"Alexis," the young teacher called out to the girl who seemed lost in thought with her gaze out the window. She snapped her head to the front of the classroom where he leaned with his arms crossed on his desk.

"U-uh, sorry, I-"

"Please. If there is something more interesting outside than what I'm teaching, do tell," he looked at her as if to be waiting for a response.

"Not at all, Mr. Jefferson. I apologize, really. I-I love your class," she babbled as the bell to the next class rang. He gave her a look and straightened himself as he told the class about the photo contest that he encouraged everyone to enter.

Alexis was your typical art student- Edgy style, hair that changed like a chameleon, and of course the talent of being an artist. She was on the quiet side, keeping mostly to herself until she got back to her dorm room where she kept in touch with old friends through social media and gaming consoles. It wasn't that she was shy, she just never felt like speaking unless she had something to say.

Partying was never really her thing, but on occasion she would be invited to Vortex Club parties. That entire "club" was filled with people she didn't particularly care for.

Lately she's been feeling stressed out with all the assignments from her classes and takes advantage of the time she can get to just do nothing, even if it is in a certain photography class. In her defense, he was just going over information that she already knew.

She walked herself to the cafeteria, excited that it was finally her lunch period. She kind of hated it since she sat at a table of people she barely spoke to, but she manages to get through it everyday. Sometimes they include her, usually when they want input from a stranger about something stupid. For example; If a guy wore this or that, would he still be fuckable? Stupid things.

Coming to lunch seemed to get progressively different with each passing day. Her table was next to the table which the typical popular group sat. Nathan, the guy who wore fancy blazers that probably cost more than the price of all her clothes combined, was usually the life of the table. Not that she cared, but she noticed him changing more and more.

She usually took her time of solitude to study faces and try and sneak a sketch or two without looking like a super creep. Nathan was always her favorite to look at. There was just something about him.

Today, he looked anxious. He sat quietly, his legs shaking beneath the table. He seemed to be on high alert about something, which was strange considering his family basically owns the ground they step on and he never once had an issue for that very reason.

Alexis got her food and sat down, facing him from her table. Every now and then she would look up from her lunch and see what he was doing. She saw him force a few laughs with Victoria, another high and mighty individual at the school.

He spotted Alexis looking at him and scowled at her, her eyes shifted quickly back to her food and she lowered her head. Shit, she thought to herself, trying not to choke on the food she piled in her mouth.

She got up to toss her food and decided to go to the bathroom to wait out the rest of the period.

The stalls were empty, giving her a bit of relief. She sighed, looking at herself in the mirror.

"You look like shit," she ruffled her brown and faded pink gradated hair with her fingers. She was on the shorter side, with a petite torso and thicker bottom. Her skin was pale, even more pale with the way she's been feeling, and her blue eyes had dark circles to go along with it.

The door busted open, making her heart practically jump out of her chest.

"What the-" she saw Nathan walking furiously towards her, "this is the girls bathroom, what are you-"

"What the fuck were you staring at? Huh?" he cornered her into the wall, where she began to fear for what was going to happen.

"Fucking answer me!"

"I-I was just looking at you!" she answered quickly, not sure what to even say to him.

"Why?" he got closer, gritting his teeth in her face.

"I don't fucking know, you looked...alert, or something! Can you please get out of my face now?" she tried to put her hand up but he pushed it away, punching at the wall beside her head. She let out a small squeel, closing her eyes tight and covering her face with her arms.

"Whatthefuckever," he scoffed, walking furiously out of the bathroom.

She stayed leaned against the wall, still shocked by what just happened. Her eyes began to water and she wiped away a tear from her cheek before taking a deep breath in and shaking off that feeling.

The door opened again, much more calmly than before. Thankfully it was a familiar face and not Nathan coming back for more.

"Alexis?" the girl said.

"Max, hey," she said, fixing herself in the mirror.

"Is everything...alright?" she asked, seeing the distress on her face.

"Yeah, I think so. Just need to get my thoughts in order," she wiped her eye, "so, are you submitting anything to that contest in Mr. Jefferson's class?"

"The 'Everyday Heroes' contest? Eh, I might. How about you?"

"I'm still trying to figure out what I'll shoot, but I think I will."

Max was still in class and had to hurry back before she got in trouble, but Alexis stayed in the bathroom for the remaining time of her lunch period, looking on her phone and thinking about what she was going to do for the contest.

Her mind was blank.