[Aria's pov | The training grounds]

"You didn't have to sit with me today." My voice was quiet. Canterbury sat at my feet, looking up at the boy standing in front of me. Sasuke ignored the creature, trying to catch my eye. I looked at the ground. "They bully you." He stated. "I know." My voice came out stronger than I thought it would, and my emotions swelled. I scuffed at the ground with my boot again, not looking up. I felt embarrassed for some reason, even though he was the one who butted in. I didn't ask him to. It was all him... all him.

"You should stick up for yourself." This conversation was a familiar one. "I don't want to hurt anyone." Canterbury rubbed his head against my boot, looking up at me with big eyes. I smiled a small smile, tears welling in my eyes. I don't want to annoy anyone. I don't want to hurt anyone. I don't want to be a monster. "You wouldn't be hurting anyone, Aria." Sasuke walked forward. "Yes, I would. It wouldn't be on purpose, but it would happen. It would... it would happen." I gnawed at my lip. Sasuke's shadow fell over me, and I wondered why I was so short. 

"You should defend yourself." He said. "I know I should, but I'm not going to." I looked up at him. His face seemed softer than usual, and somehow, he seemed more like a ten year old. Like he was finally acting his age. "Why not?" His eyebrows quirked. "I... I just can't, okay? It's too risky." I'm not sure there's a seal over my powers. What if the shades can sense when I use it? What if one came for me while I was in class? If I'm going to use my powers, it can't be while I'm in a group.

"Aria." My eyes met Sasuke's. "What is it, Sasuke?" I asked. "Do you want to be my friend?" The boy questioned. My eyebrows quirked this time, and Canterbury squealed slightly. "Do you want to be friends?" I questioned, looking at him. His eyes twinkled, and his lips quirked. "I wouldn't mind." He admitted. "I wouldn't either." I told him. We both looked down, going silent. "So... we're friends now, right?" Sasuke asked. "Sure." I murmured. "Then... will you tell me what comes out of your headphones?" He questioned. I looked up, and this time, my eyes were twinkling. 

"Music, Sasuke. The best music."

[Aria's pov | The next day]

"What did you do to Sasuke-kun?! You made him sit next to you, didn't you?" Sakura snarled at me that morning. "Why don't you go ask him?" I was feeling more confident after Sasuke allowed me to be his friend. "He's not here right now." Ino hissed. Canterbury squealed at her angrily, his tail whipping out to slap at her. She let out a shriek, stumbling back. "Leave me alone, Ino." My voice shook slightly. "You have some nerve." Sakura's voice was low. My eyes narrowed. I knew kids could be mean, but this is too much.

"You're just a freak! Nobody will ever love or want you!" Ino reached forward. My eyes widened as her hand closed around the cord of my headphones. Yanking up, the world seemed to go in slow motion as they slid over my head, pulling my hair. She yanked the plug out of the jack in my neck, tossing the headphones to Sakura. She snapped them in two. The whole class "ooed" and laughed at me. My hands went to my mouth, my eyes wide. What have they done?

"Aria." I looked up. Sasuke was standing there, his eyebrows raised. My eyes instantly snapped back to Sakura who was holding my snapped headphones. Sasuke's face seemed to darken. "What happened here?" He questioned. I opened my mouth to answer but quickly shut it again when the notes of a song escaped. Ino leaned forward. "Did you say something, bitch?" She grinned cynically, proud of her use of "grown-up language."

I opened my mouth because, well, she asked.

"I hope you die in a fire" 

Ino was blasted back, rolling down the stairs, crying out in pain as she went. Sakura let out a loud shriek, throwing my headphones at me and rushing after her blonde friend. My hands flew up to my mouth, and my eyes snapped to Sasuke. He was staring at me with a look of surprise. "So that's what happens?" I was shocked when he smirked. The entire class was staring, horrified. Sasuke picked up my headphones, his other hand plunging into his weapons pouch. I watched with teary eyes as he pulled out a roll of bandages. I shook my head rapidly. He didn't have to... he shouldn't...

I'm a monster.

"Don't worry about it." Sasuke slid into the seat next to me when he saw me shaking my head. "What are friends for?"