Page 208 of River & Crown
Choyce Mancinelli
The swing creaked beneath me as I kicked off the ground. I pumped my legs just as Chosyn taught me, harder and faster, until my feet were flying. I smiled so big it made my cheeks hurt.
"Chosyn! Look at me!" I shouted, hoping she'd see how high I was going.
"Great job, Choyce," she called from the bench nearby.
My legs burned as I kept trying to go higher because Chosyn was watching. When I looked back, her head was down, and her eyes were glued to her phone. Rolling my eyes, I leaned back on the upswing, prepared to scoop my legs again and go even higher.
"What the?—"
I felt hands on my shoulders, my grip slipped, and then nothing was underneath me, and I was hitting the pavement face first.
Pain exploded across my cheek, and my knees scraped against the gravel. "Ahh!" I hissed, tears stinging my eyes as I pushed myself up on shaky hands.
A boy who might've been a little older climbed onto my swing like he hadn't just shoved me off.
"I was on that," I snapped, voice shaking.
He shrugged. "Not anymore."
My tears broke free, and I didn't bother stopping them. I turned and ran, my sobs getting louder the closer I got to Chosyn.
"Chosyn," I cried, barely able to say her name.
She looked up, and the second she saw my face, everything about her changed.
"What the hell happened?" she snapped, loud enough for people to turn and stare.
"He pushed me off," I tattled, pointing toward the swings.
Chosyn stood slowly, tucking her phone in her pocket. Without saying a word, she stalked toward the boy. Her steps were calm, but I knew her. Calm meant danger.
The boy didn't even notice her until it was too late. She grabbed the chain mid-swing and yanked it, stopping it before her fist flew into his jaw. He barely made a sound before she shoved him off and straddled him, punches landing one after another.
"Chosyn, stop!" I screamed, grabbing her arm. "Please!"
She paused, chest heaving, eyes wild. "Hit him back," she demanded.
I blinked. "What?"
"You heard me."
"But—"
"He pushed you, Choyce," she said, voice stern like when I was in trouble. "What did Daddy say about people putting their hands on us?"
I swallowed. "You deserve whatever you allow to happen," I whispered.
"That's right." Her grip tightened on my wrist. "If you don't stand up for yourself, people will treat you as if you don't matter, so hit him."
I looked down at the boy. He looked scared.
"Choyce."
My hand trembled as I made a fist. I stepped forward, heart pounding so hard I thought it might pop out. Then I swung.
The first hit caught him in the eye. He groaned. I hit him again and again until parents came running, shouting at me to stop. Someone grabbed my arm, but before they could pull me away, Chosyn snatched me back.
