The Anklebiters

Hayley ran a hand through her hair in stress. She had just tried her best to calm Taylor down in the bathroom after lunch, and now she was late for chemistry. The last thing she wanted was Mr. Brenn up her ass, and let alone, she also had Alex to deal with.

She then realized: Alex. I need to talk to him.

She rounded the corner of one of the halls, storming into the classroom. Mr. Brenn gave her an odd look and asked, “Miss Williams, care to explain your absence?”

With a roll of her eyes, she ignored him, flicking her eyes in Tay’s direction, but the brunette already knew what was going to happen. Tay was slowly slipping from her seat when Hayley approached Alex, fury consuming her eyes.

Alex looked up when he noticed she was walking towards him. “You might want to answer Mr. Brenn before―”

She instantly grabbed the collar of his shirt, practically lifting him from his seat while screaming in his face, “WHAT THE HELL KIND OF GAME ARE YOU TRYING TO PLAY?!” She released her grip on him and he stumbled back, his mouth hanging open in shock. “C’MON! DON’T JUST STARE AT ME!”

Alex looked around in nervousness, seeing all the students looking their way in silence. “I―I don’t know―”

“The Hustlers? Really?! Suddenly after you come to this school, this shit just takes off?!” Her voice echoed off the walls, and some of the other students had to cover their ears as they started moving away from the fight.

Alex was speechless as Jack stood from his seat. Mr. Brenn finally summoned the courage to stand before the tiny orange-haired girl, ordering, “Miss Williams, how dare you―”

“Mr. Brenn, for once, can you let me handle something?” She scolded and turned back to the frightened Alex.

The teacher opened his mouth, but was interrupted by Jack coming to his friend’s side and saying, “Hey, I know you’re jealous of our new rep―”

“Jealous?” She laughed. “More like sickened.”

Tay decided it finally time for her to intervene; she couldn’t let her best friend embarrass herself like this just because she was angry. She sprinted over and put a hand on Hayley’s shoulder. “Hayles, you need to calm down,” she whispered, but the girl just shrugged her off.

Hayley stood her ground and walked closer to Alex, raising her fist. “This all started because of you, and now it’s going to end that way.”

Alex’s eyes widened as Jack suddenly stood in front of his friend, putting his hand out. “Whoa, Hayles, I know you’re mad, but if Taylor put you up to this―”

“Hayley, just walk away,” Tay said, tugging on her friend’s shirt.

Jack nodded. “Let’s just talk this out.”

Hayley’s blood boiled as her face turned bright red. “I WILL NOT―”

“MISS WILLIAMS!” Mr. Brenn raised his hands in the air, his eyebrows knitted together in anger. “Leave my classroom this instant and go to the office!”

Hayley looked back at the angered teacher, and then to where her fist was raised. What was she doing? It was like someone totally took over her body and devised her actions. She slowly lowered her fist, eyes scanning the room at all the shocked faces. She then looked to Tay’s worried expression, then at Jack’s, and finally she rested her eyes on Alex’s, his brown orbs wide and scared.

She finally wiggled her shoulder and shrugged off Tay’s hand, throwing her backpack over her shoulder because she apparently dropped it. With one last look at Alex, she sighed and made her way out of the classroom.

---

After being reprimanded by the dean of students, Hayley walked out of his office and took a seat in the secretary’s room. She decided she had to be honest with the dean and told him everything that happened, despite the consequence of her possibly getting a Saturday detention. Before she had left, the dean, Mr. Cavanaugh, had told her he was going to call down Alex to hear his side of the story, and that was when Hayley knew she was definitely getting that Saturday. No matter what she did, she was screwed with this one.

Why did I have to act on impulse? She scolded in her head, running a hand through her hair and sighing.

After fifteen minutes, Mr. Cavanaugh emerged from his office and walked towards her, Alex trailing behind his tall frame. “So,” the dean clapped his hands together, “after talking with Mr. Gaskarth, I’ve decided to let you off the hook.” Hayley’s brow furrowed as Mr. Cavanaugh continued, “You might want to thank him.” He muttered before walking back into his office and closing the door.

Alex took a seat in the chair beside her, sighing. She slowly slid her eyes to look at him, wondering if this was the time to apologize. She hated apologizing, because she never felt she did anything wrong in bad situations. But she knew this time she had screwed up; I mean, she started a fight with a boy who had been nothing but nice to her. The pride of the Anklebiters must have gotten to me, she reasoned.

“What did you say to him?” She blurted.

He looked up, meeting her eyes and shrugging. “I told him none of it was your fault.” She stared at him in disbelief. “I just said I angered you and we had an argument that upset Mr. Brenn. And if Mr. Brenn comes to him about the situation and says it almost turned into a fight, he’s wrong.”

She blinked her hazel eyes a few times. “W―Why?”

“Why, what?” He furrowed his brow.

“Why did you defend me?” She asked, and he shrugged in response. “I almost tried to hit you because I had acted on impulse, and you defended me?”

“Is that a problem?”

“No, it’s just …” She trailed off, scratching her head. “Why would you do that for me? I was so mean to you just a little while ago.”

He looked down and shrugged. “I know you didn’t mean to yell at me, and I understand why you did.” He then glanced up, staring at her confused hazel orbs. “I know we’re from different groups now, but I always try to help the people I care about.”

She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Well … uh―thank you.”

“No worries,” he smiled softly.

She stood from her seat, slinging her bag over her shoulders and looking down at him. She finally sighed, realizing how stupid she had sounded before; she should’ve apologized. “No, Alex, seriously―I’m … I’m really sorry about what happened.”

Alex hopped from the chair, a small smile placed firmly on his face. “Like I said, Hayley: no worries.” He then winked. “That’s a Hustler motto anyways.”

Notes

I can't believe how much I've been updating this lately! For those who also read my other on-going story, Worse Than Nicotine, it will be updated soon! I just haven't had time to plan out what's going to happen in the next chapter (like I have been able to with this story) and it should be updated this weekend!
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