Sunday

The brisk glow of the afternoon basks on a brunette girl, reflected on her star shaped clip on her curled hair. In contrast to the peak coldness of her heart, the blue jeans cover the bright red clothes she regularly wore as part of her daily ritual, hesitatingly attempting to save face, occasionally cowering underneath her hood every so many seconds. Her concerns fade away as she becks to the sound of a familiar face.

"Miss me Strella?" A young boy around her age with dark skin similar to hers walks beside her with shaggy hair.

"Dicup! What were you doing in the bathroom for so long?"

A devilish grin appears on his face. "Same thing all guys do in the bathroom when they don't come out quickly."

Her face lights like a tomato. "Oh my god, you've been-"

His face immediately turns somber. "Contemplating life. A lot."

Concerned she might be taking out her issues on her closest friend, she holds onto his shoulder. "Everything okay?"

"Between you, school, my parents, and my girlfriend, things have been just getting a little harder."

"Wait she's real? I thought she was from Canada?"

"Of course, accuse Canada of lying. Their niceness doesn't deserve you."

"That's not a word dummy", Strella remarked. Besides, you sure it's going to work out?"

"Geez, where's this coming from? Did your mom start pestering you again about finding you a guy?"

"Yep. First she keeps asking why I keep hanging out with you even though she's known you for years, then she keeps whining about my grades, and she's bringing Hiden up over and over again! I got it already, I made one mistake."

He gives her a glare, less concerned with her angered breath roaring like a lion.

"I swear she's so insensitive," sighing. "But that's the only parent that stuck around so I don't really have a choice but to deal with it."

His glare fades. "It's tough, I know. Well, I'm still here for you, regardless of what she thinks."

"But what happens when you're gone? Dealing with mom is hard enough, but outside of you, there's no one else in my corner. I don't want to feel that pain again, or put anyone through it ever again."

He pats her side. "No matter how far we're apart, I'm not just going to forget about you. We can still text each other. Hey, I might not even get the scholarship."

"No, don't think like that, you've been working really hard. Sorry, I'm being selfish. Admittedly, punching you-know-who in the face would be nice, but I can't risk seeing him again. Maybe I just need to find a hobby or something."

"You're good. Hey, even if I go, we'll still be back together for senior year. You could try other things: make more friends, exercise, or get out of the house for once. Why not just relax at Gregory's Coffee or something?"

Strella sucks her teeth. "Wait, this is the third time this week you've asked me that. Why do you keep telling me to go to a coffee shop? Blegh, it tastes like crap."

He veers his face away from her. "No reason, just, well, interesting things tend to happen there."

He's hiding something. "Well, are you coming with me then?"

Dicup doesn't answer, recklessly looking around for something. Annoyed, she begins staring at him around for an answer while watching him fidget around with his phone. Some minutes later as they continued to walk on the not too busy Court Street, Strella tried to catch a glimpse of what he was texting. Maybe it was something about him putting up with her for so long and throwing her away if she pushed him too far. Distraught yet curious, she just decided to ask him until he abruptly stopped.

"Look, Dicup, I-"

"Excuse me Di, who is this?"

Strella backs off, retreating at the site of a raven haired woman, statured as high as the towers of Olympus. Though she tried to shake off the fear, the scared look in her eyes brought back a memory that started to frighten her in place before watching Dicup being grabbed by his green shirt, pulling as the girl pulled him in closer. Unaware, she jumps up, trying to push the other girl's arm away from her best friend's harm. They hit back, staggering Strella.

"Rachel", Dicup yells. "Relax, this is Strella, my friend I was telling you about!" 

Watching Rachel's eyes inspect her frivolously, Strella reluctantly follows suit, gazing at her lavender dress in awe and amazement.

"Like what you see? I know," flaunting her appeal with her dress. "Dicup, you won't know what you have until it's gone. Why are you around someone with such little finesse?"

"Look, I told you already, we're best friends. Tell her." Strella just nods. Rachel looks at her with discomfort.

"Oh and he didn't tell you about us. No surprise, someone", sticking out her fingers, "with that level of fashion sense probably couldn't even score with a blind guy."

Dicup comes in between them before looking back.

"Look Strella, Rachel and I need to," the weight from his mouth deepens darker than what she was used to hearing from him, "talk some things out. Just go on ahead to the shop, I'll talk to you later."

She hesitates, not wanting to leave him behind with someone she considered more hostile, belligerent than even her on her worst day. A quick smile and nods from Dicup convinces her that everything will be alright, just as a faster reaction from Rachel forces her to flee, dashing and turning the corner in search of any sort of haven. Stopping as the burning and pounding sensation in her chest starts to rise, she tries to block out the sounds of arguments and dismay from behind. As she leans nearby the closest building, Strella catches the quick glance as her nose takes the whiff of the smell of coffee beans in the air. Etching her face into the glass, she spots a small number of entrants in the shop. Hesitant, she decided to enter.

Though her complaints about coffee were still valid, they vanished with the wind once her nose caught a whiff from the sensational odor brewing as she closed the door behind her.

I'm still not buying though. Her roaring tummy said otherwise.

Playing it safe, Strella ordered a fruit smoothie, crossing by a couple of what she thought were college students arguing, some guy in a suit, and the hair of a blonde girl catching her eye. Curious, Strella moved in closer to get a better look at her face. To her dismay, the girl quickly ducked her head, retreating into a phone and what appeared to be a notepad.

So much for making a friend. Not sure if the girl noticed her, she took the seat behind both her and the couple. Slurping down once she felt somewhat comfortable, her thoughts flowed as quickly as the fluids rushing down her throat.

Why would Dicup be dating someone like that? Why the heck can't I get him out of my head? Why won't mom just cut me a break? Why do I feel so empty? Why am I even here? Why am I thinking about all of this over a freaking smoothie?

Then she realized she was now slurping a straw with an empty cup. Finding no other reason to be there, Strella was ready to exit when her ears caught wind of the couple suddenly exploding in anger, yelling at each other over something about projects and work. Her plans to just ignore it and leave were blocked as the two's bickering transformed from insults to threats. Watching as the barista attempts to get the two to exit ended in failure, she contemplated just sitting back until the two began shoving each other back and forth rather violently.

This isn't good, maybe I could circle around them? Here goes.

As she was about to move, the guy pushed his peer into Strella, knocking her down. Her eyes stood inches from the surprisingly clean floors. Thankfully, a hand caught her at the last second and began raising her back up, helping her find her balance. Before Strella could thank them, she veered her head to watch the couple throwing fists at each other. She saw the one closer to the window about to chuck their cup of coffee at the other person.

Soon, Strella realized it was the blonde girl who helped her out. She turned from Strella, quickly grabbing her own empty coffee cup as the other person threw it. Unharmed, Strella breaths, only to spot dripping coming from the girl's clothes.

"Hotototot! Damn that burns", patting the few splashes on her blue and yellow shirt and jeans. To Strella's surprise, the girl had caught most of it while the two exited the shop. She decided to help her, grabbing some nearby napkins to help clean her as the girl started blowing it off. Once it was mostly dry, the barista came to clean up the seats behind them as the girl looked Strella straight in her eyes.

"Geez, I wasn't expecting them to be this rowdy today. You okay? None of it got on you, did it Strella?"

She shook her head. Wait a minute.

"How do you know my name?"

"I'm Tracy. We go to Brooklyn Frontiers together. And your hair clip gives it away."

"I've never seen you before in my life."

"Really? Oh." She hangs her head down in shame. "I'm that invisible, huh. Fudge."

Damnit Strella, don't be so blunt. This is why you, wait, me, I. Damnit brain, work for me. Just say thanks.

"You're good. It's nice to meet you."

Tracy immediately shook her hand rather optimistically, much to Strella's surprise. "You too!"

Touchy. Anyways. What do I say now? Oh she's got curls, they're cute. She just stared at Tracy, who's eager smile and light tan skinned contrasted her own darker skin and moody attitude, the latter of which Dicup and her therapist have attempted to break. Something felt oddly different here.

"Anyway," Tracy asks, "I know this seemed really sudden, but can I ask you something?"

"Umm, shoot?" Please don't be anything weird.

"There's a movie I want to see next week and well. I can't, wait no. I don't exactly want to see it alone." She quickly grabbed her bag and turned back to her, holding it tightly. "If you're free, would you like to come with me? Not like a d-, I mean would you?"

Wait, she just met me for the first time. The heck? I mean I don't have anything going on. Wow I need a life. I guess, but if life gives you lemons, you rub it on your arm for perspiration.

"Well," stuttering, "I guess."

"Great," with a huge grin on her face. "How 'bout we meet back here over the weekend, Saturday at 12? Then head over when you're free?"

"Do I have to drink coffee?"

"You don't have to do anything you don't want to. Wait that sounds like I'm forcing you. Hmm." She stops to scratch her head.

She's really expressive. Kinda wish I was like that.

Tracy leaned over to her ear. "The coffee isn't that good anyways."

That made her laugh. However, Tracy quickly panicked.

"Ah crap. Look um, I forgot I have something to do. But I'll try to see you later, bye!" She hurried out of the store.

Well, that just happened. I guess maybe I can ask Dicup if he can tag along. Nah, he'd probably ask Rachel to come with us. Oh I should probably ask her to be safe. Strella heads outside only to find her completely gone amongst a small number of the sidewalk.

Later that night, Strella slammed herself on her bed, annoyed that she wasn't able to reach Dicup at all. She felt something was up since he texted back all the time. Almost like he knew she barely responded. Huh, you never realize what you have till someone steals them away and you're too much of a wuss to tell someone like her off. Unless he likes aggressive girls. Blegh. She thought about what Tracy told her earlier.

It almost sounded like she wanted this to be a date. Nah, that's dumb. What could she ever see in me?" She flips over to the other side of the bed, catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror, horrified.

"Ah crap", scratching her head, analyzing her freckles and acne, "why do I have so many burn marks on my skin?"

She starts pondering to herself. "Okay, according to those sketchy guys who sit on the benches nearby my seat at the sketchy side of town, there's a drug dealer, an organ donor, and maybe a plastic surgeon. If I can just skip class and make it, they might actually be able to, wait a minute!"

Strella looks up around her desk, finding several bottles of acne cream, cotton, and rubbing alcohol, plastering them all over her face within seconds notice. She starts hopping around.

"If all I do is keep using these, my face will be ready in no time! I made another friend! Maybe a date? Still, someone actually wants to spend time with me! Okay I don't deserve it, but I got a-"

The door flies open, shocking Strella out of her mood with the face of her mother imminent and dreadful. "Pipe down! Do you want to break the damn apartment?"

"Nononono madam, I mean master, I mean dad, I mean mot-"

"You are so lucky your dad left us otherwise you wouldn't even have your own room. We're not going to be out on the streets looking for a decent place to live again!" Her mom slams the door shut, the poor girl pauses in fear.

"Okay, maybe I deserve at least a break from her. Alright fine, I'm going. Now to get through the rest of the week."

Monday

Strella heads out of her classroom with an exam paper and a smile on her face. An 86? Haven't seen that since freshman year. I really gotta start applying myself more.

Tuesday

Late at night, she calls up a number on her phone, rejoicing in her head for an answer.

"Dicup, finally!"

"Oh hey, I can't talk right now."

"Wait, I'll make it quick. It's just that I need to tell you that I'm-"

She hears Rachel in the background asking who he's talking to rather aggressively. Dicup soon hangs up the phone.

Darn it.

Wednesday

Getting ready to exit the building, Strella grew uneasy as she just witnessed Rachel crossing past her, rather cheerful than the last time they met.

Rachel goes here too? Maybe I should go back to eating in the lunchroom. Come to think of it, I haven't seen Tracy yet either.

She turned the corner only to find Rachel gone, questioning if she was just seeing things.

Thursday

"Must. Eliminate. Acne. Eradicate. All. Spots."

Strella turned her attention to her door where her mother had just walked in on her applying cotton balls and neutrogena to her face.

"Good evening mother. How was today," asking her in a subdued voice that startled her mother.

"Nothing, I'm fine. Co-workers still a pain in the-, okay breathe Shena. You're getting paid tomorrow, just rest. You alright, you seem a bit different lately."

"I think so. Mother, I'm hanging out with a friend Saturday. May I have some money?"

"What did I tell you about going out with him? If you have to move schools again cuz you fell for another piece of shit that you trusted, that's on you."

"You've known Dicup much longer than Hiden. Besides, its a girl I'm hanging out with."

"Whatever. Maybe if you actually got your grades up for once."

She picked up the test she got earlier in the week and waved it in front of her mother. Anticipating something like well what about the rest of your classes from her, she handed her two more papers, one of which had a 90 on the header.

"Hertz always expect us to read those books from top to bottom and wants us to remember some dumb fact that means nothing."

"You expect me to let you run out with a 52?"

"That's gym class. Do you know how hard it is to pass the pacer test? I was the last girl standing, the other girls gave up at 20 and the guys didn't give two shits at all. Took me an hour to wash off that smell."

"If you make me have to pay for that water bill, okay fine, I'll leave the money for you on the counter when I get back from work tomorrow. Don't wake me up tonight."

Once her mother closes the door, Strella gleefully grins to herself. Perfect. Then she clenches her stomach.

Passing hat dumb test was worth it. Ouch.

Friday

"Don't stress out too hard. I'm glad you're starting to take eleventh grade seriously, but let yourself be happy. Opening up is a good first start. You might enjoy her company way more than usual." Her therapist spoke with the usual calm and positive tone at their weekly meetings.

"Yeah," sighing. Maybe she's right.

Oh yeah, I have another appointment."

"Someone else actually signed up?"

"It's that time of the month, you're all anxious about life. after all. Besides, the more kids show, the longer I keep this job."

Strella sucks her teeth.

"Do you actually care about us, or do you just want the money?"

"Yes," the therapist answered without a change in tone." Schedule a meeting with me outside and tell me how it goes next week."

Saturday

Strella looked up in the mirror, her hair plaited into several small curly ponytails, stretching out in the mirror somewhat positive. Though she looked at her phone, annoyed Dicup didn't get back to her, she knew he would want her to be happy. Still, she knew he was busy. There was still time for the two of them to hang out before he got the announcements, Rachel be damned.

After a quick train ride to downtown Brooklyn, she arrived in front of Gregory's, shockingly not late for once in her life, Tracy was there waiting for her this time with a much straighter ponytail with blue highlights in her blond hair.

Crap, she's cute. Kinda miss the curls though, but it looks good on her. She started noticing that Tracy looked a lot more innocent than the last time they spoke.

"You came?"

"Yeah, sure." I mean I wasn't just going to leave you hanging. Plus, you never gave me your phone number. "So what movie are we watching?"

"It's sort of niche. Can you just trust me on this one?"

"Sure, I guess." She doesn't want to tell me? Okay if this is a horror movie, I'm out.

The two of them get their tickets and head inside of the Regal UA movie theater. Though Strella was willing to pay, Tracy didn't let her order. Once they reached inside the movie theater, the two sat down, where Strella looked around, there were some kids, a large number of adults, and a few people that looked around their age. Though, Tracy suddenly surprised her as she opened up her bag, handing her a box filled with wings and a ton of microwave popcorn.

"You brought this with you?"

"Well, yeah. Cost effective."

    "Hmm. Smart."

    As the movie began to play after an endless sea of pointless movie ads, Strella started realizing it was an action movie. She went to tap Tracy to ask her, but caught the girl looking back as if she knew someone behind them.

    "Oh Tracy, do you have a friend here?"

    "Nono, not at all", replying rather nervously. "I just, um, say uh, hi to random people, yeah!"

    Okayyy. She doesn't have to be afraid. Wait, I know these heroes. She knocks on Tracy's shoulders.

"Wasn't that the Drive Saviors show from when we were kids? It still exists?"

"Yeah, it's been going on for like ten years. The anniversary season itself was trash, but for the movie they tried to get back all the actors for like one final love letter to the fans.

"Wow really?"

"Second chances can do so much when you put in the work. They should've written a better show. I mean I definitely could. Well, if I can make it as a writer or artist one day. But this is really good so far."

"Dope." She's really into it huh. Well the action's good and the girl's hot, so I guess it's worth it.

Throughout the film, she heard Tracy and the rest of the audience's reactions, occasionally shocked, excited, and later frightened at a character's death. Near the end, the two of them started chowing down on the remaining wings and corn they had. Strella was about to take the last corn when Tracy reached for it at the same time.

Do I let her have it, or should I. Ehh let her, I'm actually having fun for once. "Take it."

Tracy compiled without looking directly at her, using her nails to split it in half and handed the other part to her.

"Oh thanks."

"Yeah, I'm glad you're enjoying it."

Once the movie ended, Tracy joined the rest of the audience clapping. While the credits rolled and everyone remained in their seats for whatever reason, Tracy had begun cleaning up their garbage and heading out. Strella followed behind.

"You alright?"

    Tracy sighed. "No", facepalming. "You found out I'm basically a massive nerd."

"That's okay, the movie was pretty fun. I mean I didn't know like the other hundred people that showed up near the end but the ones they focused on were pretty fun and the fights were pretty cool."

"You really liked it? Phew, I was so worried."

"You're good." I mean, I wouldn't hate you for it. What kind of losers judge people for watching a show?

Tracy stops walking and turns to her, rather passionately. "So you had fun?"

"Well, yeah. I haven't really done this stuff in a while, and it was pretty chill."

"Would you like to do something like this again? There's this superhero show called Miraculous Ladybug, we could totally watch together, just the two of us. I mean, if you want to anyways," attempting to sound nonchalant.

Stop pretending to act so nonchalant, and just say what you think. I'm a hypocrite, aren't I. It's kinda cute when she gets that way. Might as well ask her.

"Hey, Tracy." Breathe, let it out. "Was this supposed to be a date?"

Tracy says nothing, trying to hide her thoughts. Before she could give an answer, a familiar face walked towards Strella, much to her dismay.

"Hey Star. Miss me?"

He looked around the same age as Strella and Tracy. He combed his spiky blonde hair with a smile as real as a mannequin, wearing a Rob Gronkowski shirt and cargo shorts.

    "Oh god, no."

    "Is he someone important?"

    "Worse, Hiden Bryce. She sucks her teeth. "And my ex."

    "Oh." Tracy, stunned, grabs her phone and starts texting rather rapidly while Strella tries to balance the thoughts in her brain. "He looks kinda like a Bryce."

    "What do you want?"

    "I can't visit Brooklyn for a bit? Just a simple coincidence."

    "So you didn't know I moved."

    "Well, I won't let it slip, but a certain birdie sang."

    "Let me guess, stalked my old friends?"

"Oh please, no, your boyfriend posts about your lives waiting too much."

"I'm single dumba-," slowly realizing Dicup may have taken a picture of them together the few times they hung out since she moved schools.

"Guess you haven't changed your favorite pastimes stalking and taking people's photos."

"Stalking? Nope, you're the one who left," trying to sound flirty. I just came here to find you."

"And I, well we were just leaving. Come on Tracy."

She started to walk towards the elevator, passing him, until his arm blocked her neck, squishing her into his arms in an attempt to chokehold her.

"Yeah, last time that happened, I got expelled and daddy got mad at me for wanting a few minutes of action. But I'll forgive you."

    "Get off me, dickhead."

    "You got me expelled! I'm just here to return the favor!"

    Knowing her upper body strength wasn't the best, she leaned her head backward and pushed her body backward, driving him into the wall. Once his grip on her was loosened, she stomped down on his leg. He let go and howled in pain while Strella tried to get her breathing slightly better. She gave him a quick knee to the stomach and Hiden fell to the floor face up on the wall. She heard Tracy yell for help but knew damn well she'd take the blame.

I gotta get her out of here.

    "Tracy, come!" She grabs Tracy and runs out of the hallway before Hiden could get up, eventually running out of the theater while alarms start blasting throughout the building. They ran from block to block, with the adrenaline rushing through her veins until her legs gave out. Tracy's legs fell right before her, both struggling to regain the rest of their breath.

"I'm sorry Strella. I wasn't sure what to do."

"You're fine. That piece of shit. He moved all the way from the Bronx," balling her fists with the thoughts of him, "just to screw me over again!"

"It'll be okay. You'll be okay."

"No I won't! I'm not putting anyone through that again! Tracy, go."

    "Why, you didn't do anything wrong!"

    "I did! That dickhead took photos of me, told so much bullshit lies. He turned everyone including those shit for brains teachers against me, and tried to frame me for stalking when I called him out on it! How do I know he won't come after me again? Mom, Dicup, you, I don't want him near anyone else I care about!"

"Let's just call the cops then. I was there, I can help you get through this."

She sees Tracy's attempting to help her up, and smacks it away, unsure of what to do.

"Just stay away from me and don't have anything to do with my life. I'm a monster!"

"But you're not a monster, you're-"

"I don't care if I'm a monster, if no one is around me, no one gets hurt, no one will feel like I'm hurting, and I won't be the villain for once in my life anymore!"

She ran off away from Tracy, trying to hold back her tears, not looking back once.

Saturday Evening

More annoyed that he managed to find her more than the pain her legs felt from running  all the way from Downtown Brooklyn to Fort Greene, Strella laid on her bed, trying to forget what happened three hours ago, ignoring the noise of her mother watching tv in the living room.

You give me a bit of hope in the world, and then you take it away. She looked at her phone for the first time since waking up, finally seeing a message from Dicup. However, she ignored it.

Then, the doorbell rang. Twice. Maybe it's the mail guy, I dunno.

"Strella, go take a look out."

"I'm not in the mood."

"I can't," laughing. Some thirty year old got arrested for calling the cops after the parents shut off her cell phone! This is too much!"

Fine. She left the apartment and headed downstairs. When she opened both doors, Tracy was there in front of her.

"Oh. Hey."

"Hey." Tracy waves awkwardly. "You okay?"

"Yeah I." Hold on. "How did you know I live here?"

"Er um," fidgeting, "I, well, ahha! I asked someone randomly in the neighborhood and they said you lived here. I  guess you can call it a miracle, haha!"

She got the right apartment number too? Strella, crosses her hands.

"So you basically stalked me", speaking rather deadpan.

Taken aback, Tracy nervously tries to reply only for Strella to sigh.

"For someone who likes superheroes, that's not really heroic or miraculous of you."

To her surprise, Tracy says nothing, only holding her mouth, struggling not to laugh.

Then that struggle turned to laughter, trying to regain her composure before bawling out loud, banging the door much to Strella's confusion. "Miraculous, you're too much!"

Was-was that a reference to something. Oh wait, she mentioned watching something like that earlier. I still don't get this girl at all, looking annoyed. Tracy finally catches on and stops herself.

"Look, why are you here?"

"Sorry, sorry." She slaps herself on the face twice. "Focus Tracy, Focus. I just have a question."

"Shoot."

"Ever seen Wrong Turn?"

"No, what about it?" Is this gonna be another reference to something?

"Well to make a long story short. How do I explain this? Aha! Okay, so the girl's boyfriend broke up with her over her answer machi-, old phone, so her friends took her to the woods to get away from it all, even blowing off work just to help her out. And all of her friends kinda ended up being attacked and killed by cannibals."

Terrified, Strella whimpers.

"Okay, probably not the best example, but she blamed herself for it."

"What, why? That wasn't her fault at all! How are they supposed to know they'd be attacked by cannibals?"

"So she shouldn't have blamed herself for what happened?"

"Well duh! Bad things happen all to people who don't deserve it, that doesn't mean they should blame-right." Sensing what she's trying to do, Strella hangs her head down in shame.

"Why are you trying to help me? I'm just another fish in the s-." Tracy opens up a bag, containing some fried fish, some eaten, some not.

"Sorry, I got a little bit hungry on the way here", awkwardly giggling.

I, I have no words. Her stomach started growling. Shut up you.

She quickly grabs the bag, turning around to take a quick bite, and hands it back to her without even a thought. As she breathes in, rainfall starts falling outside, starting off as small droplets that permeate Tracy's hair. Though Strella had expected her to come in, Tracy stood there, struggling against the pressure from the water blasting in her eyes: acting as if a barrier was between them. Unsure of what she was trying to say, Strella only saw the girl's eyes longing for something. Tracy started to leave, until the rain started soaking into her eyes.

"Are you just gonna stand there in the rain? Get in." She grabs Tracy and pulls her in the apartment before the rain could get worse. Eventually, she took her into her apartment and yelled at her mom that she has a guest over.

While Tracy tries to dry off, she chucks her a towel while going back to eating the rest of the fish. Tracy had removed her hair band, letting it flow lusciously before laying the towel on her head and rested on her bed, ignoring that some of the dye was gone. A couple of minutes later, Strella finished while Tracy started tying the towel around her neck like a cape. Strella tried to stop her cheeks from smiling. Then, she gestured to her to come over.

She jumped over to the bed. She's so hard to understand, but she's so oddly adorable. Huh, I guess I like her when she's hard and soft. Wait what, double facepalming hard to hide her embarrassment. Oh god gross, shut up brain!

"Wait did I do something wrong?"

"No-no, you're fine." Embarrassed, she takes Tracy's hands and uses them to deflate her inflated cheeks. "My brain just thinks weird." She shakes it off. "So what did you want to show me?"

    Tracy made her look down, finding a picture of a dark-skin girl in a red and dark blue outfit, projecting a barrier in front of her, protecting someone in the background.

    Wow, this looks pretty cool. "Who is it?"

    Tracy tosses the towel over her face to hide, and points at her.

    "Me?"

    She nods, handing it over to her while looking away.

    "Wow, um thanks. It looks great." Tracy, thank you.

Before she could say more, her mom barged in the room.

"Both of you, come with me!"

"Mom, not now."

"Say that again! I brought you into this world and I'll take you out of it!"

Tracy raises her finger after throwing the towel off. "Technically she was trapped inside of you. The doctors kinda freed her from you."

Strella's mother gives a mean glare followed by a glare that startles Tracy.

"Bad joke, got it."

"Anyways, come with me and check the news."

They go with her to the living room, with the tv on ABC News, showing cops exiting Regal with Hiden in handcuffs. The banner claimed witnesses saw him assaulting what showed to be Strella and Tracy escaping while another showed Hiden attempting to beat up several security officers before being overpowered, with an generic blonde anchorlady claiming he could receive a sentence for 6 months or be charged as an adult for longer.

Strella was elated with joy.

"Dear god or whoever I need to thank, thank you for making sure the only thing our country takes seriously is reverse cop brutality," gleefully crying and hugging Tracy, not noticing the girl's increased heat from their cheekbones meeting. Her mother yawns.

"Good for him, that shithead made me move from the best clinic I've ever worked in."

"He'll finally be locked up with so many wonderful people, and can suffer happily when he drops the soap. He didn't make much money off my body anyways."

Strella pushed off Tracy upon realizing she might have been a bit too close, but tripped on the side of the couch, causing her to fall on top of her by mistake. Strella tried to get up, but Tracy looked her up straight in the eye.

"He really did all of these things to you?"

"Yeah", trying not to directly avoid eye contact. "I kinda lost my social life, my old friends sent me some messed up stuff, and it became a total disaster. When people finally started listening to me, he accused me of stalking his accounts where he uploaded my photos. And then he attacked me for doing it."

"Not that I don't find it messed up, but did you ever find out why he did it?"

"Well I heard a rumor he's done it to other girls and sells them for money online. His fam was almost as broke as mine. But looking back on it, he was a shit person and a worse boyfriend. I'm just mad I fell for someone like that. That's why Dicup's my only friend. I-I'm just worried about who I let in. And I don't know if I'm ready for something new."

"I'm sorry."

"You didn't do anything wrong. For what's it worth, hanging out with you kinda opened me up a bit." That and even though he was probably looking around for me like a creep, her inviting her to the movies sorta got him arrested. so double win. That's how it works, right? "I guess you kinda reminded me there's a heart somewhere, so thanks."

"Well, if you ever want someone else in your heart", Tracy caresses Strella's face with the palm of her hand,  "I'd love to be there for you."

She actually cares. Maybe, she could be pretending. But I don't want to say no. I-I-I.

"I'd love that too."

Tracy started rising up to her face while Strella closed her eyes just expecting a positive feeling. The two's lips reached closer until a cough took them both out of the mood.

Crap, she's here.

Her mom just started leaving the room.

"Fine with me. Hey, you, what's your name?"

"Me? Tracy!"

"Don't hurt my daughter like the last jerk who made her cry." They watch her yawn before leaving. "I've had enough surprises for one day."

Once the door closes, Strella helps Tracy up on the floor, who hides her head down in shame.

"I guess I should've answered your question earlier. Yeah, I sorta wanted it to be a d-."

Her phone rings, Strella watching her speak with a high level of concern before hanging up.

    "I forgot, I told my rela" changing her tune, "my parents, that I wouldn't be out for too long. I gotta go, sorry."

    "You're good. I guess I'll see you on Monday at school then?"

    Tracy starts exiting their apartment but gives her a quick nod.

    "This time I won't run away," claiming with a shy smile on her face. Thank you Strella."

    Strella closed the door before her, wanting to open it up.

    No more running away for me either.

Monday: Because Sundays don't matter until 9pm for homework

Strella heads towards her school locker. Eyes gazed on her, which she assumed was from her fifteen seconds of fame, while others continued to ignore her existence. In front of her locker, she spotted Tracy's hair. But in front of her were Rachel and Dicup.

"What the?"

The three of them stopped discussing, Dicup tapping Tracy's shoulder and pointing for her to follow.

"Hold up. Y'all know each other?! What's going on?"

"Tch, we're busted", Dicup proclaims.

Rachel walked up to her rather positively. "Oh, hi Strella. I love the new hair style."

    "Shush, I know it's good." Okay, she's acting nice to me now? "Okay, what's going on? Why are you", pointing to Rachel, "acting nice to me out of the blue?" She points to Dicup "Why haven't you answered almost any of my calls or texts?" And finally to Tracy. "And why are you, well you forgot to give me your number so uh, yeah", pouting, waiting for an answer. 

    "Should we tell her?"

    "Might as well."

    "Strella, I asked them to help me ask you out," Tracy yelled out to her.

    Strella blinks twice, her brain taking her time to process what was going on. That's how she knew my name! Dicup knows my address. Wait, what was Rachel doing here?

"Oh. I think I get it." Then another thought crossed her mind. "Don't tell me Hiden was a part of this? Is that why you posted that photo online?"

Dicup shook his head.

"No, I asked them to come with us to the movies and sit behind us in case something went wrong. I was just nervous you weren't going to enjoy it."

Hey, that was my plan. Strange Minds think alike, I guess.

Dicup added on that. "We stayed behind to watch the after credits scene so we didn't notice when the two of you left." Tracy texted us his name when he showed up, so I told Rachel about him and we called security. But it looked like someone roughed him up when we got there. He tried to fight them off but he got tased. We asked about you and I tried to call and text you, but you didn't answer, so I asked Tracy to see if you were okay. I didn't think it through."

Dicup, I. She saw him run up to her, wrapping his arms around her.

"I'm so glad you're okay! I should've been there. I would've sent that monster straight to hell."

"Thanks Di." She checked the message, rather messages he sent her: several words expressing concern and care for her safety. You're always checking up on me. She put the phone back in her pocket and hugged him back. "I kneed him in the chest for you too."

"Nice." Oh crap, right, Rachel. She pulled away and directed her attention to the raven haired girl.

"By the way. Rachel, you two are actually dating? Legit? And you don't hate me?"

"Oh we faked that. Well we are dating, but heaven's no. Dicup's told me so much about you, you precious cinnamon bum."

"You hadn't met Rachel cuz she's so busy with drama club. We sorta thought if we made Rachel be all clingy to me, you focus on Tracy more."

"So you don't hate my guts?" Thank god, she scared the crap out of me.

"Yeah, I'm so sorry if I made you feel some sort of way", shaking her hand rather rapidly. "I tend to go a bit over the top in my performances."

    "No, I-I think you were pretty good. I'm still a little afraid of you to be honest, but you totally fooled me."

    "Yay! Wait, please don't be", begging, before turning to Dicup. "That's why the Drama club gave me a second chance. Like the girl who plays Asami in Korra."

    Huh? Who? Tracy then asked Rachel what she meant.

    "Yeah. Remember the moon girl from the original Avatar? Well her actress in the crappy Shyamalan movie was actually decent, and the guys who made the show liked her enough that they let her play Asami in Korra."

    "Really, that's awesome!"

    I am so lost. The blue people or the shaved tattoo kid? Rachel just dragged her and Tracy alongside her shoulders.

    "That's why I wanna be an actress. I still gotta lot of work to do, but if there's a chance I could be a star, I'm gonna take it", smiling at the two.

    She's got a point. Alright, might as well do it.

"Rachel, Di, could I talk to Tracy for a sec? Alone?"

    Dicup dragged Rachel away while Strella swiped Tracy's phone and texted her own phone number back to her before quickly returning it to Tracy's joy. But she had a few more questions.

"Wait, so he told you to go to a coffee shop just so you could see me?"

"That was my idea," hiding herself behind her hair. "I heard coffee shops were romantic so I kinda asked him to set us up there."

You have got to be kidding me.

"What moron told you that? Doesn't the people matter more than the place? The Bachelor house looks great but no one ever watches that crap for romance." She sulks. "Now I just feel for the people that go on that show. They search for love and go either home with a heartbreak or the winners just break up and make the whole damn thing pointless."

Oh crap, I just said that out loud. "My mom watches it after work, I just happen to come into the room when she does," her voice inflating ever so slightly. Finding Tracy smiling at her, she clears up her throat.

"But why didn't you just ask me out in school or something?"

A flash of light comes from a camera. She turns back to Rachel and Dicup taking pictures of them from their phones.

"Turn the damn flash off!" She focused back on Tracy, struggling to get the words out.

"W-well, I wanted to give you a good first impression. I mean I definitely didn't practice telling you in the mirror or anything, but I was just nervous."

"How come I barely see you here?"

"Guess I'm just good at being invisible. Only my uncle and aunt, and you three even tolerate me. Well, they don't count since I live with them. The teachers don't really care much here."

"You, but you're so colorful and", watching her perk up, turns away. Well at least I'm not the only one who feels that way. Hold up.

"I thought you said you live with your parents?"

"Long story. After I watched Love, Simon, I broke down a few closets. Okay I accidentally broke one in my room too, but I finally told them. Didn't work out the way I wanted though. We had a fight, and soon I was out with nowhere to go till I remembered my aunt and uncle's phone number. I actually moved around here not too long ago, kept to myself, and then I met Rachel and Dicup and they were pretty nice. Until they got really lovey-dovey and I got jealous. I wasn't really interested in anyone. Then I saw you one day. Dicup told me you were really cool and stuff, and I started feeling, ya know."

Oh, damn and I thought I had it hard.

"Since then, I've just been trying to be myself, but it's so hard. One wrong move, and I'll lose my entire world all over again, so I just stick to myself. I just want to be happy, and I want to learn more about you."

"I'm sorry, no one deserves to be treated like that. Don't worry about pleasing everyone. Sometimes, it's hard to make even one person, even yourself happy. I've been there."

A tear started flowing down Tracy's eyes. "I know, but I just can't bring myself to hate them."

She reaches out to her admirer's eyes, wiping the tears from her face.

"You're fine. It's your parents after all. It's kinda hard for you to want to hate them, ya know. You can still hate what they did, but one bad incident doesn't define you at all. Even people you care about might end up doing shitty things to you. Trust me, that feeling sucks. But you have your aunt and uncle, don't you?"

She nods ever so slightly, finding some comfort.

"Then you're good. And now you have me."

"Wait, you don't hate me?"

"Of course not! You're definitely confusing, but not in a bad way. In a way, I like," slightly pouting, "hanging out with you. So I kinda wanna learn more about you. Just don't try so hard ya oddball", slightly blushing from embarrassment. "You're kinda cute when you're just you. Oh yeah, I know what I wanna do now. You and Dicup want to be writers...or an artist, right?"

Tracy nods.

"Good, I'll just become a critic. So when you two actually write something that becomes popular, I'll be unbiased enough to critique it. You know, if we're still together at that point. If not, I will be completely biased but give you no less than a 50 on rotten tomatoes. Unless you're writing books, which in that case, I dunno. I'll figure that part out later."

"Really?"

"Yeah. But let's start from the beginning. I'm Strella Plue. I'm not that great with people. I only have one close friend, well maybe two, I need to know Rachel better. I accidentally nearly burned down my apartment sometimes, there's a crap ton of things that I'm not good at, and sometimes I can be really blunt when I don't mean too. And I like you."

"I'm Tracy Styles. I don't always think straight, I'm a massive geek, and sometimes I try too hard when there's something I want. I care a lot about the things and people that I like, and that includes you. But are you sure you want to go out with me?"

"Yup. After all." She tip-toes up to Tracy's mouth and gives her a quick pick on the lips.

"How hard can it be?"