Disclaimed.

Also, this oneshot is dedicated to Jessica from my gym class. If you ever find this, Jessica, you're awesome! =D

"Look at her clothes. She's such a retard," Massie and the rest of the Pretty Committee snickered.

"I mean, Justice? Really? That's for, like, 6th graders." Alicia snorted with disdain as she sipped her frappuccino.

"JUUUSSTIICCEE," Dylan burped. They all erupted into hysterics. They were gossiping about Claire Lyons, a girl in the grade above them who had special needs of some sort. Nobody really knew what was wrong with her, but she apparently had serious trouble learning anything but math, had little social skills and wore the kind of clothes most junior high students despised. Massie and the others terrorized her.

Knowing that she was already kind of on probation for attempting to stand up for Coral McAdams the last time Alicia slammed her into a locker, Kristen opened her mouth to say something about Claire. But the Pretty Committee was already onto the subject of Miley Cyrus and her bong. Kristen looked at her Tiffany watch, a $500 dollar Christmas gift from Massie last year and decided to ditch the PC for someone better.

"Sorry guys, I have to go run to Astronomy," Kristen lied.

"Kuh-RISTEN, give me a hug first!" Massie giggled. Her squeaky laugh reminded Kristen of a knife against a plate. Kristen winced and gave Massie an awkward, one-armed hug. "Bye!" they chimed in unison. Kristen didn't answer and walked around the corner, her ballet flats from Tj Maxx clicking slightly on the linoleum. She walked around the corner, passed some gangly sweatsuit-wearing athletes, and her eyes finally fell upon the person she had been searching for. Claire Lyons. The one who her friends terrorized, gossiped over and laughed at was Kristen's secret best friend.

"Hi Kristen!" Claire said in her loud, overjoyed voice. Kristen shushed her in the fear that the PC would hear them. Claire ignored this action and threw her flabby, pale arms around Kristen's neck. Kristen tried to pull away but Claire's grip was too strong. People from all grades stopped and looked at the unlikely pair. Oh crap, Kristen thought. This was going to get back to Massie sooner or later. The hug went on for a good minute when out of the corner of her eye, Kristen saw Alicia staring right at them. OH CRAP, OH CRAP! Kristen quickly pushed Claire away.

"I don't know this person!" Kristen yelled to Alicia across the hallway. Alicia looked doubtful and confused for a moment, staring at Claire's shocked and disappointed face and Kristen's desperate look and then rolled her eyes, walking out the wooden French doors. Phew.

Kristen let out a breath in relief. She was safe! The bystanders slowly walked away, and Claire sighed, her facial features drooping a little. "You'll always pick them, won't you?"

Kristen was surprised Claire had caught on and was about to lie to her when she changed her mind. "Yeah, I guess."

Claire nodded in understanding. She knew how important it was for her big best friend to fit in. And when Kristen looked into Claire's big, blue innocent eyes, she knew that Claire understood her more than anyone else her age ever could.

"I'm sorry," Kristen croaked. She ran her fingers through her hair. "Can we still be friends? I promise I'll tell them...someday."

"Of course we are, Kristen! You're my best friend!" Claire grinned her sort-of crooked smile, spun around on her heel and walked down towards the Archaeology classroom. Kristen watched her bright pink twinkle-toe Skechers disappear down the hallway as the bell rang.

"Someday..." Kristen shook her head, and headed straight for Astronomy.

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