09.09.2016

Bonnibel and Marceline stared at each other for a few seconds, before Bonnie quickly turned her back to Marceline.

"So, the dog of yours is doing alright? Not attacking random people again?" She quickly said.

"Susan never attacked anyone. She just likes to play." Jake was thrown off at first but then proceeded to defend his pet.

Bonnibel could hear the girl's footsteps coming closer.

Just leave me alone. I don't need more attention.

But Marceline never approached her. Instead, the black haired girl sat down in the last row, still glaring at her.

But the pink haired girl couldn't care less if someone liked her or not. For a girl that had so much money, Bonnibel was no threat whatsoever.

"I hope you don't hate dogs, after that assault, Lady." Jake was talking with the tall blond girl.

"Naa, I love animals, especially dogs. To be honest, I knew from the start that she didn't mean me any harm. She never tried to bait me or anything." Lady shrugged. "But I just went with it, after this one here tried to save a stranger." She pointed at Bonnie, who rolled her eyes.

"Thanks for letting me act like a complete idiot then, I guess."

"C'mon, don't be too hard on yourself. Not many people would help someone just like that." Finn tried to convince her, but there was something weird. Just for a moment, he seemed almost… fragile.

He is speaking from experience. She could right away after his blue eyes fell on the floor.

Then suddenly Jake put an arm around his brother, looking at him with an expression of worry. Finn, on the other hand, gave Jake a reassuring smile. Bonnibel knew that smile. It was the one she had used many times, in her yet short life. But she didn't pry. It wasn't her problem, so why should she make it hers?

"So, did all of you come from Ooozten?" Lady asked, trying to change the topic.

While the pink haired girl shook her head, Jake said:"Yep, Finn and I were born and raised here. Great place to grow up. Lots of lakes and green."

"That's perfect! Why don't you guys show us around after school?"

"Sure, there are a few nice places, we can show you. The arcade is awesome, for one."

"Sorry guys." Bonnie gave the group an apologizing shrug.

"Aww, really?" Lady asked.

"Got a little brother, which I need to bring him home from elementary."

"Nothing you can do then, but it's really funny just how good being a big sister suits you," Finn said, staring at her with his blue eyes.

"That so." She pushed a stray strand out of her face. This was probably one of the nicest compliments someone had ever given her.

Then, the voice of his brother let Finn turn away from her. "We could show Lady the lakes around here. What do you think, Finn?"

"Sounds good, the air will be a bit colder around there as well."

Bonnie couldn't help but think: A lake? Sounds nice… But I really can't leave Neddy alone.

The two boys started making plans for the evening, and after a few ideas, Lady joined in with suggestions of her own. All three of them were in a good mood, laughing at each other's jokes, and slowly starting to know one another. Jake was always looking at Lady, but never for too long to make it awkward, Lady was laughing all the time, she was such a happy and pretty person, and Finn seemed at first a bit shy, but was already joking around with them.

Just one person was missing.

She looked at the group with a small smile, while trying to listen to their talk, but why was it so hard to hear them? It felt like they were so far away already. She could feel the distance growing between them and her.

Bonnibel knew it would happen eventually, so sooner was probably better than later. They seemed like nice enough people, and she wasn't mad at them at all.

She was just not their problem. They would forget her like everyone else did. And what else was there? She didn't want to deny anyone to have fun without her, that would be ridiculous.

"How long does it take with your brother, Bonnibel? Maybe you can join us later." Finn suddenly suggested, pulling her out of her thoughts.

She needed a moment to comprehend what he just asked. "Well… I need to cook for him afterward so…"

"Oh, okay. Maybe next time then."

The door swung open, and their teacher stepped inside, wearing a suit with a yellow tie. He then yelled:"Quiet!" after some people didn't stop talking right away.

"I'm Mr. Grab and welcome to Ooozten's biggest college. Let me warn you all, this won't be an easy ride for you, so don't you even think that you can have your little parties, do your mischief while graduating in my classes."

By now all students had understood that this teacher was no fun to be with.

"This is stupid."

"W-What did you just say!" He yelled at the girl in the back row. "Who!"

The girl stood up confidently. "Well, you don't know us, yet you already judged us. I have no idea how hard college is, but is there really a point in threatening us right off the bat?"

"Unacceptable! If you think you're such a hotshot, maybe you should do my work from now on! I have worked my whole life to be here..." He just went on and on with his tantrum.

"That's just..." Marceline paused and let a sigh escape her mouth. She knew that there would be no end of it. She met people like Mr. Grab tons of times already, at her father's parties... As soon as she started pushing just a little bit, most of the guests would snap.

"You don't know who I am!"

"Do you have any idea who my father is?"

I've heard it all before. Looks like not even a normal college is free from this bullshit.

Marceline had dismissed the fact that Mr. Grab was still in his fit of rage. But then, his next few words brought her back into reality. "... And if you don't take me seriously, like you just did, I will drag you to the principal, and make sure you will be expelled."

"I…" Could he do that? She just wanted to experience something normal for once, and she already managed to ruin it. Too typical of her. She would apologize and shut her damn mouth from now on.

"I'm sor-"

"Sir, don't you think she got it by now?" Bonnie damned herself, right as she interrupted them.

Marceline stared at the girl that just stood up, eyes wide open. What the hell was she doing? Was she crazy? She would get into trouble herself.

"Excuse me, but could we instead start the class already? We don't have much time, as you just said, and I would like to waste as little as possible." Bonnibel argued.

After staring at the pink haired girl in surprise for a few seconds, their teacher harrumphed. "You have a very good point there. Let's forget that whole ordeal so that I finally can start doing my job."

Marceline could barely hear the chubby guy next to Bonnie chuckle. "Hero girl."

...

After class the students quickly disbanded into smaller groups, slowly leaving the class. While most were happy to have found some friends, Bonnibel just wanted to go home already. But it seemed like she wouldn't be able to do that so easily.

She was sitting next to Lady, and right in front of them were Jake and Finn. Just as she was done packing her stuff and call it a day Jake turned around.

"So, not today then."

"Yep," Lady confirmed.

"What? You guys are not going?"

"Nope. We can just show you two the city whenever. We're not in a hurry." Finn shrugged.

"That's… I really didn't want to ruin it for you guys, really."

But Lady just shook her head. "It's fine. Do you have anything to do tomorrow afternoon? Maybe we could go then?"

"I actually…" It was not a lie, and Bonnie actually wanted to go. It doesn't hurt to try it, does it? A scary line of thought just blossomed in her mind. "The day after tomorrow?"

Finn and Jake looked at each for a moment, before they simultaneously started grinning.

"You okay with it, Lady?"

"Sure! As long as I have my hero by my side, I'll be fine." Lady said, winking at her.

Bonnibel huffed. "If you don't drop that hero crap, I might consider coming."

Hearing this, her three new associates started laughing. They wouldn't drop it.

This was a weird feeling. Would they really be patient enough?

Just for how long though. At some point, they'll get used to me not coming with them. And then…

"Excuse me?"

All four of them turned back, looking at who was asking. A girl with black hair, that barely went past her shoulders, pale skin, and a buttoned gray shirt under a red skirt, was approaching them. But what was most surprising about the girl were her red eyes. That was weird, Bonnie had never noticed them before.

"Uh oh. The troublemaker." Jake whispered as if he had read her mind.

"Hey, I'm Lady! Nice to meet you." The tall blonde greeted her, stretching out her hand.

The new person, looked at the hand for a moment, before shaking it. "Marceline. Would you guys mind if I talk to pinky for a second?"

"Pinky? That's a good one." Jake noted, chuckling. "You two know each other?"

"No." Bonnie said.

"Yes." Marceline said.

The two glared at each other, and neither would back down.

"Uhm, don't fight on the first day, c'mon guys." Lady tried to help.

Bonnibel turned around and gave them a weak smile. "You guys can go on. Will see you tomorrow, okay?"

"Sure you okay with her?" Finn asked, seemingly worried about her.

"Yep. I can handle myself, don't worry."

"It's not like I'm gonna hurt her." The black haired girl said a bit offended. "Just wanted to talk, that's all."

Her three new friends looked at one another in confusion, but then they decided to leave for good.

Now the two of them were the only two people left in the classroom, and an oppressive stillness went off the whole room. Marceline sat right behind her so that the only thing between them the wooden table was. Still, not a word was being said.

"So… Hey." Bonnibel started, not being able to bear this atmosphere any longer.

"Hello."

"That's kinda weird. Wasn't expecting you to show up here."

Marceline sighed. "That goes for both of us, I guess."

"You want your money back?"

"What?"

"I just thought that maybe…"

"No. No I… I wanted to thank you for defending me, even if it wasn't necessary at all."

"It wasn't necessary? He was about to expel your ass, due to your stupid comment."

"I don't think he would expel me. He just wanted to show us that he is the one in charge."

"Sure. Anything else?"

"Don't expect me to give you money for helping me."

Hearing this, Bonnibel blinked a few times, staring at Marceline with her green eyes, while her brows slowly furrowed. "You really think that was my intention?"

"It wasn't? Everyone wants money."

"That's so wrong."

"Is it? You proved that to me at the lake."

"Yes, after you told me basically to piss off, and for no good reason at that!"

"I merely asked you if you could leave. Politely, if I recall. Why would that offend you so much?"

How arrogant could she be? Did this girl think she was the queen of the world? "I don't want your money."

"But you took it, anyway."

Bonnibel could feel how she was slowly getting annoyed. "You do want it back. That's it, am I right? Can't stand the fact that you just spent over a hundred bucks for nothing."

Marceline just rolled her eyes."I know people like you. You think that money is like the most important thing in life. As long as you have a little bit more than the others, everything is good and nice in your little bubble. I don't mind giving you money, I just don't like hypocrites."

She wanted to repel this accusation. She wanted to throw insults at the other girl's face. She wanted Marceline to be wrong. But she wasn't. She did need the money.

This conversation was over, Bonnibel knew that. So, she stood up, taking her stuff with her. But before she left, her anger got the better of her, and she turned around one more time. "What is so bad about living in a peaceful little bubble? You are just as hypocritical as I am if you think you have any idea how hard my life is, while your rich family is spoiling you rotten. You didn't archive shit in your life, never had to struggle, and yet you have it so much easier."

Marceline never struggled? Never worked for anything? You have no idea, you brat!

But before she could retort anything, the pink haired girl was already stomping out of the classroom.