Character Vignettes
"Stupid bint!"
Judy could feel the tears starting as the older girl shoved her and she stumbled to the ground. Another day at Bales had just begun, and Carter had started on her already. Why couldn't they just leave her alone?
"Not so smart are you now, Nesmith?" The girl nudged Judy with her foot. "Are you?"
Judy curled up and said nothing. She knew, from frequent experience, that saying anything would only make things worse now. Two of Carter's friends had joined her, and they were laughing darkly.
"I said, not so smart, are you?" The girl's voice was raising, and a scowl of anger distorted her face.
Judy only whimpered, and the Carter's pulled back for a kick... and then felt a heavy hand on her shoulder. She turned in irritation, angry words on her lips... and froze.
She was staring into cold, contemptuous eyes, eyes that, despite belonging to a younger girl, had a good two inches on her. Eyes that seemed to burn into her soul. The eyes of Hana Jeong.
Judy looked up at the confrontation and froze. So far, the only good thing that had come out of school was that she'd stayed off of Hana Jeong's radar-- the Korean girl terrified her even more than Carter, more than the teachers, almost more than her father. Hana had already gotten into many fights throughout the year, and she'd won most of them. Even when she'd lost, she never backed down, never gave up. No one got away from a fight with her unmarked. And now she was caught between Carter and Jeong... what if she was the girl's next target?
Hana's voice was cold. "I'd heard you were hard, Carter. That how you got your rep? Pushing girls half your size?"
Carter licked her lips. She had no idea why Jeong was picking a fight with her, and meeting Hana's gaze was harder than she'd ever imagined-- she wanted to run away and hide, and she didn't know why. But everyone was watching. She couldn't back down. Besides, she had two friends with her.
She somehow found her voice. "Back off. This is none of your business, you chi--"
That was when Hana hit her in the mouth, hard enough to leave her senseless for a moment. Her friends, of course, jumped in to defend her. Hana didn't care. She didn't stop swinging until finally teachers arrived to pull the four girls apart, and then only reluctantly.
Afterwards, Judy approached Hana nervously. She had no idea if Hana would lash out at her next, but she ought to do something-- Hana was bruised and bloody on her behalf, after all.
"Th-thank you," she stammered out.
Hana shrugged. "Whatever. It pisses me off, seeing somebody act all tough for picking on somebody smaller than them. That's all."
"You're hurt," said Judy.
"I've had worse," Hana answered, dismissively. A few bruises and cuts weren't important. The important thing was that she hadn't backed down, and that Carter and the other girls would think twice before starting anything with her again.
Judy hesitated, gulping. Hana wasn't mad at her... but Carter would be. But maybe Carter wouldn't say anything if Hana was nearby. So...
"Um, would you mind if I ate lunch with you?"
Hana always ate alone... but, after all, there was nothing wrong with somebody else being there. It was not, of course, that Hana was lonely and would enjoy some company. She didn't need friends. But if Nesmith wanted to, she decided, it would be harmless enough.
"Go ahead," Hana answered, and Judy's eyes shone...
Sorcha Burr folded her arms and stared at Hana and Judy, her own followers at her back. Hana had been a thorn in her side, and enough was enough. If she couldn't keep two girls-- both younger than her-- in line, how could she possibly be taken seriously by anyone?
Hana stared back, apparently unconcerned, but Judy was scared. Still, fear was a familiar feeling, and after spending enough time around Hana, it didn't have the bite that it usually did. They were clearly both in trouble, though... She'd known that this confrontation was going to happen, sooner or later, though. And she'd made some preparations to at least try to even the odds a little.
"Here," she whispered to Hana, passing her a scarf. The sash weight she'd sewn into it made one end very heavy. Hana hefted it and grinned.
"Sure you brought enough people, Burr? I think you might need one or two more," she taunted. The odds were seven to two, and Hana knew full well that Judy wasn't anywhere near as good a fighter, but that didn't change anything.
Sorcha snorted and tossed her long red hair. "It's time you learned some respect, Jeong. And it looks like we're going to have to beat it into you."
"Talk while you still have teeth," Hana suggested, swinging the scarf around, getting a feel for it. It would do nicely.
A new voice called out, "Hey, don't start without us!"
Both Hana and Sorcha turned, surprised. A young Pakistani girl, dressed in scanty red clothes, and carrying a heavy stick, was leading two others towards the group.
Judy blinked in surprise. "Malika?"
"Do you know her?" whispered Hana.
"She's my neighbor," Judy whispered back. "I have no idea what she's doing here."
Sorcha was confused as well. "Okay. What the Hell is going on here?"
"We're Hana's gang," anounced Malika.
Judy and Hana exchanged surprised glances, while Sorcha snarled.
"So, boss, we're ready," Malika continued. "Shall we?"
In answer, Sorcha's gang charged, but they were hesitant-- they were less confident with the odds so close.
It ended when the police arrived. Sorcha's gang scattered like the wind, but Hana put a hand on Malika's shoulder as she started to run.
"Are you crazy?" Malika's eyes were wild-- she couldn't let herself be arrested!
Hana tossed the scarf around her neck casually. "We don't back down. That's the rule."
Judy stepped behind Malika. "Drop the stick. Fast! We can talk our way out of this!" she hissed.
Malika nervously complied, and watched as Judy, her eyes full of tears, explained how her multiracial group of friends had been attacked by a gang of racists. She shook her head in amazement as the police left.
"So. You decided you were my gang," said Hana, her voice level and severe.
The other girls looked scared, but Malika, swallowing, nodded defiantly.
"That's right, boss. We are."
Hana sighed. "Fine. But lose the 'boss' business. I'm Hana."
"All right... Hana," answered Malika, relieved. She'd admired Hana from a distance, and her gamble had paid off.
Judy smiled. Granted, she'd had all of Hana's attention before this, but really, Hana needed more friends. She'd realized that Hana was, deep down, lonely. Now there was a solution.
"So... Malika. Do you girls know how to play Hearts...?"
“I don't believe that you shot the moon again!” Malika threw down her cards in disgust. Judy, in response, suppressed a laugh-- the other girls had figured out what Judy was trying several tricks ago, but had been unable to stop her accumulation of hearts.
“Juds has just had a run of good luck,” grinned Hana. Judy had indeed been doing well in the ongoing game of Hearts, but confidence had been a factor, and hers had gained a significant boost lately-- in a dramatic confrontation, her mother had finally been freed of her father, and, as a result, Judy's home life was hundreds of times happier.
Judy started to speak, but then stopped, staring behind Hana's head. Hana, in turn, spun around.
Sorcha Burr, accompanied by three of her girls, had walked up to the table. Moreover, Sorcha had changed her look dramatically-- her long, flowing red hair had been mostly shaved away into a Mohawk, and she now sported a nose ring.
Malika jumped to her feet, followed by several of the other girls. Hana didn't rise, but she fixed Sorcha with the hostile glare that had only grown stronger over the last year.
Sorcha took an involuntary half-step back from Hana's gaze, and raised her hands.
“Hold on there, Jeong. Tone the gaze down. I'm not here for a fight.”
“So what do you want, Burr?” Hana was puzzled-- they'd had many fights over the past year or two, and while Hana had been pulling ahead in the battles of late, the older girl was not to be underestimated under any circumstances.
Sorcha nodded to her girls, and they all sat down at the table together, Malika and the others following Judy's lead in making room for them. Sorcha looked around the table at everyone, and then, making up her mind, shrugged.
“I'm wanting you to deal me in... boss.”
A stunned silence passed around the table. Half of Hana's gang started to talk at once, but Hana cut them off with a gesture.
“'Boss?'”
Sorcha grinned sheepishly, an expression that no one present had seen her with in living memory. “Yeah. See, the problem is that you're crazy. I mean, stand up to me, outnumbered, sure, why not? You're good, and you're brave, and you don't back down. I can respect that, even though I'm gonna fight you over it. But you don't stop there, do you? You really don't care who you're up against. I finally figured it out last Saturday. When the bobbies show up, you never run. That's crazy.”
Hana shrugged. “I don't back down. What's your point?”
Sorcha sighed. “I can't beat that. No matter how tough and crazy I get, I can't beat that. So I give up. You're the toughest girl in Bales. Nothing left to do but go along with you, really. I'd just look a fool if I kept fighting you. I'd rather win by fighting next to you.”
There was another long pause.
“You mean that.”
Sorcha nodded. “Yeah. I do.”
“Fine,” said Hana. “I guess we deal you in, then. Judy, you deal again, I guess...”
“...I mean, how can she keep missing that? Jason's practically tripping over himself any time that he sees her,” said Malika, impatiently. “He's got it so bad for her, and he's actually polite, and smart, and he'd treat her well. Why doesn't Judy respond to him? Hasn't she noticed?”
Sorcha shook her head. In the time that she'd gotten to know Hana's family and inner circle, she'd quickly come to understand a great deal of the dynamics.
“Judy knows, Mal. Judy knows all about it. That's why she ignores him. She's not interested-- haven't you noticed? She's got her eye on somebody else-- someone considerably less polite.”
“Who, Dae-Jung?” Malika didn't think that it was true-- Judy certainly didn't pay particular attention to any of Hana's brothers, that she'd seen.
Sorcha laughed. “Oh, Mal... How did you miss this? Judy's not into boys. She's got a crush on Hana.”
Sitting nearby, a younger girl sat up straight. She casually brushed at a strand of her brightly-dyed hair and leaned backwards slightly, to hear more clearly.
Malika stared for a long moment. “She's a... she's interested in Hana? But... I mean, Hana's not... is she?”
“They aren't,” said Sorcha, firmly. “Hana hasn't noticed. Honestly, I don't think that Hana gets it at all. Have you noticed? Talk about boys with Judy and she'll change the subject, but talk about boys with Hana and she just doesn't get it. Anyway, Juds is in love with Hana, and that's that.”
“But...” Malika didn't understand this at all. Why would Judy be in love with Hana, and not Hana's handsome and clever and nice older brother Jason? “So it doesn't... bother you?”
“Don't be an idiot, Mal. It's the sweetest thing that I've seen in me entire life. I don't know how Hana misses it, and I don't know why she'd pass it up if she did. And,” she continued, firmly, “if I were you, I'd get used to the idea fast, if you're their friend. Judy likes girls. So what? Honestly, I'm not at all sure that it's a bad idea, with most of the boys out there. It doesn't change anything, anyway.”
Malika thought it over for a moment. Likes girls... no, I don't see how that works. But... well, I guess Judy's Judy. It's not like she's trying to grope me or anything. And... maybe Sorcha's thinking that way, too. Hm. I guess that's how things are, though. A sudden thought made her smile. Wait, that means that Jason's got no chance with her. And that means he's up for grabs, really... the more of the girls around that are into girls, the more guys for me. This might be a good thing, after all...
Walking along the street, Judy was talking to Malika in low, urgent tones.
“She's been wearing the same shirt for three days now, Mal.”
Malika glanced over at Emma Fox. Nobody was quite sure at what point, exactly, Emma had become a member of the gang-- the quiet girl had begun hanging out with them several months ago, and since Hana hadn't objected, nobody had chased her off. Since then, she'd accompanied them into not merely card games but fights, acquitting herself with respectable courage and skill. She'd also turned up with bruises that she refused to talk about on several occasions.
“Yeah, I guess she has. What's your point?”
“I think she's not going home,” explained Judy. “Did you notice? She's finishing off everyone's leftovers like she's not getting food at home. And she never leaves until everyone's gone. I think she must have run away.”
Malika digested this information. “Wow. I'd heard stories about her family, though. Ah... should we tell someone?”
“Who? All they'd do is put her in a home or something, and she'd lose her friends, and probably get treated just as bad,” Judy pointed out. “We can't let her just sleep out in the streets, though.”
Malika thought about it. “Why don't I ask her over tonight? Since my sister got married, we've got a little more space. I think I have some clothes that'd fit her, and mom goes crazy about cooking for company.” Normally, Malika considered her family, especially her mother, far to traditionalistic and embarrassing to expose her friends to, but if it meant that Emma would have a roof over her head, a hot shower, and a full stomach, it was well worth it.
Judy smiled brightly. “Perfect. Thank you, Malika. That's...”
“That's them!”
A few Bales House girls had stepped around a corner. Judy winced at the sight of Carter. Wouldn't she learn? This time, though, something was different.
A large party of older boys were walking with them. They looked at Hana's gang with a cruel contempt.
“So these bitches are the ones who were bothering you?” said the oldest. “They don't look like that big a deal. They should just say they're sorry. How about it girls, want to say you're sorry? We won't be too rough on you. Maybe you'll even learn to like it.” He licked his lips in anticipation-- several of these girls were very pretty.
“Shove off,” answered Hana, simply. She turned a baleful gaze on the boys and Carter, and Carter moved to hide behind one of the boys, who chuckled nervously. But why would he be nervous? It was just a bunch of girls, and they were younger than his crew. Not a danger.
“Hey, everybody! Wait up!”
Everyone turned to look at the newcomer. Whoever she was, she didn't fit in at all. Her bright, colorful hair and clothes, her shiny accessories, the expression on her face, the cat-ear headband she wore, all of these identified her as someone who belonged in a brighter-lit section of town. Immediately.
Nevertheless, she skipped lightly up to Hana and Sorcha.
“Hi! I'm Chloe! Listen, I've been trying to catch up to you guys for a while now. I know this is pretty sudden, but I was wondering if I could hang out with you? You look really cool, and...” She stopped, and looked over Sorcha's shaved skull.
“Have you ever thought about getting some temporary tattoos? You could put them on your scalp, right next to your hair-- they'd look so cute on you!”
Hana, boggled, could only stare, unable to comprehend this strange visitor. Sorcha, forced to envision this newcomer trying to festoon her head with temporary tattoos-- no doubt ones of cute butterflies and rainbows and kittens-- found herself compelled to speak.
“Are you mad? D'you even know where you are right now? You aren't part of our crowd. Get lost. You don't fit here.”
Chloe's bright smile began to fade slightly, and the older boy walked up behind her and put a possessive hand on her shoulder.
“The bitch is right, girlie. Why don't you come along with us, huh? When we're done with these girls, it's gonna be a party...”
As he spoke, Chloe reached into her purse. Judy vaguely wondered what she could possibly be reaching for. A cell phone? That seemed the most likely-- surely she realized that calling for help was her best option at this point.
The beer bottle took Judy completely by surprise. Even more so when Chloe spun around, broke it over the boy's head, cutting his scalp, and then slashed it at his face. He managed to raise his hand in time to protect his eyes, but his blood spattered Chloe's still-grinning face. Her voice was bright and cheerful as she spoke.
“I think the party starts right here! Paaarty tiiiime...” she continued, in a dreamy, sing-song voice, as she advanced towards the boys.
Hana caught Judy and Sorcha's eyes, and they moved in quickly, followed by the rest of the girls. After an introduction like that, it wouldn't do to be spectators at a fight. And Carter needed to be taught to not hide behind older boys, in any event.
Afterwards, Hana looked at Chloe with a new respect. She'd lost her cat ears, was cut and bruised, had lost her bottle, and had broken several nails when she continued to fight, unarmed... but she had only laughed throughout the entire fight.
“You're mad,” Hana said. “You know that, right?”
Chloe shrugged. “I don't care. Are you sure that I can't hang out with you?”
Hana stared, and then laughed.
“Fine. If you're mad enough to do all that, I'd better just let you stay. Do you play cards?”
“I'll learn!” promised Chloe, her grin broader than ever.
