CHAPTER 2

"Hey, mum," Autumn said coming down the stairs with her bag.

"Good morning honey, here's your lunch money."

"Thanks, mum."

"Remember, don't do what I won't be proud of."

Autumn sighed ." Yes, mum."

"And..."

"Always be good, stay safe and be nice no matter what the bullies do to you." Autumn interrupted and said the rest of the line in a monotonous voice. "Now mum can I go, I'll be late."

"Sure."

Autumn walked out of the house quickly.

"Stay safe," Winter called after her.

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Grrrr... The bell rang for our lunch break. I walked out of my chemistry class going straight to the cafeteria. I stood in line, as usual, to get my lunch when these crazy bullies came in trying to cut the line. Sadly, our activist, my friend who usually protested against bullying was not in school due to her health problems. I sighed and complied with the bullies and so did everyone else.

I had gotten my lunch and was moving to my favorite sitting spot when someone dragged my hair backward. I yelped, trying and succeeding in stabling myself.

"What do you want?" I said angrily turned around to find a gang of ten bullies looking at me.

"Your money." One of them said.

"I have none. I spent the last of it on my lunch so please let me go before I call a teacher."

"Shut up! We know you're tougher than this." Their leader said coming from behind."You're just acting." There was a scar on her neck. "Remember me?"

"Oh yes, I remember you. You're the softie." She clenched her teeth while the others growled.

"Yeah, I remember you from our fight. What's your name again? Err... I think it's Pauley."

"It's Paulina." She said through her clenched teeth.

"Relax, as you can see I'm not tensed so why are you? Scared I might beat you, again?"

That question got Paulina angry. One of them said, "You were almost crying before, now you can talk because we haven't lynched you."

"You sure?, cause like your softie leader said I was acting and I wasn't 'almost crying '. But if you want me to get back into character, I'll gladly do so." Paulina's face turned red.

"Oh please, can I leave now, my burrito is getting cold?" I said pretending to be crying and then bursting out loud with laughter. Just about to get my food to my seat, she called my name.

"Autumn Rutherford the weird red-haired girl in Eastwood high, why are you running? We ain't gonna beat ya. Just wanna negotiate." Paulina said with a smirk on her face.

I angrily put my food on the table and turned to them with a fake smile.

"Okay, now let me warn you. Don't ever call me a weird red-haired girl. You know, I think I know a way to settle this. Meet me at the basketball court behind the school by 4:00 today. I need to tutor you."

"Why not now, scared?"

"No, just don't want to disgrace you in front of everyone. Just me, you and your dumb squad."

"Oooooo!" Everyone exclaimed. I had even forgotten that I was saying this in front of approximately four hundred people.

I turned to eat my lunch. I felt Paulina's eyes boring into me. If looks could kill, I probably would have been dead by now.

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"You think this is a good idea," Ken asked me. Ken is my childhood friend. He knows everything about me.

"Of course it is. It's time I taught them a lesson." We were already on our way to the basketball court. They were already there waiting for me.

"Cool, they're here. Nice to see you guys are still punctual to a fight instead of a school. But it's still a shame, you guys could use the extra credit for your grades."

"Just shut up and let's get this over with." Paulina came forward.

"Wait Paulina before we do this, I would like to say something."

They all groan like they're really in class about to be lectured by a cruel teacher.

"It's only going to take a few minutes." I tried to persuade them to stay rather than leaving. Ken stood a considerable distance from us ready to exit if my plan did not work.

"Fine," Paulina said after a long and uncomfortable silence.

"Paulina I know I said we were going to fight but think about it, what do we gain by actually fighting, we're not getting a medal or extra publicity just memories we'll live to regret." I studied them and found out that I'd gotten their attention." Anytime I think about it, I realize that you all can be so much more; make friends, get invited to parties, look good and not get into trouble every time. And do you know the saddest thing?... you all don't know that you're beautiful, any guy including Eastwood famous and rich handsome guy Tyler Davis can ask you out."

There was murmuring among the girls except for Paulina who was just looking at me, calmly, waiting for me to continue my speech.

I couldn't tell what was going through her mind. I was thinking it was either; can't wait for her to finish her speech so I can murder her or she might be right.

I decided to break the silence." So what do you say, would you rather fight and gain nothing or work with me and some other people that can help you to become better people?"

There was a long silence like they were contemplating on either going or waiting for their leader to decide for them. Suddenly a blonde girl with green eyes stood up and said

"I'm in." She came outside to join me. I hugged her and smiled at her. The others joined her until it was only Paulina left.

"What do you say, Paulina?" I asked patiently.

"I say you're all weak and gullible." She turned to leave. I ran after her calling, her name until she stopped.

"Paulina, what's this attitude you are putting out? What do you gain?"

"You see this scar on my neck, it can never be removed, it has totally disfigured my face." She yelled at me. I sighed. I knew what it felt to be rejected all because of the mistake of the past. It's just like Paulina not having friends because people are scared of her.

"Says who?" I asked calmly.

"Says me." She said with a shout.

"Are you the one to tell people you're beautiful or the other way round?" I paused to allow what I just said sink into her."Paulina, I'm telling you, you're beautiful. The scar — it makes you look fearless and fierce like the boss you are. You just need to change your attitude and you're good."

"You really think so?" She said calmly

"I don't think so..." I saw her face drop."I know so."

She gave a big smile and hugged me, I was surprised but I hugged her back.

"See you're good at heart you just need colors. Let's go join the rest."

"Sure."

The others were still waiting with Ken. I joined the rest while Paulina stood thinking of backing out. "I'm in." There was a cheer from the others.

"But wait," Paulina said. "How are you going to help us?"

"I was thinking, the appearance first cause you all look like thugs right now—no offense ."

"None taken." They said in unison.

"How about on Saturday, we all go to the mall and buy some brighter clothes."

"Sure." This time Paulina answered for all of them while they nodded their head in agreement.

"Now that's what we're talking about."