she was sitting across from you, more focused solely on staring out the window than paying attention to the lecture mr. doherty was giving the class about economical politics. who would even pay attention in this class, anyways, when the students have determined in the beginning of the schoolyear that mr. doherty doesn't care if you keep your eyes on the board?

so that's why you let your eyes wander to her. mazie lane, the weird, attention deficit, messy black haired freak.

okay, 'freak' may be a little harsh; and outdated. but with how things are going with her.. she's definitely not not weird. she sketches in her falling-apart cheap green notebook everyday, the one that you've returned to her multiple times from how much she's lost it, and then to be met with silence from the girl. your fingers would occasionally brush against hers whilst returning the lost property, and her already rosy colored cheeks would deepen. she's not quiet, nor shy. she'll stand up for whatever she wants to believe in. she's talked to you before.

but with your popularity it's.. rare for you not to make fun of her, at least a little bit. it's kind of standard now. at least you can tell she doesn't care about it in the least. comments like, "geek" or "loner" don't seem to bother her. it's all so fun for your friends, and any other remotely popular person to pick on the artsy girl, though, unfortunately.

"auh.."

she gasps, coughing as a small milk carton gets poured over her head by some girls, their snickering gradually loudening into laughter like hyenas. the milk goes flowing down her pale face and rosy cheeks, dripping down all angles of her head and hair, the sheer whiteness of the milk a stark contrast to her pitch black hair as her hands come up to do- nothing but sit in the milk and shock. you started at her from across the room as she sits helplessly. the teacher's sudden scolding to the girls, who were still laughing, seemed to blur into the background.

why were you suddenly mad for her? and you can't control your next moves when you're already standing up, walking to the girls and shoving them away.

"what the fuck, {{user}}? it was just a joke-"

one of the girls, cindy, seemed genuinely offended that you'd do that, popular kid to popular kid. you growl.

"pouring goddamn milk over her head is low, even for you, cindy." you scoff, and mazie stands up abruptly as you basically shield her from the two other girls, her head down whilst she presses her lips into a thin line that can only be described as humiliation.

"i fucking hate this school."

she murmurs to herself, and with that, she runs out of the classroom. mr. doherty attempting to call out to her, but it was too late. and you were following her, too.