Chapter 23: Refuse to Fight

They had a longer break time after the second class, and Ms. Acheson asked everyone to pick up their school uniforms. Each student had two sets of uniforms so that each of them always had a spare set.

Colin High School uniforms were very plain. Girls wore white short-sleeved shirts with blue trim and a blue knee-length ruffle skirt.

Boys had the same short-sleeved shirts as girls. But they had to wear trousers, which made them very unhappy. They thought it was too hot to have to wear trousers in summer.

The uniforms were not custom-made for each student, but there were plenty of sizes. The school had measured the students' dimensions before, so there were enough clothes for each size. The student had no choice but to accept the standard uniform provided by the school.

Sophia got her items of school uniform and put them away. She planned to take them home for cleaning at lunchtime. The new clothes would inevitably be contaminated with bacteria from the production process, so it was better to wash them. She is a neat little freak and doesn't wear clothes without it washed. Her mother had a great influence on her way of living since childhood.

When she got home at noon, she saw that her mother had prepared lunch and was waiting for her. Kate looked very happy.

"I got the job!" Kate couldn't wait to announce the good news, "I start straight away and I am going in tomorrow! It's the primary school you found online. I went to the interview today and taught a lesson. The principal was satisfied and asked me to sign the contract this afternoon."

"Congratulations, Mom!" Sophia smiled and felt happy hearing the good news.

Kate smiled, too, "I've never taught primary school. I'm used to junior high. So it might be a bit tricky, to begin with. I've got a lot to learn. For the first few days, I may not be able to come home and cook lunch. There's a canteen at your school, and you can buy a meal card and eat there for a little while, right?"

"Okay." She nodded and went silent. She had no choice but to eat at the canteen since Kate had informed her immediately about the new arrangement they'll have.

There was a canteen, and she just hadn't been there yet. After arriving back at school in the afternoon, Sophia went to get a meal card. She didn't know how long she would eat at school, so she put ten dollars on the card. Before she left home, her Mom gave her enough allowance for school. She is thankful that Kate didn't notice any changes in her attitude and behavior. Even her friends at school didn't hint that she is a different person now.

The first class in the afternoon was P.E., one of the students' favorite lessons. As soon as they could, everyone rushed to the playground.

Sophia went to the playground with her three friends. The sun was very hot, and Sophia looked for a shady place where they could rest. When her classmates saw her, they began to move away to the other side, fearing to come closer to her and don't want to get her offended.

Sophia wanted to do something about it, but it was almost time for class, so she didn't say anything. She just let this moment pass, for now, maybe one day she'll change their thoughts about her.

She saw a horizontal bar in the shade of the tree. So she pulled herself up onto the bar and rolled over to sit on it.

The horizontal bar was high. No one could get on it. So nobody was sitting on it.

"Good job! Boss." Carol clapped her hands and said, "You're amazing!"

Sophia smiled, "Do you want to come up? Give me your hand. I'll pull you up."

Carol was excited, "Yeah!"

Sophia had just reached out for her hand when suddenly a shadow flashed past her, jumped up onto the horizontal bar, and sat beside her.

Sophia turned her head and saw Barry Malone, the boy she had met the other day. The arrogant daredevil came in suddenly. She wanted to flee away, but it's too late because the guy appeared right in front of her.

"Sophia." Barry looked at her, "Let's have a fight. I wasn't focused that day. If it's a real fight when I'm ready for it, there's no way you'd win."

Sophia didn't know what to say. Did Barry think she was some kind of fighting cock - The type of person who fought for no reason? In fact, she didn't like fighting at all.

"No," Sophia replied immediately. She doesn't want to create another chaos.

Barry frowned, "Why not?" He couldn't believe what he heard from her mouth.

"Fighting is not allowed here. And…" Sophia added thoughtfully, "Fighting is not good for the unity of the school or its students. This will ruin both our reputation and could be the deep grounds for both of us get expelled in this school,"

***

Just then, the bell rang. Sophia jumped off the horizontal bar and joined up with the rest of her class. Left in disbelief, Barry wondered why this girl suddenly changed. The arrogant Sophia Green, the most notorious gang leader, refused to have a fight. Normally, the Sophia Green he knew wouldn't give a chance to any person to slip away once she was being challenged.

Barry also had P.E. class that period, but different teachers taught him and Sophia. He threw a disgruntled look after Sophia and then had to jump off the horizontal bar and run to his class. He promised that one day if given a chance to rechallenge her, he'll give no chance for her to win. He became a laughing topic among the circle of his friends.

He never allowed his ego to get stepped because he is prideful. He can't accept being bullied by his friends, hearing them saying he is so weak and lost the fight with a woman.