The blonde tapped her shoes against the welcome mat.
"I'm leaving!" She called into the house before shutting the door, and tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
The large-breasted female jogged for the bus waiting at the end of the driveway, clutching her books.
She climbed aboard and wedged herself into the empty first seat, pushing up her turquoise glasses.
"Look it's Big and Blond." One of the popular girls laughed, throwing an apple sauce at her. It splattered over her head, drenching her tight braid in apple as she protected her books.
"Rose, you missed!" The Chinese girl beside the dark-skinned half-Brazilian laughed, throwing a yogurt. It dripped down the blond's back.
"Nice throw, Sung-Sun." The Japanese girl with a black bob laughed, falling into her seat and adjusting her skimpy top.
The blond sighed quietly, hiding her frown in the large neck of her turtleneck, as she cleaned her hair.
"Look who we have here…" There was the sound of cracking knuckles behind her and the tall blond's green eyes darted upwards.
"Were you waiting long?" Sung-Sun asked, a cruel smirk upon her pretty features. The blond backed into the counter, knocking her books into the still running faucet in her fear.
The three girls' shrieking laughter echoed down the halls.
"Welcome-" Her mother stopped, lifting her arms and brushing her hands over her eldest daughter's hair.
"Belle, what happened to your hair?"
She hid her gaze, crossing her arms across her chest.
Short uneven strands of blond appeared in her line of vision.
"Belle," She lifted her tear filled eyes to her mother, Pema. "It's those girls, isn't it?"
She nodded, tears spilling down her dark cheeks. Pema sighed, drawing her baby girl close.
"Let's go shopping in a bit, hm?" She smoothed her daughter's short hair.
"I'm not going out like this." The blond shook her head against her mother's shoulder.
"Then it's a good thing I'm a hairdresser, Belle."
"Who's she?"
"I heard she's a model in America."
"No. That can't be it."
"Whoever she is, she's pretty."
The blond smiled to herself, hidden in the depths of her new high-necked jacket.
There was a tap on her shoulder, and the blond turned.
"You think that you can look better than us?" Sung-Sun sneered, tossing her black hair over her shoulder.
Several of the watching students shifted closer to watch. She merely turned back to her locker, sorting through her books.
"Those boots are knockoffs." Apacci taunted.
And she stood up for herself.
"So?"
A hush fell over the crowd as Apacci stammered before turning on her heel and marching away.
She allowed herself a small victory.
-;-
"How was your day, Belle?" Pema called from the kitchen. The blond slammed the door, storming up the stairs.
"Oh dear."
The phone rang and Pema moved to answer it.
"Moshi, moshi? Yes, she's here. One moment, please." Pema turned her face up the stairs. "Belle, there's a boy on the phone!"
Pema didn't wait long for her daughter to appear, snatch the phone from her hand, and push her into the kitchen. It was nearly five-minutes later when the blond returned to the kitchen.
"Well?"
"I've been invited to a party tonight."
"Then go shower! I'll pick you something out!"
Dressed in a turquoise sequin halter dress, the blond maneuvered herself into the party.
"Thanks for coming."
She nodded, eyes following the loud people.
"Kotaro," Mila Rose's voice rang out. "I think you forgot to take out the trash!"
"Naw, she's invited." Kotaro waved away the three females, who turned on the blond.
"You invited?" Sung-Sun scoffed, circling her.
"In that? What is it, your mothers?" Mila Rose cackled, the noise increasing at her nod.
"Get out of here, blondy." Apacci laughed, pushing her out the back door. "You're not welcome."
They backed her up to the pool, before returning inside.
There was a loud splash, and she turned, registering the situation and diving into the water.
She grabbed the male, and heaved him to the surface.
"Hello," Pema worried her lip. "I'd like to report a missing person."
"My daughter. She's seventeen."
"She was leaving for a party on Friday."
"About five-nine, dark skin, blond, green eyes."
Pema was quiet.
"Thank you."
And she placed down the phone.
-;-
The phone rang, barely once before Pema was lifting it to her ear.
"Hello? Have you found her?" She was quiet before her hand flew to her mouth. "Right away, sir. Thank you for your time."
And she left the house.
Pema gazed down at the picture of her daughter, then placed a bouquet of poppies onto the blond's gravestone.
"Oh, baby girl," She ran her hand along her daughter's tombstone. "What went wrong? I loved you. I could have done something different. Belle, why did you go? Why did you do it? Couldn't you have let him die? Baby girl, I wish you were here. Your papa came home from the navy last week, expecting to see you."
"I cry every time I see his face, when I tell him our baby girl is gone. I expect your voice before the bus drives by. I remember the games and the girl's nights. You were my best friend, my daughter, and my life. Where did you go, Belle?"
Pema stood.
"Wherever you are, I hope you're happy. That's all I wanted for you." She placed the large-rimmed turquoise glasses on the top of the tombstone, before leaving the cemetery.
Tier Harribel,
Student, daughter, friend and savior.
No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.