[CENTER][img]https://i.imgur.com/tTTsYMy.jpg[/img][/CENTER]

Joshua Hawkins was the single familiar face in the campus that Becca knew from high school. A giant that towered over her, as dense in mass as he was in smarts. The only reason he had gotten into Columbus was through an athletic scholarship provided after he tore his way into victory in the football team of their previously unheard of little school. He had been content to ignore her existence and she had been content to ignore his, a telepathic mutual agreement that neither wanted to be associated with the other.

Not that he was on her mind. Far from it. Let the sleeping dogs lie they say.

[CENTER]Duchess: [color=6ecff6][i]No awkwardness whatsoever![/i][/color][/CENTER]

Sitting on an isolated table in the campus' library, Becca had just sent the message and was about to write a follow up when a hand clasped around her shoulder, the grip too strong for comfort. Looking up, she was startled to find none other than Joshua himself grinning down at her. Her hands shook as she squeezed her phone between them. What was he doing here?

[color=f7941d]"Becca!"[/color] Voice too loud for the place they were in but he didn't seem to mind the least, Joshua dropped down onto the chair next to her. [color=f7941d]"Been ages since I last seen ya."[/color]

Rebecca tasted something sour in her mouth as, inside, anger and fear fought for the chance to act. Ages, indeed. Last time they'd been in each other's presence he was laughing while his friends shoved her inside a trash container and forced her to stay inside until she threw up. Her eyes narrowed on him but Joshua only smiled back, humming. [color=f7941d]"Still the little genius, huh?"[/color]

His eyes roamed the papers sprawled on the table with a glint behind them. Rebecca's hands stumbled upon each other as she rushed to collect everything into a pile she could run away with but Joshua's arm slid around her shoulders and kept her in place, his face so close she could smell his breath - a weird mix of peppermint and lingering traces of alcohol. Her skin turned green. [color=f7941d]"Since you like it so much, how about you help me with mine?"[/color]

Almost as soon as he was done speaking, she got up and shoved him away all in one motion, her chair crashing down with the sudden movement. Her entire body shook as her eyes stared at the floor, trying to find something - anything - that would give her strength. As she was about to give up, her phone gave her hand a small buzz and she looked at it like a blind man looks at the sun the first time he sees. If Cyrus was here, he'd tell her to stand up. To be strong.

Hands clenched, Rebecca looked Joshua dead in the eye. [color=6ecff6]"....n....n-no!"[/color]

His eyebrows lifted in mock shock but his grin didn't falter. Still, Rebecca didn't allow him room to speak. [color=6ecff6]"I-in other wo-words, you're too st-stup-pid to do your own ho-homework."[/color]

She knew she had struck a chord when anger flashed in his eyes and he got up, towering above her with menace. He reached forward but she slapped his hand away before it could reach her.

[color=6ecff6][b]"I AM NOT YOUR SLAVE!"[/b][/color] Her voice carried through the library and drew the attention of students and teachers alike, successfully putting Joshua into a corner. He probably didn't want people to know he needed help with his grades, image to maintain and all. He took a look at their surroundings and visibly forced himself to relax. After a few seconds of just looking at each other, he smiled and reached forward once more. All of the adrenaline gone, all Rebecca could do this time was close her eyes and brace herself.

His knuckles caressed her cheek and he left.

For what felt like ages, Rebecca just stood there. Heart beating wildly. Had she won? She did. She won this battle! But...what of the war?

No. There would be no war. She was no longer a kid in the closed environment of a high school where the smallest thing could create a chain of painful events. Here, he had no power.

[color=f6989d]"Hey, you okay?"[/color] A warm voice broke her train of thoughts and Rebecca looked around to see a slightly shorter girl with wild curls leaning down to pick up the chair. When Becca didn't immediately answer, the girl smiled with uncertainty. [color=f6989d]"I'm Lola, we in the same World Literature class...you know, Mrs. Norris and all..."[/color]

[color=6ecff6]"Oh...I'm Rebecca,"[/color] she finally answered, not wanting to seem rude but not really understanding the other girl's point. When Lola only nodded, Becca turned back to finish collecting her papers. It was painfully awkward.

[color=f6989d]"So...you wanna grab something for lunch together?"[/color]

Becca looked back, half suspicious of the girl but there didn't seem to be anything to be worried about. Lola just stood there with a friendly smile, alone like her. Maybe...maybe this really was just Becca getting a new friend. Smiling, she adjusted her glasses and nodded. [color=6ecff6]"Okay."[/color]

[color=f6989d]"Awesome!"[/color] Lola fist bumped her and immediately started chatting like they were years old friends that had ages to catch up on and not enough time to do it. But Becca didn't mind.

It wasn't a bad feeling.

Unlocking her phone, she tapped out a new message. 

[CENTER]Duchess: [color=6ecff6][i]I made a friend. =)[/i][/color][/CENTER]