Yeah right.

As she’s about to take another step towards me I see her slammed from the side to the ground. I jump almost a foot in the air from the shock of the action occurring a few feet from me. I’m more surprised to see Ashley straddling Carmen’s hips pummeling her with punch after punch. Ashley’s mumbling things incomprehensible, like in A Christmas Story when Ralphie was beating up that bully and no one could understand what he was saying. Yeah, that was what was happening right now.

It takes me a second to comprehend that Ashley was beating the ever-living shit out of Carmen but when realization hits I tear Ashley off of the poor girl. It took almost all my strength but I finally pulled her into my dorm room and sat her down on my bed. I kneeled in front of the enraged Ashley, with tears filling her eyes, and rubbed her legs. When she finally came to, she looked down at her beat-red, swelling hands and then to me with confusion and sadness on her face. She burrows her head into my neck and allows her tears to take over. I embrace her in a hug, rubbing her back in hopes of soothing her. Then I remembered Carmen and how she’s probably lying in the hallway.

“Stay here.” I whisper to Ashley. She nods her head and I make my way to the doorway. I look into the hallway and am surprised when I see that Carmen’s not there. Maybe now she knows to leave me alone, I think Ashley made that clear. I turn back to where Ashley is sitting with her head in her hands. I sit beside her and rest my hand on her leg. She looks at my hand and covers it with her own and her eyes trail over my arm and then find my eyes. She’s stopped crying but her eyes are still stained red. I give her an understanding smile and pull her into me; she easily accepts and rests her head on my shoulder.

“Holy shit! What the fuck was that?” I had completely forgotten Kyla was still here and had seen everything. I let out a chuckle and look back at her.