Rebecca flinched just a bit, as Kat's hand almost touched her shoulder. But as he gave her but a few kind words, the girl seemed to smile a bit, for the first time that day. [color=ffe0e0]"...Thanks."[/color] She smiled warmly. [color=ffe0e0]"I'll...I might need that."[/color]

It was only a few coins, but it meant something. It meant support. It meant someone was there with her, that someone agrees with her when she says 'this shouldn't have happened'.
												   [sub][color=222222]brighter[/color][/sub]
On her own, that voice was very small. Now, it was just a little louder.

 
She lingered for a moment, as though there was something more she wanted to say. But in the end, that was all that occurred between the two of them at that moment. Young men and women befriending each other, especially in such a setting, created suspicion and unwanted rumors. Like an invisible wall between them, it gave just enough of a nudge for her to let it be for now - as though it wasn't okay to simply know someone. By the time any thought had occurred to her of how illogical it was, her chance of getting to know the boy any more was passed over. This time, at least.

 
[color=82ca9d]The boy in the wrinkled uniform scrawls something onto a sheet of paper, torn from a notebook. Balling it up, he looks left and right, before nonchalantly tossing it Kat's way. It's angled expertly, suggesting an unusual talent for dexterity, rolling softly along the top of his desk.[/color]

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/G9qSZs4.png[/img][/center]

Rebecca continued her rounds, emboldened somewhat by the partial success. Just a minute later, she arrived at the desk of a young woman with blonde hair, and piercing blue eyes. [color=ffe0e0]"Excuse me."[/color] Rebecca leaned forward just a bit, a glimmer of hope in her tired expression. [color=ffe0e0]"You might have heard already, but I'm asking ar-"[/color]

[color=8882be]"You're useless."[/color]

[color=ffe0e0]"...ound...?"[/color]

The young woman slowly turned her head towards Rebecca, her stoic face unfazed by her gesture. [color=ffe0e0]"I just...wanted to help...somehow..."[/color] The sapphires blinked, gleaming gems momentarily obscured. [color=8882be]"And what exactly do you hope to achieve using the lunch money of students?"[/color] The woman asks pointedly, [color=8882be]"Funerals cost thousands of dollars. From this room, I'd be surprised if you surpassed five. You're wasting your time."[/color]

Rebecca was stunned speechless from the sharp words, taking a step back. The basket with Kat's change in it nearly slipped from her fingers. Even with the choking atmosphere, the heavy air, the pervading sense of apathy, she still managed to summon up enough anger to fire back. [color=ffe0e0]"A-And what difference does it make to you, then!?"[/color] She yelled at the top of her lungs, turning a few heads in the room. [color=ffe0e0][i]"Why do you care!?"[/i][/color]

 
[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/H0THGqz.png?1[/img][/center]
[center][color=8882be]"I don't."[/color][/center]
[center][color=8882be]"And neither should you."[/color][/center]

Rebecca slumped backwards, as though she'd been hit with a baseball bat, stumbling for her balance. [color=222222]A small bruise on her left shoulder, just above the heart.[/color]

She stammers, her pupils dilating from sheer emotion. Her arm jerks, as though she were about to throw the straw basket at the young woman out of rage. Making the decision for her, the blond-haired girl gets up from her desk, sliding her chair back as she heads for the door.

"Bell 'asn't rung yet..." Mr. Gordon called out in a lazy voice, not making any actual attempt to stop her as she closed the classroom door behind her. Rebecca could only stand still, mortified at what had just been said to her with such impunity.

 
[sup][color=bbbbbb]"Why is Dulac such a bitch?"

"Isn't her family really rich? You'd think she could do something."

"I think that's just a rumour. She'd be at another school if that were true."[/color][/sup]

 
[color=82ca9d]The boy in the wrinkled uniform winces and shudders.[/color] [color=222222]The bruise on his arm was not there before.[/color]

Rebecca slowly sits back down at her desk, leaving the basket where it is. In the end, no one besides Kat had pitched in. Muttering laughter makes its way from a corner of the room, and she can't help but feel that it's at her expense.
															[sub][color=222222]the [b]prisoners[/b] are released from their [b]cell[/b][/color][/sub]
The clock reads eleven after. There are four minutes remaining before the students here are allowed to leave.