It was the first day with my new license. I'd gotten to school early to talk with Teagan about changing her back to my science partner.
“You superannuated native!”
“What'd you call me you little Xerox?”
Instantly a bit of guilt hit me for having given Liam the nickname. I knew the second voice was Carson and having heard him say the word Xerox the other person must be Liam. A fight was about to break out and Carson didn't walk away without making someone bleed. Reaching the hallway, I saw Liam being blocked by Carson, Nick and Ryan.
Before I could reach them, Carson hit Liam in the jaw. Liam took the punch, then seconds later he punched him back, knocking Carson to the ground. Nick went forward pushing Liam into the lockers behind him. Liam slid down them to the floor. I was surprised that he fell. It didn't look like Nick had hit him hard enough to make him fall. Ryan helped Carson up and the three of them raced out. By now I was standing in front of him while he stumbled to stabilize himself.
I looked at Liam, feeling a little ashamed that he couldn't take a shove from Nick. Just then a few drops of blood spattered to the ground. Realizing Nick hadn't just shoved him. Panic set in.
“You're bleeding!”I shouted.
“When Nick pushed me against the locker, he cut my arm with something.” Liam was calm.
I lifted up his arm and I saw a long gash. Nick had sliced through Liam's long sleeved shirt into his skin. I'd never seen a cut that long before. It split open and I could see tissue exposed. Neither of us had seen a knife, but looking at the gash what else could he have used?
“We have to get the nurse. It's a gash. You're going to need stitches.” Still feeling the panic of the moment.
Liam objected. “I can't go to the nurse. They'll call the paramedics and I'll be off to a chop shop.” I didn't understand his reference to the comment chop shop, but I also didn't have the time to find out what he meant. I took my sweatshirt off that had been around my waist and wrapped it around his arm.
I insisted again, “You have to get stitches!”
