Anastasia's P.O.V.-

I was staring outside the window along my way home after our club meeting had finished up. Kate and Jose were going to study in the library, and I was off to get something to eat. The sun was setting painting the sky a beautiful shade of orangish red. It was going to be a lovely evening- maybe I should spend it outdoors, somewhere safe of course.

I guess I was too busy contemplating this to see the foot sticking out of the gap in the hall ahead of me. It intentionally tripped me, sending me tumbling straight to the hard floor. "Ow…" With one eye shut, I gazed up to the three familiar face now laughing at me. Clarise and her two goonish friends from before. "Why don't you watch where you're going, klutz?" The lizard, I didn't know her name, jeered. Because you were hiding behind a corner, you moron. I frowned lifting my upper half off the ground. "That dirt look suits you, lambchop," the zebra felt the need to add. "You're so pathetic, Steele. I almost feel sorry for you," Clarise said with an air of superiority. Really? Cause from where I'm standing, you seem jealous as hell of me.

It did hurt however, when that witch came to bend over and pull me up more by my hair. My frikin hair! She's pulling my hair now. And there wasn't much I could do about it just now; she's like ten times stronger than me. "It's been a while, Anastasia. We need to talk," she didn't hold back any venom. I couldn't stop scowling at her; who knew it was possible to hate someone so much? "Did you say something to my boyfriend again?" "Who? You mean Bill?" "You know who, slut! My boyfriend! The guy who's pining after you all month, you loser!" Really? She's calling me a loser when her boyfriend is obviously not into her? Talk about delusional. "I haven't spoken to Bill since he tried to kiss me. I don't want to talk to him; he's all yours, got it?"

Angered, Clarise gave me a little shake using my hair like a bungy cord. "Lair! I know you did something with him! You've hooked up with almost every guy in the school now. Do you have to fuck my boyfriend on top of that, you whore?!" Her voice kept raising its volume. It was around this time that she finally let me go, sending me straight back onto my butt. I groaned, achingly getting up to my feet and flashing them a glare. "It's not my fault he has good tastes in women. But then again, he did date you so…." "W-what did you just say?" She audibly gasped, as did her vapid cronies.

Clarise took a menacing step towards me. "Who do you think you are? As if Bill would ever like someone like you! You weakling! It's a miracle you're still alive, what with that scrawny body of yours." Ooooooh, now we're getting into the "survival of the fittest" debate? I thought we were passed this as a society. "Maybe I'm still alive because not everyone is a psychopath who constantly picks on the weak? Ever think about that? And you're an herbivore too, last I checked," I fired off. Oh boy, the disgusted look she shot me. "I'm nothing like you! You and I are completely different species!" "I know; that's why Bill approached me in the first place," I sighed.

She glared at me for a hot minute. Then, before I had even realized it had happened, she slapped my right cheek- hard. My face went flying off to the side and my cheek suddenly started to sizzle. Horses can hit hard…. My hand rose up to cradle my wounded face while I turned it back to look at her. She smirked in utter victory, like striking a lamb was something to be proud about. "How does it feel to be on the receiving end for a change, slut? Don't ever forget, you're lower than trash. You're worthless; all you do is get in the way of everyone else's romance. We can't experience real relationships with slutty bitches like you around. You ruin everything! So why don't you just get eaten or something already?!"

I frowned. Ok, I'd had enough of this nonsense; this ends now. Her saying that reminded me of that night I was attacked. Get eaten already, she says; would she still say that if she knew that was a real possibility for me? I'm so sick of stronger, female herbivores pushing me around; it's bad enough with guys fawning over my weakness and not me. This is so going to end right now. My hands curled up into fists; my back straightened up.

"It's easy for you, isn't it? Hitting someone like me- a lamb who can't fight back. You're so stupid… You're jealous of me, and you don't even know what you're jealous of. I don't care that your boyfriend likes me; I don't care that you see me as "threatening" to your relationships. I have bigger worries in my life than the likes of what you or Bill think. You lost- you got that? You're so desperate to keep playing a game you've already lost at. And I don't even want to play! Are you so blind? You're blaming me because your relationship failed, but you don't know why it's so broken to begin with. Yeah, you're stronger than me- I get that! I understand that perfectly. So why don't you use some of that strength to try and win at a new game? And leave me out of it this time! You've lost, you idiot! So just woman up and leave me the hell alone!"

I don't think I've yelled at anyone that much in my life before. Clarise and her friends' expressions went from stunned, to incensed, to concerned, to actually afraid- all in the span of my tirade. Even I was surprised when their mouths fell open and they stepped backwards. I was harsh just then, but I wouldn't say I was that scary. I soon figured out why they were reacting that way, however.

Christian's P.O.V.-

I was on my way back to the dorm house with some of my teammates, sans Paul or Rob. We'd usually be going to practice around now, but since there're no games, there's no practice. "You think coach will still make us work at the Spring Festival?" A bald eagle named Aylin asked. We all shrugged nonchalantly. "Knowing him, probably." "Ah, at least it'll give us something to do, what with no games and all." "Man, this sucks! I was getting really good at my toss too. I wanna play again…" A chimpanzee moaned loudly. "We all wanna play again, but we can't. We shouldn't have gotten into that fight," a lion sighed and looked up to the sky. I blinked at him through the corner of my eye. They're still not over it, I see…. One of my other friends, a crocodile named Taylor, spotted my quiet reaction to his comment. He came up from behind me and draped his arm over my shoulder.

"Hey, no one blames you, Christian. All of us wanted to punch Jack anyway; you just beat us to it. By the way, how are your scars healing up?" Taylor tried to sound cheerful. My eyes rolled over to him. "Getting better." "That's good! See? You'll be good as new by next semester. In the meantime, I'm starving." "Me too. Let's go get dinner in the cafeteria," Aylin stated. Everyone nodded and began to head there when….

My feet came to a halt in front of one of the school's main buildings. Pink…. My head instinctively turned to where that glorious scent was emitting from. My lips parted a sliver. Inside….. it's coming from inside. Which means…. She's inside. By now my friends had stopped to glance back at me ponderingly. Before they could say anything however, I gave them a small wave. "I'm sorry. I have something I need to do." "What, now?" "Yes! I'll see you later!" I called back while running up the steps. Follow the scent- gotta follow the scent.

Finding the lamb was rather easy. She was by the windows on the second floor. There were others there too; herbivores like her. I arrived just in time to see what looked like the end of an argument. "And leave me out of it this time! You've lost, you idiot! So just woman up and leave me the hell alone!" My heart skipped a beat; several beats. That's her voice- I can hear her voice again! As I approached her from behind, the other girls began to cower from the sight of me. By the time I was standing right behind the lamb, they stammered and spun around to dash away. The lamb flinched confused by this, scratching the side of her head in a wondering fashion. "I didn't know I could that," she clearly was speaking out loud to herself; I don't think she was aware of my presence yet.

This was confirmed when the horse hollered back: "Go get eaten by yourself!" "Huh? Get eaten? Wha-….?" The puzzled lamb's head checked over her shoulder. I doubt she was expecting to find me there. Her eyes grew wider. "You're….. from before… The wolf from the football team?" Wah! Holy crap, she's talking to me! While I remained completely calm on the outside, my mind was going into panic mode. I… didn't think this through all the way. I just wanted to see her again. And now that I'm here, what do I say? She's right here in front of me….. at last! Should I ask if she's being bullied? Her cheek is red- why is it red?! Did something happen? Are you hurt? Everything I want to ask gets caught in my throat! Dammit! I just beat up a tiger not too long ago- why is this so god damn hard?

"It's been a while. How are you?" Oh, she can talk with ease. How does she make it look so easy?! This past month, I've thought about you countless times. My heartbeat echoed in my ears once more. Always around her or when I'm thinking about her… How can an animal so weak make me feel so…. so….? "I'm sorry I haven't finished that article for coach Lederhosen yet. I hope he hasn't gotten mad about it." She's talking to you, you idiot! Say something; open your stupid mouth and talk to her. Opening my mouth proved a lot harder than anticipated but at least words were able to come out this time. "Are you ok?"

To my surprise, she blinked over to me; first confusion and mildly horrified. "Wait, don't tell me… you heard all that, did you? Uh… well… it's, uh… complicated. But it doesn't hurt! Well, not much; s-she didn't hit me that hard," she blushed. What…..? What? Someone hit her? Someone hit this angel? Was it one of those girls from earlier? Why would they strike this innocent, pure-hearted lamb? And why do I suddenly feel the urge to rip them away from her if I should ever see them together again?

"I should uh… I-I should go…" She wouldn't stop blushing. Wait, what? She's leaving. No! Don't go! Don't let her go! There's still so much I want to say to you, ask you… I didn't intend my hand to slam up against the wall as hard as it did; you could hear the smack from all down the hallway. My arm was now extended, effectively blocking her path. She looked up to me with large, stunned eyes; not saying anything right away. She only gawked at me as I considered what to say to make her stay, to keep her here longer…. with me.

"You are hurt?" "U-uh…?" That's when it hit me like a title wave what I was doing. Idiot! What are you trying to do, Christian? Scare the living daylights out of her? I immediately retracted my arm, stepping away from her in a show of non-aggression. "I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to… Um, sorry!" I can't believe how dumb I sound right now. My voice is naturally masculine and dominant, but whenever I'm around her… everything inside me just shakes and quivers.

She watched me for a moment as if trying to determine what I was thinking, ironic as that might be. Then, to my shock and unspeakable delight, she smiled- she smiled at me. A smile that could stop my heart…. "I-I'm a little hungry. Have you eaten yet?"