"Stand up"

-------

"Mm, this is good." JiJi commented, clutching onto a sandwich Elena made for them because they were afraid of what happened a few hours ago will happen again. "Even if they're just sandwiches, they are still pretty damn good."

"Praise it girl!" John grinned and went to high five JiJi which she replied to. Ryan smiled at them and noticed Mika's silence. He glanced over to the girl and saw her fidgeting with her sandwich.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Mika looked up to him with a slight smile. But she quickly looked back down with a frown. She sighed.

"You guys should like um.. socialize a bit more here." Mika awkwardly suggested. John and Ryan raised an eyebrow at her while JiJi just blinked at her for a couple of seconds. There was silence for a bit until JiJi barfed out her thoughts.

"If you're saying that we should socialize to make other new friends and leave you.. you are so fucking wrong." Mika looked down sadly.

"Why?" She croaked out weakly.

"If I remember correctly, we had this conversation before?" JiJi asked John beside her. John nodded going along to whatever plan the short girl had in her mind. "Yes. Now that is a rare thing for me to remember something. But even if we did have this conversation before then I won't state it again anymore."

"Cause you and I know that I am stubborn enough to hold on to my own words. Don't ever make me change my mind. We will fight in whatever battle we have. And we will win. This world is cruel yet very beautiful.

"We are not and I repeat, we are not leaving you alone. We know damn well how lonliness feels like. That's why the three of us stuck together like insects in a glue trap. Because we know lonliness is a bitch, we are willing to give each other's company. We trust each other in doing that.

"We are all broken in our own way. We only have each other now. So please, Mika. Don't push us away. We'll be here for you. Be strong for us. We'll go through this together. You are not alone anymore. You were never alone."

Holding tears back was always a weakness to Mika.

"Now I feel a huge deja voodoo." JiJi added quietly, and that was enough for Mika to laugh pitifully. She wiped her eyes from the tears that were falling down slowly. Ryan, sitting beside her, side-hugged her.

"We better finish up or else we'll be late." John said with a side smirk. JiJi doesn't needed to be told twice for she was scarfing everything down her throat. The other three laughed and finished there sandwiches.

☆

Time flew too fast, and it was now Friday. The house was too quiet when the trio left 3 days ago. Mika went to school in her car and just as she parked, she saw her three friends biking their way to the bike stands. They looked happy with the smiles on their faces. It made Mika smile as well. They met up by their lockers.

"Hey! Good morning!" JiJi greeted with a grin.

"Well, hey there Happy Virus, good morning to you too." Mika laughed. JiJi grinned widely and jumping up and down. "Jeez, what have you eaten for breakfast?"

JiJi laughed. "I'm just stoked that it's Friday, that's all."

"Got any plans for the weekend?" Ryan asked.

"I don't think so." Mika replied as she took her stuff out from the locker. "There's a party later tonight though, but I'm sure as hell that I won't be going."

"Party? What party? What's it about?" JiJi jumped in.

"A back to school party, Bridgette's the host." Mika answered while rubbing her arm.

"And no, you are not allowed to go JiJi." John said sternly.

"Duh, f'course not. Not with that bitch around my glorious pressence." JiJi said with a huff. Mika giggled.

Krrriiiinnnngg!!

"Okay, you need to calm down." John said swinging his arm around JiJi and dragged her to Math. "We'll see you guys in PE."

JiJi laughed, Ryan waved with a smile as he watched his best friends go. "Why isn't she allowed to go?" Mika asked looking at Ryan. The boy sighed.

"I don't like her to." The tone of his voice was indicating that he doesn't want to talk about this topic. Mika observed him cautiously as they head for English.

"I went to the party last year. The day after that, there was a rumor that I was not a virgin anymore. The school was buzzing." Mika mentioned, laughing dryly. Ryan looked at her slightly. "I didn't even leave the couch I sat on from the party!" It was quiet for a moment with Mika glancing at Ryan a few times to see if her shared story might help him share JiJi's.

"Last time we did. She was drugged and almost got raped." Ryan answered quietly. Mika gasped. Wow. That was straightforward. "Her health isn't the best for parties anyways."

"Oh, I'm sorry." Mika looked down.

"For what?"

"For asking."

"It's fine."

Ryan opened the door for Mika to enter. She thankfully did so and went to sit on her spot. The typical thing always happen. Papers were thrown at her. Whisperings were heard. And she did what she always do, she ignored them.

"Hey, Mika! Congrats to you and your boyfriend on a one year anniversary of hooking up." Someone called from behind her and laughters followed. Mika groaned and sunk down in her seat.

"Where's the baby Mika? It's way past your labor." Someones else called. Snickering and giggles can be heard in the room.

"That's probably why her boyfriend isn't with her anymore because she killed the baby." Someone faked gasped.

"You guys had your fun, shut up and leave me alone please." Mika begged quietly.

"Oh are you finally admitting it's true!? Finally! We told you guys it's true!" Someone yelled.

"She said to leave her alone you goddamn immature people!" A voice, Mika wasn't expecting to speak up, yelled. "What proof do you guys even have that she hooked up with someone? The rumors right!? You guys are stupid to even listen to those rumors. And exactly what I mean of immature. Ya'll don't even want to hear her what she has to say. You don't help her proove it but instead beat her up about it. What stupidity!"