"I really don't see why you won't join decathlon." My best friend Noah told me as we stood by my locker. "You're a genius, Thee."

"Well, firstly my dear Noah, I suck at math. Which, might I remind you is one of the main subjects that the teams get quizzed on. Secondly, the schedule clashes with track practice." I explain to my light brunette friend with a laugh.

"And we can't have our best sprinter getting kicked off the team for missing too many practices."

"Thank you, Adri." I told my other best friend with a grin as she joined us by my locker, leaning against the neighboring locker. "At least you understand my predicament."

"Besides, Athena sucks at math." She chimed with a shrug.

"But she's still a certified genius. I mean, she's got an IQ of 174 for God's sake!" Noah argued.

"Noah, my IQ won't mean shit when the judge pulls out any complicated math problems." I point out with a chuckle.

"Thee, you're in AP Statistics, which is an advanced senior class might I add."

"He's right, you might be able to kick some ass." Adriana admitted, making me turn to her in exasperated shock.

"Who's side are you on?" I ask her, waving my arms around for emphasis.

"I'm not on anyone's side! Adriana is Switzerland! She is not taking sides! She is a neutral party!"

"And Adriana apparently talks about herself in the third person." Noah chuckled, making me snort in a very loud and unladylike manner. He sent me a warm smile and I happily returned the gesture.

"Can you two just date already?" The Mitchell girl scoffed as she rolled her eyes.

"Shut up, Adri."

"Fuck off, Adriana."

"Okay, geez, I'll just go to English then." She scoffed, raising her hands in mock surrender. As she walked away from us, I heard her say. "So fucking oblivious."

"You know we can hear you right?" Noah asked her.

"You were supposed to!"

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"Come on, Greene! Lick it! Lick the fucking trash!"

When I heard those words my head shot up in the direction of the freshman hallway. I saw a group of four or five boys crowding around two boys by a garbage can. I quickly made my way to the scene, Noah calling my name anxiously.

"Athena, stop! I really don't think that's a good-"

"Shut up and help me, Noah." I cut him off, my voice firm yet laced with worry for my little brother.

"How?!" He asked me incredulously. "I'm 147 pounds of pale skin and bone, sarcasm and science puns are my only defense!"

I ignored Noah's comment and approached the group of freshmen boys. I pushed some away to get to the boys in the middle. There was a bruised and beaten Max being held against the garbage can by this serial killer in training motherfucker.

"Hey!" I shouted, before ripping the kid off of my brother and pinned him against the wall. "You stay the hell away for my brother or I won't hesitate to end your existence!"

"And how are you planning to do that, bitch?" The smug little shit asked with a smirk, making my blood boil.

"Well, I've got my baseball bat in my car. I could always start with that." I hissed venomously. The kid looked genuinely scared now.

"Miss Greene! Step away from Mr Franklin immediately!" The principle demanded as he finally decided to be a responsible adult. "Miss Greene! Detention for the next two weeks!"

"What about him?" I asked angrily, pointing to that Franklin kid who was bullying my brother. "What's his punishment for beating the shit out of my brother?"

"Miss Greene, we do not use that kind of language here. And Mister Franklin will a receiving a firm talking to."

"A firm talking to? Are you fucking kidding me right now?" I scoffed bitterly.

"Miss Greene-"

"No. No, no, no! You don't get to talk right now!" I cut him off, rage radiating off of me. "You're going to let this kid get off scotch-free, the same fucker who just beat my brother to a pulp? How about you fucking do your job and suspend this kid's ass like a sensible and normal principle would do? How about that yeah?"

"Saturday detention for the next two months, Miss Greene!"

"Great! I'll turn it into the fucking Breakfast Club!" I shouted, as Noah and I helped Max up and took him to the nurse.

"You really didn't have to do that." Max muttered, not making eye contact with me.

I lifted his chin with two of my fingers and made my little brother look at me. "Yes, I did. There's no way in hell I'm going to let those assholes treat you like that. You're my kid, I'll always protect you."

"Thank you, Athena."

"You're welcome, kid."