Mel Woods: Perfect :) See you then!

I put down my phone and carried the box of records to my room. It was a lot heavier than expected, but knowing I could sell those records and get a membership to King’s made me feel better. Maybe everything would be fine. I’d join kickboxing, lose weight, and be ready to fight if Lewis ever approached me again.

Chapter 2 Mel

I woke up the next morning when my phone buzzed. It was a text from Donny.

Donny: Suspended for two weeks, grounded for four

My heart raced, and not in a good way. Donny had never been suspended before, and his parents must have been livid. It was my fault. I shouldn’t have thrown the sandwich at Lewis. I should have just kept my mouth shut.

Me: Oh no. Donny, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have gotten you involved.

Donny: You didn’t bro. I chose to. Lewis is suspended for three weeks. I guess the security thought it was just a fight between me and him. They didn’t see you get hit.

I wondered why nobody had called my house to tell my parents about it. I wasn’t about to tell them. I was honestly more surprised Donny wasn’t suspended for longer. The school was no nonsense when it came to fighting. He was a first offender though, which probably meant they had cut him some slack.

Me: Bro, whatever you need. I’m here for you, seriously

Donny: Thanks, but my mom is taking my phone away tomorrow, and I’m not really allowed to hang out with friends until I’m ‘disciplined’

Me: That’s rough bro. I wish it didn’t go down like this

Donny: Me neither, but I wouldn’t change how I reacted. Hear from you soon A.C.

Me: You know I hate being called that. Take care bro.

I wished I could have stood up for myself so Donny didn’t have to. I was full of guilt, but I thought maybe learning kickboxing would prepare me for next time Lewis tried to bully me. When I went to the bathroom to look in the mirror, I saw that the bruise on my face had turned into a black eye.

“Shit,” I said while looking at my reflection in the mirror. It wasn’t a good look. My parents still hadn’t really seen my eye since Lewis punched me. I didn’t know how to cover it up with makeup or anything like that. While I was trying to think of a plan, there was a knock at the bathroom door.

“Adrian, hurry up in there.” It was my mom’s voice.

“Oh, shit,” I said again. I couldn’t let her see my eye.

“Watch your tongue,” she replied.

I grabbed a wet cloth and pressed it against my face as if I was just washing up. I opened the door and darted straight to my bedroom.

Mom immediately started in about kickboxing and that she didn’t like how violent it was, but I cut her off.