school first. Your choice."

Callahan waved to Beth before he grabbed Carol and kept an arm on her as they left the room. Her father followed. Hopper looked at Tammy's father and me."You come down to the station and we'll process those charges. Get the kid home first." He looked over at Hughs. "You, you're coming too."

"What did I do? I'm the one who brought these delinquents!"

"By dragging in the girl hard enough to leave a bruise, after you had a warning against harassing her. He's charging you with assault on his daughter." Hughs started protesting. "I'll give you the same option I gave the other kid. You come by yourself or I'll drag you out there in handcuffs." Hopped turned to me. "Never a dull day with you, is it kid?"

"You know it." I gave him a small smile and shrugged.

He sighed before grabbing Hughs's arm. "Let's go."

oOo

The car had been confiscated by the cops who needed to have it looked at after Carol's threat. Sam drove me home.

"I'll deal with the police. If they need you, I'll pick you back up but I want you to go and rest and get those scratches cleaned. Tell your mother what you like but I'll be telling her everything when I get back. We're going to be dealing with this. This girl tried to kill you and I won't let that rest until I see her put away!"

I reached out and put my hand on his arm. "It's okay. She didn't and she won't. I was able to hold her off thanks to my lessons."

"It's a good thing too. You want more, I'll get you some. Any self-defence you want."

"Thank you," I said. "I'll think about it."

Sam came inside the house with me. Deanna came rushing forwards as she saw us.

"Oh my god! Tammy! What happened?"

"I got into a fight."

"It was more than a fight, sweetheart! The other girl admitted she wanted to kill our baby girl."

"What?" Tammy's mother's face hardened. "Who?"

"Carol Anderson. Said she cut the brake lines to the car and tried to poison her with Draino."

"WHAT?"

"That's not what she said," I said quickly. "She said she wanted to, but couldn't. She was very upset that I...was liked. That none of her bullying worked to tear me down."

"So she tried to kill you? What sort of psychopath-"

"That's what I said!" I looked at her. "I'm okay. The police are involved now and they know me. They'll help however they can."

"I'm going back to the station now," Sam said. "I'll get this taken care of."

"You do that. I'll call her mother and they'll hear from me!"

"Mom!" I didn't need both of Tammy's parents going on a rampage. "Please, I just...I want to clean my scratches up and watch a movie or something with you."

"Of course!" Deanna moved forward and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. "Come on. I'll get the antiseptic and bandages. We'll wrap you up in a blanket and I'll make you some hot chocolate." She looked over our shoulders. "Go deal with this Sam. Give them hell."

I couldn't help but smile as I was all but dragged away to my room to change into my pyjamas while she got the first aid kit. In no time at all, I was wrapped up in blankets on the couch with bandages covering my scratches and Xanadu turned on. Deanna had decided to cook up my favourite food, which was apparently homemade spaghetti and meatballs. I was a little excited. My mother was terrible at taking care of people when they were ill. She didn't have the patience for it. She'd provide me with the meds I'd need and check on me periodically but for the most part, left me alone. This was a new experience.

Deanna eventually joined me on the couch. She stroked my hair and while watching Dynasty, she spoke quietly.

"I'm very proud of you, Tamara. You stood up to those girls calling someone a crude term, and as someone continually tried to tear you down, you stood tall and struck back. You are very brave and I am so proud to have you as my daughter."

I started crying. I couldn't help it. The stress of the day had caught up with me and then her words sent me over the edge. I wished I was her daughter just so I could spare both of us the pain of not being her.

"Shh...it's okay. It's over now and I'm here. It's okay."

oOo

I was praying the scratches wouldn't scar. Not that I couldn't pull off looking that badass, but I didn't want to leave Tammy disfigured when she came back. Especially considering she wanted to be famous.

People were talking more in the halls. The fact that I had returned but Carol hadn't yet was apparently big news. Despite all the talk, no one asked me what had happened and the only way I knew what was being said was because of Veronica.

"I didn't see it, I was on the football field when it happened, but what I heard was that Carol went totally berserk and tried to attack you! She got taken away in an ambulance, someone thinks she's in a coma, and the entire police force was here and dragged Mr. Hughs away, they of course had to keep him and your dad separate so he didn't kill him and that Billy Hargrove and Steve Harrington proposed to you! Please, for the love of all that is good and holy, tell me that some of it is true!"

I stared at her, wide-eyed. "Um, no. None of that is true, except the Carol attacking thing. Apparently, she was going to legit try to kill me by cutting my brake lines but never got the chance. She's in police custody last I heard."

"Oh my god! That is way better!"

"Thanks?"

"I don't mean her trying to kill you, I'm totally hyped you're alive, but that is way more interesting than her being in a hospital."

"I know what you mean, don't worry about it."

"There you are!" I felt an arm drape itself on my shoulders. "How are you today Queenie? She didn't infect anything, did she?"

"Afraid I'll be scarred hideously enough that you'll leave me alone?" I asked, shrugging out of Billy's grip.

He grinned lecherously at me. "Nonsense. Then I'd for sure have you all to myself." He turned to Veronica. "I'm Billy."

"I know," Veronica said. "I'm Veronica," she gave him what I presumed was a seductive smile.

"Alright, kids, have fun. Some of us have things to do and places to be." I moved away from the two of them.

"Wait! I'll come with! You're totally bodacious now and it will kill my ex to see us as friends."

I couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, come on. I live to serve in the name of revenge."