The Bunny Queen and Her King

Chapter Ten: Imperfect

BUNNY

Xavier had been acting funny lately. He wasn’t smiling or eating as much as usual. (The only reason I bring up the food is because that he can eat like there’s no tomorrow.) He wouldn’t tell me what was wrong when I asked, which hurt me more than when Candy punched my eye. Both times she did it.

I sat in my Home Ed class, waiting on the water to start boiling so I could cook these noodles. Pitiful, I know. I think our teacher just got dumped. Again. She always gives us something easy so she can go into the bathroom and cry.

I secretly wondered about Candy and Tanner. They hadn’t bothered me all week. And it’s not like I’ve been using my mad-awesome ninja skills to avoid them. They’ve just been…ignoring me. It’s weird.

My mind was soon switched back to Xavier. Maybe he wasn’t interested anymore. That hurt to think about, but it seemed like the most likely scenario. New record, I thought bitterly, Three weeks and already he wants to dump me.

I sighed. Was I really that ugly? Stop it, Bunny, I thought sharply, B is for beautiful. Remember that.

I put the noodles into the boiling water, careful not to accidentally splash myself. The last thing my precious self-esteem needed was an ugly burn mark somewhere on my body.

I hummed quietly to myself, grateful that I didn’t have this class with Candy. I could almost hear her screeching at me to be quiet. Her screeches were something like a crow. Annoying and scary at the same time.

“Hey, you.” I looked up in surprise at Juliet. Juliet was Candy’s younger sister. She had the same platinum blonde hair, but instead of dark blue eyes, she had one brown and one blue.

I gulped down my fear. “Y-yeah?” Drat. I stuttered.

“My sister picks on you a lot, right?” I nodded. She hugged me. “Oh my gawd! I’m so sorry, uh, what’s your name?”

“Bunny,” I squeaked out from my surprise.

“I’m so sorry, Bunny, for everything. I don’t know why Candy’s so nasty to you. I mean, you’re gorgeous.”

I blushed. “I-I’m not that pretty.”

“Oh, but you are!”

I probably looked like a cherry right now. “Uh, thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” She grinned at me. She was a couple inches taller than me, and just as skinny as her sister. I felt envious of their slim figures. Why couldn’t I look like that? Why couldn’t I be as pretty as Juliet and Candy?

“Do you mind if I eat lunch with you? I usually eat lunch with my boyfriend, but he’s sick today.”

“No, I don’t mind.”

“Great.” She grinned. “See you then, Bunny.”

* * * * * *

“Hey—What is she doing here?” Cookie asked.

“This is—” I tried to introduce.

“I know who she is!” Cookie exclaimed. “What are you doing, Bunny?”

“Relax, she’s cool.” I sat down between Cookie and Juliet. “She’s lonely, anyway.”

Cookie narrowed her eyes. “I’m watching you, kid.”

“Where’s Kurt?” I asked.

She immediately lightened up. “He’ll be here any minute with Xavier.”