All Roses Have Thorns

Sierra II

After listening to Ms. Andrews make a speech about dynamics and the importance of the percussion section, she headed to lunch. She ran over to Safiya. "Fiyaaaaa!" Sierra lifted up her sweater sleeve to show off her soulmate's drawing. "Look what my soulmate did last night," she smiled.

"Oooooh that's pretty." Safiya smiled and turned her arm, "Look what mine did."

Sierra smiled, "Nice. Glad to see they're writing, er, drawing again."

A figure appeared out of nowhere over Safiya's shoulder, "Watcha lookin' at?"

Sierra let out a small shriek and pulled her sleeve down, "Goddamnit Mags! Did you have to do that? You scared the crabs out of me!"

"I would've thought you'd run out of crabs by now," Maggie rolled her eyes. "Sierra, this is my good friend, Erin. She went to our middle school and she was here last year, but I think you guys were in different classes. She's back in town now, so she's joining my core classes."

Erin eyed the end of Sierra's sleeve before she smiled, "Hi. New friends already, Maggie?"

Maggie shrugged, "New classes, new classmates, new friends."

"So, why were you out of town?" Sierra asked.

"My- My mom got into a car accident and she needed a special hospital, but i-it was a few towns away. We moved to stay closer to her." Erin rubbed her arm nervously.

Sierra reached out to touch Erin's shoulder, "I-I'm so sorry." She flinched at the touch, but that's what happens when a stranger touches you.

"It-It's alright." She removed Sierra's hand from her shoulder.

"Alright, so what's up chicas?" Dema smiled, walking to the group of girls. "Hey Erin, remember me?" She winked.

Erin smiled, "I wouldn't forget you that quickly. We just met two periods ago, Dee." The group proceeded to sit down and eat their lunches. The topic of conversation flowed smoothly, from the homework and newest "couple" to Erin and her art business.

"So how long have you hidden this from us?" Maggie asked.

Erin laughed, "Well, I started during the summer and then I started using the money from commissions to pay for meals and stuff at the hospital. I would rather not go into detail right now." Sierra looked at the girl curiously. ...got a lot farther by working a lot harder, by being a lot smarter, by being a self starter by fourteen. They placed her in charge of... selling art, sir. The modified song lyrics ran through Sierra's head.

"Okay, you're off the hook... for now," Safiya smirked at her friend. "I propose that you all come to my house after school." The occupants of the table all nodded in agreement; they had no plans after school and there was little homework so far.