That Girl With Bubblegum Hair

An Uphill Climb and Flashbacks [p6]

[ Recap: I write a quick text before exiting her room...walking downstairs...out the door...then start making my way home. ]

Iris POV - 

"Eehhh" I groan as the sun comes through my window, directly onto my face. I roll onto my stomach, shoving my face into my pillow. 

I hate mornings! "Just wanna sleeeeep~" I groan into my pillow.  

"IRIS! HONEY, ARE YOU UP YET!?" I hear my mom yell from downstairs. 

When did she get home? Come to think of it I never said 'hello' when she got home last night. What...? 

That's when I remember last night. "Mi-Mina?" I shoot straight up out of my bed, frantically looking around my room. My math homework is sitting on my desk. The math homework I never got to finish. Maybe if it is not too late I could work on it right now, before the bus gets here. yea, I'll do that! I pick up my phone from my nightstand to check the time, only to see a message from Mina.

Mina > Heyy! You fell asleep yesterday and it was getting pretty late, so I decided to head home before your parents got home. Don't forget to keep ice on our cheek for the bruise, see you at school!! 

Sent 5:48 pm Thursday 

I smile at the text, even more at the cute profile picture of her doing a peace sign. 

"IRIS, ARE YOU AWAKE?!" I hear my mom yell from downstairs for the second time. 

"YEA MA, I'M UP" I respond. "BE DOWN IN A FEW" Getting up, I head to my desk to quickly finish the remaining three questions. Throwing on my uniform I pack my bag and head downstairs for breakfast. 

"Hey honey, morning...What happened to your cheek?" My mom says as I enter the kitchen. She stops packing my lunch and rushes over to make sure that I'm okay. 

I guess it's still noticeable. Shit are people are gonna see it at school!? 

"It was-a-well....y-yesterday I saw...you know.." I studder looking down and twiddling my thumbs. I don't have to say his name for my mom to understand what I am talking about.

~~~~~~~ Smol flashback ~~~~~~~~~

He was at my house the day I told him about my crush, and after he left I started crying. My parents already knew that I liked girls, and they supported me, so I felt comfortable telling them about what he said. 

For the rest of the year, he would verbally mock me every day. But whenever my parents would ask me about him, I would just say we didn't talk anymore. It wasn't a complete lie, but also not the complete truth.

 It wasn't until a month ago, the beginning of this school year, that he moved from verbally mocking me to full-on bullying me. My dad noticed that every few days I would come home with a new bruise on my arm or face, and of course, he told my mom about it. They sat me down at the table and made me tell them what was going on. 

Me being the person I am completely broke down and told them everything. About the teasing, and all about the bullying. 

They contacted both the school and his parents, hoping that everything would be better. 

But, that really only made it get worse...

~~~~~~~ End of smol flashback ~~~~~~~~~

"That bastard!" My mom curses under her breath, I chuckle. 

"It's all good ma, they go I'm on camera this time" I wink, trying to comfort her. Trying to make her stop worrying about me. 

"He fucking beat you up on school grounds?! That little shit!" She fumes, I nod slowly. Walking over to the closet, I look for something to eat. Giving my mom a minute to calm down. 

"I doubt you want to talk about it, but what room was It? ...So I can call the school and tell them to check the cameras. " She says, much softer than before. "He can't get away with this anymore ya'know. It's not right." 

"Science. Room 102" I answer quietly, taking my muffin out of the toaster to butter it. 

My mom walked over to pull me into a hug from behind. "He'll stop this, I promise you" She kisses the top of my head before returning to packing my lunch. 

20 minutes later the bus comes and I'm off to school 

~~~~~~~~~Time skip to lunch~~~~~~~~~~~

Iris POV -

I'm talking with Denki and Sero when we hear the sound of someone running towards us. Tsu stops in front of the seat and slams her cup onto the table. "I have TEA~" She exclaims. 

I bury my head in my hands as the others laugh. "Dramatic much?!" 

"OOOOOOhhhh What is it?!?!" Denki bounces around in his seat. Causing Sero to place his hand on his head, telling him to calm down. 

"Okay mom~" Denki responds sarcastically. We're all laughing again then I see the cup that Tsu was holding. Well, actually it's a bottle. 

"That's the reason you're late! Because you were buying a Snapple?!" I laugh even harder than before. 

Sero looks confused. "So do you mean you LITERALLY HAVE tea? Or do you have gossip-tea?" 

"Dude I think she has both" Denki says to him, they both nod. 

"Ahem~" Tsu clears her throat, the three of us look at her in response. "As I was saying.." She shows us her phone screen, blushing hard. It's open to a contact labeled 'Tokoyami' with a heart next to his name. 

"YESS QUEEN!" I Miladly-shout, remembering that there are other students around us, giving her a high-five. 

"I know...We talked for like an hour at night!" She squeals, finally sitting down and taking out her lunch. 

"Looks like all except one of us is having us has actually talked to the person they like..." Denki jokes quietly, but loud enough for all of us to hear. 

"hey..I...Umm," I groan. Should I tell them that I got her number....but then they might ask about when I saw her...and I don't want to mention Liam... They haven't noticed the bruise on my cheek, so I haven't had to bring up yesterday yet, and I really don't wanna. Luckily I don't have to say anything because Tsu buds in. 

"Actually," She looks at me smirking, "They walked home together yesterday" Sero and Denki both look at me with wide eyes, signaling me to continue. 

"I mean, yea we walked home together. Then she stayed over for a little while and I might have gotten her number as well.." I say sheepishly. 

All of a sudden, Denki raises his water bottle in the middle of the table and proclaims, "A toast to relationship progress!" We all burst out laughing but join him in the toast. 

A little while later the bell rings, ending lunch. Before I can leave the cafeteria, Denki pats me on the shoulder reminding me that I don't need to rush to class. I laugh assuring him that I won't anymore. 

..

Please, don't let me see Liam today. I silently pray as I exit the cafeteria. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Authors Note -

This chapter turned out a lot longer than I expected, BTW I am very excited to write the next chapter!!

Also, Sorry if the Tsu is very out of character. I don't really know how to make her act. 

- By ma dudes!! See ya later