Heart Attack ? Shirbert

? 26 ? punching, prodding, and permission

She knew Gilbert, though. He definitely didn't start this fight and Billy definitely said enough to set him off.

At this point, everyone else had left for home, so no one could break up the fight except the two girls.

Diana, being refined, wanted to stay away, "I'll go see if Miss Stacy is here to help." And she ran into the schoolhouse.

Anne was not about to accept this fate. She wasn't going to wait for someone to show up, she was going to get in there herself.

Gilbert was lost in a blur. It was like everything was happening in slow motion. He was fighting back, but it was difficult to overpower three other boys as only one person who was still lying on the ground. He didn't become aware of the rest of the world until he saw a flash of red and heard Anne's voice.

"Stop! This is between me and Billy."

Billy smiled. He didn't care that his cheek was going to bruise. He was focusing on the pleasure of having undeniable power over Anne, "Let him go, boys. Fido's right. This is between us."

He turned to Anne, "Looks like your prince isn't so strong alone."

"Billy you had three on one. Even you can do that math." Anne crossed her arms.

This made him angrier. Even with physical strength over her, Anne seemed unfazed.

Anne sighed impatiently. She just wanted to go home, "What do you even want Billy?"

Billy didn't have an answer to this question. The real answer was power, but he was too dumb to know how to word that.

"I want you gone, Fido."

"Too bad."

All of the kids were unaware of a very concerned Miss Stacy who was approaching them with Diana in tow, "What happened?"

The five kids looked at her silently.

Where to start?

Billy intentionally began to downplay the situation, "Just a game that got out of hand, nothing to worry about."

Miss Stacy didn't believe a word he said. Why would her smartest students get into meaningless fights with a dropout whose parents have too much power and money for him to ever be held back in life.

Gilbert picked himself off the ground. He wasn't hurt badly. His face was bound to bruise and his stomach felt like it was on fire, but he had felt worse.

"Gilbert?" Miss Stacy looked at him suspiciously, "Will you tell me what happened?"

He shook his head, "It's not my story."

All eyes were on Anne.

"Billy attacked me." Anne stated, pushing every single fear aside, "Gilbert was trying to defend me."

"Attacked you?" Miss Stacy was completely taken back. She knew Billy was in no means a good person, but attacking Anne?

Anne felt emotion rising in her. She was trying her best not to cry, but she couldn't cover up how red her face was becoming, "Yes."

"Why?"

The attention turned to Billy.

"This freak doesn't belong here." He stated, too confidently, "Every second we allow her to infect us, we become just as trashy. I'm trying to take out the trash."

Miss Stacy was shocked. To hear anyone talk about Anne like that was beyond astonishing. She didn't realize how bad Anne had it.

"Well luckily you'll be spending less time around here," she said curtly, "Billy, you're expelled. I can't excuse attacking students."

"Gilbert started it!" Billy pointed at his bruising cheek.

Gilbert rolled his eyes, "Yes I was really looking to get into a fight today, thank you for fulfilling that need." He said dryly.

"And I will have a conversation with him about that, but you're expelled. Get off of school grounds now."

Billy huffed, "Whatever. School is lame anyways." And he stomped off.

His 'friends' followed behind him silently. They always worshipped Billy, but they didn't know he hurt a girl. Even if that girl was Anne.

Miss Stacy put her hands on her hips, "Diana, I think you should go home. I need to talk to these two."

Diana hesitantly nodded and looked at her best friend, "Story club tomorrow?"

Anne gave her a small smile, "Of course." And Diana ran off.

Miss Stacy took a deep breath, "How about you two follow me. I'll make you some tea."

Miss Stacy only lived a short walk from the school. The three walked in silence. Gilbert had a slight limp, but he was doing well at covering it up. Anne was trying to digest everything that just happened. Miss Stacy's mind was running in circles in an attempt to decode whatever chaos occurred.

They entered the tiny house and Miss Stacy motioned for Anne and Gilbert to sit in her parlor.

When the tea was made and the three finally sat in a circle, Miss Stacy broke the silence.

"What just happened?"