I watched Bridget's pencil slide across the page. I could only see the tip of her eraser since her notebook leaned against the desk side. The noise of snack recess surrounded us. Most were gathering around the computers, while the others played board games. Rain slapped against the windows behind the teachers's desks. The heavy onslaught didn't allow us to go outside, so here we were now.

Isabelle, the only friend of mine left standing, played a boardgame with Summer and Kaya leaving me with Bridget. Bridget was a tall girl with dark brown skin and unusually blond hair. She wasn't as popular as Arya of course, but she held her role as second-most popular girl well. The other person sitting at the table was Mia. What a great arrangement.

"Finished," Bridget said. She gave Mia a nasty look. Her smile was too wide and her eyes glared. Whatever the picture was, I didn't want to see it. I stared at Isabelle and her game instead. I should go over and ask to play.

"Lucia."

I looked back at Bridget and Mia, or now just Bridget because Mia was rolling around on the floor laughing. I recognized the source of her laughter. The picture drawn was even worse than any stupid photoshop Dante created. At least in his pictures, I knew he was only trying to be funny. He wasn't trying to be mean. I felt like my cat had leapt on my chest and decided to start bouncing repeatedly.

Taking a shaky breath, I walked over to where Ms. Isola typed at her desk. "Can I go to the bathroom?" It was all I could do to stop myself from crying.

"Go for it, Lucia," my teacher said without looking up.

I rushed out of the room, the sounds of Bridget and Mia laughing echoing in my ears. I turned right down the cubby hall, stepping on jackets and other items splattered on the floor. A left and there I was, inside the bathroom. The stuffy air choked my lungs and I wrinkled my nose at the smell. I lowered down to the floor, my bottom becoming damp. For a second, I almost laughed at my stupidity. It was only a silly picture with Isabelle and me with fangs and wings, not something to cry about. Then I realized how alone I was. How I got in that situation in the first place. Nobody had wanted to be with me. I had been left to hang out with Bridget and Mia. Nobody who cared noticed I was upset.

The bathroom seemed to grow darker as if the lights were dimming. The smell became overpowering and I itched to get out of my skin. A wet tear dripped down my face followed by more. Unlike the ballet studio, I didn't bother to prevent them. I let them flow, letting my feelings pile down on my cheeks.

Through my tears I saw a brown hand touch my wrist. I flinched away.

"I think she's scared," a voice from the hallway called inside.

"I think her name is Lucia. We were in second grade together."

I wiped away my tears, my body still shuddered. The knot in my stomach grew again, feeling more real and painful with each second. I turned to see a girl my age kneeling beside me. Her vale eyes stared down at me with concern. I recognized the girl as Aziza. The way her long brown locks splayed across her back, brought memories of me braiding her hair.

"I'm coming in," came the voice from outside.

"You can't. You're a..." Aziza wasn't able to finish her sentence for a medium height boy strode into the bathroom, taking in the scene.

"Izet," Aziza hissed. "You're not helping."

It was then I noticed I was no longer crying or shuddering. I sat against the stiff wall of the bathroom, eyeing the two other fifth graders. I recalled seeing Izet in the hallways, but he had never been in my class. A flutter of hope tumbled into my stomach.

Aziza smiled at me. "So, Lucia, what's bothering you?"

"We just want to help," added Izet.

For some reason, I trusted the two people. I didn't know them, but then again, I didn't know many boys willing to go into the girls' bathroom. I told them everything. From Avani leaving me to Bridget's drawing. I didn't care what they thought. All I wanted was to not be alone anymore.

Izet and Aziza were good listeners. They nodded their heads and kept their eyes on me. When I finished, there was silence.

Izet spoke first. "I don't think it's worth it."

"Don't be rude," Aziza muttered under her breath.

"I don't think it's worth it. Trying to be best friends with Avani again." Izet looked into my eyes. "If she wants to go, let her."

That stung. I'd been trying to be her friend for the last couple of months and this boy told me to give up? I shifted my gaze to Aziza. She fiddled with her red skirt.

"I hate to shoot your dreams, but Izet is right," Aziza said, not caring to look up. "This doesn't mean you can't be friends."

I shouldn't have told them. They weren't helping my case at all. Why did everyone have to side with Avani? Hope flew away, leaving me with a knot.

"Thank you." I forced a smile. "I think I'll go back now." I stood up, my legs trembling. I walked out of the bathroom and back to my classroom. They were just trying to help, I told myself. Even though, I still felt they were wrong. Avani would come around, eventually.