The rest of the week passes smoothly enough. Maddy even avoids the seniors both Tuesday and Thursday. Wednesday when she saw them coming towards her, she told Mark to wait in one of the classrooms while she went to the bathroom. She truly was going to try to hide, but they grabbed her. That one was a really close call. Mark came walking down the hall and found her at the bottom of a flight of stairs, but Maddy just managed to laugh it off. "Clumsy as always," she shrugged as she fought back tears.

Then comes Friday.

Maddy's science teacher gives her an advanced copy of her favorite scientist, Ken Horton's, latest book on her way out of class. He's in South America at the moment, but is going to Terra Nova on the next pilgrimage. As soon as she can, she plugs the data chip in her Plex and doesn't pay attention to anything else. That is, until she runs into something solid. Someone. John. With every realization, her heart sinks further and further.

"I'm so sorry!" Maddy gushes. "I wasn't paying attention, I just-"

"Obviously," John snaps. He grabs the Plex from her hand. "What is so important here?" he asks as he looks it over. "Ken Horton?"

"He's a scientist," Maddy mumbles. The hallways start to clear up and John's friends materialize.

"Oh, Mads," Louise gushes. "Long time no see! Don't tell me you've been avoiding us." Maddy just stares at the ground. Someone shoves her backwards and she stumbles. "We were talking to you," Louise snaps.

Maddy tries to get her Plex back and leave. "I just … I forgot one of my Plex Pens in science I think, could I just-"

"Leave?" Louise finishes for her. "And I thought we were friends." Everyone laughs and Maddy's face burns. Finally, John holds out her Plex. She moves to grab it, only to get shoved back into the lockers. Ouch, Maddy thinks bitterly, it's always the lockers.

"So close," one of the boys cracks up. "Try again." Maddy just crosses her arms and glares at them.

A girl speaks up, "Someone has an attitude."

Suddenly, everyone is talking and laughing at once. Maddy's bag gets ripped from her grasp and dumped on the floor. She tries to yell at them, but they just shove her around more. Eventually, a deep male voice from behind the group gets everyone's attention. "Hey! What's going on?"

John turns around and looks at Mark with one eyebrow raised. "And who do you think you are? Do yourself a favor and get lost." Everyone laughs and Maddy refuses to make eye contact with Mark, who refuses to leave.

"What is your problem?" Mark asks. "Leave Maddy alone." Maddy sighs internally. He really needs to just walk away.

"What's it to you?" Louise judges.

Mark looks at the group like they are insane. He grinds his teeth in anger before answering, "I'm her-"

But Maddy cuts him off. "Boyfriend," she whispers. Everyone turns around and looks at her. "What?" she asks defensively. "What is it to you if I date?"

The entire group erupts. Louise is literally doubling over with laughter. "Wait, wait," she says. "You," she points at Mark, "are dating that?"

John rolls his eyes. "Okay," he tells Mark. "You are obviously new here, so let us help you out. First, if you don't want to get what she deserves on a daily basis too, just ignore her. Come on, come to the cafeteria with us."

"No."

"Excuse me?" John snaps. "You are as bad as her brother, but soon enough you will learn the same lesson he did: she'll be alone eventually." Everyone laughs before leaving.

Mark turns to look at Maddy who's picking her stuff up off the floor. "What was that?" he asks.

"John and Louise's group," Maddy says quietly. "They don't like me."

"Why?" Mark bursts. "Are kids really that jealous that you're going to Terra Nova that they beat you up?"

Maddy looks up in surprise. "Keep your voice down," she says. "They don't know I'm going to Terra Nova and it will stay that way. That's why I called you my boyfriend," she says as if it were obvious. "Sorry about that, but if they find out, they will squeeze the next years' worth of that crap into the next three weeks. It will be worse."

Mark looks at Maddy in awe as a few things click into place – the hushed conversation with her bother Monday morning, the hand she claims was the victim of a locker malfunction, finding her at the foot of the stairs the other day. She didn't manage to fall; she was pushed. Mark is speechless. "What – But – I don't …. Why!?"

"It's my fault," Maddy says. "I'm too smart for my own good."

"You're perfect," Mark corrects her.

Maddy's eyebrows shoot into her hairline. "Uh, thanks," she mumbles. "Can you just not mention this to my parents?"

"But this happens every day?" Mark asks incredulously.

"Basically," Maddy answers. "But you have to back off or it will get worse. Okay? I can handle it myself."

"By getting shoved down the stairs?"

"You just challenged them Mark!" Maddy yells. "This is a game and now you are another obstacle, along with Josh. There is nothing anyone can do, so I'd rather deal with it my own way then get someone else involved."

"What about the teachers?" Mark pushes. "How do they not know this is happening?"

"Who says the don't? No one cares anymore, Mark. The school system is a babysitting service. In case you hadn't noticed, the expiration date on our planet is nearing and no one sees a future no a days."

Mark shakes his head in disbelief; how could anyone hurt this girl and feel good about it? "You're bleeding," he says, slightly calmer.

Maddy reaches up and brushes off her temple, smearing a line of blood. "It's probably just the sharp edge of a rebreather or cracked Plex or something," she says. "Wouldn't be the first time." Mark bites his tongue so hard he tastes blood in his mouth. "I'm going to the bathroom," Maddy says as she walks past him.

Everything then falls into place for Mark. "So every time you told me to wait somewhere while you were going to the bathroom, you were getting beat up, then cleaning up before anyone noticed?" Maddy doesn't answer but keeps walking. "It's like you want this!" Mark snaps.

Maddy spins on him in anger. "I want this?!" she explodes. "I want anything but this! I want to have friends beside the librarian and science teacher! I want to be able to walk through the halls and not be concerned about my personal safety! I want Josh to not get suspended for getting on fights because of me! You don't know me Mark! You don't know me or my situation and you need to back off!" Mark stares after Maddy in stunned silence as she storms off.

Thanks for reading, everyone! Review!