A/N: Hi guys! I wrote this story as a part of the Wonder Movie campaign on Wattpad. If you want, there's still plenty of time to enter for a chance to have your short story turned into a short film - deadline is July 7th! Make sure to tag the story #WonderTheMovie!

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This short story was commissioned by the Wonder Film campaign and is a work of fiction.

Yesterday, I watched them slam a boy into a locker before locking him inside. He couldn't have been any bigger than me. He never stood a chance against the pack of football players.

It was his locker. I could tell from the decorations. They matched the binder he was carrying. I could have asked him for his combination and freed him after my friends left.

But I didn't.

The day before, I had lunch with my girlfriends, a mix of juniors and seniors. We had our own table that the rest of the school knew not to bother.

Except the new girl.

"Is it okay if I sit here? I'm Stella."

"I'm sorry," Lana said. Her sweet voice didn't match the words that followed. "This table has a weight limit. Try the bathroom."

Not only did I not say anything, but there was room next to me. I could have moved over.

But I didn't.

Then I heard about their next "joke." I didn't know the details. They knew me well enough to know I wouldn't contribute. But I knew it involved paint, feathers, and Stella – and enough was enough.

I took a deep breath before approaching Stella at her locker that morning. "Stella, right? I'm Kate. We met yesterday."

"Is that what you call meeting somebody?"

My cheeks reddened. "I'm really sorry about that. But I think it's going to get worse. My friends are pulling a terrible joke on you after school, and –"

Stella slammed her locker shut. "I know. They're in for a nasty surprise if they try anything. I may be new here, but I know people like your friends won't stop until someone puts them in their place."

Stella turned to leave, and I almost didn't say anything else.

But I did.

"Lana, the girl from yesterday? Her mom died last year and she's been lashing out ever since. Mike, the leader of those football guys? He used to get bullied all the time for being overweight. Now that he's not, he's worse than they ever were. And me? I'm just a coward."

Stella crossed her arms over her chest. "What's your point?"

"I'm not excusing their behavior. But I think if someone had been there for them when they needed it, they wouldn't be like this. Maybe I can be that person for you."

Stella snorted.

"I mean it. Sit with me at lunch. Not with Lana if you don't want to. My mom always makes me enough food to feed an army."

"... What kind of food?"

"Anything. And I'll get them to stand down. I promise."

"What about... Scooby Doo fruit snacks?"

I scoffed. "Is there any other kind of fruit snack?"

Stella laughed, and a wave of relief swept over me. "Okay. You have a deal. Scooby snacks in exchange for my surrender."

"Deal."

I'd always thought choosing kindness meant losing my friends. Instead, I'd found a new one, and all it took was one day – and some Scooby snacks.