A/N Solangelo. Nothing else needs to be said.

Faith Pov

I slid down the wall, ending in a sitting position on the floor of the abandoned hallway, my auburn hair covering my face. I hugged my arms to my body as tears slid down my face. I didn't understand why Gretchen had to be so mean! I knew I was a little overweight, but she didn't need to act like that. My dad had left me and my mom a month ago, and I eat a lot when I get sad, but she doesn't have to make fun of me for it. 

I scrubbed my green eyes in an attempt to get rid of any trace of tears. I had Biology next, and even though I loved the teacher, Ms. Montesseri, if she knew I'd been crying she would make a big deal and Gretchen would find out and tease me even more.

Thinking about Gretchen made her words from earlier come to mind. "You're just a fat, ugly, whiney little girl." It sounded almost exactly like what my dad had said right before he left. I choked back another sob at the thought, but it was too late. Tears were running down my cheeks again. 

I heard footsteps in the hallway and tried to hide my tearstained cheeks. Looking up, I saw a pale boy with dark, messy hair, and dark eyes. I could pinpoint the exact moment he noticed me sitting there, tears still glistening on my flushed cheeks. He had been walking down the hallway, and when his eyes landed on me, his eyebrows shot up and and stopped in his tracks.

The guy came over and hesitantly sat down beside me. He placed a hand on my arm, looking like he wasn't really sure what to do, as though he wasn't used to dealing with feelings. He spoke. "Hey... Um, I'm Nico. I don't know what's wrong but, if you want to talk about it..."

I offered a shaky smile. "T-thanks. I'm Faith. It's just Gretchen being mean again. And the stuff she said made me remember my dad."

He made a sympathetic face. "I hate Gretchen. If you don't mind me asking, what happened to your dad?"

I looked down. I hadn't told anybody about it, but something about Nico made me feel like he would understand. Like he'd been through stuff too. "He left me and Mom a month ago."

"Oh. I'm sorry. My dad never really cared either. He left me and my sister in this hotel for a long time, and then when my sister died, he didn't even visit."

I nodded slowly. Most people probably would have said sorry, but I didn't. I didn't want other people to say stuff like that to me, because it felt insincere, and I imagined he felt the same way.

-----(({Steve has come to take you to the last day of school}))-----

Over the couple months since we had met, Nico and I had grown closer. He was like a brother to me, the brother I never had. I can't say I was a replacement for Bianca, who I'd learned more about, or Hazel, who I'd also learned about, but Nico was probably one of my best friends at that point. I had told my other friends about my dad, and it turned out they weren't really my friends and decided that since my dad left, they weren't going to hang out with me anymore. They were with Gretchen's crowd now. 

I was super excited, for multiple reasons. Firstly, it was the last day of school before summer vacation. Why wouldn't I be excited? Secondly, I would finally be free of Gretchen and her minions, at least for a couple months. Thirdly, and most importantly, Nico's boyfriend was picking him up today. I was so excited to finally meet him!

I was currently in my last class, History. The teacher, Mrs. Kelly, was super nice, and we weren't actually doing anything, just kind of hanging out. I glanced at the clock. Five minutes until the bell. I was going to meet Nico in the parking lot, where, Will, his boyfriend, was picking him up.

Another couple of minutes past. There was about two minutes until the end of school when Mrs. Kelly stood up. "I just want to thank you all for being part of my class the year. I enjoyed having you all and hope you have a great summer!" The class resounded with cheers.

Just then, the bell rang. I shot out of my chair as fast as possible and, after collecting my things, booked it for the parking lot. I was standing at the corner where I had arranged to meet Nico when I heard a nasal voice behind me. It was Gretchen, along with her gaggle of girls, following behind her like goslings. "Well, if it isn't little Miss. Fatherless Faith."

I winced but didn't turn to face her. After my so-called friends had left me for Gretchen, they'd told her about my dad. The nickname had stuck. A hand grabbed my arm and twisted me around so I was facing Gretchen and her group. With a pang, I saw Carla and Olive, my old friends, standing right behind my bully, who reached out her hands and pushed me to the ground so I was lying on the ground staring up at them. "Didn't you hear me, Faith the Freak?" she asked in her nasal, whiney tone. "You should respond to your superiors when they talk."

I don't know what came over me, but I finally fought back. "I sincerely hope you weren't referring to yourself when you said superiors. Just because if you were, I think you need to go to a mental hospital." 

It felt good, talking back, but I really shouldn't have. Gretchen bent down to whisper to me. "Shut up, Faith. You're just a useless little girl. And don't ever talk back to me again, or you'll regret it more than anything else in you pitiful life." She raked her long, manicured fingernail over my face before walking off. As she left, she deliberately stomped on my left ankle as hard as she could. And she could stomp pretty hard.

I tried to get up, but my ankle gave way and fell back against the hard asphalt. I lay there for a few minutes before I saw two pairs of feet walking my way. When they were standing over me, I saw Nico, along with a boy who had shaggy blond hair, blue eyes, and a surfer-body. That had to be Will. I grinned weakly at them and they knelt down beside me.

"Faith, what happened?" Nico said.

I looked over at him. "Oh, you know, Gretchen being her usual self."

The other boy Will, was looking over my ankle. He pulled out some sort of brace and put on, before handing me some painkillers. "Those should help with the pain. And you should make sure to wash those scratches, you don't want them getting infected. I'm Will."

I nodded at him. "Faith. Nico's told me a lot about you." As I spoke, a faint blush covered Nico's cheeks. Will just grinned at him. "It's nice to meet you," I continued.

"Nice to meet you too." We ended up going to the park to get to know each other after that. 

Nico didn't come back to the school the next year, but an anonymous note was left at the office detailing everything she had done along with pictures for proof, and she ended getting a two day suspension and a severe talking to. I'm pretty sure I know who left the note.

A/N I don't actually have anything to say, soooo......

~Skate