WHAT GETS ON YOUR FUCKEN NERVES?

Well, this upsets me more than annoys me, but....

Friday, we had 'class' day in Fizz Ed. After everyone finishes their work, or simply stops working, we all get free time to do pretty much whatever we want.

I sit in the far back left corner of the classroom. Directly to my right, there's a little girl named Laura. Small girl, quiet, shy. Comes from a poor background, with an incredibly strict grandmother whom she lives with.

Behind her in Amber. A pseudo-prep, wanting to improve her standing. How does a girl such as she do it? By being a good person and friend? No. By being there for others when they need her? No.

She looks upon this innocent little girl, two years younger than the rest of us, and sees someone to target. As if by dragging poor Laura down, it makes her bigger. She starts to taunt her mercilessly, without a shred of remourse or pity. This little child, who's done nothing! To anyone! Laura never talks, and when she does, it's always answering someone's questions, or to help someone.

So, this older girl is tormenting Laura. There are tears in her eyes. Her eyes are so big, begging for help, for someone to reach out to her.

I'm sitting there, feeling sick, and looking around. Some people I admire even join in. I felt disgusted, outraged. I spoke up to Amber. "Does it make you feel better about yourself, to have everyone laugh at someone who did nothing to you?" My voice was quiet, but carried. She just rolled her eyes, but most of the others stopped immediately. She turns back to Laura, returning to her sport.

I couldn't take it any longer. I reached out and punched Amber as hard as I could. The connection was solid to her nose. Amber didn't even bother hitting back, just stormed out.

Laura gave me a small smile, a thanks in her eyes. I just hoped I managed to make her day that much better.

I helped gather Laura's stuff that had been pushed off her desk, looked around at the others and said "You disgust me." Everyone fell dead quiet.

Coach walks up to me, and says, "While it's nice to see someone stand up for a younger kid, you have a detention. I cannot condone violence." I snapped, "Yet, you'll sit by and watch a kid be picked to pieces. Fighting is only a level two offense, while bullying is a level 3. How dare you come over, all high and mighty when a kid's crying and start scolding? If you were any kind of teacher, you wouldn't have let it escalate."

The bell rang, and I left.

But, god! I felt so disgusted, unclean by association, just for witnessing that! To even see it made me feel practically nauseous! How could someone do that to another?

Laura quietly say down next to me during lunch. Didn't say much, but we discussed the extra credit assignment.

I did my best to make sure that it was passed through that if anyone did anything like that, ever, they'd have to deal with me. It's just not right!

I guess from now on, I'll use this new found 'popularity' to help others. I mean, it won't go away. Might as well use it well.