DISCLAIMER: I don't own House of Anubis.

"That outfit is so last season," Amber commented, catching up to Patricia in the hallway after lunch. Joy and KT stood dutifully by her side as she placed a hand on her hip and surveyed the other girl. Patricia rolled her eyes as the hushed whispers and pointed fingers began shooting at the four- what was the freak doing talking to the popular people? "Actually, I don't think it was ever in season."

Joy laughed loyally at the comment, and KT frowned but didn't say anything. Why would she? KT had worked hard to get where she was now, and though she didn't necessarily agree with Amber's treatment of their classmates, she wanted to stay where she was. Popularity seemed to be everything these days.

Meanwhile, Patricia rolled her eyes at Amber's weak attempt at an insult. Because if there was one thing Patricia was good at, it was this. Words. She wasn't eloquent or anything, she just knew what she wanted to say and said it. At least her comebacks made sense. At least her comebacks actually got somebody thinking, actually left a wound. Amber's taunts bounced right off of her.

Of course, she didn't say anything right now. It'd probably harm more than help, and besides, Amber was the kind of person that would take Patricia's comeback as fuel, as permission to keep teasing.

"Do you not talk or something?" Amber raised an eyebrow and Patricia simply shifted her books in her arms. Glancing at the clock, she realized the next period started in two minutes. Disputing in the hallway would make them both tardy.

"I talk," Patricia muttered, trying hard to keep the bitterness out of her voice, the challenge, the feistiness. Under the radar, under the radar…the three words had become a chant of some sorts lately, a reminder in a way.

"What was that? I couldn't hear you," Joy placed a hand to her ear, smirking, and Patricia looked down. Did they honestly think they were intimidating?

"Guys, we're going to be late," KT said quickly, pointing at the clock. Amber and Joy quickly exchanged looks, hurrying to their lockers and grabbing their books while checking their hair in the tiny mirrors. KT looked after them and quickly turned back to Patricia.

"I'm sorry about them," she lowered her voice and her eyes darted, making sure Amber and Joy couldn't hear her. Patricia shrugged before leaving KT alone.

KT had her friends, Patricia had none. It was best to keep it that way.

Eddie sat down at the lunch table, offering a smile to Mick, Jerome, Joy, and KT, and giving Amber a peck on the cheek. Though Fabian's words lingered in his mind, he couldn't let it show. Joy was especially perceptive- she could easily pick up if something was wrong, and if he confessed to taking a nerd's words to heart, it would be all over the school soon enough. Because Joy was a gossip more than anything else- the biggest one at school. Even Mick was afraid to tell her private things.

"Hey boo!" Amber grinned and pecked Eddie on the cheek in return. "How was your day?"

"Fine," Eddie shrugged, knowing she didn't really care. Amber didn't care at all- she only asked because it was courteous to, and then Eddie would have to ask her the same question. Amber loved to talk about herself, fashion, makeup. She was the extreme girly-girl, but Eddie held a soft spot in his heart for her. It wasn't love though, even Eddie- who had never been in love before and had sworn to never fall in love- knew it. "Yours?"

"Wonderful," Amber gushed. "I got a 'C' on my math test!" Jerome snorted at her satisfaction, and Mick and KT cracked a smile as well. Joy narrowed her eyes, disbelieving, but didn't comment. Amber wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer so this was a big accomplishment for her. "And Daddy called and he upped my allowance!"

"That's great," Eddie mumbled absentmindedly as Mick and Joy branched off into their own conversation.

KT smiled slightly in an effort to erase the silence, "So, Amber's grades are going up?"

"Yes," Amber smiled proudly, before a look of worry crossed her face. "Oh no, what if Daddy starts expecting this? I can't get C's all the time!"

"I doubt he'll expect it," Jerome muttered before Amber elbowed him.

"Don't be mean," she reprimanded, crossing her arms and pouting.

"Speaking of that," KT began hesitantly- it had been an internal debate to bring this up. Eddie perked as KT spoke- she didn't share her opinions much; she mostly just agreed with Amber or Joy. KT and he didn't talk often for that reason- there was never a good conversational topic because she was always a bit shy. A bit afraid to say something lest she got rejected. She lowered her voice, eyes darting to Mick and Joy, who had started snogging, and then to Jerome and Eddie, who were both fully interested. "Amber, what you said to Patricia wasn't very nice either."

Amber rolled her eyes and dismissed it with a wave of the hand, "Who, the freak? Please, KT. I was just…setting things straight between us."

"That didn't make it right to talk to her like that," KT murmured. Amber narrowed her eyes as Eddie's widened. What exactly had they said to Patricia? Here he was, trying to convince her the popular people weren't that bad. Here he was, trying to get a date with her because of a bet. And now his girlfriend was making fun of Patricia and just supporting Patricia's mindset that the popular people were all stereotypically mean. Why did this have to be so hard?

"Whose side are you on?" Amber hissed at KT, who gulped.

"I'm just saying-"

"What, are you telling me that that stupid girl with her ratty clothes and hideous hair is better than me?"

"No, I never said that!"

Amber stood up and slammed her hands on the lunch table, seething as the room felt silent. No one dared talk, move, or even breathe as Amber spoke, "If you like that freak so much, how about you go hang out with her?"

KT faltered as everyone in the lunchroom gave a collective gasp, "W-what?"

"I'm saying you're out," Amber hissed. "Go. Leave this table."

"Amber," Eddie bit his lip, trying to reason. He glanced at KT, who looked almost teary eyed at the public humiliation.

"No!" Amber crossed her arms. "Go. We don't want you here anymore! Go hang out with that loser!"

"Amber, you can't be serious," KT bit her lip so that the tears wouldn't spill. She would not cry, she couldn't. Not in front of everybody.

"I am," Amber raised an eyebrow. "I never liked you anyways." A sharp intake of breath came from many people as KT lowered her head, grabbing her lunch tray before running out of the room. After a couple minutes, the chatter of the lunchroom began again, but everyone knew.

Everyone knew KT had stuck up for a low-class girl like Patricia, who hadn't even bothered running after her.