A/N: This is another Creative Writing Class Assignment. That's what a lot of these are going to be. Anyway, this is a characterization scene. This does contain some sensitive topics, but not too bad. If you feel uncomfortable reading about bullying, then do not read this.

Misfit. Ugly.

Words bounced around inside of Luna's head, all of them trying to escape and be released into the world.

Disappointment. Dumb.

They just kept coming, forcing their way into Luna's mind, relentlessly bashing at her thoughts.

Freak. That's all you'll ever be. A freak.

"Luna. Luna. LUNA!"

Luna shook her head, knocking herself out of her daze. "W-what?" She whipped her head around, blonde hair swirling in a cloud around her. She was sitting on the stone steps of her school's back door, students milling about around her.

"Finally! Welcome back to reality Luna!"

Luna huffed. "Oh shut up Cal. It's not like you're any better."

Callum, or Cal, as Luna liked to call him, shrugged. "What can I say?" He then looked at his watch. "Come on, we have to go."

"Hm? What time is it?"

Holding up his hand, Callum gestured at his wrist. 3:30 pm.

Exchanging a quick glance, the pair stood up. Time to go. Time to get out of here before trouble found them.

"Now, now. What do we have here?"

Too late. Shaking slightly, Luna turned around, her dull green eyes widening in fear. Not today. Please, not today. Backing up slowly, she hit the wall behind her.

"Got nowhere to run, huh freak?" Towering over her, was the face of an old friend, turned bully.

"Get away from her, Stella," Callum said, putting a defensive arm around his friend.

"Why should I? You're just freaks, aren't you?" Stella sneered at the girl in front of her, her grey eyes void of any emotion but spite. "You're all just misfits. No one will ever like you or want to be your friend." She shoved Callum aside, then advanced at Luna.

Dipping her head down, Luna knew she was right. Why else would she have bleached her hair blonde? Why else would she have tried to get rid of her green eyes? Why else had she stopped singing?

"Not going to talk, freak? Too scared?"

"You did." Luna murmured.

"What?"

"You were my friend..." Was she though? Luna never knew what it really was.

Stella sighed in disgust. "We were never friends. Stop lying to yourself."

Callum was trembling with anger next to his friend. "You're the one lying! Just, stop bullying her!"

Sneering, Stella said, "Aw... is prince charming going to save this absolute disgrace? How chivalrous of you."

Luna was still trying to find her voice in the midst of the fight. "P-please, don't..."

"Is the freak talking? The moon can't shine, you know? Only the stars can. Didn't know you were capable of that." Stella said. "You were always a freak. You'll never stop being a freak." She was about to continue when the 3 teens spotted a teacher, rounding the corner.

Not wanting to be caught, Stella quickly stood up and faked trying to help Luna. Once the teacher had passed, she quickly slapped down Luna's hand.

"You got lucky this time." She started walking away. Turning back, she said, "Don't think it'll happen again, though. Freak."

Once she had rounded the corner and disappeared from sight, Callum breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness." He sat back down.

Luna, on the other hand, was frozen against the wall. Sure, she was used to this by now. But every time, seeing Stella act so foreign, it hurt. What was wrong with her? Did she do something wrong? 'The moon can't shine, you know? Only the stars can.' That was true, wasn't it? Tears were welling up in her scared green eyes. Scared. How could she act chill, like nothing was wrong when everything was wrong?

"Luna! You have to snap out of it! Please, Luna, don't let her get to you. You're great just the way you are!" Callum was shaking her shoulders, a look of panic in his eyes.

Minutes passed before Luna calmed down enough to breathe properly. Luna steadied herself against the wall. "Thanks, Callum. I don't know what I would do without you. You're the best, you know?" She smiled shakily up at her best friend, glad to know at least one person was with her. Two people against the world were better than standing alone.

Callum smiled back, the edges of his eyes creasing a little. "Freaks together, am I right?"

Luna grinned through her drying tears at the familiar phrase. Every single day, they would repeat that phrase to each other, raising their morale.

"Freaks together."