The Black Lion

Stormy

I rushed out of math class again right after the bell rang. The black lion from yesterday still haunted my mind. What did the dream mean? Do black lions even exist? Loud sounds from behind me alerted me to turn around. My backpack was open and things were spilling out. I stop to put everything back in, avoiding being stepped on by passing students. I finally zip my backpack and unwrap the tinfoil around my sandwich. I might have time afterschool to search up black lions. When I open the girls bathroom door, Jenna, Ani, Trinity, and Zoe are already there. They were chatting and fixing their makeup until they noticed me walk in.

With a big gulp, I head to one of the bathroom stalls while watching them look at me in the corner of my eye. Trinity speaks up, "Why do you eat your lunch all the time in the stalls? It's gross."

I stop walking and hear the door open from behind me again. They knew I was there this whole time? What should I say back?

"Isn't it a burden to wear the same thing everyday for like a decade now?" Jenna flipped back her long, dirty blonde hair behind her shoulder. "It's a wonder how it all still somehow fits."

"You're making me feel pity towards you." Zoe crossed her arms across her chest. "If I give you money, will that be enough to convince you to buy something new for once?"

A girl with short, orange hair from behind me stormed up to them. I guess she was the one that opened the door after me. She looked angry. "You think she's  the one with a problem? Trinity didn't you have incest with your brother? And there should be a name for the people who are diagnosed to think that pounds of makeup slopped on their face daily is healthy."

I watched her, mouth gaping open. Nobody talked to the popular girls like that. I was impressed with her. She turned around to face me, "Come on, let's get out of here." She headed out and I hesitantly followed her.

"Just ignore them. They are stupid and has something bad so say about everyone, even though they're the only ones here with a problem. You can sit with me and my friends if you want. I'm Stormy, how about you?"

Something about Stormy's personality interested me. Was it her bold attitude? Or just because nobody wanted to be friends with me? Probably the last one.

"I'm Ruby Dall. T-thank you for saving me back there," I stutter. I think she's just doing this cause she feels bad. I still appreciate how she stuck up for me. That was incredible.

"Ruby, my friends and I all have been picked on by them at least once. Those selfish pricks need to go drill themselves or something. Don't be hurt by what they say," Stormy led me down the hallway and to an end I have never been to before. It is all worn down and dirty with an elevator to the side. "This place is a secret place, so don't tell any outsiders of it," she pressed the button. The elevator came and we walked inside. Stormy scratched at a loose crack at the wall and a small tile came loose. Underneath the tile was a regular elevator button. Wow that's really cool. I wonder where it leads to. She pressed it and the elevator went up. "All of my friends have been picked on Zoe, Trinity, Jenna and Ani before so we can relate to you."

The doors open and I'm shocked. Stormy's friends hung out on the roof of the school. That was not allowed by the staff, so it seems that they made a camp at the center, where people below couldn't see them. Stormy took my hand and called to her friends. There were seven others that all came to greet us. "Hey Stormy, and hi!" said a tall blonde girl with a ponytail that reached her shoulders. "Hi, I'm uh my name is Ruby," I flinch at how awkward I am. She smiles back, "Welcome to the group."