The next day, (Name) walked into school not knowing what to expect. The day prior she had made an underclassman friend who just happened to be close to one of her main bullies. She met the little sister of her brother's ex and another bully. To top it all off, she ended up connecting with another bully and somehow managed to comfort her after finding out she's been suffering harassment of the worst bully that the school had to offer.

Yeah. Life was good.

Upon reaching her locker, (Name)'s eyes shifted around her surroundings before opening the metal door and retrieving the books that she needed for class. She was not expecting the tap on her shoulder, causing her to jump and let out a quiet yelp, dropping her books in the process.

"A-ah! Sorry! I-I was just trying to say hi!" Cried the Hungarian who tapped (Name), then quickly bent down to retrieve the books.

(Name) let out a shuddering breath before turning to look down at Elizabeta. "N-No, it's m-my fault I'm so jittery... Reflex, I guess."

Standing with the books in hand, Elizabeta gave (Name) a sympathetic smile. "I uh... Guess that has to do with how you've been treated, huh?" She inquired before handing (Name) her books.

She nodded slowly. "But... I'm trying to get better, at least Tino and Matthew are trying to make sure I get better."

"That's good... Um, I don't know if I ever said this to you yesterday, but I want you to know that I'm really-"

"Sorry?" (Name) assumed as she placed her materials in her bag and closing her locker. "You did, Elizabeta. You don't have to keep apologizing. All that matters to me is that you recognize what you've done and promise that you'll do better in the future."

"I will! And believe me, if you ever need a girlfriend, let me know!" She promised, linking her arm with (Name)'s and beginning to walk down the hall towards their homeroom. "In fact, why don't you sit with me and my friends during lunch today?"

(Name) blinked. "You don't have to do that..."

"I want to, (Name)! I know that there isn't anything I can do to make it up to you, but you need a feminine friend. Afterall, I've only ever seen you hang out with guys. Don't you have any friends that are girls?"

"W-well, there's... Um..."

Elizabeta let out a laugh, gently bumping her shoulder with (Name)'s. "That's what I thought." She turned her head to see (Name)'s gaze locked onto the floor, noticing a blush of embarrassment flushing her cheeks. "But, think about it, okay? My offer stands open for as long as you want. I don't want to come in between you and your friends."

Turning her gaze from the floor, (Name) gave Elizabeta a meek, but thankful smile. "I will... Thank you, Elizabeta. Really."

As the two girls continued down the hall, they were soon stopped by a cat call from further down the hall. (Name) could feel Elizabeta tense up as she recognized who was calling to them. (Name) recognized it almost as quickly, her reaction nothing short of the Hungarian's.

"Well well well! Looks like Elizabeta has brought us a little toy!" Gilbert cackled, his hands stuffed in his pockets, his crones Francis and Antonio just behind him. He approached the two girls, his menacing grin everpresent. "How loyal, Elizabeta. Just like one of my dogs."

(Name) could feel the Hungarian tremble as she held a strong front, her brows knit together and a frown tugging at her lips.

"So, (Name). It's been a while since we've had any quality time together. How do you feel about a little three on one at the field today?" He sneered, his glowering red eyes meeting (Name)'s.

The terrified girl opened her mouth to answer, but the looming presence behind her caused her to cease.

"What are you doing, bruder?" Ludwig questioned, his brow furrowed and his arms crossed over his chest.

"Ah, nothing! Nothing!" Gilbert assured, stepping away from the two girls and backing up to his two friends, who had both stepped away from the arrival of the taller German brother. "Just asking (Name) about Latin, my dear bruder."

"Ja, right." Ludwig replied, moving to stand in between the two girls and their tormentors. "Why don't you hurry along to your class? Homeroom will be starting soon."

Gilbert's brows furrowed at his younger brother, but didn't come up with a retort. "C'ome on, guys. We should get going." He spoke before pushing past his brother, casting warning glances at both (Name) and Elizabeta.

Ludwig watched as the blond and the brunette followed after their friend before turning to (Name) and her new friend. "Since when do you two hang around each other?" He asked, a brow raised in confusion.

(Name) wasn't quick enough to come up with a response before Elizabeta spoke for the two of them. "Since I've decided to find better taste in company, Lud." She responded simply, giving the blond German a smile. "What about you? Since when are you defending the meek from your brother?"

The German scoffed, rolling his eyes. "My bruder can be irresponsible as you know, and me advising him to get to class on time is just me making sure he stays in our grandfather's good graces."

It was the Hungarian's turn to laugh. "Ja, I'm sure that's all it had to be. Nothing to do with the fact that you'd maybe get props from saving two cute girls from your monster of a brother."

Ludwig's cheeks slowly became fanned in a pink blush, as did (Name)'s at Elizabeta's teasing. He gave a cough before turning away. "I'll see you both in Homeroom." He muttered before walking away, leaving Elizabeta looking smug.

"W-why did you tease him like that?" (Name) questioned, looking at her new female acquaintance.

"Please, Ludwig and I go way, way back. Just like I do with his brother, and Roderich. Basically everyone in our grade goes back with someone." She responded with a shrug as she and (Name) continued to walk down the halls.

"Really?"

She nodded. "Mmhm. Roderich and I were really close back then, I was a little more rowdy back then, though. I was very much a tomboy."

(Name) couldn't imagine the ever-pristine looking Elizabeta being a tomboy. "I don't think I could see it..."

"Believe me, I'll show you pictures!" Laughed the Hungarian girl as she and (Name) crossed the threshold into their classroom, where most everyone already sat.

The girl let out a nervous chuckle as she moved to walk to her desk near the back. The hand on her arm stopped her, and as she turned, she saw that it was Elizabeta who had stopped her.

"Come on, sit by me and Roderich." She offered, giving her a small, almost encouraging smile.

"Elizabeta, I don't think he'd like that..."

"At worst, he'll ask what you're doing and I'll tell him that we're friends now."

"Then he'll look at us both like we're crazy. Great plan." (Name) said flatly.

"Doesn't hurt to try, does it?" Inquired a voice from behind the two, causing them to turn to see Yao standing behind them. "Now, could you go in so I can get to my seat?"

(Name) let out a nervous laugh as she moved past the door, gently pulling Elizabeta with her. "Sorry, Yao."

He shrugged, walking past to his seat. "Glad to see you're making friends, (Name)."

Elizabeta's brows rose once more, turning to (Name). "Okay, just how many new friends have you made?"

"It's a bit of a list..."

"You'll be able to tell me all about it at lunch... If you so choose to sit with us." Elizabeta spoke as she led (Name) to the empty desk that sat next to Elizabeta's, whos desk sat in front of Roderich's. The aforementioned young man was studying over some sheet music when he looked up at the approach of the two girls. When his eyes fell on (Name), his brows furrowed and his frown deepened.

"What do you think you're do-"

"She's sitting here because she's allowed to sit wherever she wants, and because I asked her to sit here."

The Austrian male's brows rose at this response. "And why-"

"Because there's no harm in making new friends, Roddy."

~~~

"Whoa, whoa. Slow down there." Matthew said, standing next to (Name) as she retrieved her books from her locker during their break period. "So, you managed to make a friend out of Elizabeta?"

"Mmhm."

"And you found out from her that Gilbert is even more of an asshole than we all thought."

"Criminal, more like it."

"Now that you two are friends, she's offering you to sit with her and her friends at lunch today?"

"I don't know if I'll say yes..."

"Not only did you actually get a female friend, who offered to let you sit with her and her other female friends, Gilbert's own flesh and blood little brother defended the both of you from him."

"Basically had them running down the halls."

Matthew laughed, shaking his head. "(Name), oh how the tables have turned."

(Name) let out a huff, looking at her friend. "It's not like I asked to stumble upon an emotionally unstable Elizabeta. Curse me and my caring nature." She muttered sarcastically.

"(Name), this is great, don't you get it?" He asked, looking at her. "You've managed to whittle down the number of people bullying you in just how many days?"

"Matthew, even if I have decreased the number of people bullying me, I still have Gilbert and Ivan on my back, and I doubt either of them are gonna let up so easily." She protested, closing the door to her locker and adjusting her backpack. "Ivan hates me because of what my brother did-"

"And is insane because there was no helping what happened and it's not your fault."

She couldn't completely agree. She still felt guilty that her brother broke up with Ivan's older sister because he had to take care of her and her fragile state of mind. "Gilbert hates me because he feels like he needs someone to beat up on a daily basis, and he has his own little following helping him do it."

"But you've managed to cut down that number significantly."

"Yeah, but my friends were once his friends and because he feels that I've stolen them, he's only gonna come down on me even harder than before."

Matthew grimaced. "Now that just sounds gross."

(Name) butted her shoulder against Matthew's as they made their way down the hall. "You know what I mean."

He laughed, nodding. "I do. But (Name), really. You gotta look on the bright side of this. You're making so many friends."

She sighed, looking up at her Canadian friend who was giving her a smile. "You know I hate how you're always right."

Matthew gave (Name) a smile, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and walking alongside her. "I know, but you love me all the same."

"That I do, Matthew." She relented, leaning against her friend as they walked. "That I do."

The two continued their light conversation as (Name) walked her friend to his next class, dropping him off at the door and making her way down the hall to head to Latin. As she was left alone, she couldn't help but think about what Matthew had told her.

He has a point... Out of all the people who used to torment me, I have so many people who I'm friendly with now... Matthew, Heracles, Tino, Berwald, Lukas, Emil, Matthias, Feliciano, Lily, Toris, Eduard, Ravis, Felix, Kiku, Yao, Ludwig, and now Elizabeta. I never thought after all this time knowing all of them that I'd actually be friendly them.

Of course, there's those who are still out to get me. Gilbert is still at large with Francis and Antonio following behind him, and Alfred still hates me, no doubt that Arthur still hates me as well. Ivan, no question he wants to kill me. Even with them... There's still Lovino, Vash, and Roderich... I don't know where they stand, but I don't think I stand in their good graces.

Then there's all that drama with Katyusha, Allistor being here, and god knows what would happen if either of them found out about my problems. The last thing I need is either of them calling Louis and getting him involved in all of this-

"Well, looks like she's finally alone."

(Name) was snapped out of her thoughts when she walked right into a couple of her tormentors. The albino devil himself and his two goons.

"(Name), (Name), (Name). I must say, you've really changed as of late." Gilbert sneered as he walked towards the girl.

"Oui... You've gotten more friends." Agreed Francis as he followed the albino Prussian.

"And you've certainly have been looking happier." Added Antonio who was just behind.

The girl backed herself against a wall, her gaze never leaving Gilbert's and he loomed over her.

"I have to say," Gilbert uttered as he grabbed (Name)'s jaw, pushing her head against the wall and forcing her to look up. "I hate it. So much that it disgusts me."

(Name) whimpered quietly, feeling his nails beginning to dig into the skin of her face.

"Seeing you all happy with our brothers and friends, it makes me sick to think that some loser like you thinks that any of that matters. They aren't hanging out with you because they like you or because they're your 'friends.' They pity you. They feel sorry for all the shit you've gone through." Gilbert growled.

"It's human nature to at least try to be kind." Francis mused, leaning against the wall, next to where (Name) was being trapped. "Those genuine friendships that you think you've made, they aren't real."

"I mean sure, kind people like Feli and Tino are going to be friendly, that's just how they are, but what makes you think that they actually care about you?" Asked Antonio as he stood on the other side of (Name).

She tried to block out their words. She knew that they were trying to plant seeds of doubt into her mind, but she wasn't going to let them have that satisfaction.

She knew people could be bad. These three were perfect examples of such. Her friends, however, she knew that they cared, or else they wouldn't have bothered hanging around or helping her.

She wasn't going to let these three bullies ruin what friendships she's managed to get.

"... You're wrong."

Gilbert's brows rose as the snarl on his lips grew deeper. "Excuse me?

"You're wrong." She repeated, louder this time. "My friends... They care... They recognize me as a person, not as someone that they can walk all over or beat up whenever they want... They know that I'm a human being who deserves the common decency that other humans give one another."

"You shut your damn mouth, you bitch!" Gilbert's voice grew louder as his grip on her jaw grew tighter.

She opened her mouth to reply once more, but she wasn't able to get the words out in time before Gilbert punched her stomach, knocking the wind out of her. The Prussian released her jaw, stepping back to let her fall forward to the floor as she coughed.

"See you in Latin, freak." Gilbert growled as he sent a kick to her shoulder, knocking her back against the wall before walking down the hall, Francis and Antonio following close behind him.

(Name) groaned quietly as she rolled onto her back, holding her stomach and looking up at the ceiling of the hallway. As much as she was in her own head, she wasn't going to let the three of them make her doubt her friends.

Despite everything, she managed to sit up without too much strain, get to her feet, and make her way down the hall to class.