I let the flood of students carry me, the roar of chattering voices making my head pound. The lunchtime rush bore me out the back doors of the main building, out to the courtyard.

Framed by the wings of the school, the courtyard was more of a grassy field, with a giant oak tree right in the middle. The branches spread so far they brushed the bricks in some places, casting little puddles of shade across the green lake.

Pods of students dotted the grass, basking in the sun and enjoying one of the last semi-warm days of the year. I broke off from the herd of students and made my way towards my spot at the base of the tree trunk. My place in the chilly shade of the remaining leaves, where no one would bother me.

I stared at my feet as I walked, watching the dry leaves crunch under my sneakers. As I passed a group of boys, I barely glanced up at them. I recognized some of them from my English class, sitting with their friends from other classes. I directed my eyes back downward, just as one of them shot out his arm and grabbed my ankle.

My head spun, and within a second I was face first on the ground, spitting blades of grass out of my mouth.

"Freak." One of them snarled. I couldn't tell if it was the same one who tripped me, because I refused to look back at them. I kept my eyes closed, waiting for the dizziness to wear off before I tried to get up.

"We don't want Satanists here." a different voice snapped, and an extra puzzle piece clicked into the jigsaw. That's why they hadn't done this before now. They probably didn't even know I existed before Max dragged me in front of all of them and painted a target on my forehead.

I took a breath and pushed myself back to my feet. The boys were still sniggering and muttering threats behind me, but I just ignored them and continued on my way. Not like I could do anything about it.

I finally made it to my shadowy sanctuary and plopped down. I held my backpack to my chest, partially as a shield and partially to numb the hunger pains. I was starving, but I hadn't had time to grab anything for lunch before Monique shoved me into the car. My mom was always saying she'd give me lunch money, but she always forgot.

So I sat, stomach growling, picking grass out of my hair and watching the other students walk by. Some I recognized, some I didn't. Some were from English, and when they saw me, they glared.

Thanks Max. I thought bitterly to myself. You just had to be edgy.

"It's not her fault." The voice murmured. "They're the ones who are ignorant and hateful."

I sighed to myself, not wanting to admit that he had a point. My eye was caught by a flash of glitter, and I glanced to my left to see three of the perfume girls sitting in a sun ray about ten feet from me. Thankfully, they didn't notice I was there.

I turned away, my eyes aching from all the flashing jewelry and bright colors, only to see a very different girl walking in my direction. Max.

She didn't look at me as she passed by. Probably mad at me. Or thinking I was still mad at her.

I watched her go, conflicted. I wasn't really still mad at her, but at the same time being around her made me feel even crazier than usual. But she also made me feel less alone. All in all, I couldn't decide whether to try and talk to her or not.

I was just about to call out to her as she sashayed past the perfume girls, but they beat me to it.

"Hey, Satanic whore!"

I winced, and Max froze.

Oh shit.

Max slowly turned and looked over her shoulder at them. The taunters two friends were giggling madly, the bully had a smug smile on her face. One that probably wouldn't last long.

"Excuse me?" Max asked in her Ice Queen voice. "Were you talking to me?"

"No." the girl said, rolling her blue eyes. "I was talking to the other Satanic whore."

She kinda looks like Angel. I suddenly thought. All grown up. Hopefully Angel won't be such a bitch.

Max just stood there, clenching her jaw. Obviously filled to the brim with fury.

"So, I've always wondered." The Angel-look-alike continued. "Do witches actually fuck the Devil?"

Max huffed out an exasperated breath, struggling for self control. "Just leave me alone."

"Or what? You'll turn me into a toad?" The girls behind her burst out in even louder, even more obnoxious laughter. I gripped my backpack a little closer to me, watching Max's face turn red. Whether from shame or anger, I couldn't say.

"Stand up for her." The voice whispered.

You're crazy. I answered back in my head. I can barely stand at all without falling over. I'd just embarrass her.

"She'll do something stupid."

Maybe she won't.

Max shook her head. I saw her take a deep breath, and to my great astonishment, she turned and tried to walk away. Wow, maybe I was right. Maybe she wouldn't retaliate.

"Hey, witch!" The blonde girl called out again. "Do your brothers worship Satan too? I guess that would explain why they're such fire obsessed freaks."

Max whirled, her hair flipping around her dramatically. The look of black flames in her eyes made me shiver, violently. She was terrifying.

"Do not." she growled. "Make fun of my brothers."

The blonde girl got to her feet. Oh no.

Don't go near Max. I mentally urged her, clutching my backpack like someone at a horror movie clutches a bag of popcorn.

"Or. What?" the girl snarled, getting right up in Max's face. The situation was escalating more and more, you could practically feel the aggression radiating off Max. Max just stared with that evil look.

"See?" the girl mocked. "You can't do anything. You're just a weak little pathetic Satan worshipping witch. Won't be long before you get expelled. You and your psycho brothers."

I saw Max twitch at the word weak, and I knew in my gut that things had just gotten a million times worse. So, finally, I pulled myself to my feet.

Max didn't notice. She was just staring at the girl, murder written all over her face. With a laugh, the girl reached up and shoved Max's shoulder.

And all hell broke loose.

(A/N Sorry guys, had to reupload cause nothing was italicized. Sorry about that.

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Silence)