MARIANNE'S POV

Present Day, Washington state

I sigh and lay back in my chair. I'm not quite sure what the teacher is even saying at this point. My head hurts like hell and my vision is blurred and tinted red. The students around me aren't paying attention either. They're throwing little paper airplanes at one another and chewing paper for spitballs. They always save their straws from the cafeteria to assault the teacher. "I'm going to make copies. Brian, you're in charge," I hear her say. Brian, the self-proclaimed smartest kid in class, stands up at the head of the class. "Yo, Marianne!" someone yells, splitting my ears. I turn around and see the unfocused face of Ansel Beabinoux. His teeth are yellow and crooked, and his hair is messy and cut short. "What?" I ask painfully. "What's up?" "I have a very bad headache, Ansel. Could you please be quiet?" It feels weird to see Ansel show emotion, especially since he used to bully me, but his face contorts in concern. "Me, too," He says quietly.