Violence is never

the answer the say

however, I would

kick your ass any day

just name the place and time

because nobody gets away

with the disrespect you portray

and the words you talk

keep in mind

I can't just walk

"Excuse me?" I say in annoyance, leaning closer into make sure I'm hearing right. Carla laughs loudly, stepping toward me. Who the hell is she to tell me I'm to break up with Austin? We aren't even together.

"You heard me," Carla says, smiling.

I roll my eyes, crossing my arms. "Oh, I heard you. I just want to know what makes you, a despicable, obnoxious little bitch has the right to tell me that I have to break with Austin," I spit out, angry.

Carla glares at me, scoffing. "Please, we all know he deserves better than you," she says, pausing to size me up. She's beginning to piss me off. "I mean who wants to be with someone who is damaged? No body wants damaged goods."

She smirks, looking back at her posse for approval. They nod, urging her forward.

"Shut up. Do you have to go and make a scene everywhere you go? All you want is attention. It's what people like you survive on. You are pathetic," I say, and step forward.

"You're the one who is pathetic. You think Austin likes you. He only feels bad for you," she says, pointing at me. Okay, that stings a little. And Carla knows it. "I mean, we all feel bad for you. You lost your little brother."

My breath hitches, my stomach in my throat. How dare she bring up Tyler. She's trying to hurt me but and no matter what she says, I won't let her.

"Don't bring up Tyler. He has nothing to do with this and you know it," I snap, balling my hand into a fist.

"The only reason Austin is with you is because he feels bad and wants to help you," Carla says, reaching forward and grasping my shoulder. She pats it comfortingly. "I mean, you have to know that nobody would want to be with someone so miserable like you."

I shrug off her hand, pushing her away. She falls back into Whitney but doesn't loose her footing and shoves me back.

"You are just saying this crap because you want him for yourself. You're so selfish, you ruin other peoples lives. I mean look what you did to Whitney, you made her into your slave," I say, gesturing to Whitney who looks away. Poor girl.

Carla leans in again and laughs loudly.

"I may ruin lives, but I don't end up with blood on my hands," she says, shrugging a shoulder.

Without any control, my clinched fist flies up, connecting with Carla's face.

Her head snaps back, blood spurting out of her nose. Anger soars through me, and I attempt to hit her again but someone from behind catches my hand. By now, we have everyone's attention. People are talking in loud voices, staring. Girls gasp at the sight of blood.

"You little bitch!" Carla snarls, clutching onto her nose.

I'm shaking now, infuriated. I go to lunge at her again but someone still has a hold on me, their grip tightening.

"Come on, Emma. Let's go outside," Austin says in a soft voice, dragging me backwards. I fight for a second but then just let him take me out of the gym. As I'm being dragged out, Carla runs to come after me but Andrea comes up behind her, turns her around and punches her square in the face.

Outside, Austin finally lets go of me.

"Are you alright? What did she say to you? Did she hit you?" He asks all at once. "Damn it! I knew I shouldn't have left you alone with her,"

I sigh, flexing my hand. It stings from where I hit Carla. "I'm fine. I promise," I say, grinning.

"Emma! Emma whats going on?" Aidan runs out from the school, concern etched all over his face, his lips in a frown. He's followed by Ben, who is hauling Andrea by the arm, shouting out foul words.

"I'm fine. It's just that bitch in there causing problems," I say as my brother checks me over for any signs of injury, all the while muttering threats against Carla. I shrug away from him, wanting space to cool down.

"I've always wanted to do that. Do you want to go again Emma?" Andrea jokes, but only gets a bunch of glares. "Jeez, I'm kidding."

Carla's words hurt, hitting me hard. I know it isn't my fault Tyler died, but it doesn't help when people keep saying it is. Austin comes up to me, hugging. Although I just want to be left alone, his touch helps.

"Oh, Emmie. Guess you finally grew some balls and stood up for yourself huh?" I hear Quinn come up behind us, chuckling. I close my eyes and rub my face. Quinn is another person I don't want to deal with.

"Quinn, just shut up," Aidan snaps. I turn around and see Quinn leaning against the school's wall. His hands are is shoved his his jean jacket pocket, staring at me. I just can't get a break could I?

"Why? It's not like you listen to anything I say anyway." He slurs the words, rolling his eyes. Under one of the lights above him, I notice that his cheeks are pale and eyes are glossy.

"Are you drunk?" Ben asks, walking up to him, grabbing Quinn's chin. Quinn laughs like a maniac, slapping away Ben's hand.

"Please, like you care," Quinn snaps. "I could do anything I want and nobody would notice!" He yells, throwing up his hands. I don't know what to do, what to say to him.

"Quinn, buddy. Whats going on?" Aidan wraps his arm around him.

I walk up to him, but stay back so I don't interfere.

"What is going on out here?" A new voice asks as the gymnasium door slams against the outside wall, revealing Ms. Kinney. She's has on a red dress and black mask.

She points her finger at me. "Emma, Mr. Harp is looking for you-"

"Can't you see we are in the middle of a family issue here? Why don't you get your butt back to your fuck buddy Mr. Newt," Andrea growls, making all of us stare in shock. Ms. Kinney's mouth drops open, flabbergasted.

Ms. Kinney is having an affair with Mr. Newt, who's engaged.

"I'm reporting you all to the principal, let's see how many days you get suspended," She stutters on her words, clearly in shock about what Andrea said. I am too.

"What are you going to say? You would just be squealing on yourself. I mean having sexual relations with another teacher isn't illegal, but I'm pretty damn sure when Mr. Newt's wife would love to hear about it. So why don't you just leave and everything will stay between us. You never saw us here."

Ms. Kinney, after staring long and hard at Andrea, spins on her heel and goes back inside, letting the door slam shut behind her. For a moment, everyone is quiet, letting the events sink in.

"Wow," Aidan states. "You do have balls after all ."

"I know," Andrea says, shrugging with pride. Quinn stumbles past Aidan and Ben, stopping to focus.

"And you-" Aidan starts, but Quinn cuts him off with a wave to his hand.

"I just want to go home, alright. Let's not speak of this again."

"Fine, Austin, do you mind driving Emma home?"

"Yeah, no problem," he says and Andrea comes over and hugs me tightly.

"Thanks for sticking up for me," I say, hugging her back.

"What are best friends for?"

We hug again before she leaves, going to find her own car. Aidan and Ben are helping Quinn as he stumbles down the parking lot. I never thought I would ever see him drunk until he is legal drinking age.

Austin comes behind me, wrapping his arms around me.

"You ready to go? Before Carla decides to come looking for you in retaliation?" I search Austin's face, looking for any signs of what Carla said are true; that he's only with me because he feels bad.

"Are you with me because you feel sorry for me?" Austin turns to face me, his eyes wide.

"No. Of course not. I like you Emma. How many times do I have to say that?" He asks, realization forming in his eyes. "Is that what Carla said to you?"

"She said a lot of things," I mumble, thinking back to what she said about Tyler. It pains me so much I can physically feel it in my chest.

"She's just jealous. She wants what she can't have. Why would you listen to her anyway, she has multiple screws lose in her head," Austin says, and takes my hand, kissing the back of it. The warm feeling stirs up again, but it still isn't enough to make the nights events fade away.

It's not enough to forget the things that were said.

Austin drops me off at my house, my brothers already back and inside. He walks me to the door, stopping me just as I'm about to go in.

"Tonight wasn't exactly how I wanted it to go," he blurts.

"It's not what I had in mind either," I say, laughing.

"So, I was thinking we could go on a real date sometime. What do you think?" Austin questions.

"Sounds good to me." I stand on my tip toes and kiss Austins cheek. He kisses me back before leaving. I wave as he backs out before I go inside. Aidan and Jude are waiting for me, my mom and dad no where to be seen. My brothers are sitting on the couch, but stand up when I come through the door.

"Emma, do mind telling us what happened?" Jude asks, coming to stand in front of me, looking worried. Aidan stands beside him, the two of them blocking my way to my room.

"Yes, I do," I say, sighing. I try to move past them but they move in sync to the right, blocking me again. "Could you just move out of my way?"

"You got in a fight, Emma," Aidan says, throwing up his hands. "We cant just let that go without an explanation." I'm starting to get frustrated with them. I know they are just being my brothers, but I'm tired and not in the best of moods.

"I don't have to explain anything. Carla deserves what she got. And if you want to lecture me on my behaviour, then go shove it up your butt. I'm not the one you should be lecturing, I mean Quinn did get pretty wasted."

"Quinn's not going to get suspended if he wasn't caught drinking on school property, you will for fighting." Jude argues, rubbing his temples. I squeeze the bridge of my nose.

"I don't care, alright. If I get suspended, Mom and Dad will deal with it. It's already done, so lets move on in the world." I shove past my brothers and run up the stairs. They don't follow me, thankfully.

I close my door and lock it, sliding down against my door. I know that I shouldn't have hit Carla, because violence is never the answer, but what she said I couldn't let her get away with.

In fact, if given the chance, I will do it again.

Now I just have to deal with the consequences.