“You’re dead,” the kid snarled.
I simply smiled before I charged him.
“Clint! Clint! Clint! Clint!”
I yelled out as I tackled him to the ground. I straddled him, throwing punch after punch before his buddies dragged me off him. I slung my fists around like wildfire, feeling them connect as the crowd’s chanting grew to a dull roar. I smelled their blood. Felt their fear. And it fueled me forward as I fisted a handful of hair and pulled some dude’s head back.
“This is for fucking around with our field.”
I punched him in the nose before someone tackled me to the ground. Kids cheered and girls cried out for me to stay safe as I rolled around on the turf with him. I smelled that piss growing closer. My eyes widened as we kept rolling around. I slid off his body, gripping his coat as I dragged him through the grass. Through the mud.
Right through that fucking urine stain his buddy left behind.
“What the—?”
I chuckled. “Tell Mommy Dearest that hot water really helps get out the stench of piss.”
I tossed him off to the side before whipping around. One of the gangly boys charged me, and one knock of my fist had him on the ground. I clotheslined the other boy barreling for me, reveling in the glory as people chanted my name. This was where I excelled. This was my golden goose egg. I dabbed at the blood trickling down my chin as I turned toward the crowd, tossing my fists in the air.
Thankful for the distraction from all the misery that had been sinking me into the trenches.
“Watch out!”
The girl shrieked just before I got knocked to the ground. The asshole had me pinned, his fists flying in my general direction. And without thinking, I took a play out of Michael’s book. I crossed my arms over my face, deflecting his pathetic attempts at being a man before I had the strength to roll him over.
Before someone gripped my jacket and pulled me off him.
“Clint! Stop it! Right now!”
A familiar voice rose from the crowd as the boy holding me tried tossing me to the ground. But, really, all he did was cause me to stumble around a bit. My eyes darted about, looking for that familiar voice. Listening out for the booming tones that echoed over the chants. Over the screams. Over the warnings from other girls that would surely pour themselves all over me to help clean up my cuts and scrapes.
“Stop this right now!”
Rae’s voice pierced my fog of anger and helplessness as she appeared at the fence line. My eyes found hers, and I felt my heart leap in my chest. She was saying my name. Calling out for me. It was the first time I’d heard her voice in days.
“Rae,” I whispered.
Then I got clocked. Right in the fucking jaw.
“Stop it! Please, Clint!”
Her voice spun around in my head as my back hit the ground. I felt my mouth pooling with blood as those three assholes danced around me. Swirling, like vultures, ready to strike the second I got up. I rolled over and planted on all fours as I spit out a mouthful of blood.
Then I felt someone drag me to my feet.
“That all you got, boy?”
“You’re pathetic, you piece of shit.”
“Looks like someone already got to him once, though. Serves him right, needing a reminder.”
Those words lit my world on fire, and I wrenched away from the guy’s grasp. I whipped around, clocking him with my fist straight into his gut. He doubled over and I threw my elbow back, connecting with someone’s ribcage before I heard something fall to the ground. I turned around, bashing my head into the other guy’s nose and watching blood pour down his face before I turned my attention back to the boy who was doubled over.
“Ready for the final countdown?” I asked.
I brought my knee up into the boy’s forehead, watching him drop to his knees. The crowd erupted in applause as teachers tried pushing their way through, and then I heard it again. Rae’s shrieking voice. Her words were muffled as adrenaline pumped through my veins. I twirled slowly, taking in the three boys who were flat on the ground at my feet.
I took a moment to revel in my victory before I felt someone tugging at my arm.