{ Mia }
After Scarlett was done fixing my wig I quickly ran back to my bed hearing the faint sound of my mom's heels clicking outside my room.
" Wake up Mia you're late for school." She said calmly." My alarm clock didn't go off this morning and it looks like your's didn't either." She smiled. "C'mon sleepyhead." She said pulling the blanket off of me .
"Alright mom I'll be right there." I said feigning a stretch.
As I stepped out of my room I jumped. " Happy birthday Miaaaaa !!!" Everyone screamed.
' I almost forgot it was my birthday with all that was happening this morning.'
I forced a smile, pushing down the lingering confusion from this morning. "Thanks, guys!!" I said, trying to focus on the moment. Hoping that they didn't notice my strange appearance.
After breakfast we got up and headed to school.
~ At school ~
The morning classes passed in a blur, my mind too tangled in thoughts to focus. Words drifted in and out of my ears, equations and history dates slipping past me like whispers in the wind. Before I knew it, the bell rang, signaling recess.
As I entered the cafeteria some girls dressed in cheerleading outfits surrounded me I recognized them from my math class, I tried sidestepping them but to no avail. One of the girls named Abby sneered at me saying " what's wrong Mia ? Don't you want to talk to you ' friends '? "
My face turned pale. ' Friends ' we were far from friends.
She raised her hand to slap me, and I instinctively flinched, squeezing my eyes shut. My heart pounded, waiting for the sharp sting against my cheek.
But nothing came.
Silence. Heavy, suffocating silence.
I hesitated, then cracked one eye open. My breath caught in my throat.
Abby's hand hung in the air, frozen mid-motion. Her face was twisted in a sneer, but she didn't move. None of them did. The cafeteria had turned into a perfect, eerie still frame trays hovering mid-air, water droplets suspended from a spilled bottle, laughter frozen on people's faces.
A shiver ran down my spine. What the hell was happening?
A light tap on my shoulder sent a bolt of fear down my spine. My breath hitched. Who—?
I whirled around, my heart slamming against my ribs. And there he was.
Tall. Confident. A smirk curling at his lips like he knew something I didn't. His piercing eyes were they blue? Green? They seemed to shift under the flickering cafeteria lights.
"Happy birthday, cupcake," he murmured, his voice smooth, almost teasing.
A chill wrapped around my spine. He knew my birthday? How?
"H-how do you know that?" I whispered, my voice barely audible.
His smirk deepened. "How couldn't I?"
" Did it happen?" He asked eagerly waiting for my answer.
" Did what happened?" I asked confused.
Before I could react, his fingers closed around the edge of my wig and yanked it off.
My breath caught as golden strands tumbled free, shining under the fluorescent lights. I froze, my heart hammering. I expected him to laugh, to sneer like Abby would. But instead…
He just smirked.
"There she is," he murmured, eyes glinting with something unreadable.
Then, to my surprise, he pulled me into a warm hug. " I'm proud of you cupcake." He whispered warmly into my hair.
"You're different now, cupcake. You need to know how to use it before someone else does."
He quickly nodded towards Abby. "Let's start with her."
I shook my head quickly. " No. I can't just..."
He tilted his head, amusement dancing in his eyes.
"No buts, cupcake. Unless you want her gone like Mrs. Parker."
My stomach lurched.
"W-what do you mean?"
" Cmon Mia you have to stand up for yourself." He whispered as he tucked a strand of golden hair behind my ear.
" W-what do I do ?" I asked confused.
" Show them they picked the wrong girl to mess with."