It was another day at the Eaden schoolhouse. Sophie Newell was now 14, and while Tompkins was no longer a problem, the same could not be said for everyone.
"Hey nerdy Newell!"
"Speak of the devil."
Sally Vance thought she was something special because some resistance member was her great grandma. She and her "friends" (read: servants) ruled the school, and Sophie was their designated victim.
"Just keep walking." Sophie told herself. Her mother had always taught her not to react to bullies like Sally, and she figured if that advice worked on a homicidal supercomputer, it would work on these brats. This resolve was tested, however, when one of Sally's goons grabbed her notebook.
"Give it back Sally." Sophie said as calmly as she could manage.
"Aww, what's wrong?" Sally taunted, holding the notebook just out of reach. "You too poor to buy a new one?"
OK, that stung. Even though Sophie now knew why her parents didn't have much money, it didn't make it any easier knowing she could never go to med school. "I don't have time for this. Give it back."
"Who's gonna make me?" Sally shot back. "Your daddy can't help you, he can't even get a real job!"
Sophie fought to remain calm. "Don't you dare talk about my father that way."
"I'll talk about whoever I want, however I want Newell. Why does your dad work at that stupid tower anyway? Is he that lazy, or is he just a moron?"
That did it. These jerks could hit Sophie with whatever insult they wanted, but no one dissed her dad, especially not with that word.
Sophie jumped up and ripped her notebook out of Sally's hands. Then she pushed her out of the way, and decked her in the face for good measure.
Crunch, thud.
Sophie cringed as she noticed her punch had drawn blood, and she was just as astounded as everyone else when Sally fell backwards onto the pavement, unconscious. She stared in shock for a moment, then ran home, barely hearing one of the other girls shout:
"What's happening to your eyes?"
