31 | ˢᵗᵃⁿᵈⁱⁿᵍ ᵁᵖ ᶠᵒʳ ᴹʸˢᵉˡᶠ

A/N: Please VOTE if you enjoy this chapter! Hope you like it :)

Sophia's POV

It's school again, yay! I internally rolled my eyes and pressed the stop-button of my alarm. I tumbled out the covers and lumped towards the bathroom. I took a shower, did my usual morning routine, and threw on the first items in my wardrobe I could find. (Outfit below >)

I put on mascara and lip gloss, leaving my hair in the position it was right now, too lazy to do anything about it.

I already ate breakfast, so I only grabbed my bag and waved goodbye to my parents before I was out the door.

I listened to my 'Walk to school' playlist, and felt like I were in a movie as some Taylor Swift songs played. I felt the nostalgia rush through my heart and veins. I missed my old town - Liv, the house, the school, and I wanted to thoroughly meet Ben (Liv's boyfriend). Though, I liked it here, a lot. And I was thankful to the people I had met.

The school gates came into view, and I took a deep breath in. Even though I've already been here for a few weeks, I still get anxious walking here alone. My stupid social anxiety never let my mind have some peace, always making me think people are staring at me.

I went to my locker and fetched the right binders and folders for my classes when I felt someone push me against the wall. I stumbled a little, but luckily didn't fall and embarrass myself any further.

I turned around, confused as to who would shove me like that - I knew it wasn't by accident, I still felt the two hand prints on my back from where they touched me.

My eyebrows rose up when I saw three girls standing there, one in the front and two a little behind. I recognised them from somewhere, but couldn't put my finger on it.

"Watch it, Dork," the girl in front spat angrily, a smirk taking place in the corner of her mouth. What? I wasn't even the one who... Never mind. I sighed softly and did the only thing I knew how to - apologised.

"S-Sorry," I muttered quietly. I hate how vulnerable and weak I felt. I hate how I couldn't stand up for myself. I felt frail.

The third girl snickered and whispered to her friend next to her, clear enough for me to hear, "Look at the way she dresses." The two giggled and the one in front snorted, scrutinizing me up and down. I shuffled on my feet, and was about to walk away, getting uncomfortable with their presence. I don't even know them, and what's so funny. Don't I dress 'normal'?

I shut my locker and turned away. And even if my clothes didn't fit in the 'normal' clothes category, why does it bother them? I never did anything to make them bully-

"Sophia!" I heard a voice from behind me, and I spun around. I spotted Natalie leaning against my locker, Leslie beside her. She beckoned me to them. The three girls were still in the middle of the hallway, watching Natalie and Leslie in disgust.

"Y-Yeah?" I asked mildly, looking down at the ground.

"Did they bother you?" Natalie requested, observing my face determinedly.

"Uhm..." I stumbled over my words, not knowing how to react. If I tell the truth, what will she do? What will those girls do to me?

"Tell me the truth, Sophia," she said sternly. Leslie showed her face from over Natalie's shoulder and nodded her head encouragingly.

I made the smallest movement with my head, telling them that yes, they did bother me. Natalie caught the act and pushed herself off the lockers, taking a step forward, closer to the three girls, who were noisily gossiping about us, not even trying to hide it.

"What the hell did you do?" I've never seen Natalie so scary before. Her voice was calm, but the irritation could be heard evidently, which made it all the more scarier. Even I was afraid of what she might do instead of these girls.

"Oh, nothing. Why would you assume we did something?" The girl who was in front, seeming to be the leader, spoke, smirking coolly. This must not be the first time they've interacted like this.

"Don't lie, Carrie," Leslie spoke up, now next to Natalie again. "You're terrible at it." I wanted to follow where this was going, but something caught me off guard.

Carrie? So the girl's - the leader's - name is Carrie. Just like my Carrie, from my old town. My ex-best friend. The one who dumped me because I, apparently, was too 'naive and innocent' for her. She couldn't handle me anymore, so she left. I didn't blame her, though. Sometimes I hate myself, too.

"Oh, the girlfriend's joining in too now, huh," mocked Carrie. The two girls behind her cackled together, outwardly finding this amusing.

"Got a problem with that, Carrie?" hissed Natalie, barely holding in her anger. The way she emphasized her name was pure venom.

"Nope," she popped the 'p'. "It's just sad that you had to turn gay to get into a relationship," she said sassily, twirling her hair between her fingers. My mouth hung open, and Natalie was officially fuming. Even Leslie, the laid-back and happy Leslie, narrowed her eyes. This has to stop fast, before someone gets hurt.

My parents always told me that if I was near a fight, I had to run away or call for help, but I certainly was not going to run away from this. They're my friends, standing up for me because I couldn't.

"Carrie," laughed Natalie dryly, shaking her head. "I get more boys than the three of you combined, and I'm gay." I had to hold back a gasp, and tried to hide the giant grin on my face. The three girls stopped smirking and their eyes turned to slits, murderous looks on their faces.

Carrie took two paces closer, and Natalie was here for it, rolling up her sleeves and putting her shoulder-length, black hair behind her ears. I met Leslie's gaze, wondering why she wasn't doing anything. Why isn't she stopping her?

Leslie shook her head, sending me a small smile. "Let them," she whispered, only for me to hear. "Go to class?" she suggested, her voice sounding concerned.

I pointed towards Natalie with my head, mouthing "what about her?" to Leslie. She simply smirked and shook her head. "She'll be fine. Have you ever seen her fight before?" she asked rhetorically. I opened my mouth nevertheless, I didn't want her to get hurt because of me.

She placed her hand on my arm. "Don't worry, those pussie- uh...chicks won't even be able to lay a finger on her," she smiled soothingly, despite having to reform her sentence for whatever reason. I nodded. If she says so...

"Who even are they?" I questioned curiously. I've seen them before, but...

"Tweedledee, Tweedledum and Tweedle'bout to lose her head," answered Leslie, viewing the beginning of a fight between the girls.

"Hey, Dork!" Carrie exclaimed. I closed my eyes for a moment, then met her gaze. "Too afraid to watch?" She chuckled briefly, though not humorously. "Pathetic," she spat, staring me down. (A/N: Lmao, lmao, Draco Malfoy Simps! Where y'all at?😏)

Leslie went to go in front of me, protecting me from her burning glare. "Shut the hell up," Leslie defended. "Don't back out of the fight already," she said teasingly, though the anger was evident in her tone.

"Carrie." I heard footsteps coming closer, and tightly pursed my lips together. Guess who it was...

I looked over my shoulder, seeing Grayson come nearer to us. By now, I haven't even noticed yet, but most students were gone, already to their classes. We were so gonna be late...

Grayson's face is what made me shudder, the hairs on the back of my neck sprang up as well. His expression, to be specific. It was blank, void of any emotions, and that was the scariest part. But he wasn't facing me, he was looking past me.

Carrie, hearing her name being called, shifted her gaze from Natalie to Grayson. At one point, I actually was really glad he appeared here, just on time. My friend was simply about to bust Carrie's head off.

"Grayson..." She sounded a bit confused, and all her - sorry for my use of language - bitchiness was long gone. She was about to say something else, but got cut off.

"Leave them alone," he grunted out. It was so calm and softly spoken, I hardly heard him.

Carrie's lips parted, as if she were shocked. She recovered from it, though, putting on a frown of frustration and fury. "No. She fucking pushed me!" she shouted, pointing at me. She was accusing me?

Grayson finally made eye contact with me, staring at me for a minute, then went back to the Liar. "Has anyone ever told you before that you are a horrible liar?" he asked her considerately. She scoffed, and Leslie and Natalie snorted, nodding in agreement.

"So, you're really going to defend these losers?" she asked him in disbelief. He didn't give her a reply, only strolled in her direction. As he reached her, he simply pushed pat her and got to her two friends- followers behind her.

He halted right in front of them, standing in the middle. His back was facing me, but I could make out the movements of his jaw, he was speaking to them. Both girls' faces turned from puzzled to afraid. What was he telling them? I had no clue, but I knew for sure that they were about to pee their pants.

When he was finished, he looked over his shoulder, nodding curtly at Natalie and Leslie, they returned the gesture. Then he took me in slowly, and after a second, walked away, without another word. I don't think I've ever been this complexed before...

"Carrie, let's just go," Tweedledee said brusquely once he was out of view. Carrie frowned.

"Why? I'm not done yet," she snarled at me. "Some people still need to learn their place here."

"It's not worth it, Car. C'mon," Tweedledum spoke up for the first time, pulling Carrie's wrist with her. Grayson must've threatened them or something. I couldn't think of anything else, and it did seem like something he would do.

They started walking in the opposite way, until Carrie said her last words to me, "Just because Josephine's not here anymore, doesn't mean you get to do whatever you want to," she warned me, and they were gone.

What does Josephine have to do with this? They were the ones who started this!

"I could fucking kill them," mumbled Natalie furiously, still wanting to fight. Leslie chuckled and grabbed her hand in hers, turning to me.

"You alright? You don't have to worry about them, you know. We, and seemingly Grayson as well," she winked, "have your back." I shot her a shy smile.

"Thanks."

After they rounded the corner, too, I gasped to myself. Class! I'm totally late! And with that, I sprinted across the corridors, since no one else was there to see me, and found the room I was searching for.

I was out of breath when I knocked on the door and carefully opened it, knowing everyone would be staring at me. My cheeks were red and I felt hot, I pulled on my sleeves and began my excuse as to why I wasn't on time. "I-I'm so sorry, Sir. My locker combination wasn't working, so I couldn't get my books." Lying was starting to become a habit of mine, I didn't like it, but it was necessary.

He dismissed me after giving me a disapproving look, and I went to my seat in the middle row. I took out my notebook and began doodling, as I was already not paying any attention to the teacher.

I thought about the events that occurred earlier and sighed deeply. I really need to learn how to stand up for myself, I thought sullenly.

I heard someone - the teacher, I now notice - clear their throat loudly. I snapped my head up, he was ogling me angrily, as if I was getting on his nerves. "Is my lesson boring you, Miss. Ross?" he asked me.

Oh shoot, my sigh must not have been as quiet as I thought it'd be... "Uhm, n-no, Sir. I'm sorry, I'm just really tired," I ranted. He raised his brows.

"And is that my fault?" Did I blame you? I wanted to say back, but bit my lip and only shook my head.

He looked at his watch, then back to me. "First, you come in ten minutes late. Then, you don't pay me any attention at all. And now, you think that in my lesson, you can drift off into a daydream, because you didn't sleep." Why is he making such a big deal out of it? Nothing of this is my fault!

"I apologise, Sir," I said, looking down at my lap, not wanting to see everyone in the room stare at me. He huffed and turned back to the black board. Can today get any better?

And, no, Universe, that is not a challenge.

The rest of the day, I was pretty grumpy and didn't talk all too much, but not enough for Evie and Bella to notice. And that was my plan, not the whole school needs to now about what happened in the hallways. I've received enough attention to last a week.

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A/N: Short chapter and late update, I know, I'm sorry!

Please VOTE, love y'all <3