"So you're stuck in that thing for how long exactly?" So much for her few days, dammit. Zenobia was not happy about that fact she was stuck on crutches at all. The injured teen tapped away at the lunch table with the bottom of her pencil.
Her face soured at the question, she pursed her lips before pointing her eraser down at the worksheet Phoebie was trying her hardest to ignore. It wasn't until the other girl started working on it with a few grumbles that Zenobia gave an answer to Liam.
"Another month or so and that's if I'm lucky."
"Damn, what did you do?" Renzo raised an eyebrow from his geography homework. He gave a brief glance towards her leg, skeptical before continuing. "There's no way you could've screwed it up so bad from a slip of the stairs."
"It wasn't so much of the fall..." If only it were simply that.
"Let me guess. You thought it was a-ok to ignore it until you got home, then you did some amateur first aid, right?"
Zenobia really hated how accurate Liam was. Even without the added details of how far she walked or the truth of what happened, he still hit the bull's-eye, splitting her insecurities wide open. Either she was that predictable or he was secretly stalking her. All she could do was rest her head on the table in defeat.
"Yeah. So at least once a week I'm getting picked up early so I can get to the doctors. Until I'm given the clear, it's bandages and crutches everywhere I go." She was sick of hopping everywhere, it absolutely killed her arms.
However, she knew better than to dismiss Jennifer's warnings. No pressure on the foot and all manner of rules she had to follow would be obeyed without question. Yippee for her. She blame Elias for all her woes.
"Hm?" Suddenly, she felt her pocket vibrate, causing her to blink. There was only one reason for that. Pulling it out, she swiped the screen, her mouth tilting slightly. Just as she presumed, it was Elias who sent her a text, speak of the devil and all that.
Which honestly surprised her. After making that offer and then taking her number, she figured that would be the end of their conversation. Or as much of an end before she gave him her actual answer. Instead, the boy chatted away with her like they were childhood friends.
The white-eyed teen she met and saved from bullies proved himself to be very unforgettable. At least an hour in since they exchanged contact information, he sent her pictures of cute animals, tv show character animations and videos on top of a slew of messages. Of course, he also insisted on her responding back to keep the conversation going. Even if she was unfamiliar with the most recent topic, he still wanted her thoughts on it.
It was…endearing, if not a little random and silly. At least he hadn't brought up his offer again, demanding an answer like she remembered people being with her dad. Those old clients were obnoxiously pushy; she never liked those kinds of people.
All the more appreciated that Elias hadn't brought it up once. She was still undecided on that front. Granted he asked her yesterday, but it was so unlike her not to choose something with the time she had. If anything, she felt a little ridiculous for lingering on a decision.
If she agreed, that was one step closer to her dream with her getting an income to boot. A chance to finally follow in her father's faded footsteps. It sounded like the perfect opportunity she had been waiting for. But then came the reason for her hesitation like a lightning strike to her brain.
If her mother got wind of it, there'd be consequences to the highest degree. She'd drag Zenobia to the furthest reaches of hell and drown her in lava before burying the girl in her own tools before allowing her to become a mask-maker. Then the old hag would go after Elias. Someone who definitely didn't deserve her scorn.
"Who's lover boy?" Zenobia blinked up, finding Phoebie peering over her shoulder. Crap—was she reading her messages? Quickly she put her phone to sleep mode, glad that her mask was able to hide her blush.
"He's just a friend."
"You have secret friends outside of us? Sounds Su. Spi. Cious!"
Of course her friend had to say that with such a knowing sing-song tone. Unfortunately for the little snooping gossip fiend, Phoebie would not be hearing anything from her about Zenobia's social life. Though that also meant Phoebie was free to imagine whatever nonsense she so pleased. This entire conversation was ridiculous.
Elias was a friend. Possibly a partner mask-maker. No matter what...he couldn't be a boyfriend. So long as her mother was a conservative, judgmental, controlling hag. His life would be absolutely miserable if involved more than he had to be with her. Which brought her back to his offer...
"Hellooooo? Is Zeno still there?" Zenobia huffed while rolling her eyes. Phoebie's hand was getting a bit too close as she merrily waved in her face. Those wagging fingers sliding innocently up her phone. Red eyes trailed her for twenty seconds before Zenobia smacked the offending limb away.
"Owch!"
As per usual, the other girl was being overly dramatic as she clutched her damaged hand close to her chest. At least Renzo was getting a laugh out of it. Snorting into his food tray his milk carton tumbled off the side. All of which lead the fox masked teen to return to her notes as if nothing happened.
"Don't be mean!"
"It's called personal space, Phoebie. It's important."
"Bull—"
"Ooooh trouble in paradise, outcasts? What a shame." The merriment that left the four of them with entertained smiles vanished when shadows towered over their table. Zenobia had no clue who was behind her but she saw the tension in Liam and Renzo's shoulders. They looked tense; their bodies hunched over as if ready to pounce.
"Who asked you, Tyson? Fuck off."
"What's wrong, Liam? Don't want to play nice?"
"Not with you. This is a private table." The injured teen had no idea what was going on. She couldn't be bothered to turn around, let alone engage with whoever was picking a fight with Liam. Still, she heard the raven-masked boy growl lowly under his breath.
It was only a matter of time before fists flew. She sighed, she had no patience today. Not that she had patience in general, in any case this was not what she needed. Exams were around the corner and grades were on the line, after all. Her hand smacked her book a couple times, grabbing everyone's attention.
"Ignore him, Liam, we have more important things to worry about. You still haven't figured out the answer to question four."
"Zeno, is this really the—"
"Excuse me, bitch!?" She gave no reaction when she felt her arm being raised up. There was no fear to be found when her body followed it up out of the seat. Not even a wince revealed the pain she endured when her leg was forced to move awkwardly along with her.
In front of her were three idiotic jocks. The one on her left stared at her with emerald green eyes, shielded by a red boar with mighty fake tusks. His counterpart on her right had brown eyes with his moss-green mantis mask. Finally, she turned her attention to the fool who held her. Blue eyes shone through a tiger mask with lightning bolt stripe markings.
All of their masks represented power and courage. Big dreams for big boys. Unfortunately, masks didn't make the person for all she saw were a bunch of muscle heads idiots ready to pick a fight. Too bad for them, Zenobia didn't get involved in a fight where she intended to lose. Let alone ones where fists weren't needed.
"You're excused, now as Liam put it, fuck off."
"You think you can talk to ME like that."
"I know I can. Because unlike you, we're busy on top of being productive. You want to have a pissing contest, go outside and do it with your fellow jocks."
"Why you—" Zenobia smiled, her mouth set into into a cheery grin. Shivers ran down along everyone in her presence. She watched as that free hand drew back, ready to curl into a punch. It was satisfying standing there, staring at twitching, aggravated eyes. Even when her ankle started acting up, she remained calm and composed.
"What's wrong? Not going to punch me? Aren't you upset that someone is willing to talk back to you? That I'm willing and able to call you out as an asshole? Go ahead."
"You're asking for it you—you psycho bitch!"
"I am, but while on the subject, three things. One, get some new insults because it's less intimidating when that's all you can muster. Two, you're the one looking ready to punch me, yet still nothing. And three, the moment you DO throw a blow, I'm kicking your ass."
His goons behind him laughed, which was honestly fine. It would not be the first time someone thought she wasn't capable of handling herself. Afterall…she was the one who only came out of her last brawl with a few bruises and a sprain. Her opponents were lucky if they were awake enough to be able to limp home.
It wouldn't even come to an actual smackdown, at least not in the way these three were expecting. She heard Liam and Renzo stand up from their seats. The metal nubs from their seats scraped painfully against the tile floor. She could tell they were ready to come to her defense, trying to look bulkier than they really were, but again there was no need.
Not when Zenobia could pinpoint three teachers and two lunch staff eyeing the whole thing with disdain. Then there were the several dozen or so students that shared the same period as them, watching with eager little eyes with their phones recording the whole thing. That didn't even count the several cameras she noticed turning in their direction. No...Zenobia feared nothing.
"That does it!" So she waited, unconcerned. That hairy set of knuckles was finally moving, this time farther back at an angle. Only before it could actually descend her way, it was grabbed, jerking the both of them in place.
"If I didn't know any better, Zenobia, I'd assume you wanted to get yourself in trouble within my presence." The culprit behind Zenobia's attacker was none other than Ms. Mude. Rage howled in her eyes, a bag of of crumbled chips in her free hand, and the moron's wrist captured in the other.
The student shrugged. Technically, the older woman wasn't wrong with her assessment since she did egg the idiot on. For once though, she didn't have any intention of being in the center of this little dispute. She honestly didn't even see the good principal sneak in. Was it too hard to simple want a study session to go on without issue?
"They decided to march in on our study session only to insult us. You have multiple eyewitnesses and the cameras to back up my claim. They were also the ones quick to violence." It was times like these where she wished she could fully see the way Ms. Mude's expressions shifted. Her rage morphed into amusement, a hard thing to see if one didn't pay attention to the twinkle in the older woman's eye.
"Is that so?" The whole time the three provokers remained silent, stuck like a bundle of cement slabs. Or more ironically, frozen like deer in front of headlights. Despite their masks' forms and their own physical build, they stood prey to the alpha wolf that decided to grace their presence.
"Let's go boys." Her prey put up no resistance when she dragged them away, with Zenobia of course being released. Everyone watched in rapture as she brought all three jocks to the front of the cafeteria. They fidgeted, unsure of what was happening.
Their eyes darted in all directions, forced to endure the stress of so many giving them their undivided attention. All while the head of the school stood behind them with her arms crossed. Ms Mude's figure quieted the students until not a single word could be heard within the usually noisy cafeteria. She took a deep breath, before she boomed out a question.
"Students, what is the single most important rule for my school?" Her voice echoed loudly in the spacious room. Her tone was stern, not at all losing its strength when she addressed them. For a moment there sat silence, no one sure if she was actually desiring an answer.
They were used to soft tones and gentle understanding. They expected light scoldings for such shameful behavior. But for everyone to see such a humiliating display shocked everyone. No one, not Zenobia, the staff and certainly not the bullies, would've thought such predatory eyes and impatient hand claps would belong to Ms Mude.
"Come now. Answer. Chop chop."
"No bullying."
"Louder."
"No bullying!"
"LOUDER now. I want to hear every single one of you!"
"NO BULLYING!"
"That's right. I don't like it. No one would like being a victim. It's not right and worst of all, it shows a terrible personality behind one's mask."
With each continuation of Ms. Mude's improv speech, the three boys shrunk in on themselves. Her tone remained clipped and blunt. Her posture upright and confident in ways that made Zenobia envious. There was no hesitation, no sense of insecurity as Ms. Mude continued on.
"With that said, I shouldn't have to worry. From day one, I've always made sure to repeat my beliefs and the policies I work hard on enforcing with my staff. Everyone here is well aware of that rule if nothing else, yet here I am getting snacks only to find bullying in my sights. Terrible!"
She glared towards the three in question as she paused in her speech. Though Zenobia couldn't see her, she knew it had to be intense as the boys shriveled further into themselves. Those broad, hulking figures from before morphed into fragile husks. Even worse was she could see the way her principal snarled, ferocious in her anger.
"On top of that, I am hearing threats alongside potential violence. This is a school that prioritizes the safety and well-being of all students regardless of race, gender, sexual preference, age and mask decisions. Who you are and what your background is means nothing so long as you come to learn and respect your fellow students."
For a moment Zenobia glanced away, catching Phoebie's eyes. The girl sent her a wink. Her eyes screamed happiness as both of them soaked in those words. It was enough to cause Zenobia to smile herself before returning back to their principal. Dressed in a lovely, lavender dress did nothing to stop her from intimidating everyone. Clearing her throat hushed the few cautious murmurs that broke out.
"With all that. Tyson Ricktor. Philly Macson. And finally Ulysse O'Donsir. The three of you, for your awful behavior, are getting a week long detention session. Everyday after school you will be staying behind for an additional two hours. On top of that I will also be doing a meeting individually with each of your families over this."
Liam barely stopped himself from whistling at that, not that Zenobia could even blame him for that one. It was bad enough being called out like this, down right humiliating even. Ms. Mude knew them by name, insulted their character and promised a personal talk with their families on top of staying after school. Zenobia felt no sympathy since they brought this upon themselves, but she was lucky to not be joining them.
"I certainly hope that not only you three, but all of you understand how seriously I take my rules. We live in a world that is not kind, but that's not an excuse to make it worse and treat others terribly. Do we all have an understanding?"
"Yes, Ms. Mude."
"Can't hear you students."
"YES, MS. MUDE!" With a sigh and a nod, she allowed her three victims to walk back into the masses. Just in time for the bell to ring for the next batch of classes. Zenobia had no doubt that within the next hour, Ms. Mude's speech would spread to the entire school.
Phoebie passed Zenobia her crutches, aiding in her resituating her stance. It was a relief to take the pressure off her leg. Renzo and Liam looked equally cowed from the show. The two boys waiting until Ms. Mude was out of the room before speaking.
"Damn, that was scary."
"Yeah no kidding, I'm amazed she didn't go after me like that." Zenobia snorted at that comment, catching both boys' attention. Liam most certainly was lucky. Though considering she didn't whine or complain after their little mishap, and the principal seeing them studying together was probably what prevented that
"Zeno? You didn't tell on me, did you? About before?" She didn't bother answering that. It was obvious she didn't. Hell, she wouldn't have even interacted with him after that if it wasn't for Phoebie.
Liam was still a hothead. And Zenobia still thought he was annoying, especially when those hothead tendencies sprang up but they weren't butting heads like they could've been. He didn't start today's incident. So naturally, the fox-masked girl intervened, there was nothing else to do about it.
"See you guys tomorrow if I don't see you at the end of the day." Her mood lifted immensely after that. It was good to know that Ms. Mude was not the pushover people assumed. When she said she cared, she meant it.
Though considering the older woman's relationship to Elias, Zenobia could see why those rules were implemented in the first place. Either way the injured teen hobbled away out the door content. She couldn't stop herself from smiling when Tyson flinched away from her. It felt good to know the rest of her day would have a smoother path awaiting her.