The wind was knocked out of me as I was slammed to the floor. Gerry stood above me, pointing at my face. He snickered and kneeled down.
"If you look at me again, you're dead," he said.
Just a minute ago the class was filled with laughter and gossiping. Now, it was dead silent. I wondered how long i'd have to deal with this nightmare again. I wondered how long Gerry would treat me like his personal punching bag. I wondered how long my classmates would just watch in silence without uttering a word.
As he stood up, I stared hard at the ground, fearing what would happen if I looked him in the eye for more than a second. Would he punch me again? Take my belongings and break them?
"What's wrong? Are you going to cry?" he chuckled.
My eyes stayed glued to the ground.
I was tired of him. How many times would I let him say terrible things about my family? I wanted it all to just end.
A drop of red fell to the bright floor. He's pouring paint on me again, isn't he? I thought. I realised it was coming from me - blood was pouring out of my nose.
"Ew, he's bleeding... just like his little brother when I beat him up too. It's so unfortunate you Smiths have such punchable faces," Gerry sighed. I could feel my whole body shaking with fear, hurt, fustration, but mostly... anger. "Hmm... maybe I'll try my new fight moves on your brother. Maybe i'll take all his sh-"
Before I knew it, Gerry's head hit the desk behind him. And I was standing. And my wrist hurt. I had punched him... hard. And he was looking up at me, with a new look in his eyes which I had never seen before.
Gerry Douglas was scared of me.
My mind wasn't racing with thoughts like I thought it was. It was quiet. The only thought left was that I needed to leave. I had to leave. I began to pick up my bag from the floor.
Just then, the principal came in.