Viral by Alex Van Tol Page A

kick his ass in the gym any day.
    Josh looks up. I give him the faintest of nods. I don’t know how to negotiate this kind of thing, so I just plow in.
    â€œPretty crazy video that’s going around, eh?” I say.
    He studies me coolly. “What video is that?”
    â€œI think you know the one,” I say. “It involves you. And a very drunk girl at a party.”
    He’s trying to look like he has no idea what I’m talking about. I expected as much.
    I push on. Right now it’s just the two of us, and I don’t know how long I have until his buddies arrive.
    â€œI know you’re behind it,” I continue. “You and your friend Bryce.”
    Josh narrows his eyes. “What are you talking about?”
    I force myself to keep an even tone. “I’m talking about last Friday’s party, Josh. When you and your friend took a girl—and your camera phone—into the bedroom. She was drunk and high. Remember that? Or have you forgotten?” I reach into my pocket and pull out my cell phone. “Want me to refresh your memory? I have it right here. As does pretty much every other person in the entire school.”
    Josh looks at me for a moment. Then he smirks. “I’ve seen the chick in that video,” he says. “Looks like a nice little piece. But I don’t know anything about it.”
    â€œI think you know quite a bit about it,” I say. “And guess what? What you did is illegal.” I drop my voice. “Could cause you some ugly trouble if you were ever to be brought up on charges.”
    His expression doesn’t change. He’s good at this acting thing.
    â€œWhy would I be charged?” he says. Smooth as silk. “There’s no proof that it’s me. Nobody knows who either of those people are in the video.”
    I shake my head. It’s my turn to smile. “That ‘nice little piece’? She’s my best friend. And I’m the one who put her back together once you guys left the party.”
    Josh’s smile falters a bit.
    I spot my opening and go in for the kill.
    But I don’t get the chance. As I open my mouth to tell him I’m going to the cops with it, he lunges at me. I’m not expecting it. He comes at me from the third stair, catlike, knocking me flat on the concrete. Before I can roll out from under him, his fist slams into the side of my face. Things go black on that side for a few seconds. Blurry on the other.
    I bring my hands together and smash them across his neck. He grunts and swoops backward, catching himself before he hits the pavement. I roll to the side and take another hit to the face. I roll again, twice, to get away from him and gather my legs under me. Something warm drips into my mouth.
    I spit. Blood.
    More comes. I spit again.
    Then I’m up, charging at him like some kind of deranged bull. I’ve never been in a fight before. All I know is that I want to take this guy out. I want to win. I want to have the last word.
    The top of my head connects with the center of his chest. I can almost see the POW! in bold zap lettering, like something out of a Batman comic.
    Josh’s feet actually leave the ground. He flies backward, crashing against the side of a black pickup truck. He grabs at the mirror but misses and slides to the ground. Then I’m on top of him, pinning him against the door. Gripping the bottom half of his face with my hand.
    I sit on his knees to stop him from getting up.
    Josh’s hands grab my wrist, trying to pull my hand away from his face.
    But I won’t let him. I hook my finger and thumb around the back of his jaw. If he pulls my hand off, the lower half of his skull is coming with it.
    I whack the back of his head into the truck a couple of times. Just to get his attention. He groans. There’s nothing else he can do. He can’t talk, because my hand’s clamping his jaws shut.
    I lean in nice and close so he can hear