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Chapter Text

The theme song of Uzi's current favorite anime jolted the girl awake. Grumbling as she grabbed her phone and finally silenced the music playing as her morning alarm. 

Blinking the sleep away, Uzi yawned as she absentmindedly ran her fingers through her raven-colored hair, freshly dyed with purple streaks on the ends. Her dad would surely raise a ruckus when he found the sink in the kitchen still stained with the dark color Uzi and her cousin Doll had used the day before. 

With another crack to her back, Uzi willed all her strength to get out of bed with an annoyed groan as she shuffled towards the bathroom, groggy and tired from the night before.

Turning to her planning board, she spent the entire night working on it, pinning and linking red strings to every possible outcome and idea until Uzi felt that it was complete.

She was finally ready to tell her best friend Nate she liked him.

Of course, she liked him; they were best friends, but she meant the cringey "like" " like " where you wanted to be more than friends, to cuddle, hold hands, kiss, and-

Uzi squealed, burying herself in her hands, embarrassed even though no one else was in the room.

She couldn't mess this up. It was too important. Nate was…he meant a lot to Uzi. 

Being goth in high school was one thing, but being goth, a nerd, five feet tall, and awkward as fuck did not help out Uzi in any way. She still shivered, remembering how freshman year went, but all that changed when she was assigned a seat next to a platinum-blonde boy in her art class. Opting to ignore and give him the silent treatment, assuming since he was wearing a football jersey, he would be just like the others who would shove and trip those whom they personally deemed as socially inept , she was surprised when he turned to her with a blinding smile.

"Hiya! I'm Nate! You can call me N, though. Wow! Are your earrings in the shape of stars!? That's so cool!"

At first, Uzi thought it was a trick, one of those " befriending the school weirdo challenges " she had seen many times in real life and in movies. She had tried her best to steer clear of the jock, but like a lost puppy, he began to follow her around, wanting to hang out and talk, actually spend time with her. Uzi pretended to be annoyed, and at first, she definitely was, especially when she was sneakily watching some pirated Anime in class one time, and from the back, he had called.

"Wow, Uzi! How do you think the protagonist will get out of this one!?"

They both, of course, had gotten detention. Nate spent the whole time throwing ripped pieces of paper at Uzi with poorly drawn stick figures and maybe a dog? She couldn't tell his art skills were atrocious; she could also barely make out his handwriting, which was slightly less awful and littered with "I'm sorry!" and a ton of frowny faces.

Perhaps his nonstop persistence or positive sunshine attitude seemed to slowly chip away at her grumpy, stormy skies. Uzi soon found herself looking forward to school just so she could see Nate. Soon, the duo was hanging out after school, something Uzi never thought would happen; not counting her cousin Doll, Uzi had no friends outside of maybe a few acquaintances in class, but no one who would willingly invite her to stuff outside of school. 

Soon, Nate's shining smile started to make Uzi feel differently. Like she was going to throw up, but in a good way? Disgusting as it sounds, it was true. He was kind to everyone he saw, popular or not, and absolutely adored animals—she had watched him step on a bug once , and the poor boy had sobbed for over twenty minutes until she begrudgingly offered him a hug.

His hugs…

Uzi was never one for physical affection; she usually hated it, but something about being wrapped in Nate's strong arms and warm embrace made her more flustered than she ever felt possible.

She couldn't help but let out another uncharacteristic girlish squeal that no person alive would ever be permitted to hear. She was going to do it; she was really going to do it!

She was going to tell Nate she wanted to be boyfriend and girlfriend!

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Nevermind! 

There was no way she could do this. Since arriving at school, Uzi's stomach has been in painful knots. It was stupid; Nate was friendly to everyone, not just her. She was probably looking too much into their relationship! She didn't wanna ruin the one good friend she had.

Oh No…

Was Uzi a bad person for assuming romantic intentions from her first and only guy friend? If so, that would be really naive and egotistical of her. She couldn't help but silently berate herself, muttering "stupid" under her breath.

Not paying attention, Uzi crashed face-first into something hard, causing her to lose her balance. Bracing for the painful and inevitable thump of the ground below as her legs twisted in an awkward angle, letting Uzi know that there was no escape from the pull of gravity, she was suddenly pulled up and back into the hard surface she had bumped into before, now realizing it was softer than she had originally thought.

"Clumsy, little thing, aren't ya?" A coy voice spoke out as before, Uzi looked up with a confused blink.

The most beautiful girl Uzi had ever seen stood before her, with platinum-silver hair and eyes that struck into her very soul and her outfit… Uzi felt a wave of jealousy at how perfectly her figure seemed to fit into what looked like top designer clothes you would see in movies and magazines with celebrities. 

Trying to push down the awkward memories of crying in the Kohl’s changing room at how ugly she felt in the clothes she was trying on, Uzi suddenly felt very small, nervously adjusting the hems of her oversized Hot Topic tee.

I should have worn something else today . She thought bitterly to herself.

"Uh… Sorry." Uzi cursed her awkwardness; she normally got annoyed, used to being physically pushed around in the hallways, but she also owned up to her shit if she did it herself. She also wouldn't dare admit it out loud, but she was intimidated and in awe, and she wasn't the only one. Everyone in the hallway had stopped to gawk at the gorgeous new girl, some even throwing Uzi's dark glares for having the audacity to trip into her.

"It's no problem." The girl smoothly replied, flipping her perfectly straight hair behind her shoulder before walking off, not before calling out once more to Uzi before she left.

"I wouldn't mind holding you again, purple thing." 

Uzi frowned in confusion, ok…That was weird. Well, it was better than the usual insults the popular crowd often threw in her direction.

Before she could do anything else, the bell chimed, causing Uzi to jump, startled, "Oh shit! I'm late to class!"

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The juice box Uzi squeezed in her hand threatened to burst as she tried to take deep breaths, calm down, and gather her courage.

Even though she had been late to her math class, her teacher didn't care, talking more about how many days he had until retirement instead of actual numerical equations; Most people just goofed off in his class, even Uzi, who opted to spend today's period brainstorming and sorting out her feelings on her " Nate Situation." 

Uzi concluded that she didn't want to be a coward. Yes, maybe she had developed a romantic attachment to her best friend because he had been the first dude to show her genuine kindness , but her feelings were real, and she didn't want to be selfish and take advantage of their closeness when Nate was unaware she wanted more. 

She would tell him, and if he said no, they could still be best friends, of course!....  Right ?

"Uzi! Hi!" The voice she had been dreaming of and dreading simultaneously called out as a firm hand was placed on her shoulder.

Panicked, Uzi squeezed too hard on her drink, causing the juice to spray everywhere, right onto her shirt. This is not ideal for a confession.

"Oh No! I'm sorry, Uzi! I shouldn't have startled you! Here! Lemme get you some napkins!" As helpful as ever, Nate offered as he ran off towards the bathrooms , while Uzi embarrassedly tried to clean herself up." Deep breath in, deep breath out ." She tried to play it cool, offering Nate her hardest. " Look, I'm kinda cute if you squint. " Look, when he returned to help her clean up.

Finally, setting his backpack down, Nate gave Uzi a beaming smile, his body vibrating with happiness and excitement. Uzi could have melted at the display of pure adorableness, knowing something was on the blonde boy's mind.

"I have awesome news, Uz! More than awesome! Better than awesome!"

With a snort, Uzi tilted her head in mock wonder; she honestly didn't know what was making Nate ecstatic, but she liked to play dumb to ramp up his excitement in announcing the big reveal.

"One of my closest friends has transferred over to our school! She's been going to some private boarding school forever, but her family lives here, and she finally convinced them to let her come here!"

Uzi smiled, "That's great, Nate!" It was no secret that Nate had many friends outside of just her, ones who didn't even go to their school, proving he really was a social butterfly. Yet, he always made Uzi feel like his number one.

"I can't wait for you to meet her; you'll totally get along!" he continued as he waved his hands around, clearly finding it hard to keep all his energy inside his body.

Uzi nodded. Although she was skeptical, she had come to believe that Nate was the sole glitch in the matrix, allowing her to have one friend.

"She's taking care of a few things right now at the office, but I invited her to join us for lunch and…..Can I tell you a secret?"

Uzi raised an eyebrow in question as she leaned in close, forcing down a rising blush at their proximity. Nate held his hand to his mouth in the classic whisper pose.

He is such a dork.  She thought fondly.

"I…Have a crush on her ; I want her to be my girlfriend."

Oh. 

Oh .

Nate continued to giddily ramble about how amazing this girl was, completely oblivious to Uzi, who sat numbly on the corner of the lunch table seat. 

Her hands were shaking as she tried to swallow down the urge to cry. Her lip trembled as she bit down in a feeble attempt to stay calm. She didn't even notice Nate's voice get louder as another figure approached their lunch table next to Nate, the stupidly sweet boy who just broke her heart, then waved his hand in front of her face to get her attention. 

“Uzi! Uzi! I want you to meet Vee!”

Still biting her lip and trying to hide her watering eyes, Uzi glanced up to see the girl she had met in the hallway before. The girl, Vee, looked Uzi up and down, probably wondering how Nate could have such an ugly friend, before she gave Uzi a toothy, almost predatory smile and offered a hand out in greeting.

"Hi again, purple thing~."

Uzi could only glare, reverting back to her familiar trauma response, knowing any minute now she was really going to start crying,  of course, he would love her over me . She then grabbed her own bag, swinging it over her shoulder, and stalked off, ignoring Nate calling for her to come back and what was wrong.  

Her heart was broken; all bets were  off . 

Chapter Text

“And you're watching a Silent Voice while stuffing your face with cheeseballs, why?”

“Because I wish for pain,” Uzi replied to Doll, who was standing over with a judgmental expression. 

“сердце, what happened to make you so upset? The last time we watched this movie together was in grade school, and you and I both know it didn't end well.” 

Currently, Uzi was lying flat on her back on top of the purple rug in her room, she was in a starfish position of sorts, headphones on, and her favorite crow plushies surrounding her like a battalion. She shoved another wad of cheeseballs in her mouth.

“You're going to choke if you eat while lying down.” Doll chided. 

Uzi responded by taking her cheese-dusted-covered hand and wiping it on Doll’s pant leg.

“Ах ты, негодяй!” Doll cursed out in disgust as she pulled away from her younger and obviously more immature cousin, who was sticking her tongue out at her.

“What is wrong with you!?” She growled out as she frantically wiped the orange dust off her red workout leggings.

“Nate is in love with someone else.” Uzi dully answered. 

Doll stopped her cleaning to glance down, “сердце”

“And I can't even be upset cause she's so pretty! Cool! Popular! Smart! Just everything…Everything I'm not.” Uzi sniffled, pulling one of her stuffed crows close to her chest.

Doll sighed as she sat down next to the other purple-haired girl, making sure to avoid any more cheese-stained finger attacks. Doll began to comb through the younger girl's hair, humming comfortingly.

“Nate is an idiot; you are someone precious to have.” 

“No, I'm not, everyone at school thinks I'm weird, you have to be nice to me cause we're family.” 

Doll let out a low chuckle, “Oh, I don't think you’re weird сердце, but you are also a wonderful rarity.” 

Uzi snorted as Doll began to braid her hair.

“And you of all drones know I’m not being nice to you because we're family, remember last year's prom.”

The corners of Uzi’s mouth turned upwards into the beginnings of a smile, “You mean when we started throwing hands with each other and the teachers had to pull us apart?”

Doll let out an embarrassed cough, “Yes.”

“That was so much fun.” Uzi giggled. 

“See, a precious thing.” Doll mused as she finished braiding Uzi’s hair, tucking some loose strands behind her ears, just like her mom used to… 

“What do I do now?” Uzi asked.

“Well, how would you like to move forward? Stay friends with Nate?” Doll offered.

“No, fake my own death so I don't have to go back to school.”

“сердце.”

“Ok, maybe that's a bit extreme. I just… Don’t want to be around him right now, especially not with his new girlfriend.” Uzi sighed.

“They are dating already?” Doll asked, surprised. 

Uzi snorted, “I mean, there’s no way it's not gonna happen. Probably as we speak.” She continued miserably.

Doll frowned, “You can’t be sure of that?”

“Yes, I can, if you saw her, you'd get it. They are literally meant for each other. Popular and attractive. I bet they are making out big time right now…”

“Ah- a fate as old as time.” Doll recalled sarcastically as she turned the movie off on Uzi’s laptop, earning a “hey!”

“I’m putting on something that isn't going to encourage your wallowing,” Doll instructed as she started to click away before readjusting the laptop. Uzi was about to argue until her eyes locked in on an episode of Little Witch Academia.

“You are forgiven this once,” Uzi muttered as she pulled the laptop closer, zoning in on the story immediately, earning a low chuckle from Doll.

“Sure сердце, just this once. 

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Uzi slipped on her skirt and lace, styling her hair a bit before making sure all her piercings were in place. Being goth has always felt second nature to Uzi, a sick as hell form of expression that made her look good and feel good.

It also made her feel connected to her mom. 

Growing up with Doll as her cousin, Uzi was taught the way to dress goth almost immediately. The girls once got escorted out of the mall by a very annoyed mall cop after getting into a physical brawl at Sephora over the last night's black lipstick.

Yeva had panicked, angry but concerned the two were hurt, while Nori had rushed over and grabbed Uzi’s shoulders with only one thing to say.

“Didja win?” 

Uzi proudly held up the lipstick with her bloody nose. 

Of course, another round of the fight started with Doll arguing that she had only let Uzi win out of obligation as the older cousin, but either way it ended up with all three in trouble, yes, including Nori.

Uzi sighed fondly as she studied herself in the mirror. She applied the now almost completely run-down lipstick. 

She remembered that night after Nori had taken Uzi home, she had gently wiped off any marks and given her daughter soft kisses on her cheeks, before presenting Uzi with Nori’s very own makeup bag. 

“Now we can both look badass!”

Uzi tucked in that very same makeup bag under the counter, giving herself one last look. Sometimes, she could see Nori in the mirror, but just for a moment before she was only looking at herself once more. 

“Сердце! We’re gonna be late!” Doll called from downstairs as Uzi scrambled to grab her bag before booking it down the stairs. Khan was out at work… Again. Leaving Doll to drive the two girls to school. 

As Doll parallel parked into the school's lot, Uzi felt her nerves getting the better of her. 

“Maybe… You can drive me back home?” She mumbled out in a weak voice. 

As Doll turned off the ignition, she turned suddenly towards her younger cousin, with her deep red eyes and creepy voice, “Uzi. You are going to go into that school, you've been through so much, and some idiot man isn't going to put you down. You look hot as hell and will hold yourself strong because that's what the women in our family do.” 

Uzi nodded, hating to admit that when Doll wanted to be, she could be quite frightening. Good old Russian tough love, as they would say. 

As they got out of the truck and headed inside together, Uzi teased, “So I do look hot as hell?”

“Yes, unlike your lazy hot topic tees and skirts, you are presentable today and shall make any man suffer. 

“Umm, don’t diss the ogs in front of me, and yeah, I guess I do look pretty killer today, I think it's the lipstick that reallyties it all together,” Uzi replied smugly. 

Doll narrowed her eyes at her little cousin before speaking in her lower, terrifying voice, “You still only have that kit because I allow it. I know where you sleep.”

“Love you too!” Uzi called out, flipping Doll off as the older girl turned down the seniors' hallway. 

She was met with the Russian girl giving her the finger, and her back was turned before disappearing out of view.

“Alright, like Doll said, strong as hell,” Uzi muttered as she continued on her way now by herself. Normally, she would meet up with Nate by their lockers, but she had completely blown him off today. She didn't want to see his stupid handsome face, hear his happy sunshine laugh, or see his soft lips, which were probably sucking on Vee’s today like most high school couples. 

With a groan, she walked into Math, making her way to the back of the room before plopping down. She was pretty good at the subject, already knowing a lot about engineering.

She pulled out her purple notebook and started to idly doodle, not noticing someone pulling up a seat next to her, and suddenly a larger presence was in her space. 

About to snap, demanding some breathing room, Uzi glanced up immediately, feeling her eyes widen and her hands going clammy.

Vee gave her a toothy smile, leaning over the table with a smirk-

“Hey again, Uz~” 

Chapter Text

Corvids are considered the most intelligent of all the birds. 

Uzi has always had a fondness for the misunderstood, often dark in nature, feathered creatures.  Especially  crows. Learning as a child that any shiny object can attract her neighborhood crows, developing a trust between the two every time Uzi offered them a sparkling nickel. 

Uzi felt comforted under their watchful eyes as they perched on the street lights or fence posts, overseeing their young human friend walk to school, almost like they were protecting her. 

However, right now, Uzi felt like she was under the sharp gaze of a bird of prey, eyes locked in on the dangling earrings that dangled from Uzi's left ear like a constellation.

“I like your jewelry," Vee whispered. 

Their teacher was droning on about regular equations, but mostly complaining about his year-end bonus not meeting his desired satisfaction. 

It seemed that the silver-haired girl had taken advantage of their teacher's disinterest in managing his students' behavior.  

Normally, Uzi enjoyed the freedom his chosen ignorance allowed her, but right now, all she could wish for was for him to tell everyone to shut up and pay attention. 

“You ran off in such a hurry the other day, I didn't get the chance to properly introduce myself.”

“Properly introduce yourself, what decade are you from?” Uzi bitterly muttered under her breath.

Vee let out a low chuckle, “Apologies, I just transferred here from a boarding school where a specific set of manners was practiced constantly as fundamentally valued in ways that turned stale and obnoxious fast, it's a shit habit I’m trying to kick. 

Boarding school? She’s heard that one before.  Uzi mumbled to herself, thinking about a certain Russian cousin of hers. Doll was transferred back to the public a few years back…. After  it  happened. 

Uzi glanced over, eyes narrowing at Vee’s crop top and jacket combo with ripped short jeans fastened with a silver chain. She didn't dress like she came from some preppy boarding school, more like some garage magazine hot exclusives cover. 

The shorter of the two didn't notice Vee’s toothy smile growing wider as she took Uzi’s glaring as the purple-haired girl checking her out. Vee proudly puffed out her chest and tossed her hair to the side, earning a scowl from Uzi.

Most of the boys in the class were already drooling over Vee, and all Uzi could think of was Nate doing the same. Daydreams of cuddling while watching anime, cheesy picnics by the graveyard, gross, annoying hand holding, and kisses that Uzi found “disgusting” all burned to ash because of  her . 

It was like she was fucking flaunting it right in Uzi’s face as Vee gave Uzi another flashing smile.

Opting to ignore her deskmate, Uzi turned her attention to her notebook, doodles, and sketches replicating manga styles and artistic nightmares. Uzi continued on finishing up a current sketch as silver locks slowly graced over the page, and suddenly Vee and Uzi were cheek to cheek. 

“Watcha drawing?” 

Uzi’s body stiffened at the close proximity.

The harsh sound of wood on the floor was heard as Uzi pushed her chair back as far away from Vee as she could, being in the back.

“What's your damage?!” Uzi hissed, pushed past her limit. 

Vee blinked owlishly, following Uzi’s actions.

“I just… Wanted to get to know you?” 

Uzi was taken aback by the change of tone as Vee seemed to falter; normally, her charm worked with anyone she wanted. Yet, the one girl she wanted to know seemed to be repulsed by her.

When she ran into Uzi yesterday,  literally , she was immediately taken by her unique style and appearance. After being forced to conform to certain standards and protocol for so long, especially in how one presented themself, Vee always enjoyed seeing others embrace their own appearances and interests. There was honesty and bravery in it, and Vee respected that. 

It was those glassy eyes and determination that really captured Vee, though, when Uzi stormed off, Vee knew she was smitten. 

She had asked Nate to tell her everything about the girl, which he happily did while also being worried about Uzi running off suddenly. 

Still, he had sung his best friend's praises, highlighting her many passions and talents, only fueling Vee’s intrigue. He had then softly asked if she wanted to go to dinner with him, which Vee flatly declined. Nate was a sweetheart, but he was a dumb sweetheart who couldn't realize that men weren't Vee’s thing. 

She was more interested in the  other  option.

However, it didn't mean Vee avoided having fun with the influence she held over men. Nate was a good guy, but most boys were brainless drooling morons that only cared about her looks and the size of her chest. It wasn't like boarding school was much better, being in an environment where cattiness and competition were bred for the male gaze, every day being another failure for the Bechdel test.

Exploring her own femininity and sexuality wasn't easy, but Vee was now in a place where she was confident and knew what she wanted.

And when she wanted something, she was going to  get it. 

On the other hand, Uzi stared at her ever so confused.  Why did Vee care so much? Others have never just “wanted” to get to know her… Unless… Of course! 

Since Vee and Nate were definitely getting together, Vee must be trying to warm up to Nate's friends to show him how great she is and what a perfect girlfriend she would be.

Gritting her teeth, Uzi didn't know if she could bear it! A school life resigned to seeing the two all lovey-dovey together, with her cast away to the side. 

As the bell rang, Uzi slung her backpack over her shoulder, giving Vee a cold look. She wouldn't be used in any way regarding Nate. 

“Do me a favor, Vee… Leave me the hell alone!” 

And with that, Uzi stormed out of the classroom. 

Chapter Text

The squeaking of sneakers on hard rubber wood echoed from outside the gym into the hallway. Uzi dragged her feet, dreading what was to come. She was already in such a shitty mood! And now she had to deal with gym class of all things. 

She let out a huff, pushing open the door to the girls' locker room, already accepting that today was just gonna suck. 

She was immediately hit with the smell of velvet reverie perfume and bubblegum. 

“Hi Lizzy..” Uzi grumbled.

“Sup, nerd.” 

Lizzy was Uzi’s favorite frenemy, formally a bully of hers back in grade school. Lizzy used to be hell bent on making Uzi’s life a living hell alongside Doll. However after… Things happened, and suddenly Uzi’s family of six became a family of three. Doll moved in, and suddenly, the one place that Uzi could relax from the horrors of school was being filled with boxes as Khan carried them in, stacking them in her room. A sullen and hard look on his face that became a permanent look for him as he gruffly told Uzi she would now be sharing a room with her cousin, who had spent the last school year tormenting her. 

Uzi remembers coming home one day to see Lizzy of all people sitting quietly on Doll’s bed; the other girl must have been out of the room somewhere. 

Resentment and hurt buzzed within her as she let out a growl, causing Lizzy to roll her eyes as Uzi started to violently shove stuff into her backpack to head out once more. She wouldn't stand staying in the same space as cheerleader pink prom queen over here. 

Lizzy stayed silent until Uzi was halfway out the door, hoodie pulled down real tight. 

“I’m sorry about your mom…” 

The words spoken held no mockery, pity, or fake sympathy. Something Uzi was growing tired of. Yet… Lizzy, of all people, was being genuine in a sea of everyone else saying the wrong thing. 

The act alone shocked Uzi to her core, and she could only stare at Lizzy, who held her gaze steady, only broken when Doll returned to the room, shoving Uzi aside with little to no care. 

After that, Lizzy left Uzi alone, opting to ignore her presence as a whole; however, Uzi could recall how, about a month later, shattered pieces were slowly being placed back together; Doll was starting to become gentle with her younger cousin, allowing Uzi to cry her eyes out in her arms over everything at times. Still, hurt like that didn't go away right away, and after a specific rough night where Uzi and Doll had gotten into a screaming match with Khan, Uzi was barely keeping it together when the next day someone gave Uzi a hard shove in the hallway, “Hot topic? Did your mommy dress you!? Oh wait! I guess not, ha!” 

Uzi felt her whole body tense, and she was either on the edge of breaking down in sobs and wails right then and there or committing a homicide where she would make sure her enemy's death was slow and painful. Who knows where the pendulum would swing? However, she was beaten to the punch as a familiar voice interrupted. 

“Says the one in a snot green maxi dress, it would make me forget that we're in a school and not at a nursing home brunch if the color didn't burn my eyes.” Lizzy placed a hand on her hip as she entered the standoff. 

Uzi’s jaw dropped that Lizzy was defending her, and it wasn't just her who was surprised. Everyone in the hallway stood in shock, including the original aggressor, who was spluttering, cheeks flushed an ugly red. 

“Ew. Now you're mixing red with green, do you have the color coordination of a toddler?” Lizzy continued her assault. 

“I-I ..What! Why are you defending this freak!?” 

Lizzy rolled her eyes, “Her clothes may be lame as fuck, but at least they're clean and smell fine… Unlike SOME people here.” She went in for the kill as she sniffed the air around her opponent, then gagged, earning snickers and giggles from the audience at hand. 

The other girl was silenced as she frantically looked from Uzi to Lizzy, shaking in either anger or embarrassment, they will never know, as she rushed away, hiding her face. 

With the spectacle coming to an end, the crowd dispersed, leaving the two girls alone. Uzi could only blink at Lizzy. 

“Why?”

“Don’t get your panties in a twist, snot dress over there had it coming, and don't get the wrong idea. Hot Topic clothes are lame beyond imagination.” 

It wasn't Lizzy if she didn't end her conversation without throwing some shade. 

As her high-heeled boots clicked along the floor, she walked away, tossing Uzi one last unreadable look and comment. 

“Your makeup isn't that terrible, though.” 

That was the moment that Uzi decided Lizzy’s heart wasn't as shriveled up and dead as she thought. Despite how she would still boo Uzi during her school presentations or laugh if the goth accidentally blew something up in woodshop, she wasn't that awful to be around. She didn't let anyone in school comment on what happened in the Doorman family, she had standards with her insults, and on once rare occasions, she had seen Lizzy comforting Doll when the loss of her parents became too much. 

She was glad Doll had a friend like that, she thought she had found that in Nate, too… Her broken heart brought her back to the present as she looked up at Lizzy, who was blowing a big wad of bubble gum.

Annoying but decent. 

That’s how Uzi would describe Lizzy.

“You know, I read in Hopeless Teens magazine that if you dye your hair too much, it could fall out.”

Very annoying. 

“Ugh! Who stole my top!” Rebbeca called out as she slammed her locker closed, distracting Lizzy enough for Uzi to sneak right on by without any more jabs at her style today.  

Arriving at her gym locker, Uzi grumbled as she typed in the combination, unlocking it with a click. She hated having to change her clothes to basic athletic wear, but she would be damned if she let anything happen to her dress and earrings.

Tugging on her white shirt and struggling a bit to pull up her red shorts one foot at a time, Uzi held a spare hair tie in her mouth using both hands to hold her raven locks up as she finger-combed through her hair, tying it up in a short ponytail, a few burned hair strands sticking out. 

A flash of red and gold caught the young goth’s attention as she glanced over to see freaking Vee staring at her with wide, sun-yellow eyes. 

Oh, for fucks sake!? Uzi cursed to herself with a scowl. Of course, she would have the same gym period as Uzi. Did the school counselor match up their schedules just for a good laugh at the "emotionally constipated emo kid?” Her words, not hers. Miss Tessa, as she said to call her by her first name to be “chillax with the kids,” had always tried to drag Uzi into her office for therapy drawing until one day she snapped and just bit her. 

Miss Tessa didn't try again after that. 

Angrily, Uzi laced up her sneakers, having to start over two times after messing up from trying to tie so fast. She just wanted to get out of this god forsaken locker room. Perhaps Lizzy’s perfume was finally getting to her and poisoning her from the inside out. 

She pushed open the door, revealing the gym, enjoying the breath of fresh air before all the dread of what was to come unfolded. 

“Uzi! My goat!” 

And… It has started. 

Thad. 

One of the most popular boys in school, star quarterback, babe magnet, and Lizzy’s twin brother. Bonus fact, he had it in his football-brain head that Uzi and he were thick as thieves. 

He put his arm around Uzi’s neck, letting out a hearty laugh, "You're gonna be on my team, right?!” 

Uzi groaned, knowing if she tried to escape, he would just tighten his grip. There was no escape from this obnoxious ball of sunshine; he was like the opposite side of the annoying scale from his sister. 

Thad began to blab on, giving Uzi a play-by-play on his latest football victory. Uzi was pretty sure that if someone ever held her at gunpoint and demanded she explain the rules of the game, she would just offer to pull the trigger herself; she had no clue. 

The other students were slowly trailing in onto the field, Uzi felt her throat close up as she saw Nate who also happened to share this period- lucky her, normally they would chat away on the bleachers but she watched only feeling her heart break more as he made a beeline towards V with his stupid adorable dopey smile on his face. 

“Whoa. Uzi. You ok?” 

She hadn't even noticed she had sniffled, her eyes watering for a moment as she was sure she looked to the point of tears that even Thad had noticed. 

Quickly, she forced out a laugh, “Y-Yea! Of course I am idiot! I just umm- If you tell anyone you saw that, I’ll have to kill you!” 

Undeterred by Uzi repeatedly smacking him in the arm, Thad's face softened as he pulled her into a bone-crushing bear hug. 

“Dawww, it's ok, Uz! I’m here for you if you need to talk!” He “comforted” as Uzi rabidly tried to get out of his grip like a wet cat; he was holding her off the ground at this point due to their height differences, his cheek resting on her head as he petted her hair. 

It sorta did work in making her no longer feel her broken heart, now she was just furious, however, she glanced over much to her own advice of avoiding him to see Nate, who looked to be trying to talk to Vee, but Vee. 

Was staring straight at Uzi. 

A look of ice-cold anger and challenge in her gaze as she stared at Uzi. 

Uzi glowered back, as Thad spun her around, still trying to “cheer” her up Maybe to an outsider, it looked sweet, but it was extremely difficult to hold a starting match while being swung around by an overmasculated, energetic jock. 

It looked like finally Vee had realized that Uzi and she were meant to be enemies as the silver-haired girl looked on with resentment brewing in her gaze. 

Thad must have noticed they were being watched as he joined Uzi in glancing over at Vee and Nate.

“Oh, dang! Who's the hottie next to Nate!?- Youch! Ok, dudette, I unleash you!” Thad cried out, letting Uzi go as she prominently bit him. 

---------------------

“Alright, kiddos! Are you ready for a death-defying match of wits and teamwork?” A grown man with boy shorts on called out, blowing his whistle to gather up the class.

“That’s coach Ron, he's pretty cool,” Nate whispered to Vee, who was still steaming.

“You think everyone is ‘cool’, doofus,” Vee grumbled as she eyed that dumb looking jock who had been holding onto Uzi like that.

“Tell me something, Nate, is muscles for brains over there and Uzi… Together? Is there something going on there?” She whispered as Coach Ron broke down the rules of dodgeball. Like anyone needed to be lectured on it, wasn't the game just throwing the ball and not getting hit, not really rocket science over here, Vee thought. 

Nate glanced over, confused, “Muscles for… You mean Thad?” He let out a laugh. “No! They're just good friends!” He answered Vee’s initial question. 

The news that nothing "intimate" was going on pleased Vee, but she had already decided. She hated Thad; the hatred had boiled over as she had watched Thad hug and hold Uzi like that, petting her head and whispering who knows what. 

She wasn't jealous.

She was extremely jealous. 

If anything was to be known about Vee, it is that she took competition very seriously. No. Uzi was not some sort of prize to be won, the silver-haired girl herself was used to men trying to act like every girl could be their trophy if they shined her up enough. Yet, the idea of a man of all creatures cuddling the girl she wanted more than anything to get to like her and be with had Vee seeing red. 

“Alright! I’ll assign team captains, and we can pick teams from there. 

Ron scanned the crowd, humming in thought.

“Thad, would you help me out here!” 

The jock gave a hoot as he walked over to stand next to Ron, “Ma man!” He exclaimed, giving the coach a high five as Vee rolled her eyes.

Even if he wasn't so touchy with her object of affection, she would probably still dislike him. 

“Hmmm, how about…You!” Coach Ron called out as he pointed at Vee, “It would be rather nice to give the new guy a shot at leadership, I think!” He chuckled.

Normally, Vee would be annoyed with having such a stupid role like “team captain” in such a childish game; however, this meant she could pick who was going to be on her team, and she knew exactly who she was gonna call on for

“I got dibs on first pick! Doorman! Get over here, second in command, homie!” Thad cheered. 

Vee was really going to kill this fucking guy now. 

Reluctantly, Vee chose Nate next, who squealed as he ran over. He tried to wave at Uzi to get her attention… It seemed the old friends were going through a rough patch, as early in class, Nate had run over to Vee, clearly upset, saying Ever since that day at lunch, Uzi’s been avoiding him, and he missed her. 

Vee watched closely. Originally, she thought Nate could be over exaggerating, as he tends to do, but after seeing Uzi duck away from his wave and turn to face Thad instead, she had to agree that the bozo must have done something wrong. 

The teams filled up closely, Thad spouting off names that Vee could barely follow, “Braiden, Rebecca, Darren, and other ones that the silver-haired girl would be quick to forget. 

She found herself on a team with some blue nerd who reminded her of Uzi in a way, but clearly wasn't reading her book right as she was giving opposing advice to her survival guide, some final girl she would be. Nate excitedly ran over to their side of the court as a ponytailed bitchy looking cheerleader popped up next to Vee, casting one look at her, 

“We’re friends now.” 

Vee eyed her back as she popped her bubble gum. 

“Sure.” 

The harsh sound of the whistle had everyone holding their ears in pain. 

“Alright, stand behind the line on either side! The game starts as soon as I blow my whistle!” 

“Can’t you just tell us instead?” Vee thinks his name was Braiden, still rubbing his ears trying to soothe the pounding. 

“Can’t hear you!” Ron called out as he took a big breath, and the game was on. 

Those who weren't clutching their heads, blocking out the noise, were sprinting for the rubber red balls. Most of the stereotypical athletes found themselves on the front lines, while the more sane students hung out near the back. 

Feeling a headache coming on, inspired by loud-mouth jocks, sharp whistles, and general idiocy, Vee gathered up her team. 

“I don’t like to lose. So don’t.”

“That isn't really a good inspirational captain's speech.” 

“Ugh, shut up, Emily, and do as she says!” Lizzy ordered.

Vee turned to Nate, “Go on then!”

Nate gave a lame salute, “Right! I love doing anything!” He shouted before running into the fray. 

Vee watched him, exasperated as dodgeballs were plummeting left and right. 

“How much do you wanna bet Coach Ron cries in a Waffle House after work?” Lizzy asked Vee as they watched Nate get pummeled to the ground. 

“50 bucks,” Vee responds. 

---------------------

Both teams' numbers have dwindled in size, with just a few surviving. Vee’s team was decent, but it was that annoyingly good at sports asshole who was picking them off one by one. 

“Uzi, watch this!” He happily called out as he shot a curveball, which Vee didn't even think you could do with a dodgeball, nailing Lizzy right in the ass. 

“Oh, you’re dead!” the cheerleader shouted as she picked herself off the floor. 

Vee didn't doubt that Lizzy would make her twin pay for his deeds, yet she was more upset with him making a show of his strength, especially to Uzi.

Two can play at that game. 

Vee walked forward, authority in her step as every ball that tried to get her didn't even come close. She picked up two stray balls and immediately nailed Darren and Braiden in one swift throw. 

If there was another thing anyone should know about Vee, it was that not only was she competitive, but she always won. 

She glanced at Uzi, hoping the purple-haired girl had noticed, but it seemed her attention was elsewhere, hiding behind Thad, as Emily did her best to hit someone back at her same level. 

It looks like to get Uzi's attention, Vee needed to knock down the king.

She was gonna enjoy this. 

Picking up a real sucker, she extended her arm sharply, aiming right at that smug blonde face.

Oh, she was gonna make this hurt. 

She shot the ball hard, watching in sadistic glee as it headed straight for an unsuspecting Thad. 

Suddenly, he bent down to pick up one of Emily's failed throws. 

An agonizing smack echoed throughout the gym as Vee felt that joy drop into panic as the ball hit Uzi right in the face, who had been standing right behind Thad. The impact sent the small girl to the ground with a thud that had everyone in shock. 

Vee held her breath for a few seconds, but even with Coach Ron’s frantic whistling. 

Uzi did not get up.