Fifty

Sarah's Pov

Life's been rough the past few years. My older brother and I have been having pretty crappy school lives. Everything would've been fine for us if we hadn't gotten mixed up in the wrong crowd but being the naive people we were we didn't know any better. The group of friends we made liked to cause trouble, and so did I. My brother was indifferent, he didn't care much for anything, he just followed along. Normally we'd quit and call it a night when things got too wild, but one time things got a little... out of control. Me crashing my mother's car, my brother being sent to the hospital, thankfully it wasn't anything too serious otherwise I would've been plagued with guilt for as long as my body roams this planet. Just.. a lot of things went down. My mom made me pay off the car by working part-time jobs. That was something we did not see eye to eye on at first but she warned me of the consequences that came with disobeying her. Let's just say it took me several jobs of quitting and being fired before I started accepting it.

Someone took this as an opportunity to get their hands under the rug I stood on, that someone being Cindy. I guess I was a real "head turner" as some people would say, and for that reason, Cindy didn't want me coming anywhere near "her man". I knew something was off with that chick when I noticed she'd throw those bitchy glares at me in the halls. To be honest there was only one person I had any sort of interest in. He's part of the football team, bright-headed blonde, smile lighter than the sun itself. I'm almost certain Cindy had no interest in him so she was just being an overprotective, paranoid bitch.

Anyway, back on topic. Cindy took the accident as an opportunity to spread rumors about me, trying to get my friends and everyone to turn on me. While they didn't drop our friendship upfront the group kind of died with everyone going their separate ways. I don't know if that was for the best or not but she had no right getting involved. Cindy started this crazy rumor about me being a drug addict and being high during the time of the crash. No one knew these rumors were coming from her, but I wasn't stupid enough to where I couldn't see past the whole sweet pretty blond girl front she put on. Her rumors started getting so outlandish and perpetuated that the school heads got involved, threatening to expel me on numerous occasions. She became more persistent and expanded her tactics when she found out that I knew it was her behind this whole shit storm. She not only targeted me but now she was going after my brother. I told myself I wouldn't let her win. I did my best to chop the bitch ass tree down but she held through all of my attempts to fight back and expose her. I failed. She made sure she cast me into the darkness so that no one would approach me. I just hid in the shadows, head low probably like she expected me to. It was easier that way... it helped me stay out of trouble and away from the judgmental eyes of others. It also meant that I couldn't talk to anyone, I couldn't make any friends, and I couldn't talk to my crush. Though that last one probably isn't anything too important since his brain is probably the size of a pebble anyway.

After hearing that she had other targets I approached them with the proposal to speak out against her but they'd already pissed their pants, lucky me. I gave up on trying to fight back, I was tired. It was okay since she left my brother alone though, so that was spiffy.

I'd grown to accept roaming in the shadows of others. But I still despised Cindy with a flaming passion. My newest job was much more comfortable and welcoming than the previous ones, despite being a dishwasher and all. Sandra's nice I guess, strolling around with her goofy southern accent. Then there's that boy, Yibo. He could use a buffet or two, just saying. I could always see behind his soft, heart-wrenching smile lay pain and sadness. It was the same for my brother and me. Our lives have been total roller coaster rides. My brother became numb to it all. I handled it a different way, that being anger. I grew to be a total hothead who would snap at just about anything. I was almost like a delinquent my first couple of years at this school. Hanging out with my group only made it that much more of a possibility.

Yibo's a good kid. I felt bad for him after finding out that Cindy was targeting him. I would've loved to crush her then and there but no one was willing to back me up. He seemed strong enough to handle himself though so I let it be. After waiting it out I saw that what she was doing to Yibo was much worse than what she did to me, or anyone else for that matter. Yibo seems like the shy type. She took advantage of that and tried to worm her way into his life only to tear it apart from the inside. One day Yibo came to work trying to hide his tears, but I could see the puffiness under his eyes. Not only that but she got his friends to turn hostile towards him. I still believed he could make it through, but after hearing what Yibo's jockey friend Zhan told me I don't think that's the case anymore. They pushed him beyond his breaking point and that's unforgivable. Cindy is a selfish manipulative bitch ruining others' lives for her gain.

After hearing the news, and how she was exposed to be the bitch she was I decided it was my time to strike. I didn't care if I was suspended for what I was about to do, even if the consequence for it was expulsion so be it.

The first thing I did when I arrived at the school was tracking her down. I hoped with every fiber of my being that she decided to show up today. I stormed through the doors, stepping out of the shadows I'd been hiding in for so long. I marched down every hall, scanning them thoroughly. I would have missed Cindy passing by me if it weren't for her cheap perfume catching my nose. I like to refer to it as Stench O La'hoe. She wore a straw hat, and sunglasses, and wrapped her hair in a bun. This chick thought she could fool everyone with her dumb, gaudy outfit.

I pinned her up against a nearby locker, sending her straw hat falling to the floor. She looked startled, I would be too if I was in her position. I flicked her glasses off and pulled out her dumb bun, revealing her to all of the bystanders. A crowd full of murmurs and mumbling soon formed around us. Cindy shoved me away from her trying to distance us. The calm collected look she usually wore was now full of hatred, and to be honest I liked that. It showed how much she was losing control. It got my blood boiling, making me want to beat her even more.

To my surprise, I wasn't the one to take the initiative. She lunged at me knocking me into a locker on the opposite side of the hall. I steadied myself and re-approached with my expression darkening. She tried to lunge at me once more but I grabbed her arms, stopping her in place. I shoved her back and followed up with a punch to her stomach. She growled and pulled on my hair. I swore under my breath remembering that a girl's hair is one of her weak points. I took hold of her arms and shoved her back. She kept going for my hair but I'm pretty sure my punches were much more effective. Her growls were like that of a wild lion, echoing through the crowded halls. When she finally got the idea that she wouldn't be able to get hold of my hair again she started tossing blind punches. I put my kickboxing training to use and deflected all of them. The heat and flames burning inside her almost became visible as her aggression rose. She attacked me full out, doing whatever she could to hurt me. I lifted my leg to keep a safe distance between us. Whenever she made a move I could easily block. During her full-out approach, I used my leg to kick her to the ground. She yelped before tumbling to the tiled flooring. I quickly got on top of her landing good blows to her stomach and face. She raised her arms to guard that "pretty" face of hers. She squirmed desperately on the ground, trying to escape my hold on her. She eventually worked her way from under me, sending me falling to the floor. She took this moment to run. She grabbed her hat and glasses and disappeared out of sight. I wouldn't let her escape that easily though. I chased after her. I caught a glimpse of her running around a corner so I continued tailing her.

After realizing I'd caught up with her she made a desperate effort to slow me down. She smacked, books, clipboards, bags, and phones out of people's hands hoping I would slip over them. There were a couple of close calls but I made sure to keep up the pace. Soon enough it was just me and Cindy running down a straight empty hall. I caught up to her, tackling her to the floor. We struggled on the ground for a while before she accepted her defeat. She crawled away from me and leaned against a nearby wall, holding her face in her hands. I stood there and watched as she sat silently. The sound of small sobs grew before quickly turning into cries and growls of anger and frustration. She knew she'd lost the battle. I wanted to continue fighting her but that was enough, for now at least. I didn't want to cripple her, even after all of the horrible things she's done. I left her wallowing in misery as I prepared for the first period.

Zhan's Pov

I knew something was up when Sarah had Cindy pinned against a locker. Moments after entering the school a fight broke out between the two. I don't know what the reason behind it was, but it looked like Sarah was provoking her. The fight got out of hand when the two tumbled to the floor, pulling at each other hair, well Cindy at least, Sarah was throwing out full-blown punches. I would've broken up the fight despite all of the things Cindy has done to my little boo, but it would've probably made everything worse. The crowd really seemed to be enjoying the show. I guess after you find out someone so sweet and kind is a backstabbing monster ready to cut your throat it makes people root for their destruction.

Cindy ran off and Sarah followed behind. I didn't bother following. I went off to my locker to prepare for class. Along the way, a few of my friends caught up with me.

"So uh... hows Yibo doing?" Ji Li asked with nervousness present in his voice. "He hasn't come to school for a couple of days."

"He's... he's doing okay." I answered, not wanting to get into details.

"Can you tell him... that I'm sorry for me?" Ji Li hesitantly asked.

"Why, what did you do?" I growled, narrowing my eyes at him.

"N-nothing... I just told him if he kept up with what he was doing I'd make sure to return the favor and then some. He started crying... but I thought he was faking it." He said, lowering his head. I don't know what happened but my anger got the best of me and the next thing I knew I had Ji Li pinned against the wall.

"Why would you do that?" I hissed in his ear.

"Pshh, don't try to act innocent. You psychically assaulted the poor kid, while I only threatened to do so." He bit back, looking off to the side. The tight grip I held on his shoulders loosened.

"Sorry... you're right." I sighed, regaining control over myself.

"Look, we all did unforgivable things to him. There's no need to lash out at each other." Yubin said. He had a point. The best we can do now is to mend the wounds we've caused him.

During lunch break, Meng and Zhao were still nowhere to be seen. It was just Me, Ji Li, and Yubin. They're both sorry about what they did to Yibo, though I don't think he's ready to forgive them yet, heck I don't even think he's forgiven me.

"Jiang Cheng, please report to the principal's office." The announcement speaker suddenly went off. Yubin, Ji Li, and I looked at each other confused.

"Wonder what he's in for?" Yubin said, jokingly. We both shrugged.

After lunch, I waited in the halls near the principal's office hoping to catch Cheng. Luckily I did. After waiting some time the door swung open and Cheng walked out.

"Yo, what was that about?" I asked him, stuffing my phone in my pocket. He jumped and turned to me startled.

"You scared me man." He said with an exhale, holding his chest.

"I'm being suspended for."trespassing" and "violating" school property." He replied, using his fingers as quotation marks.

"Oh, is this about the camera thing?" I asked, and he nodded. "That sucks... Do they know the reason you put them up in the first place?"

"Yeah, they do. They said they want to make an example out of me." He explained with an eye roll.

"Well, I just wanted to thank you for doing what you did. You helped Yibo and I'm sure many others out a lot. He appreciates it, and so do I." I thanked him.

"No problem man." He replied, wearing a bright goofy grin.

" Well, I have to get going. My parents aren't going to like the news." He said turning around and walking off.

"Peace," he said, throwing out a peace sign. I chuckled.

Before heading back to class there was something I had to take care of. I knocked on the door of the principal's office and was invited in.

"So... what can I do for you today?" Mr. Bondy asked, preoccupied.

"I'd like to call in a student sick, his name is Wang Yibo?" I said hoping he'd allow it.

"Where are his parents, why haven't they called?" He asked, dropping the paper to look at me.

"They're... out of town." I lied. "He's staying with us so I figured I'd call him in sick while I was here." I explained. Mr. Bondy pondered for a while.

"Alright. Make sure to pick up his homework from Mrs. Valentine." He informed. I thanked him and returned to class.

Later that day the announcement speakers went off again. "Sarah Raymond, please report to the principal's office." Unlike Cheng, I knew exactly why she was being called in. Those two are true heroes.. well, they're more like vigilantes.

When Xichen and I returned home Yibo and our mother were waiting by the door like dogs, well, Yibo was more like an excited puppy in this case. Xichen, Yibo, and I hung out on the living room couch again, this time we were watching a movie. It was about a woman trying to rescue her family from a haunted mansion. There were several points in the movie where Yibo would get startled and jump to my side. I eventually wrapped an arm around him and he cuddled against me. The warmth coming from his small body was comforting and intoxicating.