Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach. Tite Kubo does. So don't sue.

Author's Note: Although some of these characters (particularly Rukia) are a bit out of character for the sake of this story, they will not remain so one-dimensional. Ergo, just because they're assholes now doesn't mean they'll continue to be that way later.

Song Suggestion: Cool Kids - Echosmith

Orihime Inoue picked her way carefully through the crowded hallways, anxiously trying to get to her locker. With her chin tilted towards the floor, she clutched her books to her chest, shouldering her way forward. Silky hair hid her face as she tried not to let the others see her tears.

To everyone else, it was just a regular day at Karakura High School. But for Orihime, it was a day of pure hell. Times like this were the hardest – when she was reminded of her deceased family. She couldn't wait for school to be over, so she could go back home and mourn in peace.

It wasn't that she hated school. She did well enough in her classes. But although she was a senior, she wasn't exactly what you would call popular. Nor had she ever been. She was certainly beautiful, but her classmates didn't treat her that way. In fact, she was at the bottom of the pecking order while her crush - Ichigo Kurosaki - was at the height of his game.

That's exactly what her life felt like on days like this. One big impossible game: a game that she could never hope to win because her classmates kept changing the rules. These classmates were were the upper crust of Karakura High, and they always made it a point to torture her.

Shaking herself from her thoughts, she took a chance and brought her eyes level with the rest of the crowded hallway. Upperclassmen Rukia and Renji stood in their large group of friends – directly in front of her locker. Though Rukia wasn't as bad as some, she considered herself part of the school's aristocracy, especially when it came to fighting techniques. In that respect, she was just like her brother.

As for Renji, he (like most of the others) simply ignored her…not even bothering to learn her name. Even that she could take, but the worst ones were the trio of boyfriends and girlfriends that completed the exclusive group. Besides Rukia, Renji, and Ichigo, there were Ikkaku, Yumachika, and Toshiro Hitsugaya – each with their respective others Loly, Minoly, and Hiyori. The boys were aloof at best, but their girlfriends were downright cruel.

To make matters worse, Rukia and Ichigo were kind of a thing - only Rukia wanted him because of the fighting skills which practically made him royalty among the other students. Unlike Rukia, however, he had raw talent, and not talent that he'd inherited. It made him work that much harder, which made him a more formidable opponent. Still, it hurt Orihime to realize that the boy who had once been her friend in grade school no longer seemed to notice her.

Taking in everyone's location in a single glance, she couldn't help but direct her gaze once again at Ichigo. The orange haired upperclassman remained off to the side looking slightly bored while the rest of them chatted away their lunch break. Orihime couldn't help but sympathize. There were times that he looked so sad that she couldn't resist attempting to guess why.

Much to her horror, it was not Ichigo that returned her gaze. Rukia glared back, challenging her to say something. She turned towards Ichigo and stepped closer, trying to engage him in friendly banter to distract him from Orihime's predicament.

The other three girls caught on immediately. Hiyori was the first to address her. "Sorry Inoue – are we in your way?"

Orihime looked down again, trying to find some way to escape.

"Why didn't you tell us? We'll move for you!" Minoly laughed.

"That's okay." She mumbled. "I'll just come back."

"No way. Come on through." The girls laughed as they cleared a path for her.

Seeing no other way out, Orihime trudged forward, only to find herself falling. Loly had stuck out her foot while the other two made a mad dash for her bookbag. To everyone else, it looked as if they were helping pick up her things, but really they just wanted to snoop.

As the girls rummaged, Rukia finally deigned to speak to Orihime. "You really shouldn't be so clumsy, you know. How would you defend yourself if you came across an opponent? You're too easily caught off guard."

"Forgive me." Orihime whispered. "I'll try to do better."

"Don't sweat it Inoue." Ichigo smiled, oblivious to the girls who were going through her stuff. "All you need is a little more practice."

The compliment made the Orihime's face light up; but, all she could do was nod.

As Loly and Minoly handed back her things, Orihime made a mental note to check for missing items. Luckily all she'd packed were a few textbooks, her lunch, and a few pictures of her family. Like all girls, she kept a diary. But there was no way she'd bring it to school. It was just too dangerous.

Much to Orihime's relief, the bell rang signaling the end of their lunch period. The poor girl was starving, but there was no way she was going to get her food back. It had been in her backpack, and she'd just now noticed it missing. Her belly rumbled as she thought about the red bean paste cakes that now belonged to the three troublesome girls.

As Sensai Yuroichi and Sensai Uruhara stepped into the hallway, the crowds dispersed and Orihime found herself alone again. Only a few more classes to go, then she would be home free. Grabbing what she needed, so she wouldn't have to come back to her locker, Orihime hurried off to class. It took extraordinary effort not to burst into tears right then and there, but she was experienced in holding everything in until she got home.

Next time she wouldn't be so careless.