Battle Scars
Chapter 3
Chad’s P.O.V.

“Oh, chad.”
“What.”
“Bullying is not something to be taken lightly.”
“Can you tell her to stop singing then? It’s her own fault! She just doesn’t shut up.”
Mr. Raid sighs at me.
“If I took away football, what would you do.”
“Join the basketball team.”
“If I banned all sports.”
“What does it matter to you?”
“It matters because singing is to Ruby as sport is to you.”
“Oh, yeah. Except I don’t play sport to annoy people. I play sport because I enjoy it.”
“Ruby enjoys singing.”
“Ruby enjoys ANNOYING PEOPLE.”
“Stop arguing and listen, or else.”
“Or else what? What can you possibly do? Huh? Suspend me? I’ll just come back and repeat.”
“That is it. Chad Ingram, you are expelled from Linden Grange High.” His big voice booms.
“You can’t do that.”
“Chad. You have been suspended exactly Thirty-Two times. You have had detention Two-Hundred-and-Seventy-Nine times. I think I’m on correct grounds to expel you. Go and clean out your smelly locker, and get out of my school.”
“Fine.”
About five centimeters from the door, I turn around and say:
“But since I’m not your student anymore, I can say this.  You are a friggin’ uptight jerk! I don’t care what you or ANYONE else thinks of me. I HATE this school.”
And I storm out the door before he could do anything.
I walk over to my locker, and unlock it, to smell the waft of old banana peels and unwashed gym socks from three weeks ago. I shove it all in my backpack, and leave the school.
On the two-block walk to my house I think.
Why do I have to act like this?
I mean, Ruby is a good – no, great - singer. She’s hot, and I have nothing against her.
So why am I mean to her?
Oh no. No no no, this can’t be happening.
I – I think –
I think I’m in love with Ruby.