Her jokes were no reason to be killed over, and as much as people hated them, they agreed never to harm her. Truth be told, Liby Loud, the wannabe class clown, was always annoying now, and yet she insisted to keep up her charade of pranks and jokes. At the very least, she could have bothered to up her game in the long run. But mo matter what anyone would say about it, Liby still stuck to the middle school shit.

It was sad all the way around. But it wouldn't be for long.

There happened to be a foreign exchange student that same week which would prove a dastardly, darkening one for the prankster. The student in question came from Russia, a tall redhead who looked like she had never seen the sun. Her face was pretty hardcore, so stone-faced that Lupa, one of Liby's half-sisters, could change teams and swing that way for.

Great! A new victim for Liby to try out her new digs with!

The student's name turned out to be Laika Letenko, but Liby wasn't sure if she would remember it. Her English was fairly good, but the accent never betrayed her true nationality. "Two... Plos three, is foh-eev?"

And people found her voice funny. One other kid asked, "Can you say moose and squirrel?"

Laika attempted it, and the class burst out laughing as a result.

When lunch came, Laika was alone at one of the tables. That was, until Liby joined in on Laika's left. "Hi, you're in my class," Liby greeted.

"Da, yewh gewh-rol with stupid poe-knee-tail," Laika put together.

Liby was hurt mildly. "I-it's stupid?"

"What wrong weeth teeth?" Laika was beginning to step out of boundaries by poking and tugging at Liby's braces. "Why have railroad tracks heere?"

"I need them to straighten my teeth, Linka."

Laika slapped Liby for her bullshit mistake. "No, no, is Laika. Laiiiika. Get wrong, I keehl you."

Liby rubbed her cheek. She didn't see it before, because she didn't know it before, but this girl was really scary. Scarier than Lupa even. "I'm sorry."

Laika studied her. "Ponytail girl weak! Laika make you strong girl!"

"W-wait what?" Liby was now lost at this point.

"Do you know when I get gun?" Laika had actually seen some shit back on her homeland. Truth be told, she felt pretty naked without an AK in her possession.

"G-gun? Why?" Now Liby was more freaked out by Laika than she had been seconds ago. "We don't... Wait, why do you ask?"

"Mother Russia fight, we fight. Here, there, non-stop mortar fire. We cross mountains and rivers, some no make it..."

Liby only scratched her head, vowing to look into what Russia's current state was. "Oh, uh... We... I mean, you have nothing to worry about. There is no war here." Liby closed her statement with a smile, which only led Laika to notice and pull at her buck teeth. "Seriously?!"

School had ended rather slowly, but Liby didn't mind it for the umpteenth time. She, Lacy and Liby were just causally walking away from their high school. They were only walking down the street wordlessly when Laika came into view in front of them. Liby took notice and yelled to her. "Hey, L-Laika!" Thank fuck she remembered the Russian's name this time.

"Stupid ponytail! I must get going, dasveedanya!" Laika wasn't stopping, but Lupa had the power to.

"Hold it right there, Motherfucker Russia! What did you just call my sister?" Lupa was the defense when one of them, or even her, would fall under some disrespect. Laika's comment had made Lupa perceive it as such, and was now inclined to fight Laika. Lupa tripped the girl by surprise.

What happened next was anyone's guess, but Laika came back and swung her left arm. Of course, Lupa tried to block it, but Laika tricked her into it and had her open. She punched her straight in the face with her right arm. Lupa fell but Laika caught her just to knee her hard on her stomach. She let the strange white haired girl go and Lupa was bent over, cupping her belly for the pain it gave her. But Laika didn't finish there.

Lupa flew back with a final punch and went unconscious after that. Lacy had no plans to challenge the tough cookie and remained put.

"You want die?" Laika asked.

No one said anything. And with that, Laika left.

Liby waited a few days, and figured that pranks were probably not the best way to go on about it. Maybe Laika liked jokes, and since she's been in the US for enough time, she might've understood some English essentials.

Laika had finished lunch and went to the only place that felt like home; outside the dumpster behind the school. Liby didn't understand the significance of this, but she didn't care to ask. Maybe someone's backstory and history was left unexplored.

"Hey, Laika."

"Who was weirdo with creepy wig?" She must have been talking about Lupa.

"N-no, that white hair was her own, and-"

Laika was laughing like Liby had never seen before. "You saying she old hag? Never seen girl with white hair before!"

Liby pulled the collar of her shirt nervously. "Huh, yeah, I suppose you never have. Anyways, you know what jokes are?"

"What is joke?"

Liby did her best to explain, and it seemed like Laika grasped the concept evidently. "So, what has four wheels and flies?"

The jokes began there, and at first Laika found them humorous.

Until they were less funny.

And even less.

And even less

And until she was worn out. And in a timespan of two weeks.

Liby had just added the poor Russian girl on her Facebook. "Nice, we can talk all the time now!"

Laika has had enough of the girl at this point. The jokes, the unnecessary humor, was it all going to end? How long left until Laika could return to her own homeland? "Don't forget to leave a... Laika on my profile picture," Liby giggled away.

And that did it. That's how Liby ended up with a broken neck in the dumpster. That's why she died. A pun. I guess you can say she was punished in the long run.

As for Laika, she got her wish that day and ended up going back before Liby's body was found. It was a greatly shit ending, but I did say Liby was going to die in the end of this little ficlet, did I not?

On the bright side, Laika was pleased that Liby remembered her name. And wherever she was now, Laika knew she would never forget it again. Fin.

Happy Fourth of July. This is my contribution. Zer, look what you've done.