"Female Bullying"

If it was violent.

It was history class and Akira had already zoned out. The teacher was talking about the Ancient Greek poet Sappho and her very good friend she wrote about. Yeah, Akira stopped paying attention at that point. Arguing about a historical figure's sexuality with her history teacher was pointless. She'd seen many a student try but none ever got anywhere with it. A few were even willing to get sent to detention over it. Noble. Still didn't accomplish anything though.

Looking around the class for something more interesting to focus on, Akira's eye was caught- as it always was- buy the red nest of hair on the other side of class.

Cameron was on the opposite side of the room but the sight of her still made Akira tense every muscle in her body as if she was under the guilotine blade before it just before it fell.  She wanted more than anything to look away but all the same she felt if she kept her eyes trained on the danger then it couldn't hurt her. If she looked away, then she wouldn't know what it was doing. She wouldn't know when it would move. If it was angry.

If it was violent.

Cameron must've felt Akira's eyes trained on the back of her skull because she looked around for the source of irritation. Akira hoped she looked away fast enough before they made eye contact. If Cameron caught her it'd just be another thing she could punish her for.

Akira scolded herself for having that thought and flicked her hair out from behind her shoulder to create a barrier between her and the rest of the world.

Why would she be punished for something as stupid as that? Why would Cameron punish her-... why should Cameron punish her for anything? Why was Akira even scared of getting punished for anything? That's. Not. Normal.

Every time she stepped back from the situation, she saw the same fucked up world. But it never stopped shocking her. Her life completely revolved around one person and it wasn't even voluntary. She barely even knew Cameron, barely even talked to her, yet the girl was always at the forefront of her mind.

She was still in school for god's sake. She should be making drama with friends, worrying about results, obsessing over boys, possibly getting a boyfriend. That was what school should be right?

Instead she spent every day practically as a slave, scared out of her mind about what would happen to her if she didn't obey.

And that was fucked up.

She felt the familiar wave of nausea in the pit of her stomach as the bell to signal the end of the lesson dragged her back to the gruelling present.

*:･ﾟ✧

As soon as she thought she could have this one lunch time without being bothered, guess who showed up? Akira wondered if Cameron was psychic; she always managed to appear when it would make Akira most miserable.

Cameron had her two groupies surround Akira on the bench she'd been hoping to be left alone on. Her fight or flight instincts kicked in despite the fact that she knew neither was possible in this situation.

Akira debated whether to stand up or not but ultimately decided against it: Cameron might take it as a sign of defiance.

"Aww, lonely again are we?" Cameron cooed. Snickers from her clique but Akira made sure not to react. "You already know why I'm here so you might as well get it over with."

Akira nodded and pulled out her bag, searching its contents. She rummaged around for the folder she'd carefully remembered to put in there. Pushing aside textbooks, pencil cases, empty lunch boxes, note books and-

No

No no no it has to be in here I checked I made sure oh god why isn't it here it has to be in here I put it in I can't have-

The image of a lonely folder still on her desk before she left the house made her freeze in place.

"Is there a problem?" Akira couldn't bring herself to look up. "Well? Answer me, baby."

She winced at that. She hated that nickname. It held too many unwanted connotations, most of them condescending.

"I- I don't have it." It didn't come out as loud as she wanted it to, the words didn't seem to want to leave her throat.

"What was that?" Despite the question, the flare of anger in her voice suggested Cameron had heard exactly what she said.

"I don't-" the sentence didn't make it off her tongue before she felt Cameron grab her hair.

Pain and fear shot through her like a bullet.