rushing home {Zoelle}

[Ilonda McCoy]

Ilonda had her books tucked between her arms and her chest. Most of the time she carried them this way because it was comfortable. Today she held them like a shield. She’d one shoulder up and her dark eyes darting from the boy’s face to the floor, and back again, halfway squinting, like she’d spotted a piece of food stuck between his teeth. But whomever he was didn’t seem to get it; he kept leaning in over her despite her numerous attempts to step past him to be on her way back to her dorm.

From a distance the conversation couldn’t be heard, only when someone walked close. But it wasn’t their business, and most passed by without a word, conscious or not of her silent predicament. She didn’t expect them to. This boy stopped her more often than not when the bell for last period rang, leaping out of his desk to keep up with her. Ilonda should tell him to stop. She knew that. But her mama raised her polite, and every cell in her body refused to let the words escape her lips.

“Hey, so you’re new here, right?” he was saying.
“Not really.”
But he went on, anyway. “So you still looking for people to hang out with? What’s your number?”

Ilonda’s lips clenched. She wrestled with her upbringing, and slightly parted her lips, ready to speak. Whatever she said, she hoped it wasn’t her number.

[Zoelle Heroux]

It was just an average day really. Boring classes that she went to for no other reason than because she had to. It was stupid to her really. She didn't care about someone droning on about history or math - especially math. Science was tolerate on the days they got to play with fire or even better blow something up. But for the most part, it just seemed unnecessary. But she liked her freedom more than she hated academics, which meant attending class and pretending to pay attention for however long it took. She was just leaving one such class - was it english or history... she should probably know which... oh well - when she noticed something.

At first she had just thought he was leaning oddly - until she saw the girl he was leaning over. He had her cornered and she was clearly uncomfortable with it. It seemed he didn't care though and wasn't planning on taking no for an answer. Had it been Zo, she would have just kneed him right in the groin. It seemed his target was more timid though - which was probably exactly why she was the target.

She waited for a moment, silently rooting for the girl to deal with it. But it quickly became clear that that wasn't about to happen. So with a sigh and a roll of her eyes - couldn't let people thing she actually cared about others after all - she walked over to intervene.

Her heeled boots clicked on the hallway floor with each step she took in a rhythmic pattern that screamed she was a girl on a mission. "Hey pea-brain!" she called out as she approached, successfully catching the boy's attention. "Really? You actually answered to that? You really are an idiot aren't you?" She crossed her arms over her chest as she stood next to him. "Well then pea-brain, now that we're done with the introductions, how about you do us all a favor and just get outta my sight? I think even you should be able to manage that."

"Mind your own business..." he started to say, but he didn't finish his sentence before Zo interupted.

"I think you had better stop and think carefully about what you're about to say. I'd hate to have to hurt you," she said softly, tilting her head in a manner that practically dared him to challenge her.

"Like I'm afraid of you, bitch," he said.

Zo didn't speak, she just reacted, the heel of her boot pressing onto his foot making him yelp in a mixture of surprise and pain as she shoved him backwards, sending him stumbling to the ground. "Somehow I don't think you meant that as a compliment," she said with a sneer before turning to the girl. "Come on, let's get out of here. I think he's a little preoccupied at the moment." And she didn't want to get in trouble when for once she was in the right, so better they flee quickly. Without waiting to see if the younger girl was behind her, she started walking away.

[Ilonda McCoy]

Before she could say anything at all, they were both interrupted by a loud voice and the sound of boots clomping towards them. Ilonda turned her head and saw a mane of dark, brightly highlighted hair, bouncing on her shoulders; a pair of bright, fierce eyes, the brows tilted down; a girl, holding herself like she was about to drag someone. Luckily for Ilonda, it seemed that look was aimed at the boy, not her. Speaking didn’t even occur to her. She watched them, mouth slightly agape.

When their brief exchange culminated into its thrilling climax – her boot slamming right onto his foot, making him fall clumsily to the ground – Ilonda let out a brief squeak before covering her mouth with both hands. “Oh my god,” she said, as the scene attracted a few onlookers (and some sparse laughter). Ilonda was only too eager to move on, and followed as Zoelle left, eyes still rounded in shock.

Ilonda tossed a look behind her shoulder. “I hope he don’t come over here,” she said, though it looked like he’d stay there on the ground, surrounded by a small group of onlookers. She looked back. Zoelle was in front of her; she saw only her shoulders and her long head of dark hair. Ilonda wasn’t sure why she was even following her. “What was that about?”

[Zoelle Heroux]

Zo couldn't help but feel a little pride after taking down that bully - after all taking jerks down a peg was one of her favorite pastimes. During the whole exchange, she had forgotten to pay much attention to the girl until she heard a squeak and a muffled 'oh my god' said from behind two hands. Clearly she was shocked, but Zo didn't have the time to coddle her - she wanted to get away from this scene before a teacher showed up and got her in trouble for doing something decent for once.

She didn't have to look behind her to know that the younger girl had decided to follow. "Don't worry about him. I think he's going to be distracted for a bit," she said with a smirk. "And if he tries something, I can do a lot worse than that." Zo might be tough, but she wasn't heartless, no matter what she tried to make people believe. She couldn't stand to see bullies picking on those weaker than them. Especially skeevy guys clearly trying to force something no one was interested in.

It was only when the girl asked what that was about that Zo glanced back at her, one eyebrow raised in question. "What do you mean? You trying to tell me that guy wasn't being a complete ass and making you uncomfortable?" They both knew that was the truth of the matter. She turned down another hallway. "Creeps like him just piss me off," she said with a shrug. She wasn't about to actually admit she cares about others enough to get protective after all. "It's no biggie."

[Ilonda McCoy]

Crossing her arms, Ilonda glanced behind her to see the crowd gathered around him. He still wasn’t following, but she saw that he’d glanced their way, eyes narrowed. Ilonda quickly turned ahead. She hoped he wouldn’t make this into a personal grudge. “How do I get into this crap?” she said, mostly to herself, but it was loud enough for Zoelle to hear, too. “All I do around here is mind my own business.”

Skeevy boys were no stranger to Ilonda. They’d been everywhere in her hometown and, while admittedly less here, they still stuck around and haunted the corridors and dorms and open streets. Usually she tried to ignore them. Not the best method, obviously, especially if she was forced to come into contact with them at least once a week, though she certainly hadn’t thought of kicking them or stepping onto their toes. “Well, yeah,” she responded. “He was, but I wasn’t gonna stomp on no feet.”

Ilonda waited, watching Zoelle’s brightly colored hair bounce. She was walking a little bit ahead of her, and she suddenly wondered why she was following her at all. “Aren’t you scared you’re gonna get in trouble?”

[Zoelle Heroux]

She almost didn't hear the younger girl's question. She didn't really think it was directed at her, but that wasn't nearly enough to stop Zo from commenting. "Exactly. People who keep to themselves are easy targets. Especially when they're younger girls." It was really common sense, yet she explained anyway, even though part of her wasn't sure why she was bothering.

"And that's what makes you a target. They know you're not going to fight back and they like cornering you and making you uncomfortable." Hell, usually Zo was the one looking for targets after all. But skeevy guys like that bugged her, and she wasn't in the habit of not doing anything about things that bugged her.

She didn't glance back at the girl until she asked about getting in trouble. It was only then that she looked over her shoulder, though she didn't break her stride. "Me?" she asked in shock. "Nah, I'm not afraid of much of anything. And most especially not of trouble." She smirked. "Me and trouble are way too good of friends for that." She turned her head to look ahead once more, giving a small shrug. "Besides, what's one more detention? The jerk needed to be taught a lesson."

[Ilonda McCoy]

By now, the boy was far behind. She was relieved that it seemed he wouldn’t follow. “That’s not all he needed,” she conceded, then muttered, “He could’ve used some deodorant, too.”

She walked with her for a few more seconds, then stopped, planting her feet on the sidewalk. Ilonda crossed her arms in front of her. She hoped Zoelle would somehow sense that she’d stopped, and at least glanced behind her, though she saw no indication that she would any time soon. “Hey, thanks,” she said, raising her voice - just a little. “I don’t wanna sound ungrateful, it just came out of nowhere. I didn’t ask you to…” Ilonda sighed. “Well, if he comes after me again, I hope you be ready.”

Ilonda stuck out her foot, as if to show Zoelle proof. “I got none of those combat boots.”

Then she offered her a smile.

[Zoelle Heroux]

Zo couldn't help raising an eyebrow in surprise as she heard the younger girl said that hadn't been all the jerk had needed. Her muttered answer though had Zo laughing. "Not going to argue you there. No wonder he has to harass a girl to get attention. No one would get within 5 feet of him of their own free will," she added.

She heard the footsteps behind her halt and in her confusion she turned around to face the girl just as she began to speak. When she offered her thanks, a small smirk appeared on the older girl's lips. "Hey, don't worry about it," she said with a wave of her hand. It felt weird to be thanked for something. After all, Zo wasn't exactly a good samaritan. She was the one who caused trouble and scared people off. Helping was a foreign experience. Still, though she'd never admit it to anyone, it felt kinda good.

Or maybe the was just the endorphins from sending that ass to the ground.

She laughed as the girl held out her foot. "Yeah, you really couldn't do much damage," she agreed. "Well, chances are that I'm the one he's gonna have a grudge against. If not just remember, put a knee where it hurts him most. Even you should be able to manage that." Zo offered a smile in return. She gave a small shrug as well. "Besides, I'm usually around."

[Ilonda McCoy]

Ilonda smiled and nodded like it all made sense to her. In truth, she couldn’t imagine. She lived in fear of the law every day. That, and she had to go down the hallway to get someone else to kill a bug for her - she was just like that. Yes, a part of her admired Zoelle. “You really are going to get in trouble,” Ilonda told her, with certainty. “He’ll tell. I’ll try and tell ‘em what he did, but you know - schoolyard justice.” She sighed.

Maybe I should do something nice for her, Ilonda thought. Not many people would have stopped to do anything. Her classmates must have seen it every day but not a one of them ever brought it up. Maybe…

“Listen,” she said. “I’m not doing anything this weekend.” Ilonda shoved her hands in her pockets. “We could do something - hang out. I’ll take you out to lunch, or coffee, if you want. My treat.”

[Zoelle Heroux]

All it took was a glance to know that she was a very different sort of girl. Especially considering her apparent fixation on getting in trouble. She was obviously more the mousy goody goody type. Usually those sort of people annoyed Zo but, well, she had a soft spot for the underdogs. Clearly the girl didn't really have many friends if only a stranger had been willing to stick up for her. She felt bad for her really.

Zo just shrugged. "So what if I do? One more detention isn't going to kill me." She really didn't care about that kind of stuff. Besides, she got in trouble often enough that any shock value or intimidation factor was long gone.

She was surprised when the other girl offered to hang out over the weekend. Part of her wanted to refuse - she didn't exactly like making attachments. But on the other hand, it'd mean a free meal. Plus, well, the girl deserved a friend who'd watch her back since she clearly wasn't about to defend herself. "Yeah, that'd be cool," she agreed, her voice nonchalant.

[Ilonda McCoy]

Ilonda smiled. “Good,” she said, and turned to pull something out of her pocket. It was a phone. “Could you put in your number in?”

She waited for her to take it, then paused to rake her fingers through her hair. She’d relaxed and straightened it and she was pretty sure it looked its best right now, for which she was grateful. At least she had one good thing going for her today - or, two, maybe. “Put your name in too,” she told her. It hadn’t occurred to her that she hadn’t even asked yet.

Ilonda waited to ask her when she was available, if she had work, if she had homework, if she liked coffee or tea or even some of that boba stuff…something of a new fad. If she didn’t, maybe she could introduce it to her? But she wanted her to get something that she really liked…

“Are you a coffee person?”

[Zoelle Heroux]

She accepted the offered phone, typing in her number as requested. Still, she couldn't help but smirk as the younger girl added about putting in a name too. Of course she already had. Though she only offered her nickname - Zo - rather than the full name. After all, this girl seemed like the type who would go straight to calling her Zoe, and she really didn't want to deal with that whole ordeal. Cause she also seemed like the sort who would press about an explanation.

Zo handed the phone back then, entirely unaware of the way the other's mind was running about a mile a minute. Instead she offered a small smirk. "Obviously," she said with a soft chuckle. "Caffeine is the only thing that gets me through the day half the time," she added with a wry smirk. She really did drink a lot of coffee. Of course, given her insomnia, that really shouldn't be much of a shock either.

[Ilonda McCoy]

She glanced at the number in her hand. She hadn’t included a last name, but that was alright. ‘Zo’ it was. “Uh, thanks,” she said. “Zo.”

Tucking it away, she crooked a smile, and a nod. “So I’ll see you sometime soon.”