6.
YANA. I wanted to catch Masha after school to talk to her. Wanted to tell her how it was, share my experience. Like we used to share before. Wanted to take some pics together like we used to. Wanted to say I’m sorry if I’d hurt her somehow. And, naturally, wanted her to say she’s sorry about her betrayal.
I said, “Masha, stop!” She walks faster. I start running. She turns to me, hissing.
MASHA. You better leave.
YANA. Wait, I just want to talk.
And then bitches appear from everywhere.
BITCHES. Hey there, Yana-Hole.
YANA. And Lisa too, walking like an action figure. So full of herself. And I’m thinking what words to call them. She comes to grips with me. I feel the phrase “flat bitch” rolling in my head. While Lisa, without any phrases, pulls me by the earring and rips my ear. Pain floods all over me. I wasn’t ready for this. Shit.
Dammit! Bitch!
I start kicking and punching. I never fought, just saw guys do it at school. It hurts but it’s also fun. I grab Lisa by the hair. I want to tear a tuft from her mane, to make her bald. And I do it. Then the others come rushing at me. I don’t even know who they are, maybe upper-formers, or some neighborhood bitches. And start kicking me. I’m losing, of course, but I still try to fight back. Pull someone by their piercing. Oh, how she yells. Too bad I have no time to pull my keys out, then they’d have gotten theirs. So, like in a snotty movie. I’m down on the ground, getting kicked. I almost feel no pain yet. Through their legs I see Masha’s jacket flashing among the trees, she’s running off. That’s it, I’m thinking, gonna end up in an ambulance. And then suddenly the lads appear. And kick their asses. Later I realize from discussions that the bitches had hatched a plan to beat me up.
LISA. Shoulda known better than go showing off! The Hole should stay home.
YANA. Max learned about their plans, we’re in the same class. They also thought that if he’d told them about our first time sleeping together, that meant he was also against me. But it turned out, he was not. He was too chicken to stand up alone against a gang of furious bitches. So he called on his gang. And so here I am on the ground, in pain, feeling my heartbeat somewhere in my head. And I hear Ilya scream.
ILYA. And don’t you dare touch her again, I’ll rip your boobs off! Pipsqueaks!
YANA. And everybody laughs. And I feel so good. And not scared anymore. They help me up. We go to someone’s place. To treat my ear with hydrogen peroxide. Someone is supporting me by the arm. And everyone’s smiling. And talking over each other.
LADS. Wow, you rock.
We saw you, on your own, against that crowd.