vi·o·lent

ˈvī(ə)lənt/

adjective

using or involving physical force intended to hurt, damage, or kill someone or something.

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I gulp as my nerves grow while I stand up at the front, all eyes were on me. The whole school knew who I was either through me being the student body President or from me dating Dean, everyone knew me. A sigh exits my lips - that easily cures my nerves and I am better - before I begin reading off of my paper.

"I was texting my friends when I heard about the news. They were teasing me because I had recently gotten into a relationship with Troy, it was all fun and well intended. I love the people that were in the group chat, but that day changed all of us and it is really heart breaking." I say, not having much problem with this whole thing, I have to speak in front of large crowds all the time since I am the face of students in this god forsaken school.

I glance over towards Troy, who smiles back and gives me a thumbs up. A smile instantly begins to creep onto my lips, but I have to suppress it and continue reading, "Joy told us about Dean being in the hospital. She told us that she would have told us sooner if she had known herself, but her parents didnt think it was important to inform her. We were all in a rush to get there, to attempt to comfort him, even if he was in surgery. The one that definitely tried the hardest was Jenna, it was the middle of summer so she was on vacation in South Korea and she had to fly all the way back here. I know for a fact that she doesn't regret missing the joys of Korea for Dean."

For a split second I begin to tear up, but I quickly catch myself. My mom has trained me to never show emotions while giving a speech, no matter how sad or angry it makes me feel. "We were all a mess in the waiting room, we were surrounded by chairs we could have sat on, but instead we were all a huddled mess on the ground. I don't think I have ever cried that much in my life, not even when my dad died."

I nod my head before heading towards my desk, "Thank you, Veronica," The teacher says, sounding as though he is about to cry. I guess all these stories of a dead person is finally starting to get to his cold demon heart, "Next is Max, please come up here."

"How about no?" Max suggests, crossing his arms, slouching farther into his seat. I dont know if he is trying to be obnoxious, trying to spite me, or just genuinely doesn't want to go, but he is about to start a fight over something that could easily be avoided.

"Mr. Cooper I am not fighting you on this, you will read it," The teacher snaps, which begins to get on my nerves because what if Max just genuinely doesnt want to talk about it. I mean, this whole thing could be pretty traumatic.

"No. This is all stupid, do you honestly expect us to go up there and spill out all our guts? I mean, we aren't in school to be, I don't know, changed. We're here to learn and make friends. So if you want us to stand up there at the front of the room and read a dumb paper about how we miss the golden child of the school you joined the wrong career track. I am not going up there."

"Max," Jackson mumbles, obviously annoyed by Max's uncooperative self. Max can be a major handful at times, right now being one of those times - for sure, "Just go up. There is no point in making a scene like this..."

"Fuck off, man. If I don't wanna do something I am not gonna do it. If I want to rebel, I'll rebel. I am not going up there. Call my parents, send me to Principal Clay, give me I.S.S. whatever. I refuse," He growls not taking orders from anyone right now. I have known him since we were kids, once he is in this mindset there is no point in even trying.

"You're right... I shouldn't force you guys into doing something you don't want to do, if you don't wanna show your emotions then you don't have to. Give me your paper and I'll read it for you," The teacher offers attempting to make a compromise for Max. At least this dumb teacher is trying to appeal to him.

"I don't want you to read it for me, did you seriously just skip over the entire point of what I said?" Max says with the a face that is so annoyed and bothered that you'd imagine it to be towards a more spoken about and important topic.

"It's this or you do it."

Max grumbles something under his breathe and no body really noticed or even heard if was he mumbled, "No. I refuse to have my paper shared, period."

"Go to the office, Max, it's the second week of school and you're already getting into trouble," The teacher who I could honestly care less about what his name is finally order Max to do. I am surprised he didnt do it immediately after Max decided to no comply with his instructions.

"It isn't my fault you give us the dumbest thing to do in all of human existence," He laughs as he stands to pack up his stuff to leave. Great, he is gonna have to go see the Principal and if I am not with him when he goes he will get detention for a while.

"Max, just shut up already," Troy snaps at him finally taking enough of the pointless arguing, and honestly I sort of want to do the same, "If you don't wanna participate don't do it, but don't be a nuisance for everyone else here."

"What was that, Hansen?" Max barks angrily at my boyfriend, not even hesitating to start more useless drama with people, "Don't try acting high and mighty now that you have a girlfriend, know your place."

"Maybe you should know your own place..." I mumble, with a quick sigh. He thinks he can just snap at my boyfriend like that when he is just speaking up for what everyone was thinking. If Max had just walked out that would make things a thousans times easier.

"What was that Veronica?" Max growls as he picks up his navy blue backpack up off of his desk and walks over towards Troy, me, and the other two people at my table. When he gets to me a smile slips onto my face, I can't but be happy when this time of the year comes around.

"I said, 'maybe you should know your own place', Max, just because you are popular and every girl's wet dream, doesn't mean you can treat others like shit." I snap back, trying to hide the grin that is plastered onto my face. I love this time of the year.

"Wow," Max chuckles as he stops in front of my desk, leaning forward, already knowing what is about to happen, but rather than backing up he leans forward. I guess he tries to hide it, but he is really a good friend, like a really good friend, "You think you're so cool now that you have a bit of mouth. I know that mouth did a lot more than just spew bad words. Dean told me everyth-" The grin that was previously on my lips quickly turned into a frown and I clench my fist until it turns white.

He doesn't get the opportunity to finish because I quickly punch him square in the nose. I thought this would be more enjoyable, I've done it every year since we were twelve, but this time just seems bad. Tears sting my eyes and my face turns a bright red, "Hold your tongue," I spit, "You may be over his death, but not everyone is, asshat!"

"Veronica...what the fuck?" Troy asks, in disbelief, but I hear the pride he is trying his best to hide. I know that he doesn't like Max and this was a surprise to him, usually Max and I fight at the cafeteria rather than the middle of class, but I guess this time was impossible to avoid.

Within a second the teacher is at his desk making a call and I already know I am basically dead meat. I made an agreement with the principal that I need to try and keep these fights hidden. I can't have rumors of the Student Council President punching a popular football jock spread around. Despite the threat of my reputation taking a hit, I didn't have any regret in me. Max deserved to get that punch.

Previous years I punched him because he was just slightly annoying, but just now he was both trying to insult me using a lie and a dead person. I feel that he has earned more than just a punch to the face. He falls back, surprised by the amount of strength I used, this was definitely stronger than any punch I have ever inflicted onto him.

The only one that compares to this one was freshman year, which happened because he decided to give me a shock pen. My hand was numb for a solid minute, but that didn't stop me and I punched him with my nondominant left hand.

Before long the door opens to reveal a very, very annoyed African-American dressed in all blue. His face was pulled into a very unpleased, yet shocked expression as he saw Max fallen on the floor and me in tears looking down at him. He knows that this is not like any other fight we have ever had and he knows that we probably won't bounce back like we usually do from this.

Then after about two minutes of silence my peers began to whisper and gossip to their friends about how I just punched him in the face. I could care less about the rumors and false information that will soon spring from all this. I could care less that the people I know as friends will probably see me as a violent jerk after all this, I don't care.

The security guard growls at the two of us to go to the principal's office so that we can talk to her about what just happened. Max stands, makes his way to the door but not before bumping my shoulder with his own. I groan, following him over to the door while wiping my eyes with my sleeves, but the tears keep falling and it is impossible. When I make it to the door I turn back to Troy for a split second, he gives me a worried look, but he smiles and makes me feel better anyway.

I smile through my tears and was about to give him a thumbs up when the security guard from hell yanks me out of the class room behind him. "What were you thinking?" He snaps at me, "Your mother is gonna be very angry."

I just stay silent as I continue to cry, but for a different reason now. I want Troy here to comfort me, but of course that is impossible right now.

"Are you ignoring me?" He snaps back, getting ready to hit me on the back of my head. I respond with catching his hand and moving to the other side of Max.

"No, I am not ignoring you, Shawne," I bark as he gets on my nerves for the hundredth time today and it is only second period.

He snaps back, "Your mother isn't gonna be pleased that you are being this disrespectful. Also I thought I told you to call me dad." He hisses and honestly you'd think after three years you'd get used to me calling him by his first name.

I just simply shrug and continue the walk to my mother's office already preparing to face the storm that is about to transpire in the office of Principal Clay's.

Max chuckles after a few seconds and whispers something to me so that Shawne can't hear, "Principal Clay, sorry your mom, is about to end your fucking life over this. I guess that is just karma for punching me."

I have to resist the urge to punch him a second time. If I even tried my mom would rain hell upon me, making teachers give me extra work, sending me to detention, I would have absolutely no freedom. At least the demon has to restrain herself in front of Max, I am grateful for that at least.