Oh, thank god the school bell rang. This strange day can finally be over so I can rest on my bed.

Sigh!

I walked out of the science class and hurried down the hallway. Too bad I wasn't the only one escaping from the boring classes.

Everyone swarmed around me, talking loud and hustling like a stampede. Yeah, I was used to crowds, never once I got ochlophobia in my whole life. And yet, their voices sounded very close to me.

I covered my ears, but the voices still echoed through my hands.

"Want to go to Taco Palace later?"

"My mom will kill me if I stay out late."

"I heard Tilly had a crush on Bennett. When will he freaking notice her?"

"Do you think Nate and Jim are gay?"

"Who cares! Everyone should be happy."

"If I don't get my driver's license soon, I am going to steal my mother's car!"

Urrrrrh! I pressed harder as I gritted my teeth. "Stop….. Please stop….."

They grew louder and louder, all echoing through my head. "Stop!"

“Hey, Jessica!”

I swung around as Tiffany and Malaya approached me.

“Wait up!” Malaya shouted.

I rubbed my forehead. The voices faded away. Thank god. “Whhhhhhat's up?"

“We heard how fast you ran in P. E,” said Tiffany. “That is totally awesome!”

“Oh, it was nothing,” I said, “I always run fast.”

“But Chelsea said you were running like a dog,” said Malaya. “How did you learn that?”

“To be honest, I totally have no clue. I ran, and suddenly I ran fast.”

“Must be your basic instinct,” said Tiffany. “I heard girls run quickly when they feel like they are in danger. It is a primitive trait from our caveman ancestors.”

“You mean cave girl ancestors?" I laughed with my friends. "Cool!"

If I was a cave girl, I would be the alpha because I was taller and stronger. No offense to Tiffany, but a T-Rex would eat her up.

"You dork face!" a voice screamed down the hallway.

Oh, my god!

Near the blue lockers, Randy grabbed Kevin’s shoulders and slammed him against one locker. Ouch! That could have broken the nerd’s back. After all, Randy was totally stronger than him.

Yeah, Randy the big fat bald-headed kid who thought he was all tough and mighty at school. For some reason, he has an irritable tantrum as if he has a mental disorder. Why the school never sent him to the asylum was a mystery to me.

“You are supposed to give me my homework before class!” Randy shouted. “My teacher gave me an F!”

“I’m sorry!” Kevin cried. “I had to turn in something first and I forgot!”

Randy rose his fist toward Kevin’s face. “This will make you never forget again!”

Okay, this has gone far enough.

Maybe I didn’t totally care about Kevin so much, but I needed him to fill out my homework. And don't say I was being bad as Randy. At least I was being nicer to Kevin.

With a glare, I marched straight toward the bully. "Hey! Leave him alone!”

Randy shot daggers at me.“Bug out, girly. This is just between me and him.”

“I said leave him alone!”

Randy gritted his teeth. “You girls need to learn how to stay out of our business!”

Before I saw it, the punk slapped by the back of his hand.

Ouch! That hurt worse than a bee sting! What the hell was wrong with him?

I rubbed my red cheek as I snarled at him with a soft growl, tremoring through my teeth. My blood boiled throughout my veins, ready to burst.

This jerk is dead!

I grabbed Randy's arm and bent it as his bone snapped in half.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAH!" He released Kevin and stared at the bone sticking out on his forearm. His face shook like he was ready to throw up. “You bitch!”

He threw his fist toward me, but I dodged his fist.

He kept swinging at me as I jumped from side to side quickly. Damn- I was moving fast!

His punches seemed to be moving slowly toward me. All I had to do was step aside with my mouth wide open. My reflexes had totally flown off the charts.

After stopping to breathe, Randy stopped and growled like an angry bulldog. He charged with his hands reaching toward me.

No way in hell he will ever touch me!

I ducked before his dirty hands reached me. With my back hitting the floor, I shot a kick into his stomach and tossed him over me by my foot.

Wow! He flew across the hallway, screaming before crashing into a locker at the end.

I jumped up while everyone gathered around me, cheering like I won a fight.

Damn! Where did all my incredible new strength come from?

No one could throw Randy across the hallway, as if he was a freaking body pillow. But-wow! I threw him like he was nothing!

Should I had felt bad about him? To be honest, he totally needed his ass kicked.

I dashed toward Kevin and helped him up. “Geez, are you okay?”

Kevin fixed his glasses. “I’m fine. How did you do that?”

I shrugged, which was the best answer I could give him. Suddenly, my stomach growled like a wolf, bubbling inside my belly. Thank god I didn’t fart! “Uhhhhhhh….. Wanna get something to eat?”

Kevin dropped his mouth as if he saw a ghost. “Are….. you asking me on….. A date?” His voice shuddered.

Oh, my god! My face turned red!

I had to blurt something before the wrong idea clouded his head. Like the thought of eating after my belly roared just popped up inside my head. I only asked him because I hate eating alone. I did not know if my friends were going straight home after school. Ugghh! Maybe I should have asked them first, but Kevin almost got pounded by Randy. Plus, taking him out after surviving an attack was the nicest thing I could do. If I did nice things for him, he will keep doing my schoolwork.

I held up my finger. “No, it’s totally not a date. We are not going out as a couple. I just-” My stomach groaned again.- “Hmmmmm, I really needed to eat something before I go home.”

“Uhhhhhhhh, okay.”

Tiffany and Malaya caught up toward me while clapping their hands.

“Damn, Jessica! You are totally being amazing today!” Malaya shouted.

“I am so totally glad I selected you for my squad!” Tiffany exclaimed.

Tiffany glared at our stubborn captain. “You mean our squad?”

Tiffany shrugged.

“Thanks….. I’m taking Kevin out now so he can recover,” I said.

Both the girls curled their lips into mischievous grins.

“Uooooooooh! You’re going out with the nerd now?” Tiffany asked with a giggle.

My face boiled into redness again, not because I felt embarrassed. I totally hated it when my friends make silly assumptions about me. If I was their captain, they would totally feel my wrath. “No! I’m just doing him a favor.”

“Wow, Jessica,” said Tiffany with a shocked look. “I totally can’t believe you are already looking for someone after you lost Mark.”

Kevin stepped toward the girls. “We’re not-”

I pressed my palm on his lips to shut him up. Girl talk, nerd boy! Your words will not help me. “We’re just going out, and I totally still love Mark!”

“Oooookay,” said Tiffany, beaming one eye at me. “We’ll leave you two be. No smoochies.”

They strolled off, laughing like hyenas that shuddered my skin. Errrrrrrrrr-I hated embarrassment.