School was finally over, and Jocelyn made a beeline for the exit the moment she was released from her final class. She didn’t stop to wait for Tony, or take a moment to pause by her locker to relieve herself of some of her books, she went straight out the front doors of the school to wait for the buses to be loaded up and released. Her brother would be waiting amongst the line of cars that would eventually drift down the street in front of the school to pick up awaiting kids, and then she would be free to do what she wanted for the remainder of the day, without having to be bothered by anyone else. The day had been a total nightmare as far as she was concerned, and all that mattered to her was getting off the school grounds without any further incidents occurring that may possibly get her into trouble. Luck, however, was not on her side, and as Jocelyn took up a position on the sidewalk in front of the school, she quickly surrounded by Jenna and her little group of airheads, all of whom looked like they were out for blood. Jocelyn was outnumbered, four to one, but she did not show any signs of being nervous in the slightest.

Wearing her most cynical smirk, she glanced at the four girls around her, giving them her best ‘Are you serious?’ expression. Quirking a brow at the group’s ring leader, she folded her arms across her chest, her spine straightening up to place herself at her full height, which was a good four inches taller than the tiny blonde who was doing her best to look intimidating, but failing miserably. “What’s the matter, Jenna? Get lost on your way to your car? I knew you were stupid, but I didn’t figure you were that stupid.” She taunted, struggling not to laugh when the other girl’s face turned a bright shade of red. Jocelyn didn’t get to enjoy the girl’s speechlessness for long, a shove to her shoulder forcing her forward into the smaller girl, who surprisingly managed to shove Jocelyn back. “You think you’re funny, don’t you bitch?” Jenna snapped, punching her fist into the palm of her other hand. “Let’s see how funny you are now, freak.”

Jocelyn could have easily taken on all four girls if she wanted to, especially since she knew all they could manage was a cat fight with lots of scratching and slapping rather than fist flying and headbutts, but she could not fight, no matter how much she wanted to. Getting kicked out was not an option for her, and if she gave into her urge to kick the four girls’ butts, she would end up being forced out of school, and enduring a punishment that would last well beyond her eighteenth birthday. “Is this about the little shove in the locker room? You must have hit your head against the wall harder than I thought if you think you could take me on. Why don’t you go head off to your car before I use your face to mop up the sidewalk? I’m sure your boyfriend wouldn’t want anything to do with you once I was done, and I’d hate to be responsible for a breakup.” Jocelyn warned the girl, who looked uncertain for a moment, at least until her friends grabbed a hold of the redhead’s arms and held her back from being able to punch Jenna back. Jenna gained a moment of confidence, certain that Jocelyn was restrained enough for her to throw a punch without retaliation, but before the blow could come, a familiar voice cut through the group, one that Jocelyn was both grateful, and irritated to hear. “I know you girls aren’t about to fight. Jenna, I’m certain you don’t want me to talk to Coach Rosco and have you cut from the cheerleading squad. After all, what kind of cheerleader attacks a fellow student? That’s not showing school spirit very well, now is it?”

Jenna balked, but backed away from Jocelyn, her friends releasing their grip on her arms, but giving her small shoves to try and knock her down. She didn’t budge much, but she did manage to cast a glance over her shoulder to take note of who it was that had been holding her, making a point to remember faces and names for future reference. “This isn’t over yet, freak.” Jenna hissed threateningly to Jocelyn in a low whisper, the redhead smirking faintly at the words of intimidation. “I’m so scared. Bring it on you pathetic bitch. Next time one on one, or are you so weak you can’t fight your own battles?” Jocelyn growled back, her words loud enough for the entire group to hear. The three other girls began to close in on her again, and rather than allow them to grab her limbs as they had before, she throw her backpack off her shoulders and turned to face the other three. “You bitches want in on it too? I’ll kick your….”

“Jocelyn, that’s enough.” Snapped the female voice that interrupted what had been the start of a fight before, the owner of said voice stalked toward the group, pushing her way into the center beside Jocelyn. “I suggest you girls go to your vehicle before I change my mind and call the principal out here. You do know a suspension now and you will not be permitted to go to prom.” The group of girls all glared at Jocelyn, but made no further move to go near her, instead they gathered together to make their way to the parking lot, leaving Jocelyn alone with her art teacher, Miss Dominque. “I could have handled them. They’re a bunch of wusses. Jenna would have gone down in one hit.” Jocelyn gripped without the same bite in her voice that she had spoken with to the girls. The older woman chuckled, bending down to grab a hold of the straps of Jocelyn’s backpack and handing it off to the girl. “I know you could have, but you would have been kicked out of school, and they would have gotten a slap on the wrist.” Jocelyn took her bag from her teacher and shoved her arms through the straps, making a quick adjustment as she listened to the woman continue to speak. “Besides, I don’t think you’d want your brother turning up in the middle of a schoolyard brawl.” 

Jocelyn sighed heavily, but nodded her head in agreement. All she needed was for her brother to turn up in the middle of her fighting; she’d never hear the end of it. “I’ve got to go finish up bus duty. Do you think you can stay here by yourself without getting into any more trouble before your brother turns up?” The teacher asked, earning herself another reluctant nod from Jocelyn. Without wasting any more time, the woman walked off to finish up her job, leaving Jocelyn alone to fume over the fact she had not been able to kick Jenna’s butt and hopefully earn herself a break from the girl’s taunting for a while. She still had to wait for the buses to leave the school grounds before the cars would be waved through, but she could manage that without attracting any more trouble; at least she hoped she could.