Sora felt like she’d been punched in the gut.
Out of everyone, Lori was the worst—even worse than Kari in some respects.
She’d been the one to suggest butchering her hair, to begin with.
“S-Should I buy everyone c-clothes?” Sora stammered, trying to get ahead of it.
“How kind of you!” Lori cooed, getting up to move behind the nearby lockers to pull out Wendy’s janitor trash can with its supplies in pouches on the side.
“We can do that on Saturday with your new fashion statement!” A lump formed in Sora’s throat as she extracted a pair of scissors.
“Again…” Kari rolled her eyes.
“Lori, I’m not feeling like…” “Just give me a chance,” Lori defended, flexing the blades with a bright grin, and Sora wondered if she’d jump forward to stab her as her eyes twinkled.
“I know it needs to be worse than before—she won’t get the lesson otherwise—so…” “Worse?” Sora choked, reaching up to grip her copper locks.
“Our little fox’s hair grows too fast anyway, so, hmm-hmm… why not do the hair and clothes this time.” “H-Huh?” Sora squeaked, eyes going wide.
“Y-You can’t… if I go b-back…” “We’ll give you a towel!” Lori scoffed, wearing a big grin, as if that was the issue.
“We gotta make it stick, and what better way to do that than showing everyone juuust how crazy you are!” She’s the devil… You’re the crazy one, Sora internally shouted, knowing pushing Lori would only dig her a deeper hole through experience.
“Please, don’t do this to me, Kari…” Sora cried, attempting to supersede Lori’s insanity as her face turned red and her nose burned.
“I can’t g-go out n-naked!” “Towel!” Lori sang in response, pulling out the white article from her locker that would just barely cover her top and bottom.
If it were windy or she stumbled, the embarrassment would kill her for life, and she knew there would be girls following to take pictures.
Wendy’s hands tightened at her front, her nervous gaze darting to Sora.
Sora’s thoughts went wild.
No!
Don’t do it, Wendy!
They might make you join me!
“Isn’t… that a bit much?” “Hmm?” Lori’s smile faded, pointed eyes drifting to her.
“Did you say something, garbage collector?” “…” Wendy’s eyes shot to the floor, fingernails digging into her stomach, unable to respond.
“That’s what I thought… Well, Kari?
You saw how she reacted.
Is that a worthy punishment for that phone call you got?” If that’s all… No, if Mary called Ron and Howie, then this could further prove my point!
It’s just… but… I don’t know if I can go through with it!
Realizing she was quaking, her focus darted to Kari as the Alpha Bully dumped cold water on her head.
“Mmgh… No.” “No?” Lori blinked.
“I was sure you’d be willing to do that… What’s on your mind?” Kari rolled around her head and streamed out a hot puff of air that Sora believed she could feel on the back of her neck.
“I’m sick of this game, Lori… You and Jenny keep convincing me to let her stay, but I’m not having fun.” What… Lori and Jenny convince her to let me stay?
Kick me out!
Sora wanted to scream.
Let me leave!
Lori’s fingers curled into a fist at her side, vision wandering back to the bent-over black-haired girl.
“What… heh, are you saying, Kari?” Sora’s whole body went numb as Kari spoke.
“It’s a little harsher than what I was thinking, Lori, but… we’ll go with your suggestion this one last time.” “Last?” Lori whispered.
The hums and mumbled words of the surrounding girls died at the statement.
Kari’s bright amber gaze iced.
“I’m finished with this game.
After today, I want you to leave, Sora… for good.” Lori choked.
“W-Wait, what?
But think of—” She cut off as Kari’s stern glare slid to her, making all the girls shiver at Kari’s intensity—she was serious.
It was a look that said, ‘challenge me one more time, and see what happens.’ Kari’s focus slowly returned to Sora.
“I’ll give you a week to set everything up—homeschool, transfer schools, leave the state, I don’t care.
I want your foul stench of an existence out of Miami Beach Senior High by the end of the week.
Period.” She stood, her penetrating, frigid stare making Sora quake with fear as an aura of imminent danger cascaded like ice through her bones; the girl looked four meters tall, towering over her.
“If you stay…” Kari trailed off with a murderous look of contempt before leaving the locker room, carrying the crushing atmosphere with her.
“And don’t make a scene, Sora; I’m pissed as it is.” Sora finally managed to choke for air, with every other girl present, including Lori, at a loss for several seconds.
“Shit…” Lori cleared her throat before walking around the girls to face her, one hand on her hip and looking more agitated than Sora had ever seen the psychopath.
“Humph… Guess Kari couldn’t help herself… you, eh, really did piss her off.
Mmgm… Honestly, I’m shocked she was that civil.
Hehe… dammit.” She took a deep breath, her bright smile returned as she held out the scissors to Wendy.
“You do the honors!” “I-I’ll do it—” Sora instantly replied, reaching for the scissors, but Lori tilted them at the last second, poking her palm and making her wince.
“Uh-uh-uh!” Lori growled.
“Wendy does it, or she joins you!” A lump dropped down her old best friend’s throat as they gave each other frightened stares; Sora never wanted to put Wendy in this position.
“It’s f-fine, Wendy,” Sora coughed, trying to force a smile.
It may not seem like it to those watching, but this was the happiest day of her life.
“I—umm… It’s fine…” “But Sora…” “Just do it already!” she snapped, making Wendy jump and clutch her breast, causing Lori to smirk.
“Yeah, Wendy; just do it already,” she mirrored, dangling the scissors in front of her.
Shakily taking them, Wendy’s shame-filled eyes fell to Sora’s flats and stockings, but Sora gave her a look that said it was okay.
She’d gladly have this temporary embarrassment—even if it was extreme—if it meant she could finally be free of Kari, Jenny, and, most of all, Lori.
Wendy tentatively reached up and took a clump of Sora’s hair, slid the blade between the locks, and cut, a tear running down her cheek as Lori snickered.
“Oh, I love watching old friends meet up again!
Wendy was your first friend, right, Sora?
Grade school, as I remember.
Humph.
I remembered hearing a rather funny joke she told you at lunch one time… I hated those days.” Sora only partially heard her as happy tears flowed down her cheeks.
The image made Lori’s eyes light up with delight.
“Make sure it’s sloppy and looks bad, Wendy!
Don’t be so even with it—there we go—and don’t forget the underwear!
Ooh, pink today, Sora?” Lori smirked as if asking who she was possibly trying to impress.
The only thing going through Sora’s mind was, ‘I’m free.’