"Oh yes," Michelle said through clenched teeth, "I forgot that your father is a member of the school board." She was forced to stand up. It was widely acknowledged that they lived in a daddy-is-the-key society. And Erin knew how to use her daddy's name to get whatever she wanted. Michelle sighed and slowly got up to face Erin's wrath. She thought, 'Is Erin some kind of gangster? Why is she so hellbent on violence?' Erin never missed an opportunity to pick a fight with her. If nothing else, her persistence deserved some appreciation.
"Stop! Just calm down! Why do you want to fight again?" Hilda screamed, trying to get across to the girls. She was trembling already.
"You stay out of this," Erin yelled at Hilda, "We didn't fight it out last time. Today, we have to decide the winner. Only one of us can survive in this campus!" Ever since Michelle's arrival, Erin had had nothing but misfortune. What was worse, Michelle had even threatened her in the bathroom. She had long wanted to avenge herself, but Bradley had warned her not to. Today she had to take advantage of his absence to find her footing.
"You're being over-confident again," Michelle warned, as she reached out and easily seized Erin's hands. A delicate girl like Erin could never beat her.
"Count us in," a girl shouted from behind Erin. Her loyal lackeys started forming a circle around Michelle, ready to attack her at Erin's signal. 'Do they really think that they can win with superior numbers? How naive.'
Michelle exhaled and responded with a sneer. 'Fine. They want a fight? I will give them the fight of their lifetime, ' Michelle thought. Michelle wasn't one to shrink back from a scuffle.
Hilda watched in horror as the girls surrounded them. "Michelle, let's run! We can't defeat them! We're outnumbered!" Hilda was almost in tears. As Erin's lackeys drew closer and closer, she could hear her heart pound in her ears.
"Stay where you are and don't distract me," Michelle whispered to Hilda and pushed her aside. She flicked her beautiful short hair and threw her coat down on the grass. She used to be a gang member. There was not a snowball's chance in hell that those weak girls could win against her, even with their numbers.
"Michelle, it's not too late to beg for mercy. If you kneel down obediently, apologize to me and promise not to get off with Bradley, I will let you go." Erin looked sideways at Michelle with an arrogant smile, as if she had already won the fight.
"How stupid do you think I am? You have me surrounded by your underlings. Even if I kneel down to make an apology, you still won't let me off easily. So why should I even bother?" A contemptuous smile crossed Michelle's face as she refused Erin's offer. She had seen much of life in the gang. Erin was a weakling when it came to negotiations.
"So you really want it the hard way? Fine. Remember, you asked for it." With the tip of her tongue on the gum and her lips slightly open, Erin looked unruly and laughed wildly at her. Michelle was right. Even if she had made an apology, Erin wouldn't have let her go.
The girls sensed that it was time to get their claws on the prey and rushed fiercely towards Michelle. Because of her, they had made a fool out of themselves in front of Bradley. It was their turn today.
Michelle's hands and feet were buried in water last time, so they got a seemingly fair fight. But today was different. She was not going to let them pull her hair and kick her around.
"Be careful, Michelle!" Hilda cried out; she was like an ant on a hot pan. Erin was all powerful in this school, so she really didn't know whom to turn to for help at the moment.
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