Page 22 of Slaughtered Firefly
“I didn’t think you would go for Scott Addams,” Katie said impressively.
“I heard he rejected sweet Lilly just last week….” They continued to chatter around me as I watched Bryce land a punch across Scott’s face.
“You should learn your place, Addams,” Bryce shouted as a crowd formed. The girls’ forgotten gossip hung on their lips as they turned their attention to the fight ahead.
Scott laughed, pulling his hoodie overhead to reveal his school uniform. “Funny I was going to say the same thing.”
“You think you’re untouchable just because your uncle runs the school you got another thing coming,” Bryce instigated, red in the face.Interesting, that would have been helpful information to know. Why didn’t I pick up on that sooner?
“Well, you know what they say.” Scott laughed even harder.
He had moved so quickly that within seconds Bryce was on the ground, with a bloodied face as Scott landed a fourth punch.
“Get off him!” I shouted, even though every fiber wanted to watch in glee. The crowd froze in shock.
Bryce's teammates quickly came to his defense and pulled Scott away. It took three of the defensive line to hold him back as another reared back to punch Scott; I moved before I thought, and his elbow planted into my nose. A gurgled, pained scream left me, and the guy who did it immediately lost the fight.
“Shit Mia, I am so sorry. I didn’t see you there. Shit. Shit. Shit,” he muttered, trying to console me.
I pinched my nose as the blood started dripping, grabbed his welcoming hand and kneed him in the balls.Great, another mysterious bruise to cover later.
“I deserved that,” he grunted as he sank down to the floor.
“Let.Him.Go!” I demanded towards the guys still holding Scott, his rage clear in every line on his face, his dress collar bloodied from his split lip and a look of concern towards me.
“What is going on here?” a teacher pushed through the throng of bodies towards us.
“Good heavens, how did this happen?” She looked around and Bryce was pulling himself off the ground, the other football players having slid back into the crowd leaving Scott and me face to face.
“It was my fault Mrs. Diaz, I will take the blame,” I said, still cupping my bloodied nose. Fuck, why do these always bleed like a bitch? Good thing I won’t be going home anytime soon.
“Good Lord, what happened to your face Mia?” Mrs. Diaz asked with concern, lacing her voice.
“It was an accident, it’s no big deal,” I pleaded.
“She’s right Mrs. Diaz, Scott and Bryce just had a disagreement and Mia tried to stop it,” Katie added nervously.
“Principal office now,” Mrs. Diaz demanded in a furious tone, the disappointment clear on her face.
I flung my bag across my shoulder as we were marched out of the lunchroom. My stomach gurgled with the lack of food.
I dropped unceremoniously into a chair in the office waiting room across from Scott, Bryce having gone to the nurse.
“You fought well,” I chuckled under my breath.
The secretary shushed me, and I rolled my eyes.
“He was asking for the fight the way he manhandled you. I just finished it,” Scott shrugged nonchalantly. His lip was swollen, and the cut added to his rugged bad boy look.
“Where did you—” my words cut off by the opening of the principal’s door.
“Mia, why am I not surprised to see you back so soon?” Principal Moore sighed.
“Scott come on, we’ll have to call your mom,” he finished, and Scott grabbed his bag and followed behind. The door closed, and my nose stopped bleeding. I dove into my bag for cosmetics to cover the bruise. I couldn’t help but hear there was a heated discussion that was anything but quiet.
I tried to store away the information for later, but ultimately I struggled to keep up with the many accusations and slurs that were thrown. Scott may have been his nephew, but there was no love lost. I had just stashed the makeup back in my bag when the door flew open.
Scott stormed out yelling, “Fuck your party, I’ll clear out my shit by four.” I caught his arm to make him stop, but he shook it free and walked away. I didn’t know why I cared so much, but I couldn’t unpack that now.
