4

Me and Iris followed the rest of the people inside the room and we, along with the rest, took our seats.

While everyone was getting settled and packing out their stuff, high heels clicking on the floor grabbed my attention. Iris nudged my leg with hers, signaling me to look up and stop fiddling around in my backpack.

My eyes meet professor standing right in front of my desk. She stared down at me for another second before placing a small Lindt milk chocolate stick on my desk. All I did was stare at it, a bit confused, before she spoke.

"It's for helping me mark yesterday." She said, almost struggling to give me a thanks.

A few suspicious and confused stares went our way, including Iris.

I tried my best to ignore all the eyes on us and just kept staring up at her. "Oh, you didn't have to, professor. It was just my good deed for the day."

The side of her lips curled into the tiniest grin before she steps back. Her eyes left mine, now staring the entire class down like a hawk. Grabbing the chocolate, I place it in my backpack and took out my laptop and book. From the corner of my eye, I caught Iris staring at me, so I turn to her. She furrowed her eyebrows at me, then at professor, then back at me. Slowly, she turned her attention to professor again as the lesson finally started.

"Now that we're on the topic of tests... I'm disappointed. Victoria was the only one who actually gave it her all."

A quiet scoff from behind echoed through to the front of the classroom.

It didn't go unnoticed by professor. She tilted her head to the side, crossing her arms. Her eyes could burn through anything.

Everyone looked back at what professor was giving the death stare at.

Elijah, the guy who's the king of homecoming. All the girls always want to dance with him. He wins every football match and secretly smokes behind the Biology building on campus.

Professor said lowly, "Anything you want to say?"

"Yes actually." The brown haired boy snarled, "Everyone knows she has the best marks. It's not fair that we need to actually study and learn Spanish when she actually speaks the language."

Her eyebrow raised, "Oh, you study? Your marks says otherwise, Mr. Grundling."

The entire class wasn't prepared for professor to fire back at Elijah. Everyone just went quiet, even him. His face turned red and he scoffed as he looked away.

I held back a laugh, looking at Iris, she did too.

It feels good seeing someone else get karma. It was me who marked his test after all. If I truly know him, he won't go telling his parents about his test. He simply never even told them about that he wrote one. I can use it as my advantage, easily blackmail him. It would be a shame if his parents found out one way or another that he got 28%.

"W-Whatever." He mutters.

Garcia takes a deep breath in before getting the tests from her desk.

"On that note, I'll hand it out so that we can work through it together..."

I turned the corner with Iris talking my ears off about what Xavier has planned for their Valentines. It's still a week before the day of love and people are starting to realize that. I've walked pass way too many people talking about what they and their lover's are going to do. I've heard museums, picnics, going out to the movies. Some couple said they're going to make cute little pizza hearts together.

That makes me feel so single.

Though, sometimes it's nice being single. No need for commitment.

Xavier's planning on taking Iris to the beach. I'll probably tag along as a third wheel.

All of the sudden, I bump into someone while coming from another corner.

"Watch it!"

One of the blondies. All their voices sound the same, high-pitched, bratty tones.

Once my eyes meet hers, I expected to see Cheryl, the top dog, or shall I say leader of their plastic pack.

Instead, ocean blue eyes stared back in mine.

Carol.

Though, they were glossy and a bit red underneath. It's a shame such a good-looking girl like her is friends with Cheryl. Unlike her boss though, she actually rejects most of the guys while Cheryl actually sleeps with most of them.

I wanted to apologize, since I admit it's my fault. I was too busy in my own mind, but she said something first.

"I mean-" Carol sighs, "I'm sorry."

Confused, my eyebrows furrow down. She apologized, meaning something is definitely wrong. Her bratty voice went to regular. It's almost like I just saw the real her, the Carol she was before meeting Cheryl.

I wonder where Cheryl and Bethany are. They probably sent Carol to go find Zach.

It was really awkward, and I would've felt guilty if I didn't check on her. Iris on the other hand couldn't care one bit.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

Iris just stood there, her eyes flickering back and forth between us before she pushed herself between Carol and I.

Iris whispered at me, "Don't waste your time on her." She tugged me by my sleeve. "Come on."

"I'll meet you at the cafeteria, just give me a sec." I told her.

"And let you get locked up in the janitor's room again? I think the fuck not."

When I told Iris about what they did to me, she freaked out. Luckily, I talked her down not to do anything.

I look back at Carol who clearly heard us, which made her eyes water up. It's so weird seeing her so vulnerable.

"Go." I whisper to Iris.

"Fine, whatever. Good luck."

Iris waked away after throwing a tantrum, leaving Carol and I alone. A few strange looks flew to her way, everyone wondering why such a 'queen' like her is crying.

"Let's get you to the bathroom, yeah?"

All she did was nod her head.

The second we approach the bathroom, she rushed into a stall. Sobbing filled the room. Awkwardly, I stood in front of the closed door, swaying back and forth on my feet. It went all quiet before she let outs a loud sob that sounded like a screech and scream mixed, her voice breaking and very throaty. A girl stepped into the bathroom, and we made eye contact. The second she heard Carol's cries, the girl turned around and walked out of the bathroom.

Sighing, I step closer to the stall and bang on the closed metal door.

"Carol." I said, concerned.

"What!" She sobs.

"Can I come in?"

There was a few shuffles from inside. I flinch at the sudden action from the stall opening in a flash.

It all happened in milliseconds: she grabbed my wrist, dragged me into the stall and closed it behind her.

A lot of thoughts ran through my mind, like I should have listened to Iris and leave. Now, I'm stuck in this situation, falling for her dumb tricks.

Carol was never the one to make the first attack on me. I guess that's why I believed her crying state for a second. Cheryl was the mean one. Carol just followed her rules. Along with Bethany.

I was prepared for the other girls to pop out from under the stall and crawl inside. They could dump my head into the toilet-- which they wouldn't actually do because they're not that evil. They're evil enough to talk smack right into my face.

I was prepared for anything, except for this.

Her body collided into me as she smashed her lips forcefully against mine. My mind went numb. My brain couldn't process a single thing. It was just so confusing. Carol's cold hands touch my neck softly, but I contained mine against the stall, daring not to touch her. Finally, everything snapped back at me and my eyes go wider than ever. My entire body heats up, an emotion I can't lay my finger on. It could've been that I was so angry, so embarrassed, awkward, nervous, confused.

Softly, I nudge her back the opposite side of the stall.

"What the hell was that!?" My jaw drops to the floor, not knowing how I should feel right now.

Her eyes go wide too, the sound of her breath catching in her throat audible. The bottom of her lip quivered a little as she opens her mouth to talk, but no words left.

"I-I-" She stutters.

Tears rolled down her eyes, onto her cheek, and down onto her white tank-top.

"It's Cheryl's fault!" She stutters, "She... she told me whenever she's feeling insecure and ugly, she just makes out with someone and the pain will go away!"

"That's not good advice!" I practically yelled, still in shock.

"I-I now know that!"

My anger and confusion turned into something else. Sympathy maybe.

We just kept staring at each other, and the longer she looked at me with those watery blue eyes, the more guilty I felt. Guilt I shouldn't feel, because their friend group doesn't deserve to feel sympathy.

That's when it clicked.

"You don't want to be friends with her." I shake my head lightly, sighing, finally calming down. "Do you?"

"No. I don't."

That's why she's crying. She doesn't know how to escape Cheryl.

"Then don't. Hang out with us." I invite.

"After everything that we've done?"

"No, no, Cheryl did everything. You were just mind controlled to do everything she tells you to do."

Suddenly, a loud voice echoed through the bathroom. Loud enough to scare all the other girls in here, away.

"Carol, I know you're in here. I tracked your phone and I can smell your perfume from miles away!"

She always know at what time to arrive to make everything worse. Carol gave me eyes that has regret written all over them.

We could hear as high heels clicked on the tiles, coming closer before the pink shoes stopped right in front of the stall door. She didn't even bother to check the other stalls, but I can understand why. Carol's perfume really does give it away.

It's not just anyone's shoes. She has this high heels, pink leather shoes, with a 'C' carved in gold into the side. You can instantly tell it's Cheryl.

She always wears them.

With warning eyes, I stare at Carol as she walks pass me. She grabbed the lock, about to turn it, but she gave me a chance to hide so that Cheryl doesn't see me. Quickly, I dropped onto my stomach and rolled into the other stall.

Luckily, it was empty.

Otherwise I'd have the shock of my life.

I could hear Carol's stall unlock.

Cheryl growled, "Why the hell are you in here, let alone the law building?"

"Y-You told me to bring you Zach, I just made a quick pit stop. I'll go get him now--"

"And are you crying? You look like a total dork."

"I- uh.."

My jaw dropped.

That bitch!

"Ugh, whatever. Let's just go get my Zachy-poo then we can fix your makeup."

The entire conversation was infuriating. Hearing how Cheryl spoke to her, not even giving her a chance to speak.

The second their voices muffled and the clicking of the heels disappeared, I opened the stall.

If she's being treated this way, I wonder how Bethany's being handled. Luckily she didn't say anything bad against Bethany, so that might indicate that they're cool with each other and Carol likes her.

I don't know why I'm so involved and find this a bit intriguing.

The moment I saw Carol's mask slip was just mind blowing to me-- popular girls have hearts.

Well, besides Cheryl.

After everything they've done to me, I honestly find it so confusing why I feel bad for Carol, knowing she has to deal with being under control by Cheryl.

Everything's so confusing.

Tomorrow, Carol's probably going to be her old self again. She's going to back Cheryl up in every fight, laugh when Cheryl says so, gossip with her buddies, and judge people like the blondes are the only ones that matter.

Walking down the hallway again, I bumped into another someone. My body collides with theirs, but only I got bumped back, they remained standing at one spot.

This time, I apologized first. "Sorry."

Looking up, I see Professor Garcia with an amused face staring down at me.

My eyes widen. "Oh, professor. I'm sorry, I should've been looking where I was going."

Professor tilts her head to the side. She snickered before gesturing around her mouth area.

"You got a little something over... here." She teased, grinning.

For a split second, I blankly stare at her. Then, I realized.

An embarrassed chuckle escaped my lips, looking down to the floor as the eye contact started to send shivers down my spine.

Bringing my hand up to my lips, I wipe the smudged lipstick off.

"It's not what it looks li-"

I prevent myself from speaking as I notice professor already walking away.

My reminder on my phone went off for law class, so I couldn't go after her and explain myself.

I've never been so embarrassed.