They were looking at me as if I were an animal. Where I come from what happened was a sign of disrespect that was acted out publicly so it should be handled publicly. I thought that if this country bumpkin and her girls got away with this, there would be others testing us in no time. Michelle believed that Tommy should handle that, I believed that Tommy didn’t have a strawberry martini stain on his new shirt so it wasn’t exactly his beef anymore. I knew the girls weren’t habituated to this behavior; it was a culture shock to even see me behave as if the woman had hit me. In my opinion, the only reason people should fight would be because they were hit, anything else was uncivilized. I knew Michelle’s beliefs were identical to the other girls’, but she dare not share them. Michelle knew that as much as I had changed from the first time I’d met her, I was still Rayna and that was a girl from the hood who didn’t take any shit.
“Michelle, I know that you ain’t no fighter so I’m gonna take this one.” I gazed in Michelle’s fearful eyes that were now emerald green. I knew she’d preferred going right home and bypassing it all but I couldn’t drop it. “The only thing that I ask from you is that if somebody jumps in, ya’ll pick up a stick, rock or whatever and knock them the hell out!” I shot April and Britni an admonitory glance with a “matter-of-fact” glare. “If ya’ll don’t intend on helping, leave. But when I see you, I am busting your ass!”
The opposing team of girls walked outside and talked amongst themselves, making threats as to what they were going to do. A few of the girls looked as afraid as April and Britni. Tiny yelled out, “So what y’all wanna do?”
Deep down inside Tiny didn’t think I had the heart to let anything go down. She thought that Michelle’s whole crew was as meek as she was. But she had to offer something before leaving.
“We ‘bout to bang out…me and you, fam!” I declared to Tiny.
“Me and you? This your girl beef, not yours.” Tiny brows were knitted. I could tell she really wanted a taste of Michelle, but not if I could help it.
“She don’t get her nails broke up and dirty. When it’s time to bang out, that’s what I’m here for,” I said with my fists in the air.
I was ready, too anxious to be scared. It was do or die and I had no intentions on losing that night. Michelle had become to mean a lot to me in those short three years. She was loyal and no matter how much I pushed her away, feeling the need of solitude, she stayed in my face, never bowing down. She made sure I didn’t isolate myself into obscurity. She protected me when her friends challenged my urban style and less than refined mannerisms. She identified and nursed my insecurities with no ulterior motives. She was honest and vulnerable, knew when to push me and call me on my shit. She had become my new family. I knew that I’d always protect her.
Tiny answered my challenge when she agreed, “A’ight,” and took off her necklace and charged towards me with her hands up. Michelle’s hand rose to her chest. Tiny threw the first punch. When I didn’t hit back right away all three girls gave pronounced gasps and begged me to walk off. I ignored every heeding focusing on the task at hand. With the second punch Tiny threw, it was a wrap. I hit her with two quick blows making sure to hit the center of her face. Tiny began to stumble. That’s when I grabbed her by the hair and kneed her in the face causing blood to splatter everywhere. One of Tiny’s girls, Toya, ran to jump in. I felt her strike me in the back of the head. It didn’t faze me much. With Tiny’s hair still deep in my grip, I forcefully swung her into Toya and they both fell. When another friend of Tiny’s jumped in, Michelle wasn’t too far behind her striking her over the head with her shoe. Tiny, Toya, and the last girl to jump in all got up. Tiny and I started going at it with Tiny being no competition, she was too slow. April and Britni jumped in and began throwing misaimed punches. By this time, the police had arrived and began breaking us apart.
Thankfully, we were able to go home without being arrested. I had the opportunity to press charges because witnesses saw Tiny throw the first punch, but I declined to do so. That was one the laws of the streets, there was no pressing of charges when two people wanted to battle each other.
That night back at the dormitory, the girls gathered and discussed the night’s events. It took Michelle to break the ice. The other girls didn’t know what to say. I sat on my bed taking off my shoes and clothes and inventoried my body. I was a little scratched up, but I knew I’d live. Britni and April sat on Michelle’s bed looking nervous, while Michelle kept pacing the room.