What a wonderful way to introduce myself, getting the crap kicked out of me.

Yo. I’m Faye Grimes.

Despite that dynamic introduction for all the wrong reasons, I can assure you I am the single greatest warrior walking the halls of my high school.

Yeah. High school. I’ll get to that.

The reason why it’s all so wrong is simple: I have been a champion at my school since my freshman year. And no, I don’t just mean ‘champion’ in the allegorical sense. I mean with a belt and everything, mis amigos. For two whole years, no one has been able to beat me between those ropes.

What, your public high school doesn’t promote violence? Then you don’t go to public school. But I do guess where I roam is a bit different. I guess I’m a bit different. Inside the ring, I’m mad dynamite. Focused fury. The baddest bitch for miles. But outside?

There were times when I’d be waiting for class to start in my desk, only for a group of girls to be talking beside me and one of them tries to sit on me because they don’t realize I’m there. It’s not their fault, really. I mean, I did sit there literally every class period, but I never really spoke up until their butt was already at an uncomfortable distance from me.

Oh, and then there was the time I tried to shoo a cat from the field area, only to get absolutely rammed by some jocks playing football. The one who hit me claimed he only saw the cat. I have no reason to believe otherwise.

So you get the point. I was an overlooked, invisible little girl. But the worst part about it all was beneath the nerdy exterior, I was a complete dunce. I didn’t have the super book smarts to make up for anything. That was the territory of my best friend, Gwen Goro.

“Except people in medieval times lived way more than just the thirty-five years people think.”

“What?”

“The average date is skewed because of the amount of children who died during birth.”

“That’s great, Gwen, but…grim a.f.”

“Yeah, it’s an ‘average vs. median’ thing. They probably lived as long as we did today.” Then she would slump, her perfect hair falling over her shoulders and showing even more of her face that had just the right amount of make-up to accentuate everything about her. Not that people care.”

“I care! I just have no idea what to do with that.”

“Me neither.”

You wanna know what she did with it? Or at least the brain behind it? Became the first ever rising junior to be named Student Council President. Not just because she was smart. Oh, no. It helped that she’s effing gorgeous. And that she comes from money.

Won’t so much as look my way anymore.

Which is funny considering it is my sole purpose in life to get everyone’s attention. See, my school, Squared Circle High, revolves around the glitz and glamour that is professional wrestling. The crazy gimmicks, the insane moves, the loud monologues, the works. Bit it ain’t no different from any other high school. We still get separated into our little cliques. In fact, each clique has a champion based on style. Lemme break it down for ya.

The Lucha Legion, which is composed of the artsy kids.

Puro Providence, made of hard strikers, and oddly run by the tech nerds.

The Chairshot Vandals, users of weapons, hang out back with the burnouts.

And, of course, the Kings of the Ring, ruled by the rich preppy bastards, jocks, and their traditional muscle-laden style.

Oh, and I guess the fifth clique, the Technical Spectacles. That’s where I supposedly fit in. The underbelly with the downtrodden and unrecognized. We concentrate less on the grand pageantry of it all and focus on the one thing that matters – actual. Freakin’. Skill.

I know all about that. This glistening gold-plated eagle on the championship title around my waist is proof enough of that.

I was invisible before my freshman year. Then, I showcased all the skills I had honed on my own. None of my awkwardness mattered after all that. I could kick your ass, that’s all that mattered.

Or so I thought.

See, the thing about finally climbing a mountain is it’s not enough. You want more. The ambition is what pushed me. And, in a way, sort of cost me.