Something worth fighting for
Stella was hovering in the hallway when she opened the door. Already prepared herself, Sprite answered her rapid questions with ease.
“What did they say?”
“Not to do it again.”
“Are you getting expelled?!”
“-No.”
“-am I getting expelled?!!!”
“No.” She whirled around and grabbed her best friend’s shoulders. “Nobody’s getting expelled. Breathe,” the bell rang, and she knew they better get into class “it wasn’t that serious anyway. Not like I burned the school down or anything.”
“No, you just punched a classmate.”
She snorted. “Exactly. How is that worse than arson?”
Stella leaned closer to whisper in her ear. “With your age and all, isn’t that like, I don’t know, like hitting a baby?”
“Well, he was talking shit and- wait are you calling me old?” She asked, offended.
Stella shrugged her shoulders and went back to questioning her. “Did they really not give you any sort of punishment?? A slap on the wrist and that’s it??”
Sprite cringed and took a glance at her. “Well, they might have asked to meet my parents.”
“Ah…” With nervous laughter, Stella questioned, “How are you going to do that with- you know-“
“-me not having parents?”
“Yeah.”
“No idea,” she could see the door of the classroom they were supposed to get into, slowly close “I’ll think about that after we manage to survive the rest of the day.” She linked her elbow with Stella's and ran.
When she first entered the school, they told her to write the numbers of two people they could contact in case of emergencies, she didn’t think much of it then – she really should’ve. Absentmindedly she picked the first two people that popped up in her head. She was only supposed to be in this specific school for a while anyway. Just until she could get her own bearings. That plan went downhill as soon as she met Stella.
Almost a year had passed and she had all but forgotten about the names she wrote down way back then. Probably helped by the fact the school had not had a reason to call those numbers. Until of course, her little squabble happened and the people in question were suddenly picking her up from school one afternoon.
“Ah, solution found!” She looked at Stella as if she grew another head. No! Solution not found. She would rather anyone else other than Druig and Makkari find out that she punched someone at school. Well, Makkari might understand and help her sort things out. But she wasn’t so sure that Druig could – or would – help her as much.
As she met up with them, Makkari, as always gave her a warm embrace as Druig bluntly asked her, “Did you start a fight?”
“No.”
She wasn’t a delinquent. She didn't start the fight, but she did end it. It was his own fault for picking at her even though she tried her hardest to let it slide. But poking at her family was a whole other line he did not get to cross. His being a sore loser was the unfortunate downside to her win.
Unlike what she expected, Druig accepted her answer and simply nodded. “So, what happened?”
“He was an ass and he got what he deserved.”
Makkari, reading her lips, quickly signed at her. Language.
“So, you’ve finally stooped so low as to beating up people you think are an ass?” Another warning came from Makkari. This time it was directed at Druig.
Stella stepped in before Sprite could snap back. “To be fair, he was saying some,” her best friend looked back uncertainly at her “bad… things.”
Druig didn’t miss their exchange of glances and asked Stella “And what exactly did Sprite do?”
The human teenager cringed. “She might’ve given him a black eye.”
‘Sprite!’ Makkari signed, her expression exasperated.
Sprite understood her frustration and honestly, she knew that if she did this again, the chances were she’d have to find a new school to go to. That meant starting things from scratch all over again. The upsetting thing was that she truly was trying to be on her best behavior. Her grades were – dare she say – the best out of all her peers. Thanks to the many years of knowledge, she already had. Getting along with the other children was harder she’ll admit but even then, she still tried. Unfortunately, a young idio- brainless boy was all it took to destroy her hard work.
It wasn’t a secret that she never talked about her family at school besides to Stella, and that there was never any proof of them even existing. But she would think that most parents would teach their kids some decent manners. This boy – who she didn’t even know – and a bunch of his friends, walked right up to her face and asked her if her family was dead and if that was why she “couldn’t interact with people”. And then proceeded to say what a pity it was. The worst part was that they laughed.
Like what the fuck?
She must’ve strayed into her thoughts for too long because suddenly Druig’s hand was holding her upper arm and she was led away.
“What- Where are we going?” She tried wriggling out of his grasp – unsuccessfully – and she noticed Stella and Makkari were nowhere to be seen.
“Nowhere. We’re just going to wait while Makkari cleans your mess.” He finally let her go when they reached a quiet part of the school, a nice small outdoor space where she would usually hang out with Stella on breaks. He sat down on a nearby bench and looked at her expectantly. “Start talking.”
Knowing she wasn’t going to get out of this one, she plopped down beside him.
She still hasn’t said a word. Druig seemed to notice her unwillingness and spoke up. “Look Sprite, I know that you could be a real pain when you want to be-” she scowled at him “-but I also know you wouldn’t resort to violence unless something happened. Something bad. What was it? Did they hurt you first? Hit you?”
He knew her too well. Unexpected, considering she always thought he couldn’t stand her. But maybe she was too hard on him. To be fair she was hard on everyone who knew her.
“No, as if I’d allow that.” She raised her head to look at him. “They said some things that I won’t repeat,” she added, “for their sake.”
Even more surprising, she knew him well enough too. As much as she hated the words that ignorant boy spat, she wouldn’t leave him and his friends to Druig’s mercy. That would be cruel. But if he ever showed his face to her again, she might have to reconsider.
“Are you sure?” Druig asked. Something in his expression made her think there was something he left unsaid. And for that, she didn’t need to be a mind reader to know what he was thinking.
“Before you tell me you can just mind control the lot of them, please don’t.”
He tilted his head, considering her offer. As if it was something to consider to begin with. She sighed, stood up, and straightened her crinkled uniform. “It feels weird to say this, but this is something I want to take care of on my own. My doing, my consequences, and all that.”
He looked up at her, silent. She could see he was thinking stuff over by the glazed look in his eyes. Finally, he uttered an uncharacteristically soft, “Okay,” and he stood “but if it doesn’t work out-“
“-then we can consider your suggestion, yeah, yeah, fine.”