Madison screamed as she kicked Nayla off of her. This girl wasn't about to ruin her social life for her as well. She had done plenty of damage. A crowd swarmed around them with their phones out chanting their names. Madison didn't usually resort to fighting, but she really needed to end this shit.

She winced in pain as Nayla punched her in the face. Who knew the girl had so much fight in her? They went back and forth with the punching and scratching, at one point Madison was sure Nayla had pulled her headscarf off to choke Madison with.

Madison reached out for one more hair yank as a lunch monitor held her back. A couple more lunch monitors made their way through the crowd and grabbed Nayla. They were both being held back and being dragged away. From a distance, Madison could here Vice-Principal Cole yelling at people to put their phones away.

Madison bent over and took deep breaths as the lunch monitor released her. That fight had taken a lot out of her. Nayla was standing to her right, but 2 lunch monitors were standing between them putting up a sort of barrier. Regardless, Madison wouldn't have done anything anyway. She was wiped out. She looked over at Nayla. Her face was a little purple from where Madison had slapped her multiple times and her headscarf was in her hands. She was bent over gulping for air.

Madison took a look at her hands, they were covered in scratches and red marks. Argh. At least she had gotten a couple of good hits in. Madison was about to reach for her phone to see if the fight was all over Snap when the principal came out of her office. She looked at Madison with such a stern look that it almost made her feel bad.

Then she turned towards Nayla and shook her head, "I am very disappointed in you girls. I expected better. Now get in my office."

She led them inside and told them to take a seat while she talked to the lunch monitor.

They sat in the chairs that were facing her desk in silence. Not a word was exchanged until Principal West came back in. Her office had a brown aesthetic. Her lamp had a brown base, her chairs and the table were wooden, and all her pictures had brown frames. And she had a line of plants and flowers with light brown pots. It was calming, yet intimidating.

"Talk," said Principal West. She was facing Madison, but talking to the two of them. Nayla wasn't saying anything so Madison decided to take the lead.

She pursed her lips. How was she going to explain this without making it look like she was to blame? "She told everyone my dad was in jail." said Madison.

Principal West turned to face Nayla and motioned for her to speak. Madison discreetly rolled her eyes. Why were all the teachers so sweet with Nayla? Was she a baby?

Nayla started crying, maybe she was a baby. Threw her tears she managed to spit out a few words, "She's been bullying me since the 6th grade."

Madison put her hand up to object, but Dr. West shot her down. Nayla continued on with her pathetic sobs tory, oh if only Anwar could see her now. "Even after I-I notified mul-multiple teachers about it. I feel unsafe, harassed, and neglected. This isn't a safe learning environment, this is a hell-hole. You and the entire staff have no idea what the hell is going on in any of your classrooms and it's so disappointing. This has been the worst year of my life."

"Yeah," said Madison in agreement.

Dr. West wrote down what she was saying and waited till they were done to intervene, "But the lunch monitors and a couple of teachers say that they, along with everyone else in the cafeteria, receive airdrops from the both of you today, and an anonymous person assumed to be you Nayla, in the past."

They both sat silently and didn't reply. Nayla blew her nose with a tissue and Madison played with her hair avoiding eye-contact.

Dr.West looked at both of them and sighed. "This doesn't look like bullying. It looks to me like the two of you are going back and forth doing mean things to each other and trying to settle a score."

"No, she's bullying me!" cried Nayla. "She always has."

"Ok, ok." whispered Dr. West in a quiet voice trying to get Nayla to calm down. Madison rolled her eyes. What a baby.

"Madison, apologize to Nayla for bullying her," Dr. West began. "And Nayla apologize to Madison for telling people private things about her family."

"No," they both cried.

Dr. West took her glasses off and rubbed her temples. "You girls have caused a truckload of chaos and disruption in these hallways for some time now. I don't know what's going on with you guys, nor do I care, but you both are getting a 2-week suspension, congratulations. I will be notifying your parents, and any other exposing nonsense on social media will result in your immediate expulsion. Do I make myself clear?"

Madison gulped, "crystal."

Nayla nodded and murmured something.

"Now apologize," barked Dr. West.

Madison turned towards Nayla. "I'm sorry for bullying you."

Nayla nodded, "I'm sorry for telling people private stuff about your family."

Madison put her hand out for a handshake and Nayla reached in for a hug, it was an awkward interaction and Madison was relieved when she was finally let out of the office.

***
Madison headed home later that day wondering what she was going to do for the next couple of weeks. She talked things over with Betty and Kristen and told them to send her all the homework. She had even smoothed things over with Anwar; she was just in a forgiving mood today.

She walked up the block that lead to her apartment and took a nostalgic look around. This was going to be her last week in this place. Her aunt had gotten her mom to sign the papers and had officially submitted them. Starting next week, Aunt Brooklyn was going to be her legal guardian. Madison smiled at that. It was going to be an amazing next couple of years.

She took out her keys and bent over to open the door, but before she did the door flew open. Her mother stood there with her hair looking even worse than Madison's. She was holding a bottle of Scotch and a belt. Madison's stomach churned. This wasn't a good sign. Her mom fumbled at the door and held the door frame for balance. She looked like she had been up all night and all day drinking.

"Come in," she said with a smile.

Madison laughed hesitantly as she eyed the belt and the scotch in her mother's hand. "No thanks." she said backing away.

Her mother advanced on her and grabbed her by the throat. Madison thrashed around, but her grip was solid and held her in place. Her mom looked at her with menacing eyes. "I got a call from the principal today." she said. Her voice was low and deadly.

Madison trashed more and flailed her arms. She tried to scream for help, but her mom was blocking her airway. Her mom gave a slow laugh and took a big swig of the scotch.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" she said, holding her throat tighter. "Embarrassing me like that? Our entire family like that?"

She let Madison go and she fell to the floor clawing on her throat and gasping for air. Her mom shook the belt in her hand and struck Madison on the side.

"Ow," Madison winced in pain and clutched the side of her waist. "Get the hell out of here." her mother said, whacking her with the belt again as she wobbled back inside.

Madison sat outside the apartment crying in pain. Hot tears streamed down her face and the side of her waist was throbbing. She weakly pulled out her phone and called her aunt to gave her an update on her 'mom situation.'

"Don't move," said her aunt. "I'm coming right away. And I'm calling the police."