"Harley!" A voice growled. Harley sighed in frustration and spun around on her heel.

"What do you want, Tyler?" Tyler Higgins towered over her, giving her a glare that could kill. It didn't scare Harley though. Nothing did really. Except herself.

"You're little worksheet got be an F." He showed her his math homework for proof. She shrugged.

"Maybe don't ask other people to do your work for you. Then you'll get somewhere." She gave a little smirk. She couldn't help but be snarky. It was just her personality. Of course she got in huge trouble for it all the time. It usually started fights. And today was one of those days. Tyler grabbed her by her collar and pinned her against the lockers. "Let me go," she told him.

"Why don't you learn a little respect," he said to her, his face so close she could smell the chocolate chip pancakes he ate that morning. She struggled to get out of his grasp but that only made him tighten his hold. She had no choice but to look into his cold, green eyes. "Listen, I need an A. You know this. This isn't an A."

"I told you once before. I'm not your slave." She held her chin high, which was hard considering she was struggling a bit to breathe. He snarled. "You should start actually trying to listen in class. Or maybe you're just too stupid." That made him angrier. His arm pressed against her neck but she wasn't afraid. She didn't really know why. Bullies didn't scare her.

"You're gonna regret that, James." He brought his fist back, ready to punch. Harley reached her hand out subtly to his shirt and ignited a flame.

"Oh my gosh Tyler!" One of his friends screamed. Tyler looked down and saw the fire on his shirt. He dropped Harley, causing her to fall to the ground with a grunt. He frantically blew on his shirt. His way of trying to put the fire out. The world's worst teacher Mrs. Grubbs walked up to see Tyler screaming, almost on the verge of busting into tears. She ran up.

"What on earth is going on here?" She demanded in her shrill voice. She looked down at Harley. "As always, you're at the scene of the crime." Harley scrunched her eyebrows together. How was this a crime? Sure the kid was on fire but did she care that he was choking her out and almost punched her? No. Because Mrs. Grubbs hated Harley.

You see, Harley was the smartest kid in 10th grade at only 13. Her parents only allowed her to skip two grades when really she should be on her way to college by now. But no, that would cause way too much attention to their tiny poor family, and heaven forbid Harley get the education she really needed. Mrs. Grubbs hated that she was so smart. Probably because Harley never paid attention. She would prop her head on her hand and stare out the window, not listening to a word Mrs. Grubbs had to say. Yet, she still exceeded in every single class she was in.

"What did you do to me you freak?" Tyler yelled. The fire had gone out after Tyler took off his shirt and stomped on it with the help of his friend Brody. Harley looked over at him.

"Who said I did anything?"

"You were closest to me! Who else could've done it?" Mrs. Grubbs narrowed her eyes at Harley, a look she was used to.

"Come with me. Now." Harley bit her tongue before she said a rude remark. Brushing herself off, she got up. Everyone was glaring at her and whispering to each other. She hid behind her long blonde hair. She was used to attention in school, but that didn't mean she had to like it. She always kept her hair down so she could hide her face, wore the most normal clothes she could find unlike all the other girls who wore designer clothing, and only spoke out unless she needed to. Like in the case of Tyler. Nobody messed with her and walked away without either a punch, or an insult thrown at them.

She followed Mrs. Grubbs to the principal's office.

"Now you stay here while I grab Principal Schneider. You make one move and I'll make sure your punishment is for longer. Got it?"

I thought old ladies were supposed to be nice and give you cookies, Harley thought. She nodded though, knowing the result of mouthing off to an adult. Harley sat down awkwardly in the chair, ignoring the secretary that was looking at her with disgust. They had seen her here one too many times. Mrs. Grubbs came back shortly after with Principal Schneider. Schneider was actually sort of nice. He didn't give too harsh of punishments. He might've given way too many lectures to Harley about her misbehaving, but he was much nicer than any other teacher in this school. He even looked nice with his dark brown hair that almost reached his shoulders and his glasses. He was young and you could tell.

He understood kids, and that was the best part about him.

"Harley," Principal Schneider said with a sigh. "Again? What did you do this time?"

"Caught another student on fire!" Mrs. Grubbs immediately said before Harley could answer. He furrowed his eyebrows and looked to Harley for a more believable answer.

"I didn't catch anyone on fire. I truly don't know what happened sir. Tyler was just talking to me and next thing I know poof! Fire!" She didn't want to be a tattletale, and she certainly couldn't tell the truth about the fire. She knew what happened. She's the one who ignited it. She's been able to do that since she was 11. She didn't know how or why. She just could. She grew stronger every few months, but it wasn't like she could train. Someone could find out, and she would just turn into some government experiment. So she kept her mouth shut. Always.

"She's lying," Mrs. Grubbs spat.

"Were you there to witness this?" Principal Schneider questioned her.

"Well, no but-"

"Then how do you know she's not telling the truth?" Harley forced back a smile.

"Because how does a fire appear out of nowhere?" Principal Schneider looked back at Harley.

"Come sit in my office and we'll get Tyler so he can tell us his side. Sound ok?" Harley nodded. "Great. Go on." Harley got up, holding onto the straps of her orange bookbag. "Mrs. Grubbs if you don't mind getting Tyler for me." Harley could hear the strain in her voice.

"Of course, Principal Schneider." The door opened and closed. Harley just sat down in the large chair. Now she would have to come up with a thousand lies, hoping that at least one of them sounded true.