Chapter 2 - TRASH PROTECTS TRASH
Ashley slapped Emily’s books from her hands between third and fourth period.
They hit the floor.
Jake kicked them across the hallway.
Students laughed.
Ashley said:
“Get lost, freak.”
Emily knelt.
Her face burned.
She gathered one notebook.
Then another.
Jake stepped on her chemistry folder.
Emily looked up.
“Move.”
He smiled.
“Make me.”
She stood.
Ashley shoved her hard into the lockers.
Metal slammed behind Emily’s shoulders.
The hallway erupted in whispers.
Emily swallowed humiliation.
Then asked the question she had stopped asking months earlier.
“Why me?”
Ashley smirked.
Then walked away.
No answer.
Later, Emily walked home alone because Margaret did not arrive at pickup.
That was unusual.
Margaret was never late without calling.
Emily turned onto Hawthorne Street.
Then stopped.
Jake had Margaret against a fence.
Ashley yanked at her handbag.
Margaret held on with both hands.
“LET GO OF ME!”
Emily dropped her backpack.
“GRANDMA!”
She ran.
Hit Jake from the side with both hands.
He stumbled.
Emily stepped in front of Margaret.
“Don’t touch her!”
Ashley laughed.
“Trash protects trash.”
Emily’s face twisted.
Margaret grabbed Emily’s arm.
“Emily, leave it.”
Jake stepped closer.
Emily shouted:
“Why do you hate me?!”
Jake looked her up and down.
“Because you’re poor.”
He moved closer.
“You pollute this school.”
Emily clenched her fists.
Jake spread his arms.
“Fight back.”
Margaret grabbed Emily tighter.
Not because she feared Emily would lose.
Because she saw Ashley holding something behind her back.
A phone.
Recording.
Margaret whispered:
“Don’t.”
Emily looked at her.
Then at Ashley.
May you like
And understood.
They wanted a fight.
