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look back.  The large faded yellow car from
the student lot approached fast.  I narrowed my eyes, squinting trying to see
the driver.  Squinting hurt my cheek.  Absently, I touched my cool fingers to
it.
    The fire in my cheek dulled in comparison to my anger when I
recognized Brian behind the wheel.  His glare and white-knuckled grip on the
wheel had me spinning away and running toward the field.  I almost fell
scrambling over the frozen tilled clumps.  Running through the field wouldn’t
work.  I’d only made it about five feet in.
    A large overturned stone lay loose on top the hard ground
near my feet.  I picked it up and faced the road waiting to see what Brian
would do.  The car flew past with Clavin hanging an arm out the passenger
window to flip me off.
    I stayed in the frozen field, facing throbbing, watching
them disappear over the next slight rise.  Dread filled me.  The fields gave
way to woods in the direction they’d headed.  The same direction I needed to
go.  The way home.  Did they just drive by to scare me one more time, or did
they have a plan?
    The remoteness of the tree-lined road made it a great place
to catch a lone walker.  My eyes lingered on the dense trees stretching more
than a field’s length on either side.  Tops barren, their thick trunks still
afforded protection.
    Without any other option, I moved back to the road, jogging
along the shoulder, trying to hurry.  I held onto the rock.  Heavy, about the
size of a hardball, I figured I could try to throw it at the windshield if they
decided to come back before I reached the trees.  Apparently, they weren’t
ready to forgive and forget.
    The trees would ensure an even playing field, forcing them
on foot if they really wanted to come after me.  It didn’t take long for my
cold hands to warm up.  Sweat started to dampen the small of my back and
underarms.  My face hurt and without my cool hands to help it, my cheek started
to swell.
    When I topped the next rise in the road, I spotted their car
parked on the west side of the road a fair distance after the start of the
trees.  I couldn’t tell if they waited in the car, or if they already hid in
the woods.  I stopped my approach glancing right then left.  Neither side of
the road presented a better option.  Three fields deep on each side before the
nearest tree line.  They’d spot me before I made it very far and easily cut me
off leaving me exposed in the middle of a hard to navigate the field.  They
could probably see me right now, standing on the rise.  If I turned around,
they’d most likely just follow.
    My stomach churned.  I hated my life, but not enough to walk
willingly into a fight I’d lose.  They’d already bruised my face.  What would
they do to me next?  I couldn’t imagine it would be an apology.  I eyed the
clouds.  I didn’t have time to stand still and debate my next move.  Dusk stole
closer.  I didn’t see that I had any other option.  They were determined to
confront me again.
    Taking a deep breath and gripping my rock, I started the
long walk forward.  The wind blew across the fields playing with my hair and
tickling my ears.  The sweat I’d worked up cooled too quickly.  At least the
chill felt good on my face.
    As I approached, I heard the wind rattling through the
barren branches of the approaching trees and the outline of the car’s two
occupants.  I stayed focused on them.
    Both car doors creaked as Brian and Clavin opened them and
got out.
    I didn’t stop advancing.
    About twenty feet away I called, “How much do you like your
car?”
    Clavin called back, “How much you like your teeth?”
    Well, that made their intent very clear.  I pulled back my
arm and threw the rock at the car’s back window.
    My plan?  Throw the rock as a distraction, run past Brian,
who’d presumably freak about his car, and bolt into the trees in the general
direction of home.
    Instead, I watched in horror as the rock flew straight