Russian Doll

Один.

   The corridors of the school were as loud as always. Children talking, laughing, yelling and teachers walking around, attempting to pretend they had any authority and control in this chaos.

   A soft thud could be heard as Anastazja's back painfully hit the wall. She looked up at the taller girl and her friends with nervousness.

"Little, sweet Annie." Yelena smiled coldly, looking her up and down. "What rugs did you wear this time, huh? Did you find them in the dumpster?" She said with fake pity, while yanking on the material of Stassie's jacket.

   The petite girl was wearing old, worn out jeans, a way too big shirt that hung off her frame and made her look smaller then she was in reality. The thin jacket she had on, couldn't keep her warm in the cool, autumn weather.

"N-no, I didn't-" She tried to protest but was cut off by a mocking laugh.

"You probably found it while looking for food, like a rat!" Yelena snickered cruelly, her comment causing the rest of the girl to scoff in amusement.

"A very ugly rat!" One of them added.

   Anastazja clenched her fists, desperately trying to hold back the tears already welling up in her eyes. She was seventeen for God's sake! She couldn't just start crying every time Yelena was picking on her.

"Oh, oh, look!" The blonde said, delighted at having a new opportunity to laugh at her. "The rat is getting angry. Come on, you gonna hit me?" She smirked, grabbing her shoulder and pushing her into the wall. "Show us what you've got."

"Cut her some slack, Yel." Anastazja almost winced at the sudden voice, immediately curling up on her spot. Her blue eyes widened in fear as she heard the steps she would recognise everywhere.

"And since when do you have a soft spot for the rat?" Yelena asked offended, approaching her boyfriend with a huff.

   She popped out her hip, staring at him with frustration. Yet he didn't even spare her a single glance, his eyes glued to Stassie's face. He grinned and licked his lips as he saw her shrink under his gaze. He was staring at her like a predator that has already chosen its prey.

"To me she looks a lot more like a little, defenceless mouse then an actual rat, don't you think?" His dark eyes lit up with a dangerous sparkle as he took a step towards the terrified girl.

   To his annoyance Yelena grabbed his arm, looking at him with a pout that she definitely tought was adorable. It wasn't. It made her look like a fish, but he couldn't tell her that, of course.

"Why do you even look at her when you can look at me?" She batted her eyelashes, her hands squeezing his own. Maxim didn't have the time to answer because they heard the loud, ominous sound of clanging heels.

"Children! What are you doing here? Students can't be here." There she was, the terror of the whole school. Terrifyingly skinny and tall, almost like some sort of skeleton. Mid length, never properly washed brown hair and these glasses that only she wore. Ms. Maria Ivanowa. "Smoking and drinking I assume. To school! Now!" She yelled.

   The group of girls and Maxim, with Yelena still clinging to him, quickly left. No one wanted to be in the presence of that woman longer then necessary. Only Stassie still couldn't move, too deep in her own panic to take even a deeper breath. When the old woman saw that, a cold smile appeared on her lips. Oh how she hated that stupid girl who looked like a literal angel! She still couldn't let go of the hatered she held for the older sister of the girl. She didn't care that Anastazja was nothing like Olga. It didn't matter that Stassie was very shy, quiet and kind. To Ms. Iwanova she was loud, arrogant, bratty and a troublemaker of the worst kind.