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Present. Still Monday, 10:17

Chanel

Liar, liar, pants on fire, they say; those who play with a candle lit ablaze often get their fingers burned. As strange as it may seem, we all have an odd way of understanding the nature of a living being. In a short period of time, we could easily come up with a partial conclusion about it, determining its strong points. And the moment we spot even the tiniest hint of weakness, we can almost never resist the gnawing urge to hurt it.

It might be safe to assume that I grew tired of being hurt.

"What was that lunacy, Miss Givens?" Mrs. Janette Powell was seething as she stared after the haughty blonde figure.

"I apo-apologize on her behalf." I was quick to stand on Maddie's defense, just like I always did. Though my tongue soured the moment I uttered the words. It just wasn't quite right anymore; I don't want to continue being her underling.

"I mean, Maddie must be having issues and can barely manage to deal with them." Another sugarcoat: "I really have no idea what the outburst was about. What I know is that – is that it isn't right to lash out on someone else. So, again, I'm sorry."

"You don't say!" Mrs. Powell exhaled heavily and continued to reorganize her desk. Without looking she declared, "You may see yourself out now, Givens."

"O-oh." I nodded. "Of course."

Just as I was about to open the door, Mrs. Powell called after me.

"Chanel, I'll let this one pass, alright? I notice that things between you and your friends are shaky. However," she soothed her wrist, where silver and gold bracelets laid, "do try your best to resolve this issue with Madison. It's almost the end of the school year. I can't afford to have another cannonball running loose around the halls of Ademar High."

I was silent for a bit, wondering whether to submit or, for some tempting reason, stand up for myself.

I was used to the former, taunted by the latter.

"How I wish I could still do anything about it, Mrs. Powell. And for the record, I did try. But I've had enough, and Maddie's pride just won't back down. I'll just... let her be and hope you'll understand." I gave her a consoling smile then I was gone.