QUOTE OF THE CHAPTER:

"Never throw the first punch. If you have to throw the second, try to make sure they don't get up for a third."

― Brandon Sanderson, Steelheart

Dedication: @inquisitiive (because she reads my characters perfectly and she writes Dinner.)

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CHAPTER TWO:

After school, I immediately head to the park Richard mentioned with hastened steps. It is a bit chilly outside but the desire of fight inside me warms me up well enough. The park is a 5-minute walk from school but I walk there less than three minutes.

I am a bit late because Mr. Richardson didn't finish the lecture on time. That old sneaky man likes to keep me busy. My only worry is whether he thought I am frightened and I don't have the guts to face him. I have those guts, and even more.

When I'm nearly there, I spot him – and a couple of his friends. They are talking and laughing – probably mentioning how scared I am.

I step towards them as I get there, my hands in my pockets and I peer at each of them in the eye. "So you brought company?" I ask in an instinuating tone, though it is trivial.

"Only to watch, Pierce, I want them to witness this event." Richard answers, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Yeah, sure." I smirk back. I examine the others and I know most of them – all of them are his puppies. They always hang out together and they are inseparable. It irks me that they'll be watching us. I prefer it to be alone, only two of us. Not that I am afraid of him, otherwise I would prefer company. It's just – disturbing to be around all those people. I throw my bag under one of the nearest trees along with my coat, shaving the sleeves up. I gaze at Richard who is just standing still there. The chilly air brushes my body and I can't help feeling a bit cold. If I wore jeans, none of these would happen but stupid school forces us to wear skirt.

Then, suddenly, someone makes a sound – for the first time since I've gotten there.

"Ric, don't be ridiculous," he huffs. "This is none of your business." He sounds so worried and this is actually cute. It is like he is worried of his friend. I let my eyes wander up and down on him and if Richard wasn't dating Megan, I would probably assume he is Richard's secret boyfriend. The tone in his voice is that worrisome.

Richard stares daggers at him. "Shut up," He groans, his tone annoyed as if his mother ended up in the middle of fight and told him to get home.

"I think you should listen to him, he is very concerned about you." I chime in, rather chuffed.

"You can't punch a girl." The boy firmly adds, his eyes on me. Meanwhile, I realise I don't know his name although I recognise him from school. We take some classes together but since I spend my time sleeping during class, I don't have time to socialise.

"A girl, huh?" Richard scoffs at him. "Look at her, please. She looks like everything but a girl." He looks at me with a disgusted expression.

"This doesn't change the fact." He deadpans, grasping his arm to stop him.

"He can't punch me, you know," I start off. "Not because I'm a girl, he just can't." I state. I hate it when people say 'she's a girl, don't' because it isn't fair. What if I'm a girl? I am stronger than many boys and I don't like to be an exception. If I punch them, they can punch me, too. I'm not afraid – because otherwise it is just like they would kill me but since I'm a girl, they won't. I would like to see them try.

The boy throws a deadly look at me and I laugh.

"Stay behind, Cal." Richard says again.

"Stop this, Ric, we both know Megan is not worth it." Cal – the boy – warns him.

"I've been longing for this since..." Then, he shuts up, peeking at me.

"Let me complete it. Since I've punched you three years ago." I add sardonically, with the remembrance of the first time I've ever punched someone. It is kind of ironic that was Richard. I step ahead and draw closer to them slowly. "I don't give a fuck about you, Ric. Your girlfriend annoys the hell out of me."

"Stay. Away. From. Her." He hisses at me, trying to get rid of Cal's grip but Cal doesn't leave him. The others are too busy with watching. I feel like performing in a theatre.

"She started it – and she deserved her new make-up. I assumed you would like it because you like it coloured, don't you? If you think the tone is too light, I can fix it next time, love."

"Cal, if you don't leave me now, I'll hurt you." He says, his eyes fixed on me with a burning desire to hit me.

"Cal, release the dog please." I mock, laughing.

And, though I don't expect it, Cal loosens his grip and I can't make a move before Ric punches my face with a fist. I don't fall though, and I punch him back in return. Soon enough, we are throttling each other with gritted teeth and bloody red faces.

"You bastard," I yell, which sounds like a crackling whisper while my neck is surrounded by his tight trip but I have to let my feelings out. My face – it fucking burns and I am sure it is bleeding, too. But the damage I cause him is almost the same so I'm not that angry.

"I'll kill you," he says in return.

I can't breathe – I can't... The next moment, he's knocked on the ground because I kick his weak point. He moans with pain, lies on the ground and I rub my hands together before touching my lips.

What I see is red – blood. "Fuck," I breathe under my breath. In the meantime, I look at the others and they are too busy watching us with mouths open. "Hope you enjoyed the scene." I say annoyedly and they just keep staring at me. "Shitheads."

"Matt, help Richard." Cal orders as he walks towards me. Wait. Why does he come to me? My face hurts as hell and I don't think I can clean it up at home. What will I say to my parents when they get home? What if I just don't go home and lie about staying at Sally again? I made up a fake friend to stay whenever I fight but this time this is not a bruise that will fade away in one day.

"Are you okay?" Cal asks, his eyes examining my face carefully and I feel a bit weird. Why does this guy care so much?

"Yeah," I answer sharply, turning away from him and grabbing my coat and bag. I wear it on immediately because I'm freezing. He comes after me, leaning on tree and still his eyes on me. I peek at him. "What?"

"Your face..." He points out. "is bloody."

"Oh, thank you so much." I snap. Then, I spin on my heels to get away from there.

"Wait," he calls out. "You look so bad."

"Okay, I'll find a way to clean it." This guy is either an idiot or an idiot. He keeps telling me how I look and if he keeps further, I'll make sure he looks like me.

"I can help," he blurts out.

"Aren't you his puppy? Why do you help me anyway?" I interrogate. "It looks like he needs more help." I state when I look at Richard who is still lying on the ground and talking to Matt.

"I'm his friend."

"Oh, right, puppy friend. This doesn't answer my question."

He growls. "I'm just trying to help."

"Why?" I arch my eyebrow.

"Because," he thinks for a while, "it's...it's what people do when others need help?"

"I don't need help."

"Your face says otherwise."

"Man, I've just killed his chance of having children. What are you even talking about? He throws a will-you-keep-talking look. In return, I sigh. "Alright, then, help me." With Calvin, you just have no other chance – he makes you do what he wants.

"Let's get you home." He says cheerfully after my reply, and I follow him through the way.

In 15 minutes, we are standing at his porch. I am gazing around when he tries to fit the key into the lock. It takes him a while and I say sarcastically, "Need help?"

He peeks at me and then, unlocks the door. "No." He says as he steps inside and throws the key into a bowl standing at the entrance. I follow him in, looking around and seeing there is no one at home.

"Good house," I comment.

"Thanks," he says in return. Then, when he wears his coat off and hangs on the hanger, he offers to hang mine. When I hand him, he hangs it, too. "Make yourself comfortable," he says as he points at the couch in the living room.

I sit where he points at, my eyes still on him and around to make sure we are alone at home because otherwise it would be awkward. He heads to kitchen, opening a drawer and grabbing some dressings and cotton, and iodine tincture.

Then, he comes and sits next to me, opening the bottle and pouring some on cotton. He turns at me and brushes the cotton on my eyebrow as his other hand cups my cheek. With the pain that medicine causes, I jump. "Fuck."

He keeps me at my place, putting his hand on my shoulder and keeps cleaning the scars. "It will hurt a bit."

"A bit?" I yell. "It fucking burns."

He snickers. "You just punched a boy, this is nothing for you." He says airily.

I observe him carefully. He is grinning at me...he's just made a joke. "Yeah, right." I say calmer.

Then, he applies dressing on the side of my eyebrow. When he looks at me, he catches me examining him carefully. "What?" He asks.

"How do you know this?"

"I'm interested in medicine." He says. "And I – I sometimes clean Richard's, too."

I jerk with the name of that bastard, back away from him and stand up. "Thank you," I say uncomfortably and although I am trying to sound nice, it comes out rudely. I can't help, rudeness is in my soul. "I'd better go."

"Why don't you stay?" He asks quickly. I frown. "I mean, I can make coffee."

I check the time and notice if I leave now, I have nowhere to go. Then, I let it pass as much as possible. "Okay." I smile, sitting back.

Two hours pass by drinking coffees, some talking and the more we talk the better I like Calvin. His full name is Calvin Gilmore – no middle name. When I say my name is Jacqueline, he startles because he thinks that is Jack. I suggest him to call me Jack though because that is who I am. I'm not Jacqueline. Well, it wasn't a suggestion – actually a demand.

He has a ten year-old sister, Sue. His parents are doctors, and when he asks mine, I tell that my father is an engineer and mother is a teacher. He startles again, because I am basically not the daughter of a teacher and an engineer – I don't look like one. I bet he bet my dad to be a boxer or something.

He likes coffee – one of those I-can't-survive-a-day-without-coffee type. He is Richard's friend since kindergarten. They have grown up together but lately, since Megan kicked in, things aren't like they were used to be between them. I don't know why he said that to me but I just nod my head as he keeps talking. It seems like he needs someone to pour everything down and my situation makes him a benefit. Well, I am never an adviser type. I'd probably tell him to punch Richard – or I could do it for him, gladly.

"Megan is just so stubborn." He says. "She takes all the time of Richard."

"Sorry, dude but I think it is not only her doing. Your friend is to blame."

"Why is that?" He frowns.

"He let her take all the time of his. He would spare time for you if he wanted."

"Things aren't that basic."

"Huh," I huff. "What is so complicated about this, anyway?"

He thinks for a while, his eyes fixing on the ground. I realise he does that everytime he thinks. Then, he lifts his gaze up and look at me. "She can't share him with anyone and you know girls, when they want something, they make guys do it."

"Guys are stupid," I state. He growls at me. "What? They are dependent according to what you say. If you don't know how to rule, you are being ruled. That's how the universe works."

"Universe, huh?"

"'Course." I say. "Earth don't know how to rule itself so that Sun rules it." I think I heard this somewhere.

"Wow, sophistical words from Jacqueline." He replies, laughing.

I feel embarrassed. "Jack."

"Jacqueline."

"Say it again," I dare him while putting my mug on the table beside the couch. "Say it again and..."

"Cally Puppy!" Someone yells. What? Cally Puppy? Seriously?

I look at Calvin in incredulity. Then, before he can explain, a girl enters in. When I see her, I immediately gather that she is Sue, Calvin's sister. What a nickname.

When she notices me, she looks at Calvin puzzled, her eyebrows frowned in a cute way. "Who is she?" She asks Calvin.

"Cally Puppy's friend," I reply, breaking into laughters and I bet Calvin wants to kill me right there. But it is just so funny and I – oh God.

"Welcome," she greets me, coming and sitting between us. "What's your name?"

"Jack."

"Isn't it a boy name?" She inquires.

"Well, my name is Jacqueline but just call me Jack, okay. My friends do." My non-existent friends.

"Well, her close friends call her Jackie Cookie." Calvin chimes in, a triumphant expression on his face.

"What? F – no. They don't. Your brother is lying." I defend myself. What the fuck is Jackie Cookie?

"Jackie Cookie, I like it." Sue says, laughing. "Can we be close friends?"

"If you don't call me Jackie...whatever."

"But Jackie Cookie is so cool." She denies. "And Cal calls you that, this is unfair!"

"Only you can call me Jackie...Cookie, then." I say forcefully, my eyes on Calvin...I'll discuss this later with him. "Not him."

Then, her eyes catch my bandages and scars. "Wait, why is your face like that?"

"I fell down, erm, from stairs," I lie.

"Aw, Jackie Cookie, be careful." She says sorrowfully. She touches my face with a pouty face. It must be so good to live with a sister – or a sibling in general. It feels like you aren't alone. "Cal, why didn't you introduce us before?" Sue asks his brother. "She is so cool."

Cal looks at me and then, Sue. "We've just met."

"Can you stay for dinner?"

"I'd better not." I say, hesitated. "I – I should get home already." I beg for help from Calvin with my eyes.

"Sue, maybe next time."

"Okay," she says a bit disappointed.

Then, she hugs me – which takes me off guard and when I hug her back slowly, my eyes meet Cal's. He smiles at us and it is kind of awkward for me, a different feeling.

Then, he leads me out. It's gotten colder outside and I think I'll freeze my ass out tonight. We stand at the porch for a while, the door ajar and he tucks his hands into his pockets.

"Thank you." I say, breaking the silence. "I – you didn't have to. But thanks, I owe you now."

"It was just a help, come on." He says.

"I didn't forget about Jackie Cookie." I threaten him.

"Good." He says.

I groan and spin on my heels to leave the porch.

He yells after me. "See you tomorrow!"

Poor guy, I think. Tomorrow will never be as today.

Then, I call my mother and she answers after several rings. "Honey?"

"Mum," I say, trying to be convincing. "I am going to stay at Sally's tonight. Don't expect me."

"It'd be better..."

"Goodbye." I end the call.

I'll stay at Sally's tonight, I repeat myself when I am at the park again. And I might crash at their couch...also known as a bench.

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