[@Luna Amore]

It was at this moment Harley was doing all she could to choke back a gut laugh towards Natalia's words.  Madison?  Nice?!  The cowgirl would believe that when pigs flew.  If only Natalia knew that girl was just using Mr. Felton's tutoring as a ploy to try and get in his pants.  She leaned against the locker with both arms crossed, answering back slightly sarcastic, [color=a187be]"Oh I bet she does, especially with a handsome teacher like Mr. Felton, but..."[/color]  She sighed, a short yawn segwaying into a stretch.  [color=a187be]"Maybe I'm being too judgmental here.  I just don't like how she's gotta flaunt what she's got like she's some high filutin' movie star or somethin'!  I don't like it when people think they're better than me!"[/color]

And perhaps it was a tinge of jealousy, but Harley, she wouldn't stand for any girl willing to ruin a man's life just to sleep with him.

[color=a187be]"Really?  Me too!"[/color]  At least knowing she would be in another class with Nat made her grin.  She was about to follow Natalia until her phone buzzed in her pocket.  She pulled it out and checked the contact.  It was....her mom?

[color=a187be]"Aww man!"[/color]  Gruffly she sighed.  She loved her family more than anything, but damn did they have to be so overprotective?  [color=a187be]"I gotta take this one, Nat.  You go on ahead."[/color]  She said to Nat with an apologetic smile then answered her phone.  [color=a187be]"Hey ma!"[/color]

[i]"Hi sweetie!"[/i]  Her mom's voice practically rang over the speaker.  [i]"Just callin' to check up on you and see how you're doing!  I can't believe my daughter's attending a prestigious New York school!  We're so proud of you, Harley!"[/i]

[color=a187be]"Aww gee!  Thanks mama!"[/color]  Harley giggled, her cheeks turning a bit red.  [color=a187be]"Just wish you and daddy didn't have to spend so much to get me up here."[/color]

[i]"Well darlin'!"[/i]  Her mother laughed.  [i]"How else were you gonna learn to be a photographer?  Now don't you worry!  Daddy and I will be just fine. 
 He's been working with Mr. Tanner over in Midland, climbing oil rigs till we get another herd of cattle to sell.  He should be back home next week.  We got plenty of money, sweetheart.  Don't you worry."[/i]

[color=a187be]"I know mama, but..."[/color]  Harley paused with a sigh.  Her smile began to fade.  [color=a187be]"I'm not much worried about that, as I am about....about Jack."[/color]

[img]https://i.pinimg.com/736x/d9/bc/61/d9bc616e2020d394beb24f95161f9593--marine-corps-uniforms-us-marine-corps.jpg[/img]

[i]"Harley..."[/i]  Her mother's voice went soft.  [i]"I've been meaning to tell you about him.  The doctors said he might not wake up at all.  He's still showing brain activity, but he's...still not there, Harley."[/i]

Harley could feel the tears welling in her eyes.  She wiped them away on the sleeve of her flannel.  [color=a187be]"But....does that mean you're gonna..."[/color]

There was silence on the other end before her mother returned tearfully, [i]"If we have to, sweetheart, but Jack...he was born to be a soldier.  I know he'll pull through this, God willing, but I wish he never went over there to fight." [/i]

[color=a187be]"Mama....  Jack just wanted to protect us.  He knew what he was getting into when he joined up.  I know he'll make it.  He's got all of us.  God knows he'll wake up one day."[/color]

[i]"Well... I reckon you're right, sweet pea.  I know this has been the hardest on you.  You and Jack, you were like two little peas in a pod growing up.  You were always his little buddy."[/i]

[color=a187be]"I still am, right?"[/color]  Harley smiled.  [color=a187be]"I gotta go now, mama.  I love you!  Oh and...y'all tell Jack I said hi."[/color]

[i]"We will, honey.  When your dad gets home from work next week, we're going back down to the V.A. hospital to see him.  I'll tell him then.  You best get to class now, darlin', and Harley, you have a wonderful day.  Love you.  Bye."[/i]

Her mother hung up.  Harley still had tears in her eyes as she slipped her phone back in her pocket and carried on, trying her best to put on a smile for her friend.

[hr]

After today, Helena was ready to torch this place and everyone in it to the fucking ground.  She was ready to douse the halls in gasoline and light 'em up, then sit outside the school, smoking a joint and watching the flames devour everything, like the emperor playing his fiddle while Rome burned.

She was done with school for the day, and was ready to go home and blaze it, just to forget about everything, about Jason, his bitch ass girlfriend, her dad and his new bitch ass girlfriend.....and...about her mom.

Skating along, she stopped at her locker to grab her stash she kept hidden behind the horror movie poster in the back, tucked in a small hole she cut, but upon reaching into the tiny gap, her hand touched...not a plastic baggy full of weed, but a crumpled piece of paper.

[color=f7941d]"What the fuck?"[/color]

Helena grabbed it and uncrumpled it.  With each letter of the note she read, her face grew red with anger.

[i]Yo Hel,

Didn't have any hash, so I had to jack your stash.  Hope you're cool with it, a'ight?  Peace!
-Tony \m/ >3< \m/[/i]

[i][color=f7941d]Are you fucking cereal, brah?![/color][/i]  Helena tore the note to shreds, letting out a guttural growl as she slammed her head against the locker.  [i][color=f7941d]Fucking Tony!  Dude didn't even leave me a spliff!  Fucker!  At least there's my stash at home, if step-bitch ain't confiscated it yet.[/color][/i]

Beside her locker however, which now had a dent because of her raging headbutt...which gave her a raging headache.  Helena noticed the pint sized nerdy looking chick.  Amelia, she thinks her name was.  The girl had obviously been bawling her eyes out, given the dark circles and her bloodshot eyes.  Pretty eyes actually.  It was none of the redhead's business, but now that she thought about it, she did see this girl always up Madison's ass.

Maybe she was another fuckbuddy that got burned by the succubus slut.

[color=f7941d]"Hey... you alright?"[/color]  She didn't know why, but seeing the girl broken up like she was...it kinda tugged on the finite number of heartstrings Helena had left.