The Fight
1053 Words
Gabriella
Trying to pay attention in Spanish while thinking about Raven Rider is a special kind of torture.
Two things that should never mix.
Two things that refuse to stay separate.
She’s the biggest player on campus. Everyone knows that. Everyone whispers about her. And yet I can’t stop picturing her leaning against her bike, helmet tucked under her arm, eyes sharp and unreadable like she knows things about me I don’t even know myself.
I want to ride into the sunset with her on that motorcycle until the world runs out.
Oh, hell no.
No.
Absolutely not.
Am I falling for her?
No. I have a boyfriend.
Well… kind of.
I shake my head and force my eyes forward. Focus. Don’t spiral. My thoughts already feel slippery lately — like if I grab onto one too hard, it’ll disappear. Ever since the accident, things do that. Emotions hit first, explanations come later… if they come at all.
“Alright, everyone,” the teacher says in Spanish. “Page ten. Begin.”
I look down.
And there it is.
The iced coffee.
Sitting on my desk like it belongs there. Like she belongs everywhere I look.
My chest tightens.
Stop it. Stop thinking about her.
“I heard Raven’s trying out for running back this year,” a guy behind me mutters.
“She’ll probably kill it.”
“Yeah. She always goes all in.”
I swallow.
Yeah. Who knows.
Maybe if I text Tyler, I’ll stop thinking about her.
Hey babe, how’s class?
His reply comes fast.
Fine. How’s your girlfriend?
Seriously?
She’s not my girlfriend.
I’m serious, Tyler. She’s not.
He sends an emoji — two girls holding hands — followed by an angry face.
Yeah, whatever. What are we doing later?
I sigh.
Movies after practice?
Fine. Lunch?
Okay. Love you.
He doesn’t say it back.
I stare at the screen longer than I should, then shove my phone away when the bell rings.
It’s fine. He’s just annoyed. He always gets like this when he doesn’t have control of the situation. It’ll pass.
I grab my bag and head to my locker, earbuds in, music loud enough to drown out the noise in my head. I swap my Spanish book for history, shut the locker—
—and freeze.
Raven’s across the hall.
But she’s not alone.
There’s a girl with her. Shorter. Laughing at something Raven said. And Raven—
she’s smiling.
Not the cocky smirk.
Not the teasing grin.
Something softer. Real.
It hits me harder than it should.
I’ve never seen her smile like that before.
My chest aches, sharp and unfamiliar. Could I ever make her smile like that?
No. Stop. Don’t go there.
I turn to leave and collide with someone solid.
Tyler.
He looks at me like he doesn’t recognize me. Cold. Distant.
“Hey, babe,” I say carefully. “I thought your class was on the other side.”
He doesn’t answer. Just brushes past me.
“Hey!” I snap, spinning around. “Asshole, talk to me!”
He turns, eyes burning. “Who the f**k do you think you’re talking to—”
His mouth twists. “—lesbian whore.”
The words hit like a slap.
My stomach drops. My ears ring.
Before I can react, a voice cuts through the hallway.
“Hey—get away from her!”
A fist connects with Tyler’s jaw.
He hits the floor.
Raven.
“No one calls her a lesbian w***e,” Raven shouts, fury sharp in her voice, “except me, you homophobic piece of s**t!”
The hallway goes silent.
Tyler scrambles up and grabs her shirt. “Oh, now you admit what you are?”
She shoves him off. “You’re just mad I get more p***y than you.”
Gasps. Laughter. Phones already out.
He lunges. She dodges easily. He stumbles into the crowd.
“Come on, Tyler,” she smirks. “I thought you were stronger than this.”
He charges again. She elbows him hard, then leans in close, whispering something that makes his face go red.
“Hit me,” she taunts. “Do it. Right here.”
He swings. Misses.
She trips him.
“You f*****g w***e!” he screams.
“Tired already?” she fires back. “No wonder you’re last place in everything.”
“I’m the best quarterback!” he yells. “Something you’ll never be to any woman you touch!”
Raven glances at me.
“Damn,” she says coolly. “At least I can do something to your girl you never could.”
My face burns.
“And what’s that?” Tyler snarls.
She smiles — not kind. Not gentle.
“Make her come.”
He tackles her.
They hit the floor, fists flying, until she knees him hard and shoves him off.
“That all you got?” she says, wiping blood from her lip.
“Raven Rider!” a voice booms. “My office. Now!”
The assistant principal.
Raven straightens, unfazed. Like this is routine.
“Damn,” she mutters. “You’re no fun.”
She grabs her bag and walks toward the office.
She doesn’t look back.
“Mr. Erickson — nurse’s office. Now!”
Tyler limps away, throwing me one last hateful glance.
“And the rest of you!” the assistant principal snaps. “Class. Now!”
The hallway empties fast.
My heart is still racing.
“Assistant Principal Russell,” I say quietly.
He pauses.
“It wasn’t her fault,” I rush out. “She was protecting me. Please don’t punish her too harshly.”
He studies me, surprised.
“I’ll think about it,” he says. “Now get to class.”
I nod and walk away.
The hallway feels… off. Like something slipped sideways. Like I missed a piece of the moment — or maybe remembered something I’m not ready to understand yet.
Raven’s already gone.
Straight to the office. No hesitation.
And I don’t know why, but the thought of her taking the fall alone makes my chest ache.
I don’t know why she stepped in.
I don’t know why she defended me.
And I don’t know why this feels bigger than it should.
But I know this:
Something about Raven Rider feels unfinished.
- Writer
