At that, Redhead, quick as a whip, reached out and tried to tug down my pants. But I was prepared. Just as fast, I grabbed the girl’s wrist and twisted it at an awkward and most likely painful angle judging by the whimpering yelp she made.
"You bitch," Snake Eyes spat, grabbing for my hair and jerking me off my balance.
I let go of Redhead's wrist to dig my fingers into the hand, practically pulling my hair out of its scalp. Arms wrapped around my middle, constricting me and my movements. A feeling that was all too familiar bubbled up in my chest.
BANG!
'How does it feel, you little bitch?'
The vice-like arms wrapped around my torso were huge and covered in tattoos. The smell of freshly fired gun smoke singed my nostrils. Of course, that was before the pain of the bullet in my shoulder slammed into me, drowning out all my other senses.
I struggled against the arms that held me, desperately trying to get away from the pain in my shoulder, the pain of my hair being pulled. The arms weren't as strong as I remembered them. I jerked forward and back, feeling them loosen with my thrashing.
I have to get to Mom.
I have to stop them.
I kicked my left leg back like a horse, right into the stomach of my attacker.
Who was screaming? It certainly wasn't my captors.
A palm slammed hard into my cheek, the long fingernails scratching, leaving thin lines trailing behind. The shock of it made me pause, made me remember that I wasn't back in that house with Gypsy and her goons. I was in a shower with three crazy teenage girls no more threatening than baby sharks. Nothing compared to what I'd faced.
Head clear, I tightened my grip on Snake Eyes’ hand, which was still gripping my hair, and spun my body, performing a similar maneuver to the one I had used on Redhead. The pain of her wrist twisting caused the bitch to let go of my hair. I kept my grip on that arm, and used it pull the girl towards me. With one well-aimed jab to her solar plexus, the girl was down for the count along with the other two, though I'm not entirely sure what happened to them.
I heaved a sigh, scooped up all my clothes, and walked out of the shower stall over the bodies of the three girls. I came face to face with at least ten other girls who were crowded together at the entrance to the showers, their eyes wide with fear and confusion. It was then that it hit me.
I had just assaulted three of my classmates, on school grounds, in front of a bunch of witnesses. It didn't matter that they started it, all that mattered was that I was walking away from their nearly unconscious forms with some minor scratches.
I was in deep shit.
Panic hitched into my lungs and I ran past the other girls clutching my clothes, not bothering to grab the rest of my stuff out of the locker as I dashed to the door. Banging the door open, I looked around seeing no one standing in the hallway, and just darted towards the exit sign. I thought I was in the clear, only to be stopped when someone walked out of the bathroom right into my frantic escape route. I slammed into a chest so hard I was practically thrown backward, landing hard on my ass.
"Ow! Watch where you're- Speedy?"
My head snapped up. Hip was standing in front of me, because my little weak self was the only damn one to get knocked over! I didn't have time for this. Scrambling to my feet, I continued my escape to the exit only to be tugged back by a calloused hand gripping mine.
“Whoa, whoa, where’s the fire?” His smile fell, and eyes darkened as he looked at my face. “What happened to your cheek? Are you okay?"
His honey voice filled with concern, while mine was only filled with panic when I said, "Let go, Hip! I have to get out of here!”
His thumb stroked the back of my hand. “Not until you tell me what happened."
"Please," I begged, my eyes darting around. Sure that any second the teacher or other students would come out, looking for me, hunting me down.
I look up into his eyes which were now full of resolve.
"Let's go, then."
Hand still in mine, Hip turned towards the exit, tugging me along with him as we bolted down the hall and out of the school.
Chapter Ten
Hip
With her hand in mine, I pulled Atalanta out of the school. Anger bubbled in my stomach at seeing those red marks on her cheek. They would definitely bruise up.
Someone had attacked her, and once I got her to safety, I would find out who and I would turn their life into a living hell.
When I met her two weeks ago, I wouldn’t have thought that I would be this protective of her. That first moment I spotted her in the hall mesmerized by Jason’s voice, I was only trying to help out the poor new girl from making a fool of herself when I bumped her. But then I actually met Atalanta North. She was intelligent, and her observational skills almost rivaled my own.
Over the last couple of weeks, I tried to hold back from getting too close to her. I would see her sitting at the lunch table alone, watching everyone with those sharp eyes of hers and I would want to go over there and sit with her, but something would always stop me. Then today, I couldn’t find her amongst the crowd and found out she had been with Jason. I couldn’t really sit idly by without throwing my hat into the ring.
Tugging her along, I brought her over to my motorcycle. My pride and joy, a Honda Shadow I saved up for and bought from a guy in the next town over. The poor thing had been in shambles, but with grandpa’s help I was able to fix her up.
Letting go of Atalanta’s hand, I pulled my half helmet out of one of the saddled bags and placed it on her head, clipping the buckles.
Her eyes were wide, pupils dilated as she continued to panic.
“No, wait! Hip, my bag. My stuff. I can’t.”
“We can get it later.”
“I’m in so much trouble,” she groaned, her eyes darting back and forth, looking around for something that wasn’t there. Like she thought wolves were after her.
I rubbed her arms and tried to get her to focus on me. "Hey, hey, hey. It’s okay. Whatever happened, I’ll take care of it. Now let me just get you out of here first.”
“Okay,” she nodded, her lip quivering. “I’ve never ridden a bike.”
“You’ll love it. Now just swing your leg over and I’ll take your clothes,”
With trembling hands, she handed me her clothes and swung herself to straddle the back of the bike. Quickly, I shoved her clothes into one of saddle bags but then realized she was only in her thin gym clothes which was probably part of the reason for her shivering. Reaching into the opposite saddle bag, I dug out my riding jacket, black leather with a grey faux fur hoodie inside. Perfect for days like this.
I draped the jacket over her shoulders. After moments of watching her fumble with the zipper, her hands shaking, I put my hands gently over hers and assisted.
Hopping on the bike myself I told her to hold on tight to me. At first, she hesitated, lightly gripping my sides. I rolled my eyes and with a smile I gripped her wrists and slid her hands around me, pulling her flush against my back.
Starting the bike, we took off out of the parking lot. I laughed at her initial squeal and clutching of my torso.
I loved it though, having her on the back of my bike. As we rode, I contemplated buying a helmet and jacket specifically for her. I ran the numbers in my head and I might be able to do it if I sold really well at the market these next couple of weeks.