Chapter 2

The next afternoon, after second period.

I was sprawled over my desk doing math homework, the classroom buzzing with chatter and the occasional snorer.

"Madison! Someone's here for you!"

I looked up. An unfamiliar boy stood at the door, craning his neck to peer inside.

I put down my pen and walked out.

Seven or eight people stood in the hallway. The one in front was half a head shorter than me, face twisted with hostility, backed by several other boys of varying heights, all wearing middle school uniforms.

The leader walked up to me, tilting his face up. "You Madison Reed? Riley's sister?"

I nodded, already knowing. "Derek Walsh?"

He snorted, glancing back. His crew stepped forward, forming a semicircle.

"Your parents went to my homeroom teacher, even said they'd call my parents in to 'manage' me. Ridiculous!" His voice rose. "I know that wimp Riley doesn't have the guts, so it must've been you who snitched! What, can't fight your own battles so you run to mommy and daddy? What are you, in kindergarten?"

The boys around him laughed.

I stared at him expressionlessly.

"Your brother's a pathetic waste, getting bossed around by his sister at home—he should be ashamed to even be alive! I'm just trying to teach him to grow a spine. What's wrong with that?"

I took a step forward.

Derek instinctively stepped back, then stopped, probably remembering his backup.

"I'm warning you," he pointed at me, spittle flying, "mind your own business from now on, or I'll get people to—"

Before he could finish, I grabbed his finger and wrenched it upward.

He let out a piercing shriek. I kicked his knee and he dropped to the ground with a thud.

"I'm warning you—if you bully my brother again, you'll regret it."

I grabbed his hair, leaning down with menace in my voice.

Derek burst into tears, shouting, "What are you all standing around for?! Get her!"

The middle school troublemakers behind him started forward, but my classroom door burst open and a crowd poured out.

Jake, our class president, positioned himself in front of me first, followed by other class officers and students.

"Who the hell are you people? Coming to start trouble? Did you ask us first?"

"So what? Your classmate's bullying an elementary kid—have you no shame?"

The two groups pressed against each other, shoving and pushing, on the verge of a full fight.

Derek, hiding behind his crew, yelled, "I just want Madison! This has nothing to do with you! Get lost!"

"She's in our class—you think it has nothing to do with us?"

The scene grew more chaotic, several boys grappling, the hallway filled with shouting.

"EVERYONE STOP!"

A shrill scream rang out. The crowd parted as a woman pushed through.

It was my homeroom teacher, Ms. Victoria Smith.

The moment she arrived, she slapped me across the face without a word, pointing at my nose as she shrieked:

"I knew it! You shameless little seductress! Look at yourself! Leading a bunch of boys to fight for you—pretty proud of yourself, aren't you? So young and already up to no good, manipulating boys into doing your dirty work—have you no shame?"

My face snapped to the side, burning with pain.

The hallway went silent.

Ms. Smith kept screaming. "Madison Reed, I'm telling you right now—I've seen plenty of students like you. Trading on your looks, getting male classmates to fight your battles. You think I don't know what you are?"

I slowly turned my head back.

My ears were ringing. The faces around me blurred. Someone was shouting something—Jake and other classmates seemed to be explaining, gesturing wildly.

But one voice was clearer than anything else—

Dad's words from childhood:

"Sweetie, no matter what—if you're in a fight, you can't lose."

She dared to hit me?

I grabbed the potted plant and smashed it into Ms. Smith's face.