Chapter 3

"It's 7 o'clock in the morning. Are you up yet?" my mom yelled.

I rolled over and looked at my clock, then I flew out of bed. With all that had happened last night I had forgotten to set my alarm clock. I raced around the house getting dressed, doing my hair, and finding my schoolwork. At 7:10, I sat down at the table eating breakfast as fast as I could.

"Nice of you to join us this morning," replied my dad.

I rolled my eyes remembering that I had come home a little past curfew, even though I was supposed to be spending the night at Kevin's. I hoped maybe that he wouldn't find out.

"You didn't come home until late last night, without telling us where you were," he said.

"What do you mean? I was at Kevin's house as usual," I said, hoping to lie my way through it.

"So why did Kevin call here looking for you?" my dad asked angrily.

Shoot. Kevin had to go and call my parents looking for me.

"Oh, I went over to Brian's because I got bored at Kevin's house," I said, hoping I wouldn't have to give a better explanation.

"Well if you lie to your mother and I again about your whereabouts, you're not going over to Kevin's again," he said, raising his voice.

I could tell that he had been drinking last night. I smelled it when I walked in last night. And now he was blowing the whole situation out of proportion, which was the alcohol in him that was making him do this. He had just lost his job and had begun to drink heavily. He was worried about the money and how he was going to provide for the three of us.

I got up and put my bowl in the dishwasher and said, "Okay."

Then I grabbed my things and told my mom good-bye and ran to the bus stop. I barely made it in time to catch the bus. I sat up in the front, instead of my usual seat next to Kevin, which was occupied by Katherine. They were in the back of the bus flirting and kissing.

Once I got to school I went to the gym and hung out with some of my other friends. The bell finally rang and we went to class. I knew it was going to be a long day.

During 3rd hour, Katherine had been giving me dirty looks. I tried to ignore her, but I could see her talking about me to her friends and then laugh. She was beginning to really piss me off.

On the way to lunch, she grabbed my arm and I swung around to face her. I may have been shorter than her, but I wasn't afraid.

"Keep away from Kevin. He's got me and has no time or use for you!" Katherine said, trying to order me to listen to her.

"Get your damn hands off of me! He's not yours and I will do whatever I want! Now get your hands off of me!" I yelled back at her, trying to jerk my arm out of her grip.

"Oh, what do you think you're going to do. You're a freshman and so freakin' short. Like you could ever touch me," she said laughing. Then she slapped me.

I immediately reached back and punched her in the eye. She cried out and then she grabbed my hair. I continued to punch her as hard as I could. She started to dig her nails into my shoulder while tearing my shirt.

During our little argument a crowd of people had formed. Some people were yelling at us to stop, but most were just interested in a good "cat" fight. Finally a teacher came by and pulled us a part. Katherine was crying and bleeding. Her eye was starting to swell up and you could tell there was going to be a nice brise. I had a few scrathces on my arm and shoulder and my hair was competely messed up. My clothes were a little torn, but other than that not too much damage to me. I was still angry with her for thinking that she could tell me what do do.

"I told you to let go of me!" I yelled.

Kevin's little lessons on how to defend myself had really paid off.

"You two are going straight to the principal's office!" exclaimed the teacher.

We got into the office and she went to the nurse's office, while I went to the principal's office. Each of us had a turn to explain our side of the story to the principal. I was suspended for 2 days and had to be transferred out of her class. Then he called my dad and told him what had happened. After he was off the phone, he told me that my dad was pretty mad.

My dad came to pick me up and was furious with me. The principal talked to him and then we headed out to the car. Once we were in the car he began to yell at me.

"What the hell do you think you were doing? You're so stupid! I have no job, you're mom is working two jobs, and you go and get yourself in trouble!? Do you think you need to put anymore stress on us? You're grounded until I say otherwise. That means no talking on the phone or visiting with Kevin. You will spend your time doig homework and doing your job around the house!"

"Okay," was all I could reply.

I was terrified because I had never seen my dad so upset before. I just wanted to lock myself in my room.

The rest of the car ride home was silent. As soon as we got home I ran up to my room and closed my door. It felt so good to be in the safety of my room.

I was proud of myself for kicking her ass becuase she derserved it. But I was afraid that Kevin would be mad at me. He might think I'm jealous and feel really sorry for her, which she would obviously take advantage of. He couldn't be that mad, we had been through so much when we were little kids. I looked around my room at all the pictures of us as kids and the three musketeers.

About 4 o'clock, my dad came into my room and told me that Kevin was downstairs.

"You're allowed to talk to Kevin for 15 minutes. After that you're grounded until I decide otherwise," my dad said.

I slowly walked downstairs afraid of what Kevin might have to say. I stepped outside and there he was sitting on the curb. I took a deep breath and walked over and sat down next to him.

"So I heard you beat the crap out of Katherine?" Kevin asked with no emotion while staring at his house.

"Yeah," I said while looking at him.

He turned and looked at me and smiled, "I taught you well, didn't I?"

I looked at him shocked. Then he grabbed me and gave me a big hug.

"Sorry for being such a jerk. I should have never let her treat you like that," he said.

"That's okay, just don't do that again," I said while laughing. "So who told you I beat the crap out of her?"

"Well, let me think. The whole school! Everyone was talking about it. They couldn't believe that short little Pumpkin could beat up anyone. When I heard that I started laughing my ass off, since I knew that I was the one who taught you how to defend yourself," he said.

"Oh, thanks Richardson. I could have gotten hurt, I get grounded, and suspended for two days, and all you do is laugh. Oh, I feel loved," I replied sarcastically.

"Oh, but you are loved," he said laughing. "So any ways how long are you grounded and why are you out here talking to me?"

"My dad won't tell me how long I'm grounded for. He says until he decides, which is probably why I'm out here now. It could be awhile, so he wants me to have my last 15 minutes of freedom. He already said that he is taking me and picking me up from school just so I don't spend any extra time with my friend,s or well actually. . .you," I explained.

"Wow, that bad. Maybe I should tell him it was my fault that you got into a fight?" Kevin asked.

"No, he'll just say that I asked you to say that as my excuse. But thanks for offering to take the fall for me. Well it looks like we'll be doing a lot of sneaking in and out the windows. Right, Boo?" I asked smiling.

"Oh yeah! I'll bring you your daily candy and we'll have our usual talk," he said happily.

"OK! Your time's up!" yelled my dad from the door.

"Be right there dad!" I yelled back to him. "Well I have to go now," I said, standing up. "By the way, you owe me for getting rid of your girlfriend!"

"How about a piggy back ride to the door?" Kevin suggested happily.

"Okay. I guess that'll do for now, Boo!" I said as I hopped on his back.

He ran all the way inside my house and dropped me on the couch. I could see my dad glaring at Kevin, but he didn't say a word.

"Bye, Pumpkin. Oh, do you want me to bring your school work by tomorrow and the next day?" Kevin asked.

"Yeah, that'd be great," I said.

"Yes, you can just give it to me," my dad said, ending our conversation. "Good bye," replied my dad as he pushed Kevin out of the door.

As soon as the door was shut I asked, "Why the attitude towards Kevin?"

"What?! You get suspended, hurt another girl, and he has something to do with it, and you want to know why the attitude! Are you that stupid?!" he screamed at me.

"Sorry,"I said as I headed towards my room.

My dad reached out and grabbed my arm.

"Don't you walk away from me. You can't just turn your back on me, I'm your father. If you're not careful you're not going to see your beloved Kevin again!" he screamed at the top of his lungs.

By this time his anger was too much for him to handle. He began squeezing my arm harder and harder.

"Do you understand?!" he asked angrily.

"Yes," I said. "Can you please let go of my arm?" I asked through tears that had slowly begun to form in my eyes.

He looked down and realized he had been squeezing my arm. He let go and there was a hand print where his hand had been. I grabbed my arm and ran upstairs to my room.

"Janel, daughter, wait. I'm sorry. I didn't realize. . .," he said as I went to my room and closed the door behind me.

I shut my door and then climbed into my bed. 'How could he do that? I've never seen him so angry with me before. But he's been getting angry a lot more easily since he's lost his job and he's begun to drink more often. I can't believe there's a hand print on my arm. Hopefully there won't be a huge bruise on Thursday, when I go back to school,' I thought as I cried myself to sleep.