Chapter Two

         The school corridors were full when I arrived at school. I arrived late and it seemed like the second period just ended because of the crowded corridors of students going through their lockers. But when they noticed my appearance, they immediately made a pathway for me, whispering and talking shit about me. 'Till this day, I still don't understand why they're frightened of my appearance, even bullies were afraid of me.

Maybe it was because of how I look? My frizzy hair, pale face and dark bags underneath my eyes. Everyone did call me Witch Elizabeth so that proved my conclusion.

It didn't bother me though, I even took advantage of it to have my freedom in school. Besides, I already got used to being alone, and the last thing I wanted was for someone to get involved in my complicated life.

I headed towards my locker to get my books from its possession. As I was transferring the books from my locker to my bag, I overheard some students talking about me from somewhere.

"Does she know what hair comb is? What's wrong with her hair? Do you think the rumors are true that she really is a witch?"

"Of course, it's all true! Just look at her, she looks so ugly."

I slammed my locker door loudly, I whipped my head to the group of girls across me. Their eyes went wide in horror, squeaking as they hurriedly close their lockers and ran away. I rolled my eyes at their imbecility, turning my heels around only to bump into someone.

"Ow!" Our heads collided as we both groaned in pain, holding our forehead when we parted.

I waited for the woman to scold or better yet run away after realizing who I was but neither as I thought happened.

"Oh god, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to!" she apologized, surprising me.

I blinked twice, I lifted my chin and stared at the woman that I bumped into. The first thing that caught my attention was her twinkling big blue eyes, her brown hair was in a clean ponytail revealing her chiseled face structure, her lips were stretched into a genuine smile which was foreign to me. In school, nobody really tried to smile at me.

Instead of apologizing back, I maintained my dreadful reputation by glaring at her and walking past her.

"Hey there, what's your name?" Imagine how shock I was when she ran after me, she walked along with me with a huge smile on her lips. "Can I come along? Do you know where room 92 is? Can we be friends? Where's your third period at?"

I halted, my brows meeting in confusion. "You can't tag along with me, I know where you're room is, we cannot be friends and my third period is in the same room as yours," I answered all her questions in a bored tone and resumed walking. My brows were still meeting in confusion, bothered why she was following and annoying to me.

"You forgot to answer one of my questions, don't be rude!" She grasped my shoulder to terminate me in a spot, she shifted in front of me while panting. "Jesus, girl, you walk like a hyena!"

If I would be honest to myself, there was slight happiness in my chest that someone approached me and wanted to befriend me, but as I said, the last thing I wanted was for someone to be involved in my chaotic life.

"What is it now? I'm in a hurry." I felt bad for being rude and mean to her, but what was I suppose to say and act? I didn't want any friends, not now and not ever.

"What's your name?"

My lips parted in surprise, "you don't know me?"

She shook her head, pouting, "am I suppose to know you?"

My surprise expression terminated when a comprehensible conclusion occurred in my mind.

"You're a transfer student, aren't you? I'm already gonna warn you that once you know who I am, you will deliberately stay away from me yourself."

"Why? Even when you're mean to me, I still want to be friends with you because I feel like you're not fake unlike everyone in this school. They always talk about boys, their reputation, and their popularity. It's so annoying, like, we're in school! Hello? Aren't we here to learn and study?" It's amusing that she was talking to me like we knew each other for a long time.

I sighed, pointing my forefinger upwards, "our room is on the second floor. Look, I don't have time for this—"

"Oh come on, don't be like that! We're literally going to the same place, why can't we go there together?" She didn't dare wait for my answer, she tangled her arm around mine and pulled me with her.

This was the first time that someone draws near me intentionally and asked for my name to befriend me. But I still didn't want to trust anyone rather than myself,  plus I also didn't want to drag someone into the mess I was sheltered.

I was deep in thought that I haven't realized that we already reached the second floor and were standing in front of our classroom. The weird annoying girl faced me and smiled at me in excitement.

"Do you... really not know who I am?" I asked, almost whispering.

The sweet genuine smile never left her lips, "of course I know you. Who wouldn't? All the rumors in this school are all about you, they said that you look like a witch and that your hair looked like a bird's nest. It's kinda obvious, no offense." She shrugged, clicking her tongue, "but you're not ugly like they said you are."

"I know I'm hideous, don't try to flatter me."

"Do you think I'm lying?" she pointed at her face, "I am serious here and I do think you're pretty, just comb your hair and you'll look pretty, trust me."

I fought the urge to smile, her personality was entertaining and very likable. She was very congenial and hard to dislike.

"Anyway, I'm Tiffany Cipriano but you can call me Tif for short. You're Elizabeth, right? Can I call you Lizzie? I heard that's your nickname."

I just nodded because I had this feeling that I wouldn't be able to shake her, she seemed stubborn and determined to be friends with me for some unknown reason.

Maybe one of the reasons why I was afraid to have friends was because I didn't know how to entertain them since I had no sense of humor in me. I was the quiet type and just a typical nerd. Nothing was really pleasant about me.

We entered the room, her arms hooked around mine again.

"Why is she with the witch?" One of the students asked which started a gossip. "Isn't she scared of her?"

"She's the transfer student, I bet you she'll be disgusted by her when she finds out what kind of girl she's hanging out with." Someone responded and some students even nodded their heads in agreement.

My heart raced, worried about Tiffany's reputation. I didn't want her to have a bad image because of me, I didn't want to drag her into my mess.

I expected her to release my arm but instead, she glared at the people who talked shit about me and I most definitely did not expect her to raise her middle finger to each and every one of them. The reaction of our classmates was hilarious, on the other hand, I was shocked that my jaw dropped.

Did she just side with me?

She dropped her hand to her side and then glanced at me, "where do you sit? Let's sit together!"

"U-uh... Huh?"

She rolled her eyes, "I said where do you sit?"

I couldn't speak, it was like there's a lump in my throat and a cat holding my tongue. She rolled her eyes at me again, she held my hand and lead me to the back of the class, pushing me to a vacant seat. She made herself comfortable on the seat beside me while flipping her hair off her shoulders and crossing her legs.

"Can we get our lunch together? You see, I have no friends and still don't know the route around the school."

I looked away and folded my arms over my chest, "It's unsightly to see us together, I don't want to."

"Don't you want us to be friends?"

I fell silent, I didn't know what to answer her question. Did I want to be friends with her? Of course, I do, I wouldn't deny that. She was nice, friendly, kind of badass, and witty. Who wouldn't want to have friends with her?

"Oh great, look who decided to show up." Tifanny suddenly muttered, her attention straight ahead while scowling and grimacing in dislike.

I followed her gaze curiously but all I've seen was the back of our new professor who just entered our classroom.