Growing Pains

On November 26th, Kai fell out of the car and ended up with an extremely sprained knee. It had really gotten to me, especially to see the normally bouncy German shepherd puppy quiet, lethargic, and limping. I hated to see her that way, and it was all too much with people mindlessly bothering me at school.
On November 27th, a Tuesday, I came to school quietly. I longed to stay at home with my puppy. The day was rough, I couldn't explain to teachers why I didn't do my homework, and they didn't think an expensive trip to the vets office that lasted six hours was a accurate excuse. I even wondered if THEY had a dog that nearly ruined her future career. Lunch finally came, and I could unwind a little with my friends who understood how much my puppy meant to me, and even loved her a bunch too. Only, they had people who fallowed them. Mainly one person, a small, pale, thick-headed girl named Dustyn. She had a very aggravating, nasal voice to go with her awkward appearance. And that day, she decided I was in a vulnerable spot, easy to tease.
So she started going off about how I always smelled like dog, and how it was probably because I never took showers. Despite my friends causal, "Okay, that's enough" laugh, she kept on the taunting. "Just look at your hair! You never put it out of that ponytail. Do you sleep in that?" She sneered, advancing closer to me by a step. "Dustyn, look, stop. I don't want to hear it." I told her, looking away while stepping around her to lean on the bike-racks and listen to my friends, who had grown quiet because they couldn't decide to keep joking around or pitch in and shut Dustyn up.
"More like you can't hear me!" She turned around, grinning and exposing her braced, unbrushed teeth. I could feel my hands curling into tight fists, my fingernails digging into my palms. I clenched my teeth and stood up strait. Maybe if she remembered I was taller than her she'd stop.
"Dustyn. Really. Cut it out." I said firmly.
"Why should I dog breath?" She spat back.
I had had it, I walked very close to her and leaned forward.
"Dustyn, I'm gonna tell you one more time. Cut. It. Out."
"Dirt face! You have no right to tell me that!" She quickly snarled, grinning in an irritable, ugly way that I'd like to never see again.
And before I could stop myself, I saw my fist fly towards her face, and nail her on the soft spot under her jaw, and by the side of her neck. She screeched and flew backwards, hands over the spot I had hit.
She didn't cry, she didn't make a sound, all she did was stand there, hunched over, clutching her neck. My friends stared at me with an expression of, "What the heck, Harper?" I stared at her, with utter shock. Had I just done that? My mouth was slightly open, gasping for air. I realized I didn't breath much the whole time. I sighed quickly, and turned around.
"Shit, you guys. I have to leave; they'll kill me."
I said, before walking away, wishing that they'd fallow. I left to the east wall of the school, which wasn't far, but far enough that I wouldn't be suspected, bothered, or noticed. I leaned on the wall, before sliding down untill I was sitting on the small edge of concrete, legs arched, and my arms resting on them. I put my head down, and with held a scream. I'd never hit someone before, not that intense. And now, for certain, the school council would give me a super long detention round at the least. That meant less time to be with Kai.
Kai.
It was because of her getting hurt that I ended up in this position. I wished she was better, and I could play with her again. That I wouldn't have to watch her rest in her kennel and cry to go out and play.
My thoughts ended as I heard heavy foot steps toward me. And there she was, our second, most annoying AP, Mrs. West. She was alot more harsh than our other AP, Mrs. Oswick; and that just made my day worse.
I tuned out of my memory then, I'm able to do that. Just forget what happens. Like going unconscious. All I know is I managed to make it out with just a week of Lunch detentions, no morning detentions, no after schools detentions. I was glad. I still had time to be with my recovering dog.

The day was long, I mostly pondered how Dustyn turned out. How I might manage. What my friends would say about me. That bothered me the most. I tried not to think about it and focus on my class.
Passing Period. When it came, I lingered through the halls for three minutes, before finding myself walking in a horizontal line with my friends, listening to how "it was so cool" that I nailed her. When they piped down, I asked, "What happened to her?" They smiled and said, "She's right there. Look at that!" They pointed to her, who had a massive red spot on her neck. I took a sharp turn to the doors of the "pod", cutting off Kass.
I couldn't look at her. I couldn't talk to her. I was humiliated and she hadn't even looked at me. It was horrible. My friends fallowed and asked, "Dude, why'd you do that?" I shook my head and just said, "I don't know..."
7th period lasted forever. especially when I didn't pay attention to any of it. When the bell rang to announce I was free, I left as fast as I could.
I had Kai at home, I couldn't wait to see her, to tell her what happened. Maybe she'd feel better.

She did.
(NOTE: Kai is healed completely from her injury, and since then, Dustyn has moved because of her dad's job. Plus, I'm done with detentions. Hope that never happens again)