You guys.

You guys. I want to cyber hug all of you.

I have a confession to make. I'm not popular either—far from it in fact. While I haven't been bullied (because trust me, you don't want to bully me) my best friend is in a situation similar to Po's. He's a bit overweight, gets teased for it, and never defends himself. Usually he just takes it like Po does. He also suffers more problems that I'm going to introduce gradually.

This story is because I didn't do enough to help him. I hate bullying with a passion. He moved out of state now, and I can only hope he learns to defend himself. Or at least come up with witty comebacks like we (meaning his friends) could.

So, here's to all us unpopulars! Because you know what? We ROCK!

(also, been thinking about the setting. It's been changed to America. Don't sue me o_o)

Chapter 3: Ditch

Po chewed his Big Mac self-consciously, as opposed to the girl next to him tearing into hers like it killed her dog. She would talk after each bite, and even if he didn't catch every word, Po loved it.

In a word, he could only describe Viper as amazing.

"We just jacked your brother's car, hot-wired it, skipped class, got fast food with money he left on the seat," Po grinned, "and it's only the first day of school. I don't know about you, but I'd be psyched if we could just get married now."

Viper giggled, playfully punching Po in the arm. "As long as you don't get ketchup on my brother's seat," she joked in response.

Po smiled; so incredibly content he could just die. "Wait, if your brother has his own car, why did you take the bus this morning?"

"He had an issue about being seen with me on the first day, or some girly problem like that," Viper explained. She took a fry and munched on it.

"That's….very stupid." Po raised his eyebrows. "You're some kind of genius, and yet you have a brother that's so…"

"Superficial?" Po nodded. Viper continued, "I know. But Mantis is a really good guy once you get to know him. At first he'd kind of…rude. But he's funny and warms up to people really fast. And he only seems rude because he's straightforward."

Po nodded in understanding. "So….are you guys still gonna try out for the martial arts team?"

"Well duh, it's why we came to this school."

"Even though Tai Lung's the captain?"

Viper spit out the sip of Sprite she had just taken. "Tai Lung's the captain! Why didn't you tell me?" Po fished around for words, but apparently took too long; Viper starting ranting. "To hell with the team! If that prick is captain…no! NO! Why would you even ask that! Gods, no!" She involuntarily started whacking him with her binder.

Po, using common sense, dropped his burger and raised his arms to protect his head. "AHHHH! I was just asking!" he screamed over Viper's yelling, curling into a fetal position.

"Sorry," she said calmly, anxiously eating her fries, "I'm just…I don't like bullies. They piss me off—a lot. I didn't mean to blow up like that."

Po relaxed after seeing she was more controlled. "It's alright. I don't like 'em either, but after being bullied since the sixth grade you get used to it." He shrugged and picked up his Big Mac again.

Viper dropped the French fry she was holding. She unbuckled her seatbelt so she could face Po. "You've been pushed around like that since middle school?"

"Yeah. I used to fight back when I was younger," he paused to take a huge bite, "but then I th'iscovered food." He swallowed and polished off the last few bites of his food. He tried to ignore Viper's dropped jaw and took a handful of fries.

"Po…" Viper whispered, tears in her eyes. "Why do you let them do that to you?"

Po chewed slowly. This felt his conversation with Tigress all over again. "Because, my dad told me violence doesn't solve your problems. I trust my dad."

Viper nodded slowly. She shifted suddenly and put a hand on Po's shoulder. "You're brave, Po," she said simply.

Po gulped and stared at her hand. Feeling his face heat up, he pointed at it. "Uhm…" Her hand was unbelievably soft; her nails painted the sweetest shade of blue. She was so girly…but at the same time, not too prissy…Blame it on years of girls shunning him, but he had no idea how to talk to one.

Viper let go quickly, gripping the steering wheel with both hands. She didn't touch her burger again, and Po had to resist the urge to ask her for it. "You ready to go back? Next period should be starting right about now."

Po nodded as he crumpled up his sandwich wrapper. "S-sure. Let's go."

She started the car again. As she pulled out of the McDonald's parking lot, she quietly asked, "Would you be mad if I did try out?"

"What?"

"Would you be mad if I tried out for the martial arts team?"

"No. It's your life; plus, that's why you came here." Po paused. "And, you could totally go there and kick Tai Lung's ass in front of his posse. Maybe teach Tigress a lesson too."

Viper cracked a smile. "You're pretty sinister for a nobody," she joked.

"It comes naturally," he responded seriously. She giggled again. Wow, did Po love that giggle. Something was telling him he wasn't good enough to deserve her attention; but he shooed away when she opened her mouth to speak.

"So…if you don't mind me prying…are you like, into Tigress?" A sly smile curled on Viper's lips.

Po's mind shut down momentarily. "Wha…it's…I mean…eh…" he blinked rapidly and wetted his lips. He was positive he was blushing furiously now. "No." When Viper's eyebrows rose suggestively, he shook his head and pointed at her. "I'm serious! I r-really don't! She's…we're…we're not friends. And, I know what I said about being no one's friend, but I mean she really hates me. I dunno why, and I've never asked her, but—oh my gods, would you stop looking at me like that?"

Viper laughed again, turning into the school parking lot. "I don't know what you talking about," she said innocently.

"Viper…I really don't. We haven't said more then two words to each other since eighth grade—and back then she was basically telling my why I deserved to get my ass beaten everyday."

"If you're sure…"

"I am!" She bit her lip to hide a smile. He groaned loudly. "I don't like her!"

"Then why are you so defensive?"

"Because….because…" Po covered his face in his hands; he was telling the truth. Honestly. He felt nothing for Tigress, other then pure untainted fear. Which was just how she liked things. Viper parked the Mustang and started to collect the trash.

"You're not very good at pleading your case."

He dragged his fingers down his cheeks. "Ugh. You're so mean."

"Oh suck it up, Nobody. I won't tell."

"But I don't like her!"

Viper merely winked and climbed out of the car. "Don't worry, you're secret's safe with me! Now let's go; we have biology next!" She grabbed his elbow and dragged back trough the front doors.

Po dropped his voice to a whisper. Class wasn't quite over yet, and they needed to wait to slip in with the students. "With Mr. Shen? He frigging hates me!"

"Wow," Viper giggled excitedly. She paused in her tracks to grin widely up at Po. "A lot of people seem to hate you."

"I went through a fat-kid-emo-phase sometime in freshman year. I…did some pretty dumb things," he explained just as the bell rang.

"Let's go to my locker! Oh quit whining, yours is like right down the hall! We'll walk to class together, okay?"

"Vi—"

"Come on, Nobody!" She skipped off, pushing past students to get to her destination.

"—per." Po sighed, rubbed his temples, and followed behind her. He felt better when they were ditching.

Short filler chapter is short...

I just needed to build a bridge between here and the next chapter...