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Kalina got up early for school, she had a shower and changed into some black skinny jeans, a cropped grey top with a red leather jacket. She slipped on her converses and clipped on her necklace before grabbing her backpack and phone, she made her way out of her room and double-checked her bag for her purse and keys. "Dad?" Kalina spoke before looking up to see him ready and waiting to drive her to school.

"Good morning," Johnny spoke before kissing the top of his daughters head. She raised a brow at him as he opened the door and let her walk out, she ignored the potential chance that her father was abducted and now replaced by a Skrull which would lead to an opportunity to meet Carol Danvers, and took the opportunity to lock this sweet moment in her head for their next drunken argument.

The first lessons of the day dragged on for Kalina, she already wanted to leave and head to the Dojo for more lessons. But thankfully, lunch came along and she was ready for the change. Kalina stopped at her locker to put some books away while Miguel headed into the cafeteria without her by his side. He looked around hoping to spot her but had no luck, he looked down to see two boys sitting alone.

"Is it cool if I sit here?" Miguel questioned them. "Ooh, sorry, our table is really blowing up right now," Demetri tells him before continuing, "I can put you on the waitlist, but it's probably next semester at the earliest." Miguel nodded with a sigh before turning to walk away. "Okay. No, I'm kidding. Sit," Demetri motioned for him to sit down. "Miguel," Miguel introduced himself. "Demetri. This is Eli. He's a man of few words," Demetri introduced, Miguel looked to him with a small nod.

Miguel's eyes moved towards Samantha, Yasmine and Moon as they spoke with each other. "Dude, don't torture yourself. Those are the rich girls," Demetri explained to Miguel. He was checking them out but he assumed by their appearances that they were Kalina's usual friends. "Do you ever talk to them or...?" Miguel asks making Demetri scoff. "Oh, yeah, all the time. We hang out after school. Make out, give each other hand jobs. Eli here is the homecoming king. Gets laid more than anyone. Isn't that right, Eli?" Demetri rambled making Eli smile softly.

"Talk to them? You realise what table you're sitting at, right? You've pretty much signed away all hopes of losing your virginity before college," Demetri says to Miguel while Eli looks towards the girls. "Oh, shit, Yasmine's looking at us. Probably just making fun of me," Eli spoke up quietly. "Kalina! K-Queen, over here!" Moon called, the three boys looking behind them to see the blonde standing there with a tray in her hand.

Kalina let out a slow breath as she looked at the girls before looking around till her eyes landed on Miguel who sent her a small smile, Kalina smiled back at him. "Dude... Kalina Lawrence just smiled at you," Demetri spoke causing Miguel to shrug with a smug expression; he obviously knew why but it was interesting to see Demetri's stunned expression. Kalina walked towards Miguel who pulled out a seat for her causing Demetri and Eli's eyes to widen ready to witness his humiliation when she'd walk by the seat to her friends.

"Hey, Miguel!" Kalina spoke as she placed her tray down and sat in the seat, Miguel and Kalina did their handshake before looking towards Demetri and Eli. "You two don't mind me sitting here, do you? I'm looking for friends who won't shame me for my true self and Miguel is my best friend," Kalina pondered. "N-No. I-It's f-fine," Eli spoke up, his cheeks flushing a light pink. Kalina smiled at him before looking to Demetri, "Also, I doubt the whole "not losing your virginity till college" statement."

Demetri raised his brow at her, "And why do you say that? You see something I don't?" Kalina looked up from her tray with a flirtatious smile that made all three boys swoon. "I see three attractive males who are only being outcasted because they understand the difference between Marvel and DC," Kalina explained before looking at her phone. She turned her head to the girls after reading Sam's message and rolled her eyes at them.

"And Eli, if they make fun of you again. Let me know. Clearly, the last two times telling them to stop didn't get through their thick heads," Kalina snapped lightly causing Miguel to smile. "Down girl, your cobra is showing," Miguel said making her giggle, the sound was like a melody to Eli who had been crushing on Kalina for a long time. "I don't think she's making fun of you. I mean, just because they're hot doesn't mean they're mean. Take Kalina for example, hot and nice," Miguel explained as he motioned to the blonde sitting with them.

Kalina shook her head lightly before looking down at her phone again to see another three messages from Sam about her seat change. Kalina picked up her phone and removed the notifications before putting her phone down again when Yasmine's voice caught her attention. "Oh, my God, you guys. You see that guy over there who looks like he went down on a lawnmower? He's wearing the ugliest sweater I've ever seen," Yasmine taunted.

Kalina glared over at the blonde, she never liked Yasmine and she only hung out with them because of Sam but she was tired of playing an act just to be popular. "That is so wrong," Sam responded to her. "Speaking of wrong, check out Fug-lisha. She looks like she ate a picnic table," Yasmine continued and Kalina was pissed now. "I don't care if Yasmine is the meanest girl at school. I'd kill both of you just to get her to spit in my face," Demetri spoke up.

Kalina's head whipped around to look at him with wide eyes, "Wait... What?" She laughed quietly and shook her head. "Trust me, Demetri. You can do so much better than Yasmine," Kalina said with another quiet laugh thinking over his statement. "Also, if that's what you say about Yasmine... What have you said about me?" Kalina asked with a teasing smile as both Eli and Demetri tensed up and went silent; Demetri couldn't openly admit to the girl that both he and Eli had made many comments about her beauty or smile, her laughing at him would be embarrassing.

Miguel laughed as Kalina grinned at them, she knew what most boys said about her so it wasn't too bothersome; she was used to it by now. "Relax boys, nothing could be worse than Mike Kline telling me to wear a skirt so he can have a better look," Kalina told them with a sneer as she looked around to make sure the annoying jock wasn't around, she didn't notice the scowl on Eli's face from that information, but Miguel and Demetri did. "Well, if you don't make a move, you're never going to have a shot with her," Miguel tells him.

Kalina looked to Miguel as she took notice of what he was referring to and he was right, striking first was good advice in most situations. "True, but I'll also never suffer a humiliating rejection. I'm at peace with my depression. Last thing I need to be is suicidal," Demetri responded to Miguel making Kalina frown. "I don't get it, you are a good looking guy. I cannot believe the only reason people avoid you is 'cause you're classed as a "nerd"... it's bullshit!" Kalina spoke up.

Demetri leaned forward before speaking in an accusatory tone, "Then why weren't we friends before?" Kalina shrunk down in her seat and let out a sigh. "Sam and I have been best friends for years so when she got the chance to be popular, I went with her and honestly, I regret it. They weren't real friends and... Uh, it's nothing. It's the past now," Kalina's saddened mood was uplifted in seconds. She shook her head as Miguel got up and headed towards the girls after telling Demetri he was "Striking first."

Demetri and Kalina shared a look before turning to watch Miguel. Kyler walked towards the girls and stood by Sam before looking up at Miguel who had stopped and sighed before turning to walk away. "See you later, 'Rhea," Brucks spoke up as Kyler looked towards his table to see Kalina rest her hand on his arm and smile at him as he sat down next to her. "Yo, K! What're you doing?" Kyler asked with a shrug.

Kalina stood up and smiled sweetly, "It's time for a change. I guess I got tired of hanging out with a bunch of fakers who only tear each other down. Plus, I didn't wanna hang out with any of you in the first place but, uh, hey... Don't forget, I got ammo." She winked towards them before sitting down again, leaning her head on Miguel's shoulder. "That was badass," Miguel told her as she sighed. "I've been wanting to do that for ages," Kalina replied as they both laughed, Demetri and Eli impressed with the blonde for stepping off of the popularity pedestal.

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Rosemary Speaks

I remember witnessing a girl at school literally do something similar to Kalina in this chapter. She really thought she ate but I will admit, her leaving the "popular" kids was better for her in the long run. Will it be for Kalina?

Thoughts on this chapter?

See you in the next chapter!