[Color=pink]Melanie Rose Pourri[/color][hr]
[I]Eukary Quad, Photography I with Mr. Aaron Ramsey, 11:20AM.
Interacting with [@IronPhinx][/i]

Melanie nearly jumped at Gracie's suprise, but beamed when she agreed. Her pearly black eyes sparkled excitedly as she held the pretty piece of paper in her paws. [Color=pink]"Thank you, Gracie... really!"[/color] Mel said with a mod, smiling and tearing up. She put the paper in her pocket then dabbed at her eyes and sniffled.  [I][Color=pink]"Sorry, the cold must be getting to me..."[/color][/i] the skunk-girl mumbled quietly, not wanting to admit she was crying with joy.

After taking a moment to recollect herself, Melanie nodded and smiled up at Gracie. [Color=pink]"We better get back to class, then. See you around!"[/color] she said with a wave of her paw. Mel turned around and trotted off, following her classmates back inside the Art Building.

[Color=pink]Melanie Rose Pourri[/color][hr]
[I]Art Building, Photography I with Mr. Aaron Ramsey, 11:25AM.[/i]

As Melanie followed the group into the art building, she noticed, strangely, that Mr. Ramsey was no longer wearing his aviator jacket.  He didn't seem bothered at all by the cold, probably due to sheep's naturally warm coat. It seemed he gave it to a smaller animal--a rabbit-girl--who was suffering from the cold. The jacket ended below the knees, dwarfing her, and she held the long, floppy arms against herself and hopper about happily. Mel shook her head gently and smiled. Her teacher was always looking out for his students. 

[b]"Good work class. Thank you for being good sports and playing safe out there is the cold weather. Now, I would like to see your three best photos from today's shoot. I will be here if you have any questions or want critique befor you turn your assignment in,"[/b] Mr. Ramsey instructed. He nodded, then began his rounds.

Melanie gratefully sunk into her computer chair and sighed. Her nose and ears felt like they were burning, but it was much better than the bite of cold air. But her relief and relaxation was short lived. She was just about to start working when she noticed that her backpack was not the way she left it-- it was tipped over, and the zippers were unzipped and her books were falling out. Melanie's heart nearly stopped, an a heavy feeling weighed down on her.

Most of her things were still there: notebooks, pens and pencils, used textbooks, the things that mattered. Somebody had gone and defaced her notebooks with messages like 'Stinker' and 'Pee-yew' among more vulgar things. A self-portrait now had wiggly-lines around it. Her spare coins and lunch money was missing as well as her snacks.

The poor girl's lips quivered and eyes welled up as she glanced around the room. Most people were hard at work, but two girls, a ferret and the calico from before, were giggling and looking her direction while they munched on blueberries and Kricket-Krispies. Unsurprisingly, those were the exact things she packed for snacks today.

Melanie swiveled back around and slumped into her chair and got to work. 

[Color=pink]Melanie Rose Pourri[/color][hr]
[I]Art Building, Photography I with Mr. Aaron Ramsey, 11:45AM.[/i]

By the end of class, Melanie had relaxed and nearly forgotten about the bullying, because she was engrossed in her work. She sat hunched over her desk, eyes just inches from the screen and her eyes were open wide. Her tongue stuck slightly out the side of her mouth as she worked. In the end, she decided to submit a macro photo of the lost red mitten with several beautiful snowflakes scattered and glistening in its fibers and wonderful depth, and then two photos of the goat, Percival. Both were wonderful with dramatic lighting, but she really loved the one where he seemed to be daydreaming with a lovestruck look on his face. After a deep breath, she clicked her mouse and pressed 'send'.

As everybody got up to leave, Melanie stayed behind, ignoring the giggling girls awaiting her at the door. Instead, Mel stayed in her seat and rested on her elbows on the desk with her face in her paws, looking at that picture.  [Color=pink][i]If only I had someone who thought about me that way...[/i][/color] she thought dreamily. It was nice to meet people who considered her a real person, or even a friend, but to be somebody's world seemed like a faraway fantasy.

A couple minutes passed, and the girls grew bored and left. Melanie powered off her computer, grabbed her bag, and started for the door. [B]"Miss Pourri,"[/b] a ruff voice spoke up as she grabbed the door handle. Melanie turned around to see Mr. Ramsey standing up and leaning over his desk. Her heart raced and her tail twitched, wondering if he was going to comment on the bullying and only make things worse.

[B]"Excellent work today. I see some real potential here. Keep it up!"[/b] he complimented with an approving smile, thumbs up, and a wink. Melanie smiled and looked down bashfully. [Color=pink]"Oh, um, thank you professor Ramsey..."[/color] she answered. The bighorn sheep nodded, then turned his focus back to his computer and clicked away. Melanie continued out the door and the door clicked behind her.