Katie and I were still in the nurses office when Officer Mullin came in. He looked at me and shook his head.

“I reviewed the tapes,” He started. “But I want you to tell me what happened, in your own words.” Officer Mullin said.

“James came up from behind me and slammed me into the wall. I felt the back of head bounce off the wall. It stunned me for a moment. He looked at me and said ‘You’d better watch your back, faggot.’ Then he punched me in the gut. When he didn’t walk away after that, I kicked out with my left foot, aiming for the common peroneal. I guess I hit it because he was down on his knees. I hadn’t gotten back to standing, and he punched me in my jaw, and busting my lip. I shook that off, spun to my right, caught his shoulder blades, knocking him flat on his face. I think that’s when his face started bleeding.” I paused. “Katie had realized what was going on by then and stood on his left wrist, I stood on his right. You walked up and pulled out your cuffs. I let up with my foot so you could cuff him and next thing I know I’m bouncing off the wall on the other side of the hallway.” I reached up to rub my temples. Officer Mullin looked at Mrs. Price.

“That’s what the video looked like, What’s your prognosis, Mrs. Price.”

“I called Jackie, she’s on her way in. I don’t think Morgan has a concussion, but I want her to get checked out anyway. Katie, you are probably going to be going with her as Morgan’s mom has the ability to sign you out too.” Jen came running into the room. She stopped and slid next to where I was sitting on the cot. She bent down to hug me. I winced as everything still hurt. Jen saw this and let go of her embrace. Lunch was one of the few times that we were separated through out the day.

“What happened?” Jen asked.

“James Petry tried to beat her up…” Katie said for me, I was too beat up to try to explain it any more… “Our Morgan is a fighter though, she knows how to defend her self. I really hope that word gets around that she will defend her self if she has to. I didn’t even know that anything was going on until I saw James hit the floor…” Katie wiped a tear away. “That was when I stood on his hand, When Officer Mullin tried to cuff James, James sent Morgan spinning across the floor, and she hit her head a second time… Jen, I’m sorry.” I could hear the tears forming in Katie’s voice. She had sworn to protect me and on my first day of school, she had failed. I saw Jen move from my left side, to my right, which was where Katie was standing. I glanced up as Mr. Thompson walked in to the room and looked at the three of us….

“Morgan, are you alright?” he asked.

“I’m a little banged up. But other than that, I’m good. Mrs. Price wants me to get checked out further and I think mom is on her way in…” I said, squeezing Katie’s hand.

“Ok, I just talked to Mr. Jackson, who is in charge in the interim while Mr. Gallagh selects a replacement for Mrs. Paskly, and Mr. Petry is getting expelled and he will be by to see you shortly. Your mom should be here shortly, as well as a Dr. Franklin and Katie’s mom.” Mr. Thompson said. I blinked, and then looked at Katie. James Petry getting expelled was a given, but I was actually wondering why Dr. Franklin and Susan were coming to the school as well… I nodded.

“Why is my mom coming?” Katie asked. Mr. Thompson shrugged…

“I have no idea. I got a call from her saying that her and Dr. Franklin were on their way over.”