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Being a new girl in a new school and a freshman at that meant that Dessie was alone most of the time, something that the girl preferred. It also helped keep her out of trouble, again something she tried hard to do. So it was with annoyance when Dessie rounded a corner at her new school to find a nearly empty dead end hall, or at least dead end as far as she could tell. She still didn't know the building well enough to know if any of the doors in the wall led to anywhere in particular.

The hall was occupied by four guys, three obviously intimidating the fourth. The ringleader was getting in the smaller boy's face and even though Dessie promised Xander she wouldn't get into fights this was a situation the blond couldn't stand. Without focusing on any of the guys she made her way down the hall and deliberately stepped between the leader and the guy he was messing with. "You are in my way." She said it dispassionately and without a care, hoping to get the much larger guy to back away. Instead he took in the girl now standing in front of him and the sneer changed to a leer and he actually hit on her, "You wouldn't happen to need a 'guide' around the building would you new girl?"

Dessie was not stupid and knew exactly what kind of guide the bully was offering to be. Her fingers flexed around her school bag, itching to punch that look out of his eyes but instead she glanced at him and said in a condescending voice, "If I wanted a guide dog I would find something cuter like a mexican hairless or one with more balls like a chihuahua." She could see the anger building, if he swung first Dessie had the excuse of defending herself. Internally she smiled as she added even more insults to the mix, "Are you just dumb rather then deaf and dumb? Your in my way. Move before I make you."

Dessie did not appreciate the interruption but it was amusing to see someone else who was willing to step into a dangerous situation to make things right. She was watching the new guy and sadly didn't see one of the bullies come too close. Dessie was shoved hard into the wall, her bag taking most of the force but it took her a moment to catch her breath.

When she looked up her eyes practically flashed in rage. All she wanted to do then was teach these meat heads not to mess with someone smaller then them. She waded into the fight, pulling one of the smaller bullies off of her 'hero' and gave him a black eye, he swung back and split her lip. Dessie smiled mercilessly and kneed him in the family jewels. This was no street fight where there were rules... sorta... taking shots like that helped even the odds and it felt good to vent a bit of her frustrations. Since he was currently curled up on the linoleum groaning Dessie figured he was done in the fight and turned back to the fight.

The second bully she yanked at elbowed her in the gut. She had to retreat for a few moments to catch her breath before wading once more into the fray. Xander couldn't blame her on this one. Her grin helped split her lip just a little bit more, not that she cared. By the end of the fight she would likely have more scrapes and bruises as well but these guys would learn a valuable lesson. Don't mess with her.

Dessie backed away from the teacher that had reached out to get a hold of her, "Please don't" It was said quietly but with force. Fighting was one thing but casual touch she couldn't stand. Luckily one of the teachers that had come to break up the fight was aware of her extreme dislike and quietly pulled the lady back. Instead she stood by Dessie's side to act as a controlling factor but still respect the young girl's boundary. Only a hand full of the teachers on staff knew Dessie's dislike and even fewer were aware of the reasoning behind it. When they got dragged to the principals office some of it could at least be twisted to benefit Dessie and Darren.

When asked who was telling the truth Dessie eyed the coach. The street rat in her wanted to just cut and run... or even pull the sweet little girl hurt routine but Dessie promised Xander she would stay out of trouble and she didn't think he would appreciate any fake tears she could generate. Besides how else could you explain away her cuts and bruises. With a general plan of action in her mind she answered, "Not at first. They were picking on the other kid and I stepped in." She looked over at the kid who was standing behind all the teachers that had gathered. "I didn't touch them. Just told them to move." Dessie looked over at the leading bully and stared at him as she told the rest, "When he 'propositioned' me the other guy came in and that's when those three jumped him. Shoving me into the wall to begin with."

She indicated her bag that was still against the wall and tweaked the story just a bit to spin it in their favor, after all Xander wouldn't be happy one way or another. "I jumped in to help break it up but they were wailing on him pretty well," she nodded to Darren, "It was good that you guys came when you did." It never hurt to stroke the ego of the people in charge when you were in trouble.

"I did not! Dont even know what propa....propositon is man!" The bully yelled as he looked around at the group of teachers and his friends, the one Dessie had kicked in the jewels was standing with the help of on of the male teachers. The other was being held by yet another teacher and looked like he would need to go to the nurse as blood trickled slightly from his nose.

Dessie remained contained by her teacher until they reached the office and the young girl saw police officers. It was hard for her not to react like she had countless times in the past, by running. She hugged herself tightly trying to tamp down the ingrained knowledge that she was going to be arrested and sent back to her father. It didn't matter that she was now legally adopted and couldn't be sent back to the trailer she ran away from over a year ago.

When one of the cops approached her she flinched away instinctively. He stood quietly and acted as if she was a wild animal, his voice was a quiet hum as he got her to sit and before Dessie realized it she was explaining what had happened. She said that she stepped between the bigger guy and the younger student but no physical contact was made. She heard him imply possible 'favors', that made her unconsciously guard herself further with her arms crossed over her chest and her eyes jumping across the room as if looking for an escape route. In all fairness she did explain that she might have just misunderstood him, but she didn't think so. And then she came to the fight.

The officer quietly asked if she knew who first threw a punch, it was the bully. Why did she join in the fight, cuz three against one wasn't fair. Something about the haunted look in her eyes and the guarded stance she had prompted the officer to ask quietly if she needed a doctor. She shook her head, what she couldn't deal with Xander could.... Xander! Oh god.

Her face turned pasty white as she remembered her guardian. He will be so pissed with her. He told her no to get into fights at school. She blanched at the imagined reaction when he got the call at the hospital. The officer saw her reaction and reached out while asking if she was ok. Once more she flinched back and vehemently assured him she was ok but just needed time to herself. He left her in her chair in the corner with the one teacher at a discreet distance away. He returned to the rest of the group confused. She was quite a mystery and more digging likely would need to be done since he knew there was more going on then Dessie was willing to admit.

Dessie had sat there quietly as the rest of the interviews were done as her mind twisted back and forth. How was she going to explain the fight to Xander? He distinctly told her not to get into fights. Could she get all her stuff together out of the house before he got home?

She had once more slipped into thinking from the time before she entered the city when she ran from home. Her old man would have been s**t faced drunk by now and would not appreciate a call from the local sheriff. She would have to be looking for a place for the night at least if not for longer. She could fight him off but it wasn't worth the pain of trying so she normally split. She split for good after she couldn't get away one night and he ended up pounding on her pretty good.

Dessie was pulled from her thoughts when the same cop once more approached. She shook her head, no way did she want a police record with her name on it if there wasn't one already. He assured her that unless she herself wished to press charges there wasn't anything more for the police to do but he did explain the school still had to deal with the fight using their own policies. Their parents or guardians would all be called and punishments would be handed out. Dessie glanced at her teacher who nodded in agreement, she wouldn't be able to slip away before Xander showed up.

Dejected Dessie nodded showing she understood that the much more tedious procedures for school discipline was about to begin. She and the guy who helped her were lead to and left in a empty office, the door open and a teacher at a desk outside working on papers. They would have to wait till their parents showed up before the 'sentencing' could begin. She eyed the guy and quietly said, "you have some skills, not that I needed the help." It had been said with grudging respect. She had known few people who would have stepped into the fight.

Dessie unconsciously ran her fingers over her abused knuckles as her eyes roved the small office. Moronic uplifting posters were hung interspersed with various cork boards filled with papers that were too far away, or faded, to make out. Dessie was at a loss what the room could be used for. It was too small for a meeting room but the table and chairs indicated that they at least expected something like that. There wasn't anything to indicate it being a break room. Finding nothing in the room terribly interesting she turned her gaze to Darren.

"Yeah well, you aren't the only one who can't stand bullies." Her smile was cold and tinged with sadness as she remembered the countless times when she herself was a victim. It wasn't something she wanted anyone else to be, not if she had the means to help. She shrugged as she turned her mind to the uncertain future.

Even after all the time she had spent with he Jacobs it was hard for Dessie to wrap her mind around how Xander would react. She only knew how her father would and that did not bode well for her, but Xander did have one major factor in his favor. He had never once raised his hand towards her, and only yelled when he was scared for her safety. Not really knowing how to reply she shrugged again, "new city, new school, new rules.... Anything can happen."

Dessie snorted and a reluctant smile filtered across her face. "It's not terribly to manipulate the cops. Something about looking like a little girl helps. Besides if I had pressed charges I would be in there system as well. Not like those guys will remain from the cops radar if they don't get some brains and soon. How long have they been held back anyway?" Even after a year of no school Dessie never really understood why anyone would take longer to get through it then necessary. She spent months making sure she would be able to keep up and actually graduate.

"I have a feeling they might still be juniors by the time I graduate," Dessie snickered slightly. She really didn't take kindly to bullies. It was sad just how many people she encountered in her travels that liked to bully those that were smaller or weaker than them. The kindness of few were overshadowed by the darkness of most that the young girl encountered on the streets.

Dessie eyed the guy with surprise. It never occurred to her that such a brawler had connections to the cops even though he seemed to stress 'was'. She opened her mouth to ask why 'was' but closed it slowly as a blush filtered across her face. It was none of her business why and she had no real reason to ask other than general curiosity.

Her curiosity turned to outrage. For her the idea of a pissed parent wasn't something that came with just talking or grounding but with whippings and beating. "Why! It wasn't your fault! You didn't do anything." She missed the part of his comment about how he would likely get a talking to and it never even crossed her mind that it was likely what Xander would do as well, truthfully she had no idea how her legal guardian would react.

"Suspension isn't a big deal," she shrugged. The time away from the crowded halls would actually be a good thing since she still wasn't use to this many people all around her. She tried to shrug off her trepidation but shot a glance at the clock. Depending on how busy Xander had been when he received the call her last few moments of quiet might end soon. "You won't get in too much trouble will you?" It was said quietly as she absently rubbed her scraped knuckles. Someone else getting in serious trouble from helping her really bugged her, it was almost as bad as walking away from someone messing with a smaller person.

Dessie eyed Darren, He really didn’t seem to know just how non existent a reason had to be in order for a parent to hurt their child, which was a good thing. It was rather surprising since he was such a good brawler, Dessie learned it the hard way. Apparently he just was interested in fighting or really was that good.

"That's," how does one reply to being told they will be on house arrest for the foreseeable future, "better than nothing I guess." Dessie really didn't know how to do this whole 'small talk' thing.

"Ms. Christianson." A teacher stepped into the doorway. "Dr Jacobs has been contacted. He will be here shortly. Please gather your things and meet him in the principals office."

Dessie rolled her eyes and sighed, time to face the music. The time in the room had helped her regain her emotions. She no longer looked like a scared little girl, rather like one who didn't even care anymore. If you didn't show it it can't be used against you. She grabbed her bag and got up to leave. Dessie hesitated briefly and said quietly, "I hope you get minutes not hours." She would likely be getting a lecture too but a short one is much more preferable than a long one.