"Hey! Someone stop that little bitch!" One of the other lads roared, dragging Hugh’s attention back over to the side of the field once more, just in time to see you kick the ball they were playing with over the wall that separated the park from the river.

"You fucking idiot!" Danny roared, stalking toward you. "That was my ball!'

"Oh yeah?" Hugh heard you shout back at him, while moving to stand in front of Gibsie. "Well, now it belongs to the fish."

"If you know what's good for ya, you'll get my ball now."

"And if you know what's good for you, you and your asshole friends willare my nd alone!" Looking furious, you pointed to Gibs, who was sitting up again, Claire held the sleeve of her jumper to his nose. "You have the nerve to call Gibs ‘Fatty'? At least when he bleeds actual blood comes out. If we poked a hole in your fat ass, tomato sauce would come out!"

Now, everyone was laughing again, but at Danny's expense this time.

"Do you want to say that to my face?"

"I thought I already had," You shot back sarcastically. "But do you at un ind for me to tell your other side, you two-faced prick?" "Enough of your lip," Danny seethed, closing the space between them, as he pointed toward the river. "You better climb in there and get it back.”

You stood your ground and glared up at him in defiance. "I would rather shit in my hand and clap."

"Get my ball, bitch, Danny threatened, pushing his chest against you. “Now.”

"Get it yourself, bitch." You hissed, shoving him backwards. “And get out of my face."

Hugh was already moving toward you to break up the fight, but when Dany pushed you hard enough to knock you over, he saw red.

"Hey!" Bolting toward you, Hugh fisted the back of Danny' jersey and dragged him away from you. "Back the fuck off!"

"She kicked my ball into the fucking river." Danny argued, trying and falling to step around Hugh in his bid to get to you. "She's getting my goddamn ball back, Hughie!”

"Fuck your ball," Hugh roared, slapping down the fist he had reared back that was intended for you. "And fuck you for even thinking about it."

"What the hell is wrong with you, Biggs?" Danny demanded, turning his fury on him now. He pushed his chest against Hugh’s and hissed. "We've been friends since we were four and you're taking that bitch's side?"

"Call her a bitch one more time and you're going to find out how much on her sie I am," Huhh warned, squaring up right back at him. "And if you ever think about putting your hands on her again, I’ll take the head clean off ya.”

"Whoa, lads." That was Robbie Mac as he and Feely pushed between the two. "Settle down, Dan," He coaxed, trying to steer his asshole best friend out of harm's way. "It's just a ball, lad. It's not that deep."

"He's a pussy-whipped prick," Danny shouted, louder now that Robbie had moved him out of punching range. "Do ya hear me, Biggsie? That little bitch has you whipped big-time, lad."

"Keep the head, Hughie," Feely instructed, keeping a firm grip on his shoulders. “Keep the head, lad."

"Hey, Danny!" You stalked across the pitch to where he was being held back by Robbie. "Wait, I forgot to give you something."

"Bitch, the only thing I want from you is my ba-allI!!" Danny's words broke off into a high-pitched scream when you kicked him right in the gonads.

"That's for laughing at my friend," *You hissed, planting your hands on your hips. "And for calling him fat."

Folding like a pancake, Danny rolled around on the grass, whimpering and cupping his junk.

"And if you think you're in pain now, just wait, asshole, because if you even think about calling him names again—“ You paused to jab a thumb in Hugh’s direction, before continuing. "I’ll do a hell of a lot more than kick you in the balls."

Crouching down so he would hear you, you spat. "I will cut them out of your gooch and feed them to your bitch-ass friend."