Chapter One

Chapter One

“Hey, you the new girl?” someone asked as they set their lunch tray in front of her. Jess Shillings looked up from her disgusting looking tray and came face to face with happy, smiling and currently curious brunette. Not to be rude to all people that shared the same hair color, but brunette haired people always brought trouble for her somehow. In her old school the head cheerleader was a senior and brunette. That particular brunette always seemed to want to make Jess’s life a living hell. In turn Jess would just ignore her and be herself about her boyfriend, which buys would say was better then talking to a girl that just wanted to see if you responded to them.

“Yeah, I am. My name is Jessica Shillings. Most people just call me Jess. What’s yours?” she dared ask the question. Though she had a strong hatred for brunettes, this one seemed rather to be nice. Not to mention the fact that the girl seemed to be some type of athlete –not a cheerleader hopefully- but perhaps one of those people that knew something. Jess wanted to know where the gym was and she already had a few morning classes with this person anyways.

“Allison Levine, I have been in a few of your classes. You looked like a nice person, and different; most of the people here act like total rich kid snobs. I also want to get to know you. Since people call you Jess, I think I will to. What do you like to do for fun?” Allison asked as she placed a spoonful of the rice on the lunch menu in her mouth. Jess and just finished eating and was going to go find a map of the school when she showed up.

“Training racers and boxing.”

“I’m sorry, but did you just say boxing?” Allison asked, her eyes going wide for a second before she responded. Jess figured as much, not many girls boxed. But it relieved the days stress and built up her arm muscles to control Ral when she breezed the spirited horse.

“Yeah, I did say boxing.”

“Do you have gym next hour?” she quizzed Jess on. Her eyes looked like they got a plan going on. Her uncle told her this morning that this school’s boys loved boxing and most of them were on one of the many teams.

“Yes, do you?” Jess replied, slowly and hesitantly. It was probably likely she did not like the way this conversation was going.

“Yeah, as the matter of fact I do. In gym today the guys are having a boxing tourney. Most of the girls just watch, but judging by how you are built, it looks like you can take them all on. What do you say?” Jess now really liked this girl.

“I say let’s go for it.”

About half an hour later, boys were cheering and betting on who would win a fight in the ring. A guy in a pair of green and black basketball shorts and a black muscle shirt was winning. His gloves were red and his helmet was black as well. It was school policy that all students practiced with protection on their heads. The boy’s competitor was in a pair of blue and white shorts with a mixed colored T-shirt. Buy the looks of the fight, the one in the blue and white shorts was loosing. Within a matter of minutes Jess and Allison had spread the word to the other three girls within their thirteen heads class. Most of them boys; typical school system.

They seemed to like the idea of Jess going in their and beating the heck out of the winning boxer. Though they had completed their rounds, Jess was saved for the winner of the boys. To Jess it also seemed that perhaps this gym class was filled with tom-boys and not the girly-girls that just talked all the time during the time in class.

“PIN!” a Hispanic looking boy said, slapping his hand on the mat as the looser was held down by the boy in green shorts. “The winner and reigning champ is Royce ‘The Destroyer’ Johnson!” Apparently, the boys loved this boy named Royce. Jess just rolled her eyes beneath her helmet, which only relieved across her eyes. She also wore a loss T-shirt, one that was two sizes two big. Her lower half was covered in loose grey basketball shorts. For her, this was classical boxing gear. Allison poised herself in front of the mob of girls. Jess pumped herself up by rolling her shoulders back and jumping from toe to toe. A gesture meant for challenge.

“Hey Ramirez, I’ve got a new guy who could beat Royce.” as if by cue the other girls moved out of the way cheering as the looser was pulled off and Jess took her place, balling her joints as if to prepare herself. The boys called out ‘boos’ and ‘yeah right’s as Royce lifted his hand.

“If the puny new kid wants to take a few punches, then let’s let him. This could be fun.” He clapped his gloves together and started to prance around the ring as the girls joined Jess’s side.

“Beat him to a pulp Royce!” a boy called out against the many voices that cheered for Jess.

Royce, on the other hand, was mocking her as he came in and out as they circled each other. She was a viper, him the fleeting mouse. She would strike and it would only take one to take him down.

“Hey guys, I think the puny new kid is a…” He never got to finish his sentence as he took his guard down. With her raised glove encased fist she punched at his face. He flung around as a loud, small cheering group of girls cheered for him to stay down.

For Royce, that punch actually hurt. No personal alive had ever hit in that hard in the side of the mouth. The new kid punched at him again and again which him only getting a few punches in. He had finally lost it when the boy took another punch at his jaw with a right hook. This time, too week to get up, Royce stayed down. As the boys cried about their loose, Allison came onto the ring platform and raised the kid’s fist. In a loud booming voice she said,

“And our new reigning champion is Jess Shillings!” by that time the winning boxer had taken of the helmet that protected her. Her shoulder length light brown hair falling down in a pony tail. He heard the boys stop as Jess removed both of her gloves. How in Gods name did a girl beat him? She gave him a smirk as he leapt off the ring, the boys behind him just open mouthed and speechless.

“What?” Jess said with a sarcastic and annoyed tone, “Have you never been punched or beaten by a girl at anything before? Wait, let me rephrase that before you answer. Has a girl ever punched the living crap out of you and in front of another group of guys?”

His answer came out a stammer as he said, “No, but…”

“I thought as much.” Jess just smirked as she went by him and stopped before the group of boys, Allison and the other girls beside her. As if they were in the presence of a god they parted and let her by. All of them speechless.

“Dude, you just got hammered by a chick.” one of Royce’s friends said as the door closed behind them.

“Jamie is not going to like this when she hears about it.” Ramirez said coming up next to his sadly beaten friend. The only thought that Royce could say was,

“She threw one hell of a right hook.”

Jess, Allison and a few other girls from that gym class were walking from sixth period was a grumpy blonde came charging at her. Anger was clearly evident and the reaction most everyone took was to circle around and step back to let the fight grow before someone called for a teacher.

“Are you the bitch that beat up Royce?” the girl asked angrily. It seemed that it was a popular girl based on how she dressed.

“Yeah, who are you?” Jess asked. She rightly knew the game she played now. Often in word fights she came out on top to. She just needed to avoid throwing a punch. But right now, the entire crowd around them just did a large ‘oo’. Clearly she was supposed to know who she was.

“What?! You don’t know who I am? I’m his girlfriend!”

“Clearly. It seems that you are upset because I beat him fair and square?” Jess retorted quickly.

“You stupid bitch! You practically beat him to a pulp. He is not going to be moving great or boxing due to you.” she loudly yelled back. That left a large hole for more word play.

“Wow, how sad. I guess that means less bonking for you right? Do you have some other guys in the reserve pile?” Jess felt the crowds gaze search towards the other girl. Right now Jess labeled her as ‘Royce’s Bitch’, no other title seemed rather right. Jess did not like to swear, but if she would like to think the words, she would.

“Why you little tramp!” before Jess could say anything in reply to that, the blonde took a lounge at her. Allison and the girls around her parted, Jess took and sliding step to right, making the girl run straight into a wall. Luckily, nothing broke since she turned and landed with her back against it.

“General tip about me,” Jess said sarcastically “I will not play your game.” the crowd again gave a elongated gasp and egging on. They wanted a fight.

“What game you bitch?”

“I will not right you and then have you go tell the principle that I started it. Seriously, that is the oldest trick in the book. Believe me; I have gone through tougher people then you.”

“You fu…”

“Stop Jamie.” Royce said, spearing behind Jessica. Apparently he had just found out about their little squabble. She took the time to roll her eyes and then faced Royce and said, “You need to put your cat on a leash.” With that Jess faced the blonde again and said, “I hope to see you later. But a word of advice, swearing only gets you frustrated and angrier.”

The blonde was about to say something again but Jess was already on the move away from here. Her newly found friends came up beside her. At least it was better then staying and getting into a fight with the blonde.