The Bully

20

"Reno? Reno where are you?" Kelly asked, looking around the house for the tiny ginger. "Reno? Where is she?!"

"I don't know." Paige replied. Both women had been searching the house looking for Reno. It was her first day of school.

"Found her!" Kelly said in relief when she saw the pile of stuffed animals move. "Reno, Hun, it's your first day of school, you don't want to be late."

"I don't want to go." Reno said.

"It'll be fun." Paige said, appearing behind Kelly.

"No it won't. I've been to school before." Reno replied.

"Well, you've never been to this school. Maybe you'll like it better." Kelly tried.

Reno just glared at them.

"If you make it through the entire day at school, we'll go to your favorite restaurant tonight!" Paige suggested.

"Fine." Reno stood up and started walking down the stairs. She sat down at the table and began eating the dry cereal that had been sitting at her spot at the table.

"Do you want some milk with that?" Kelly asked.

"No." Reno said plainly.

She quietly ate her cereal while Kelly packed up a backpack.

"Time to go!" Kelly said, sweetly.

"Ok." Reno sighed.

The three walked to the end of the street and waited for the bus. When it arrived, Reno looked up at Kelly and Paige who smiled at her.

"Have a great day, Sweetie!" Kelly said.

Reno reluctantly climbed the stairs onto the school bus and looked around. She decided to take an empty seat towards the front to avoid bullies. She'd been down that road before.

Reno stared out the window as her moms waved to her and soon they disappeared from her sight. She sighed.

"Hey, can I sit with you?" She looked up and saw a girl, taller than her.

"Sure." Reno said and scooted closer to the window.

"I'm Penelope, but everyone calls me Penny." The blond said.

"I'm Reno." Reno replied.

"I've never seen you on the bus before. Are you new to the school?" Penny asked.

"Yeah." Reno replied.

"What grade are you in?" Penny asked.

"First." Reno said softly.

"I'm in second grade, but I can show you where to go when we get to school." Penny smiled.

"Okay." Reno agreed.

When the bus arrived outside the school, Penny led Reno to the cafeteria, which was full of students.

"Do you know who your teacher is?" Penny asked.

"Umm Miss Oliver." Reno recalled.

While all of this was happening, across town at the high school, Chloe and Beca were making out in the bathroom, again.

"I wonder how Reno is coping with school." Chloe said out of nowhere and Beca pulled away.

"What made you think of that?" Beca asked.

"I have been all morning. It's hard to start a new school. I hope she has friends." Chloe frowned.

"She'll be fine, Chlo." Beca said, trying to get Chloe back into the mood.

"I'm nervous for her." Chloe admitted.

"Don't be." Beca sighed.

- - -

Chloe and Beca went to Chloe's house after school and made chocolate covered pretzels for when Reno got home.

At 3:30 Beca and Chloe stood at the end of the driveway and waited for Reno's bus.

"The bus doesn't come for another forty five minutes!" Beca whined, she was not dressed for this kind of weather. It was cold and windy.

"Better to be safe than sorry, Becs." Chloe said. "I'll keep you warm."

Chloe wrapped her arm around Beca in an attempt to keep her warm.

The bus rounded the corner and stopped at the driveway.

"Chloe!" Reno found herself saying in excitement.

The little redhead practically ran off the bus and into her sister's arms.

"How was your first day, Lovebug?" Chloe asked.

"It was alright." Reno said.

"Did you make any new friends?" Beca asked.

"Yes! On the bus I met a second grader named Penny! In my class I made friends with Cecilia and Ana!" Reno smiled.

"Wow looks like someone's popular!" Chloe said. "Now, let's go inside! Beca and I made you a special treat!"

They walked into the house and Reno spotted the pretzels.

"What are they?!" She asked excitedly.

"Chocolate covered pretzels!" Chloe smiled.

"I've never had those before." Reno said.

"You'll love them." Beca said.

Reno grabbed one, took a bite and smiled. Then she took another bite, and another and all the pretzel stick was gone and she was reaching for another one.

"Slow down, Tiger!" Beca laughed. "You'll get a stomach ache."

"No I won't!" Reno insisted and took the pretzel.

Chloe was relieved that Reno made friends at the new school and deep down, she was hoping this would be Reno's last move. She wanted her moms to adopt Reno.