A quiet, bookish student adopts a tough bully persona to protect herself in a hostile school environment. Her carefully constructed act is thrown into question when she discovers the person she has been told to target is not who she expected.
Who knew he would bend down right then? At that exact height, my palm landed squarely across his face. Honestly, I wanted to drop to my knees and apologize right there. Slapping someone in front of everyone was way too humiliating, but Mason didn't seem to care at all. Done. Then he an arm around my stiff shoulders and walked away with me in front of everyone. I kept
glances at his face. The finger marks had already faded, so why was his face getting Are you okay? I really didn't mean to hit your face. Yeah, I know. Should I get you some ice water for it?
I'm fine. Then why is your face still so red? If you keep staring at me like that, it'll get even redder. I quickly looked away and stopped staring.
I still felt terrible and kept apologizing. Mason generously told me it was fine. You're going to be pretty famous after this. No one should dare mess with you now.
I nervously picked at my fingers, then bowed deeply to him. I'll make it up to you. How? I haven't figured that out yet.
It's fine. Take your time. You're protecting me from now on anyway. I racked my brain trying to figure out how to make up for that slap. Everything before had been minor, but slapping him in the face wasn't something a small gift could fix.
I tossed and turned all night before finally coming up with an idea. The next morning, I went to school with dark circles under my eyes.