"Malik?" Standing behind the incredibly handsome boy was an extremely cute girl who looked to be in junior high with an aura that screamed harmless!
She bore a strong resemblance to the boy she called out to with her long chocolate brown hair, curls cascading down her back and over her shoulders with gold streaks and sun-kissed flawless skin. A cute headband was placed in her hair, matching the high-waist, red pleated jumper skirt she was assigned to wear.
A pair of charming gold eyes stared confusedly at the boy she called Malik. When the boy gave the younger girl his attention, Alice took this time to gather herself and quickly fled from the scene, ignoring when the boy called out her name.
Lisa and Dia trailed after her, seeing the hurt look plastered on their friend's face, following her to a clear area behind one of the school buildings. Alice rested her hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath.
A series of happy memories involving that boy flashed in her head. Alice clutched her chest as her heart ached from the feelings those memories stirred up. Lisa and Dia shared a look as if they could almost read each other's minds, but waited until Alice composed herself before saying anything. Pushing away those memories, she locked them away and dusted off her skirt, and straightened her hair before standing tall on her feet.
"Sorry for showing such a messy scene. I'm okay!" Alice flashed them a smile that didn't reach her eyes. Instead of demanding answers, Dia and Lisa just nodded, not wanting to dive into the girl's business.
'If Alice wants to tell us something, it should be on her own terms,' thought Dia.
An awkward silence settled around the three girls as they made their way to Chemistry. Dia honestly found the entire class boring, and the dull voice of their teacher wasn't making it any better. When the clock finally signaled that class had ended, she was the first to jump out of her seat, followed by the other students.
By now, the tense atmopshere had disapppeared and the girls were finally talking to each other again as they entered the cafeteria filled with chattering students. Trays loaded with the food, the girls sat at a table close to the window.
"Alice, you never did get around to telling us what type of extracurricular you take?" asked Dia.
Alice was ready to answer them when a shadow was cast behind her. A scream rang from her lips when she felt cold liquid spill down the scalp of her hair and onto her uniform as she hurriedly stood on her feet.
"Oops! My bad! I thought this was the trash can!" said a snobbish voice that belonged to a pretty girl holding a strawberry milk bottle.
The girl was very attractive with her slender figure and wavy blonde hair, but she had an uppity air to her. The girl's actions shocked all three girls as the other students who oversaw what happened either laughed or gasped in shock.
"What the hell are you thinking, Sarah?!" roared Alice. Anger clouded her warm chocolate eyes, hands clenched into fists.
"I said sorry! It's not my fault you resemble trash. Or maybe I should call you a lowly insect? Or better yet, a bitch trying to reach for something she shouldn't!" Unable to take the insult and blunt disrespect, Alice got ready to swing her fist at the girl called Sarah until the blonde opened her mouth again.
"Oh, someone looks mad! Are you really gonna hit me despite knowing the trouble it will put your sister in?" Sarah threatened Alice, halting her actions, shoulders trembling with rage.
"Good girl!" Sara mockingly patted Alice's cheek as if she was a pet before gripping her jaw harshly, glaring into the other girl eyes.
"You know the rules. All 'Gifted Students' are hands-off for people like you. Besides, are you really willing to make Lady Daphne your enemy?" Sarah whispered this last sentence into Alice's ear. Alice sneered at the girl's words and glared into the other's emerald green eyes.
"Stop with the feisty look. It doesn't scare me. Oh, just to let you know, I'm hosting a party tomorrow. You know, to welcome everyone back and out of the kindness of my heart, I've decided to invite you~!" A fake smile was plastered onto the blonde's face, holding out a fancy black envelope with a gold wax seal on the back to Alice.
"How can you reduce yourself to that woman's errand girl? Don't you feel an ounce of shame? Where is your pride as a Hunter?" Alice spat these words at Sarah in a low voice, watching when the other girl's face creased with anger.
The sunlight from the window reflected against the silver emblem on their ties. The emblem was that of a silver crescent moon and a sword. Alice's words deeply upset Sarah, who raised her arm, ready to slap the short-haired girl, when a hand caught her wrist.
"Alright, enough with the melodrama! Pageant Princess, can you please step back and allow us to care for our friend." Lisa insulted the blonde, fed up with the other girl's actions and the trouble she was causing their new friend.
Dia began to assist Alice with the clean-up holding a handful of napkins in her hands, and dabbing at various spots. Sara shot the newcomer a look of indifference and easily wrenched her arm away from the taller girl's vice-like grip.
'For such a small chick she gotta lot of strength.' This move caught Lisa by surprise, especially when she took the girl's petite stature into account.
"For you to treat me with such disrespect, you must be new. Word of advice: ditch the trash." Sara threw a glance at Alice before settling her gaze back on Lisa, stepping into the raven-haired girl's personal space.
"And know your place," Sara narrowed her eyes and warned the taller girl, glaring down at her as if she was nothing more than a lowly pleasant standing before a noble.
"Lay a hand on me again, and I won't be as forgiving. Girls, let's go." The group of preppy girls standing behind Sara obediently followed her order as they left the cafeteria.
Lisa tried to calm herself down by taking deep breaths. "Don't go to jail, Lisa. That heffa ain't worth it!" She chanted to herself before turning to her two friends.
"Let's get out of here so we can clean you up," advised Dia, hating that Alice had to go through something like this. She may have had her own share of bullies, but none of them ever went this far.
Leaving the cafeteria, ignoring the mean jabs and pity look some of the students shot their friend, the girls brought Alice to the girls' bathroom.
"Now, Alice, I'm not trying to pry into your business, but what just happened is not acceptable! How could that girl do that to you? Won't the teachers-"
"They won't be much help." Alice cut her off, running water over the paper towel in her hand. "They will either take her side or make the situation worse," She calmly told Lisa while wiping the chest of her uniform shirt and hair where the milk spilled.
"As I said before, a lot of students here come from wealthy backgrounds, Sara the same, but a bit more special. A rich, spoiled daddy's girl. She knows she holds the upper hand when it comes to me which keeps me from retaliating against her. It sucks, but there is not much I can do about it. So please leave it alone."
Alice's pleaded with them, and both girls despite how much they wanted to help her, respected her wishes.
"Okay, but what did she mean by 'Gifted Students'? Does this got something to do with that boy from earlier whose uniform was different from ours?" asked Dai. The mention of that boy from earlier brought forth a wry smile on Alice's face.
"'Gifted,' huh?" A hint of ridicule could be detected in her voice.
"'Gifted Students' are different from us normal students. Everything about them, from their appearance, background, and talents, separates them from normal students like us. People like them and Sarah hold a great amount of influence thanks to their parents… and of course, other reasons, which is why going against them can be very risky and dangerous."
Finishing cleaning herself off, Alice leveled them with a stern gaze.
"Sarah, the girl from earlier, leads a fanclub dedicated to them. Enforcing these stupid rules on other students, commoners like me, who must helplessly obey them. So a word of advice: keep your distance from them. Being too close will only bring trouble to yourself," She warned, speaking from experience.