Ever since the James girl overheard the conversation that my mother and I had with the school counselor, I could feel eyes on my everywhere I went. The feeling would just make me curl up into myself more and walk faster. Their taunting words and harsh laughter would echo in my ears while I lay in bed at night. Their words had not landed upon deaf ears. It hasn't even been two months into the school year and there's already more drama than last year.

I let out an agitated breath as I ducked into my chemistry and physics class. The group of gossip girls in my class laughed obnoxiously at me as they said something after I passed by their seat. I swallowed the urge to say something to them and continued on to the back of the room. I placed my books on my lab table and took my seat just before the bell rang.

"Alright future scientists," the teacher, Ms. Tanner, said cheerfully. "We have a new student joining the wonderful world of science!" She clapped her hands excitedly. Ms. Tanner was a very, very happy woman.

I looked up through my bangs to see her motion to an, if I had to admit, active girl standing next to her. Wavy dirty blond hair that fell a little bit past her shoulders was brushed to the side. Her dark wash skinny jeans looked darker in contrast with her baby blue T-shirt. The new girl looked over in my direction and I looked back down at my lab desk.

"Class, this is Olivia Ward. She will be joining us from now on." Ms. Tanner looked around the classroom and tapped a finger on her chin.

"Let's see, let's see, let's see," Ms. Tanner muttered. "Found it!" She motioned for Olivia to follow her as she made her way back toward my lab table.

Please don't have her sit by me. Please don't have her sit by me. Please don't have-

"Olivia, this is Delilah Williams. Delilah, this is Olivia. I'm sure the two of you will become the best of friends!" She placed Olivia's books beside mine and made her way happily back to the front of the classroom.

"Hey." Olivia said as she took her seat. She gave me a beautiful smile. Like, beautiful. I glanced up at her eyes and saw that they were a beautiful hazel color. A small smile found itself on my lips.

"H-" I began to reply but was rudely interrupted by one of Mackenzie James' friends, Cathleen Ramos.

"Excuse me, Ms. Tanner, but I don't think that Olivia should be sitting with Delilah." Cathleen I'm-so-perfect Ramos said my name with such scorn, I dug my fingernails into my palms.

"Why would that be, Miss Ramos?" The ever delightful and clueless Ms. Tanner asked. "I believe that it would do some good for Olivia to be sitting next to Delilah. After all, she has the best grade in the class, Miss Ramos."

I smiled to myself and mentally thanked Ms. Tanner. That woman never failed to lift my spirits.

"But," Cathleen stammered. "but she's gay!" She yelled in a somewhat exasperated tone.

"And I'm an Atheist ginger." Ms. Tanner said nonchalantly. "What's your point, Miss Ramos?"

Cathleen was too busy imitating a fish out of water to answer Ms. Tanner. I smirked and laughed a bit to myself and heard a chuckle from Olivia as well.

"It's okay, Miss Ramos," Olivia spoke up in the now quiet classroom. "The closet is a nice place to store your homophobia." She gave me a wink and another beautiful smile.

"That doesn't bother you, does it?" I pointed to an empty lab table on the other side of the classroom. "If so, there is an empty lab table over there."

Olivia looked at me for a second before she laughed. Oh my God, it was the sound of music.

"Wouldn't bother me one bit, Delilah." Olivia's slightly rough voice began at last. "You see, I'm gay too." She winked at me, the shadow of her eyelashes fanned her cheeks.

"I think you're pretty cute, Dee."