"I came in second in volleyball!" Ariel boasted proudly.
The blond girl had been gloating throughout Friday, and on that Monday, it looked like she could still go on about it for another full day. Sandy had already regretted coming over to Ariel's desk during break. She wondered if she should excuse herself and go hide in the girls' washroom until it was time for class.
Esper and Selina entered the class through the back door. "I don't think this is a good idea," Selina was saying to her friend.
The curly-haired girl had a newsletter in her hand. "It'll be fun," Esper said, "Besides, she'll see it eventually. Better sooner than later."
"Just count me out of this." Selina left the curly-haired girl and went back to her desk.
Esper walked over to Sandy and Ariel. She held up the newsletter. "The Fernham Post," she announced, "Interclass Games edition!"
The Fernham Post was the publication of Fernham High's Journalism Club. It was a weekly newsletter that reported the latest happenings in the school.
"Am I in it?" Ariel asked excitedly.
"Yes," Esper said with a big smile. She spread the newsletter on the desk and flipped the page to one with a photo of Ariel jumping to deflect a ball at the volleyball net. The caption at the top of the article read 'The Air Blimp Floats!'.
Ariel stared at the title in silence.
Sandy could not resist a smirk. After having to bear all of Ariel's bragging, that was a beautiful needle to burst her bubble. She could almost hear the pop. Ah, sweet payback.
Then suddenly, Ariel lashed out and grabbed a fistful of Sandy's and Esper's hair in each hand. She yanked down, hard. "This is both your faults!" she shrieked, "The both of you always calling me that. Now it's all over the school paper! Everyone knows now!"
With her head twisted at an awkward angle, Esper stretched her hands towards Selina, who was nonchalantly flipping through a textbook at her desk. "Save us!" she pleaded.
Selina refused to even look up from her book. "Told you so."
***
The pain of Ariel's rough handling of her hair was still fresh at lunch time. Sandy had wisely decided that she should avoid Ariel for the time being. Her blond friend was in the cafeteria, having lunch with Selina. Esper was nowhere to be seen, probably hiding from the wrath of the blond too.
Thus, Sandy was left standing at the cafeteria entrance with her lunch box in her hand, wondering where she could hide.
"Hey, Sandy," a familiar voice greeted her.
Sandy turned. It was the redhead Connie, attractive as ever in her trendy outfit and red handbag. Radiant, with the fluorescent light above shining down on her.
"Hi, Connie," Sandy greeted back.
"So, what are you doing standing there?" Connie asked, "Don't you normally sit with your friends?"
"Um, yeah, but... I'm avoiding them today."
"Oh, I see." Connie nodded with understanding. "Why don't you sit with me?"
Eat lunch with 9-C's glamor queen!? Of course, she would. "Okay."
"Great. How about I get us something to drink? Hot chocolate, okay?"
And Sandy was getting a free hot drink too! "Okay," she agreed enthusiastically.
"Why don't you find us a place to sit?" Connie suggested, "I'll get the drinks and my food."
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