"Just turn around and walk away, sweetheart. I'll be nice and pretend I didn't see you, just for today"
With amusement in her tone, Mars gives Amaya a wink. Still, it does not feel overly flirtatious or amusing in any way. Instead, it is almost thre...
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Late September, Thursday
"You shouldn't get too close to Mars. I'm just saying"
Amaya glances up at the serious girl with glasses, pausing her chewing for a moment. The bustling sound of the large cafeteria drowns out her silence of surprise, all while the two people next to her keep eating calmly. Outside the sun is shining directly into the hall, drenching it in a beautiful bright yellow light. It smells like blueberry smoothie and chicken soup, with a hint of some cleaning substance that glistens on the floor, and expensive perfume.
Amaya swallows harshly and looks around herself to make sure that nobody is listening, especially not Mars herself, before she even dares to open her mouth.
"Why? Is she a bad person?"
Amaya already caught Mars beating up a student before, so honestly the answer should be obvious. But somehow, she sits here now with Zaccai on one side and Ani on the other, and she just can't believe what she is hearing. Of course Mars seems like a bad person, anybody who has known her for more than five minutes would be able to tell the same. She is probably violent, and everyone seems to fear and avoid her. But even though it's reckless, Amaya has decided not to be convinced by what others are saying.
She has seen Mars beat someone up, yes. But she has also seen a dream where Mars saved her, most likely from the same bullies that she encountered in the classroom yesterday. A dream which could very much be a reality from the past. Now she doesn't know what to believe. Her brain is telling her to stay away, but her gut is leaning towards Mars. Not despite her danger, but because of it.
"I wouldn't say it's that black and white. Is she a bad person? Maybe. Honestly at this school almost everyone is"
Ani sighs, looking at Zaccai for help. He glances up, surprised, before finally understanding. Amaya thinks that she is lucky, in that moment, to have found two friends that she can somewhat rely on. They have gone from being partners in a geography WWF project to eating together at lunch. Maybe Zaccai and Ani are only spending time with her out of pity, who knows. Amaya doesn't really care. What matters is that she is safe, especially now that she can still feel the bruises from yesterday aching in her skin and bones. Having friends is a step in the right direction.
Zaccai swallows his food and looks directly at Amaya, explaining what Ani is trying to say, calmly.
"Being a bad person is not something that matters here. What matters is whether or not someone is dangerous. How can I explain it..."
Zaccai looks around himself, trying to find the right words to say. Right then, a crash echoes through the large cafeteria, cutting off the steady mumbling that was coming from the crowd. The three of them glance to the side, seeing a senior tower over a freshman, after having just knocked the tray out of his hands. After processing the situation, Zaccai nods and turns to Amaya again.
