As Expected

I walk towards the cafeteria, maybe I can get a snack in, turns out the missing breakfast idea wasn't my best. I hurry along the corridor until I hear it, the sound that's echoed through my life for years, that stops me dead it my tracks.

"Hey Scarface!"

I don't have a scar, it's a play on my name being Scarlet, is it funny? Really, it's been so long that I've forgotten. I turn around to face the pursuers. Amanda, the girl who yelled, led the pack, she's about 3 inches shorter than me, not that it mattered, she has wavy blonde hair, tanned skin, blue eyes, a body to die for, and the attitude is a bull with a red flag taped to it's face. I could describe Jenny, Amanda's BFF, but I'd basically just be repeating myself, they're you're cliche mean girls, turns out, tropes exist for a reason.

Bringing up the rear was Henry, Amanda's boyfriend and he... Okay, honestly, he's not the worst, pretty okay guy all things considered, friendly enough, if not the brightest, but who am I to judge? Problem is, he'd walk through fire for Amanda, so if she doesn't like me, he's not gonna help me. Truthfully, Henry's a 6 foot Rugby player and he's not the one who intimidates me, Hell, if I were straight the curly brown hair and chiselled jaw would probably do it for me, but I'm not, so the one I'm really scared of is the last member of their group, the girl who's face I remember from my dream this morning, I'm terrified of Trish.

Trish is an Angel, or at least she looks like it, chestnut brown hair that cascades down her shoulders, matching brown eyes, and a smile that could kill. Her parents were Indian, so Trish's naturally darker skin contrasted the orange glow of Amanda and Jenny. Her body is something out of a dream, mine specifically, her curves only serving to perfect illustrate how much more adult she was than the rest of us, like she was above it all.

Hear me out, I know it's weird having a crush on the girl who helps bully me, but the thing is, she doesn't, she's actually pretty kind, she'll usually stay quiet then come up with an excuse for them to leave me alone. Not that it always works or anything, but more often than not, if I get out of a confrontation unscathed it was because of Trish. That's what scares me, she has no reason to show mercy on me, so what if one day she doesn't? I'd pretty much lose hope for the future of humankind, what'd I have left to fight for is the girl of my dreams turns out to be as bad as all the rest? Nothing, probably drop out of school eventually, maybe start up an Only Fans for middling money? Get a **** addiction and die in an abandoned car? Okay, maybe I'm being melodramatic, but I never want to find out, I never want Trish to make that decision.

"Are you listening?" Spits Amanda, he face inches from mine, a look of rage on it that could freeze a volcano. "Henry here needs to eat, and the poor boy ran out of pocket change, be a dear and top him up." She orders sweetly, all of them are far more rich than me, they know it, I know it, this isn't a plea, it's a shakedown, and not even because they need it, just to make sure I don't have anything at all to enjoy.

"I don't have anything" I manage to get out of my mouth, doesn't matter how tough you think you are, some people can make you the meekest creature on earth in an instant.

The sound of the slap seemed to hit me before the feeling.

"How could you?" Amanda faux cries, the look of glee on her face giving her away. "My Henry has a match this evening and you're not even willing to spare anything? The poor boy could pass out from hunger! And looking at you, it's not like you need the calories".

I'd like it noted I'm not fat, I'm actually pretty skinny but I suppose when you're 2D anything's thick.

"C'mon Ginger Pubes, you've gotta have something to spare." Snarls jenny with the same maniacal grin, encroaching on me from the side. "Or did you spend all your cash on cheap hair dye?"

"My hair's natural-"

Why did I bother? The second slap stung as much as the first.

"I didn't fucking ask" Jenny sniggers. It's clear that idea of a snack was out the window, the question is, do I give up my cash to try and get out of this situation, or hold on until break ends and I can get away?

I didn't get a chance to decide.

The fist seemed to come out of nowhere, it makes a sound like thunder in the rain, when it connects with Amanda's face. Wait. Amanda's face? I thought I was the one getting beat up? Had Trish snapped and saved me?

"Elise!?" I exclaim, it was all I could think to say, I was dumbstruck, the Mademoiselle retracted her arm as Amanda seemed to fall to the ground in slow motion, Henry didn't have time to react, even Jenny's scream seemed like an eternity. Until I felt a hand on my shoulder, and two words that I was **** to hear.

"Let's go!"

I'm not certain If I decided to or not but suddenly I'm sprinting down the hallway with Elise towards the front entrance, Year 13s are allowed out during free periods, I don't have one but it's not like security is checking. We just keep running, until the school is out of sight. I try to catch my breath and figure out what just happened.

"What did you do?" I ask, but I can barely get it out before I start laughing, seriously, what just happened?

"I don't like cruelty" Elise pants simply. "I stood by a lot when I went to school in Paris, ignored good people in trouble, I just couldn't do it again." She explains between breaths, a smile forming on her face.

"But you don't even know me." I argue, this still doesn't seem real, "You could be in real trouble, and not just with the school."

"Maybe" She concedes, with that accent even her admissions feel like honey on my ears. "But I'll be able to sleep at night, besides, they were assholes, if everyone else is like that, and they all hate you, seems like you're the best company, no?"

I don't know how to react to that, so I just smile. Guess that's one friend? I mean, literally don't know her last name, but it's a start. Maybe the world isn't as hopeless as I thought.

"We should head home, school's probably calling our parents as we speak, my Mum's gonna kill me." I think aloud, I really hope she's nipped out, not gonna rely on my luck though, feel like I've used it all today.

"My Mama only speaks French, I'm not worried!" Elise explains, "And My Papa will probably congratulate me, he hates bullies. Maybe I should come with you? Explain to your Mama?" This can't be real, I think to myself, no one's this nice, am I just being paranoid? Do I bring her with me?