Fluttershy

Quinn

I once again got a ride from Zoe's mom to school. It felt weirder now that I was sitting next to a woman whose husband was murdered, but I didn't bring any of it up.

Like yesterday, I met Alicia and Harley in front of the school even before the other humans showed up.

"Hey Zoe." Alicia said. I could tell that she was excited to keep a secret.

"Hey Ali." I said.

"Okay, Zo, we need to get to the art room, Mrs. Troy needs our help getting the new art supplies out." Harley told me. All three of us went into the school and followed Harley to a room. 

There, it was covered in clay and paint, and almost anything you could imagine, was stuck everywhere.

"It's supposed to look like this, it's called "art," I guess." Alicia whispered in my ear. I nodded.

---------------------------

After we were done helping Mrs. Troy, Harley, Alicia and I went to our lockers, that happened to be right next to each others. A locker, I found out yesterday, was a compartment for your personal belongings. Who knew?

"Hey, hey, hey, Zoe!" I heard someone say. I almost forgot that I was supposed to be Zoe. I turned around to see three teenage boys coming up behind me, the one in the middle coming up to me and hugging me.

"Hi." I said. I looked over and saw Alicia bite her lip.

"So, the boys and I were going out tonight, pool party, you know. Anyway, why don't you be my date? I'll pick you up around seven, alright?" The boy said.

"Um, I haven't even said yes yet." I said. The boy laughed and punched one of his friend's knuckles.

"Alright, Zoe, do you want to come to the pool party with me?" He asked.

"No." I replied. 

The boy's smile vanished. He let go of me and looked at me squarely.

"Look here, honey. Josh don't take no for an answer." The boy said.

"Well, good thing I'm not talking to Josh. I don't want to go with you." I replied. He made a frown.

"Fine. Forget it. But you're coming with me to Taylor's party on Friday." He said.

"No, I'm not." I said. "You don't demand things of a lady. You ask and then you get your answer. Mine happens to be no."

"That's where you're wrong, Zoe. I'm taking you to that party, and I'm NOT taking no for an answer." The boy said. He turned with his friends and walked away, laughing at their own stupid jokes.

"Who was that?" I asked. Harley's mouth dropped open.

"That's Josh Render, your boyfriend?!" Harley screeched.

"Ha! Oh, no no no. My boyfriend is-"

"Josh the man!" Alicia interrupted, putting her hand over my mouth. "He's just so cool now-a-days that Zoe didn't even recognize him! Hey Zoe, don't we have first period together? Let's go now so we won't be late, m'kay?" 

Alicia turned with my mouth still covered with her hand and we both walked away from Harley. When Alicia took her hand off, I looked back to see Harley shrug and close her locker, walking away.

"You do realize that she's going to find out sooner or later." Alicia said. "And it's not going to be very pretty when she does."

"I know that, but we at least have to try and keep it from her for a little longer." I said.

"Oh, that's going to work out when you blab on about Nathan in front of her." Alicia said.

I had told her almost everything last night, including my boyfriend Nathan. Alicia wouldn't stop asking questions, so I kept answering them.