Seasons: Howl

-Humiliation-

Summer lay on her bed, feeling quite dazed. The day before had probably been the worst day in her entire life.
It was even worse than the time when she had tripped and tumbled down the stairs in her middle school and her pants had ripped open.

She had lost to Winter.

She didn't even want to go to school anymore after that public humiliation. After the battle, she had walked home sulking, but with whispers and rumours flying over her head as well. And worse, if she went to school, she would have to put up with Winter sitting next to her for the whole day.

Summer shuddered. Winter would have probably become arrogant and start to piss her off by teasing her for being weak. He would probably taunt her for the rest of her life as long as she lives.

He had seemed full of himself when he first came to school. Today would be his second day attending the Academy with his brother.

Summer dragged herself out of bed desolately. She desperately wanted to skip school, but knowing her father and teacher, she would probably have to commit suicide before she could do that.

An hour later, Summer was walking into the Academy grounds, her head bent low, trying to avoid the laughing stares and whispers from the other students. Shoulders slumped, she walked to her class and was about to enter when she bumped into something.

Something cold.

Summer yelped and jumped back, her skin tingling. Then she saw what- no, who- she had bumped into and froze. Winter stood at the entrance of the class, blocking the doorway, surrounded by all the fangirls in the class. He looked faintly bemused, as he blinked warmly at the girls.

When he felt someone bump into his back, he turned around and saw Summer backing away from him, her hair bristling.

"Oh, hey Summer. Come on in. I just need to clear the way first." Winter smiled, his voice gentle. Summer relaxed slightly and nodded curtly at him. The crowd of girls had quietened down and had cleared a path for Winter to enter the class. Summer slowly followed him in, but tripped suddenly. She fell to the ground, groaning.

Laughter filled her ears as she got to her feet. She tried to walk and stumbled, then realised that her ankle was sprained. She looked around, trying to figure out what had tripped her, then she spotted Beatriix with her foot stuck out. The girl flashed a wicked grin at Summer.

"Oh, what happened? Did the 'Unbeatable Queen' trip over her own feet?" Beatriix mocked, then burst out laughing. Her minions and sister echoed her.

Summer hung her head and gritted her teeth, clenching her fists so tightly that they began to tremble. She wanted to punch Beatriix in the face. She wanted to punch everyone in her class, including Winter. The boy had stopped walking and was frowning at the laughing group of girls.

He walked back. "Summer, are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?" He asked, his tone concerned.

"I'm fine!! I don't need you to babysit me!" Summer hissed at him, then she strode towards her table, shoving past Winter as she went. She tried her hardest not to limp, even though her ankle was aching badly.

Winter trailed after her after glancing back at the stunned group of girls with a warning look. Summer settled down in her seat and slumped on her table, burying her face in her arms. A few tears trickled down her face, and she was lucky she was covering it.

She was not going to let Winter see her cry. Summer felt a familiar coldness swamp over her, and tensed her muscles. Sure enough, Winter spoke. "Are you really alright? You were limping."