A hallway dispute at school |
“Spit it out!” Blonde girl says. I clench my lips, shake my head. “Pry his jaws open!” Freckles says. I grit my teeth, squint my eyes. “Punch him in the gut!” Pimples says. I tighten my abdomen, curl my fingers. “Pinch his dang nose!” Overalls says. I wait, shit my pants. Grimy fingers squeeze my nostrils. “He has to breathe,” Blonde girl says. “Look at him squirm. Cough it up, jackass,” Pimples says I part my lips, a slender crack. The school bell rings. “Come on, jerk-wad. Give it,” Overalls says. The nasal pinch tightens. “He’s sneaking in air!” Freckles says. “I got to go. My mom’s waiting,” Blonde girl says. “That’s it I have had enough!” The jock says. A force slams my groin. My mouth gasps. The flash drive falls. “Ew, that’s nasty!” Blonde girl says. A brick forms in my stomach. “Here’s a tissue. Wipe it off,” The jock says. It is pushing my intestines. Pain rolls. I fall. “Why he’d take your flash drive?” Pimples asks. Blonde girl has my files, has the files! The brick grows. Pain intensifies. I twist my body. “It’s not mine. It’s his. I accidentally saved my notes on it in class,” Blonde girl says. “She just wanted to copy it to her laptop before dismissal,” Freckles says. The brick shrinks. Pain lessens. She took HIS files. “I saw him slam her into the locker when she tried to grab it,” The jock says. Pain is gone. I need the files. Fear rises. “He jammed it in his mouth when I tried to get it for her. Dude belongs in a padded cell,” The jock says. I uncurl. I reach for blonde girl. They don’t understand. The files belong to James. Blonde girl screams. “Grab him,” Pimples says. She runs. James’ files disappear past the lockers. He will kill me. My back slams into the locker. Tears form. “Chill freako! She’ll give your drive back tomorrow,” the jock says. He threatened to smother me if I told, if I showed anyone. Smother me with my batman pillow. Everyone will hate me. “Come on, let’s go,” The jock says. Blonde girl has stepfather’s files. |