13

To say I got in trouble would be a lie. When mama found out what happened, she went to go have a talk with the lady whose children I watched daily. She made me stay at home but I looked out my window and from the way she was throwing her hands around and yelling, I knew old girl was getting the best my mama had to give.

She was mad and even more upset that she couldn't put her hands on the grown ass man put hands on me. I was just glad she couldn't. I needed my mama. She was more good to me here than in jail. The bruise on my face would heal and I would live to fight another day.

The next day, I woke up feeling energized. I had fought a grown man. He hit me, he really did, but I had beat his ass and had him running from little bitty ole me. I concluded either I was a bad bitch or he was just bitch made. Not that it really mattered that little fight yesterday gave me the confidence I needed to face my bus problem.

I dressed carefully today. I might need to be comfortable so I chose a pair knee high sweats, paired with my favorite white tee that said 'keep on hating, I'm loving it' in big bold glittery letters. I put on my K-Swiss, and ankle socks. My hair, a single simple ponytail to the back.

Looking at how my week has been going, I wanted to be prepared for everything. I was ready for whatever. No more miss sweetly pie. And while I didn't want to have no problems if it went down.... so be it. It is what it is.

Walking on the bus that day, I was extra tense. Okay, and I was a little scared. She was older than me. She had friends on the bus and I didn't. She was bigger than me. I was just one person, but I wasn't backing down. I kind of regretted not telling anyone about my plan, but this was an issue I felt I could deal with.

I sat in my usual seat next to the girl that smelled like fruit loops. No sooner than when the bus pulled onto the highway, the bumping on my seat started. Was it just me or was it even harder today than any other day? Pretty sure my evil side was still lingering in my mind. I wasted no time checking this shit today.

I calmly turned around and smiled at the ugly ass couple and asked, "Could you please, stop bumping my seat?"

The stop to their make-out session was instant. They really must not have been into it. "Who you talking to, lil bitch?" it was her, and she said it with a sneer. I inspected her. She was pretty, light skin, light brown eyes, full pink lips. But her hoe ways made her ugly, not to mention the sneer that she had going on at the moment.

"Every day since school started, you and your boyfriend gross me out on the way to school and on the way home. Yall constantly bump my seat and make this ride as uncomfortable as it can be. I've had a shit week and I'm tired as fuck. All I'm asking is if you can stop bumping my fucking seat." I tried to remain calm while talking, but I felt the tone in my voice hardening.

I looked at the two of them. He was shocked I said anything. She was madder than hell. Her sneer got harder, if that was possible. The result was her lips looked like they were about to be sucked into her nose. I looked away briefly to see that everyone was looking in my direction. I knew what they were waiting for. They wanted Keisha to pop off. That's not what I wanted. I just wanted to ride to school in peace, but I was ready for whatever.

Not to be outdone, she was ready to give the people what they wanted. She leaned away from her boyfriend, who still had his arm round her and.......she fucked up, she fucked up royally. Later, I would probably beat myself up for acting the way I did. I forgot I was a city girl in a county school. I forgot I was a transfer student. I forgot a lot. What I didn't forget was that my temper was often like a ticking time bomb and once I exploded, it was always bad. I could take a lot of shit from people, but everybody had peeves and instant bitch buttons. She pushed it and her time was up.

What are my pet peeves you might be wondering? I hated for someone to spit on me. That was an instant, must whoop ass kind of thing to do. Just trifling. I hated for someone to put their finger or hand in my face, because I was only going to smack it away. Nobody got away with that shot but my mama. I hated for someone to tell me to shut up. Even if they were playing, I got hot flashes behind that. I mean, it's a free country and we all should be able to say whatever we wanted, but I kind of hate the shut up phrase. Plus, it was really rude. I hated to be called dumb or stupid, because I was top of my class and I worked damned hard to get there.

So I'm sure you're wondering which peeve she picked. Well, she hit me with a double stack.

She leaned close to me and extended her hand, her finger, now in my face. I saw red when she did that, but the first word out of her mouth really set me off, "Shut the fuck up..."

She didn't get too much farther than that. With one hand, I grabbed the finger in my face and bent it away. With my free hand, I smashed my fist into her face. I smiled on the inside. She never saw that coming. I let go of her hand and stomped on her foot and delivered blow after blow all to her face. She tried to grab me, but she was over with. She was getting all my frustration that I had been feeling lately and it wasn't even her fault. Well, not all of it was for her.

Suddenly, I was ripped away from her and thrown back in my seat. Then I felt a stinging pain in my cheek. I looked up to see her boyfriend hovering over me. All I could think was that this nigga must be crazy. He just smacked the shit out of me. Little did he know I fought dudes, too. I swiftly kicked out my foot and crushed his balls. Insert evil smile. While he was bent over hurting, I reached for my trusty bottle of Tommy Hilfiger perfume and cracked it over his head. I looked up when the bus stopped. We were at school. I kicked her in the side of her neck, and stepped on his stomach as I walked off the bus, shaking my head. Bitches and niggas be tripping.

I was in first period when I was called to the principal's office. That's when it hit me. The thought of the damage I had done. I wondered if one of them had been taken to the hospital. I wondered if they called my mom, and what my punishment was going to be. I went to the office and was told by the receptionist to have a seat and the principal would be with me shortly. So I sat and waited and waited and waited.

I dozed off.

When I woke up, school was almost over, and I hadn't been called again. I think they forgot about me. So I left the office. I was tired, and hungry. That chair wasn't comfortable, and I was a little eager to see what everybody was saying about the fight. So I went to the bathroom, while I was in a stall handling my business. Some girls walked in talking loud.

"They going to whip her ass when she tries to get off the bus." One girl said.

My ears perked up.

"I can't believe she did that to Keisha's face, and Octavia can't even play in the game this Saturday because she gave him a concussion." Said another voice.

"I heard she didn't even get in trouble." The first girl said.

"She was sleeping in the office last I heard." Said a new voice.

They kept chatting as they walked out the restroom. I was stunned. I walked and looked in the mirror. So they were going to jump me? They soup if they thought that was going to go down. I might not have any friends on that bus, but I had resources. I flicked my hair and walked out. Wishing I had someone to tell my plan to.

On the way to the bus, my friend Ava walked up to me and hugged me. "I'm so glad I caught you. They are planning to hurt you," she said seriously.

"Who?" I asked.

"EVERYBODY. IT'S ALL OVER THE SCHOOL. The whole bus is gunning for you." She yelled.

I hugged her quickly and smiled. "Well, as long as they ain't got real guns, I'm good, Ava. They have no clue who they are fucking with. Let me see your phone."

She handed me her phone, and I called home. "Mom....."

After talking with my mama. I handed her phone and hugged her again. "I wish you could ride my bus today so you could see this shit. Its bout to go down, you'll hear about it soon. Love you. After today, I'm not sure when I'll see you again."

I walked to the bus with a spring in my step.