Love is Beautiful (She's so Ugly)

Interlude

Early in the morning, Lisa heard the whispers.

Merida's new hairstyle. Merida's walking with her head up. Merida looks good. Merida changed.
Everything was about Merida, and it made Lisa's forehead crease as she walked to her locker.

She slapped on her "Bad Apple" lipstick, breathing deep. She was back, and she had a reputation to keep. When she slammed her locker shut, Candice was already there, smirking.

"What do you want?" Lisa snapped.

"Why are you raising your voice at me?" Candice scoffed. "Heard the news? Miss Ugly turned into a swan. And someone saw Jacob begging for Merida to come back."

Lisa rolled her eyes. She didn't care about Jacob anymore. Why should she? She wasn't going to keep playing the one-note villain people thought she was.

"I'm over Jacob. If you hate her, go ahead and bully her yourself."

Candice snorted. "Please. You'll be back at it soon."

Lisa smiled sweetly and walked off—but froze when she reached the doorway. Merida was there, smiling. Smiling with Leo. That sight shouldn't have mattered, but it stung. She looked away too quickly, hating herself for it.

Mr. Talez entered with a woman beside him—who looked almost exactly like Leo. Lisa's eyes widened as the woman introduced herself: Yuri, Leo's cousin. Worse, Yuri waved at Merida like they'd been friends forever.

When the class settled, whispers rose again. This time, between Merida, Leo, and Yuri.

"The three of you! Detention!" Mr. Talez barked.

Lisa watched them take their slips, a knot tightening in her chest. She wanted to follow. Needed to. Finally, she smirked, pulled out her lipstick, and reapplied with exaggerated smacks.

"Lisa!" Mr. Talez snapped.

"It was fading," she said sweetly.

"Detention. And Jacob, you too—you agreed with her."

Lisa smirked as Jacob fell in step beside her.

"You regret it, huh?" she asked.

He looked down. "Leo's better for her than me."

Lisa tilted her head. "This is the first time you sound like that. Usually you're cocky. It's trouble keeping up, huh?"

Jacob gave a half-smile. "Maybe. But you've changed too. You used to... act like a bitch. Lately, not so much."

She smirked faintly. "Is that why you never wanted me? Because of how I acted?"

"The fact that it was acting is why." He glanced at her. "You used to want my attention."

"I used to think you were great. But you're just a piece of shit who couldn't make up his mind." She shook her head. "I adored you. I guess I don't anymore."

They stopped at the detention door. Jacob studied her for a long moment. "Then why do this? Just to get here?"

Lisa didn't answer. She pushed the door open.

Inside, Leo slouched on his desk while Merida and Yuri chattered away. Brandon and Candice came later, and silence hung until Mr. Will arrived.

"You'll clean the halls and backyard today," Will decided, grinning. "Janitors are off-duty."

Lisa noticed how fast the boys volunteered to take Merida's share. Three voices at once. The way they looked at her—like she was precious. No one ever looked at Lisa like that.

While sweeping outside with Candice and Yuri, Lisa kept her distance. But Candice leaned close, her voice sharp enough to sting.

"You better not go soft now. Don't forget what I know about you. And if you're not with me, you're against me."

Lisa froze. Her lips trembled, but she forced herself to nod. She hated that Candice could still yank her strings.

When everyone returned, Will dismissed them with a laugh. "And stop being messy in class. Oh, and Love—wait at the gate for me. I'll walk you home."

Lisa saw the way Merida smiled at him, and it twisted something in her chest.

She lingered behind as Yuri and Merida walked the hall, giggling like life was perfect. It grated. Then Candice's words echoed again. Before she could stop herself, Lisa shoved Merida to the ground.

It happened too fast that all she could realize was that Yuri's eyes were terrifying. She didn't even recall what words were spewing her mouth.

Lisa staggered, rage burning through the sting in her scalp when Yuri banged her head.

"What are you staring at?" she snapped at the crowd. They scattered—except for one.

Leo.

Though Yuri and him had the same eyes, his gaze was calm. Disappointed. I know he feels disappointed.

Lisa's tears blurred her sight. She looked down—but then a hand closed around hers.

Leo. Pulling her forward.

And she broke, crying harder than before.