Kore shifted her weight from crutch to crutch as she stood outside the school building. She always hated this moment, the moment her life went from just okay to pure misery and she took her time entering the building. It didn't help that the night before she had had probably her worst conflict yet with The Scarlet Devil leaving her with bruises and being so drained to the point where retreating was her only option, less she fell to the ground revealing her weakness to her opponent. Her feather was dull against her chest compared to its normally vibrant colors, but only she really knew that. She let out a sigh before hobbling into the building ready to get another day over with.
Chiara sighs, rubbing the bruises she had received the night before. The Phoenix had come at her visciously, and since her father was gone, and her mother was too sick to take on the ring, she had to fight. The brutality of it screamed in her skin, making her wince with each step. She did her best to hide it, however, and made her way to her group of friends. She glanced over at Kore, noticing her struggling a bit. Jesus, I feel bad for that kid. She sighs, debating her options, then walks over to Kore, twisting the rings around her fingers. "You alright?"
Kore froze when she heard Chiara's voice. She felt her body tense up and she forced herself to take another hobble away from her in hopes to avoid whatever humiliation Chiara has planned. Why wouldn't she have something planned? Everyone else at the school probably has a plan to torment her today as well. Her voice wavered and showed her tenseness and uncomfortableness at the moment, "I'm fine."
Chiara puts a hand on her hip, raising an eyebrow. "You sure?" She lightly taps Kore's crutch with her boot. "I can carry your stuff or something." She looks back at her friends, some of which were giving her slightly confused looks. She sighs, turning back to Kore. "But I like, won't make you or anything. Just offering."
"Yes, I'm fine," Kore replied quickly moving ever so slightly faster. She really didn't need whatever was going on here this morning. Not after she got her ass thoroughly handed to her the night before, well, at least that's how it went in her mind. She didn't bother to look back at Chiara, "Thanks, but, uh, no thanks for the help. I've got it."
Chiara chuckles, shaking her head. She walks back over to her friends, hair swaying as she strode. "You scared that chick away, you ugly bitch!" Her best friend Kaia quipped. She rolls her eyes, rubbing her bruises again. "I am terrifying. No surprise there." She groans as the bell starts to ring, then starts to saunter toward her next class. Her friends start laughing again. "Where are you going, Ki??" Chiara turns around, flipping them off. "To class, assholes! Im failing this one." In truth, she really did enjoy math, but she never had any time to do her homework. Not with constantly having to fight Phoenix. She subconsciously rubs her bruises again, going up the stairs. Isn't that crutch girl in the same class? She thinks, boots squeaking against the floors.
Kore continued off to her first class, math. She wasn't failing the class, but that was only because she pulled all-nighters in order to stay on top of everything, At least she had an extra five-minute leeway to get from class to class due to her disability. And if she took a nap in between classes, no one else had to know. She made it to her classroom, which was thankfully on the first floor, and took her seat in the back of the class.
Chiara took her time getting to class, trying not to agitate her bruises and sores any more. She was there a few minutes late, as usual, and the teacher gave her an ugly glare, as usual. She paid no attention to him and took her seat in the back corner, resting her head on her chin. She put in her headphones, knowing that if she wasn’t listening to something, she’d definitely doze off. Looking around the room, she noticed Kore just a couple desks down. A pang of guilt struck her from the exchange before and she looked away, concentrating on doodling in between the lines of her notes
Kore tapped her fingers on the desk as the classdorned as per usual. She felt the time fly by as the class went on until the teacher finished the lecture and let them break off into groups, if they wished, to work on the homework. As per usual Kore didn't move and began working on her homework as a little paper ball flew at her head. She let it harmlessly bounce off knowing it was to be the first of many.
Chiara scowled at whoever threw the paper, and sat next to Kore. She's good at math, right? She might be able to help. She settled into the seat, looking over with a slight smile. "Hey." She said softly. "I don't really know if I get any of this. Could you… maybe help?" She laughs, leaning back. "I didn't sleep at all last night and I dunno if i'm gonna make it through the day.
Kore didn't know how to respond to that. She shifted a little in her seat as she began to look at her assignment, "I, uh, don't know. Do you really want, um, me to help?" She wasn't the best student in the class, that was Isabella. Hell, she was hardly in the top half, why was Chiara asking her for help? Probably to do something nefarious when Kore wasn't expecting it.
Chiara rolled her eyes, sitting cross-legged in the chair. "Yes, you, bae. I don't want to talk to any of these other idiots. Besides, you were the closest to me." She stammers, not wanting to seem desperate. "So uh, the polynomial equations… do you get those? I wasn't really listening." she absent-mindedly doodles more drawings on her homework, monsters and teeth and slitted eyes. She smiled as she added a few more details. "Shit…. I keep zoning out."
The moment Chiara said bae, was the moment Kore knew her suspicions were right. She slowly began to tune Chiara out as she started on her own work. Kore couldn't let Chiara get to her so that Chiara could hurt her. Instead, she focused solely on her homework ignoring whatever Chiara was saying. Maybe not the best move if Chiara kept asking her questions she should probably answer. But, nop, she wouldn't fall for Chiara's tricks.
Chiara kept ranting about how she never really understood math, but once she did she would be alright, then looks over at Kore. "hey, did you… a-are you gonna help me or not?" She says, her tone softer than the words. She couldn't help but feel guilty for Kore's ignorances. She sighs, starting to move back to her seat. "I mean, if you really don't want to, I can probably figure it out myself." She mumbles, a little frustrated.
"Um, sorry, but, uh, I really don't think I'd be able to help all that much," Kore finally responded to one of Chiara's statements. Which one she didn't really care, as long as it got Chiara away from Kore and kept the possibility of Kore being hurt low. After the last time someone had tried to do something similar and it led to Kore injuring herself so badly she was out of school for a week, she wasn't apt to let something like that happen again.
Chiara sighed, wondering what the hell she did. She typically liked to playfully joke around, but she never did it to Kore. Kore was different… somehow. She gave her one last glance before returning to her seat, giving the kid who threw the paper a smack on the head. She decides she can do math some other time, and continues drawing, chin resting on her hand. The bell suddenly rings, startling her out of her daze, and she reluctantly gathers her things, looking to Kore to see if she needed help. It wouldn’t hurt to be nice for once.
The moment the bell rings Kore quickly packs up her things. She doesn't want to risk someone messing with her things while she waits for the classroom to empty so she can leave. It was a nightmare trying to exit on crutches when everyone else was trying to do the same. She pulled her bag close and only relaxed once the room was fairly empty and then she proceeded to take the trouble and time to stand up from her seat.
Chiara waited until everyone else left, watching Kore. Once Kore started to stand, she quickly rushed to her side, taking her bag. “Where’s your next class?” She asks avidly. It was… odd. Especially this early in the morning, she was always exhausted and grouchy. Today was different. It felt good. She gave Kore a grin as she slung both bags over her broad shoulders, then started twisting her rings again. Sure, it was really sore, but it was better than watching Kore struggle with it.
"You, you, you don't have to help me!" Kore immediately protested once Chiara took her bag. She felt the fear start to rise as she wondered what Chiara would do with her bag even thought Chiara appeared to only want to help her to her next class. No chance. She shifted her weight onto one crutch and tried to take her bag back from Chiara, "I, I, I can make it to my next class just fine!"
Chiara steps back, holding the bag gently. “Woah, dude, it’s okay. It’s okay. I’m not…” she gazes at the other desks, the fear in Kore’s eyes. “I’m not like them. I promise.” She gives a weak smile,
Shifting the bags. “Come on, what do you have next? Besides, I’ve always wanted to ride the elevator.”
Kore didn't exactly calm down completely, but she was able to put a more suitable reason as to why Chiara wanted her bag and didn't seem to want to cause any harm. Right, she has elevator privileges. After figuring that out it made a lot more sense. She took a deep breath and readjusted herself so her weight and finally and carefully responded to Chiara's question, "I, um, have English next. With Mr. Braxton."
Chiara nods, hauling the backpacks out of the room and holding the door for Kore. “Ah, that guy? Geez…” she laughs. “Have you managed to survive his assignments so far?”
"Yeah," Kore agreed hesitantly as she made her way through the door. She had half expected the trip to be in silence. (She would have preferred it that way too, at least that's what she convinced herself to think.) She always made sure Chiara was within her sight, "It's not too bad as long as you work on it in pieces."
“Oh honey, just wait til he gives you the huge projects.” She says solemnly, shaking her head. “If it ever gets too much for you, you can always switch out. That’s what I did.” She smirks, making her way to the elevator and pushing the button. That’s what she notices it- the necklace Kore donned. It was… familiar in a way. A way Chiara couldn’t quite put a finger on. She shrugged off the thought. “Nice necklace.” She quips, tapping her foot
Kore was about to respond when Chiara brought up her necklace. At that statement she froze and quickly went to move the necklace back underneath her shirt, hiding it away once more. She entered the elevator after Chiara kept her head low and completely ignored the compliment, "I have no plans on switching out of his class. I, uh, don't think having to switch classes is something you should be proud about. Course, I don't know much about that."
