My first day of college was finally over!

  It was…not what I expected.

  When my st css ended, I shoved my books and ptop into my already heavy backpack and trudged out of the cssroom.

  Being a foreign student was proving difficult, in more ways than one. The professors blew through material, and the amount of assignments were quickly piling up. It was daunting, to say the least.

  And the girls… I.. I thought they’d be nicer. Turns out, some of them can be pretty mean.

  I’m no stranger to bullies, but the stares, ughing, pointing and passive-aggressive comments hit harder here.

  Stepping into the warm sunshine, I took a deep breath. Not ready to go to my unwelcoming dorm, I wandered toward the small downtown area near the university.

  It’s not that bad Misaki, it’s your first day, things will get better!

  The street was lined with small shops. Everything was clean, with little street mps dotting the sidewalks. The town had a cute vibe about it.

  A rge grocery store and a bank marked the edge of town. The smell of grease and the grill wafted from nearby restaurants. Locals and college students bustled in and out of clothing stores, a book store, a record shop, and—

  The coffee shop!

  I stopped in front of Spill The Beans, the scent of fresh coffee luring me inside.

  It was more spacious than it looked from the outside, the calming earthy tones, tables, couches, recliners and free Wi-Fi made it the perfect pce to study.

  Staring at the menu, I felt the strange sensation of being watched.

  Gncing over my shoulder, I saw a girl sitting alone… staring directly at me.

  I quickly looked away and ordered a mocha.

  While waiting for my drink, I gnced back.

  Yep, still staring. She’s not even trying to hide it.

  My hands instinctively smoothed the back of my long skirt, checking my butt, making sure there wasn’t anything on me, then tucked my hair behind my ear.

  “Pepper you’re up!” The guy behind the counter called, setting a tray of food on the counter.

  Ooh the sandwich looks so yummy! Maybe…

  A hand brushed against mine, breaking my thought.

  It’s her! Why is she so close?

  Heat rose in my cheeks, and my heart thumped in my chest

  Her crystal blue eyes met mine as she spun around with the tray.

  I quickly looked down.

  Why does she keep staring at me? Her eyes are so pretty, I hadn’t noticed before.

  “Misaku!” A man’s voice called.

  “Misaki,” I corrected softly, with a smile.

  He nodded and went back to work.

  I grabbed my drink and found a seat in the corner, digging through my backpack. I pulled my ptop and reading gsses out, sipping my mocha while working on the assignments.

  When the door chimed I looked up from my work, seeing the three girls who teased me in css, I quickly ducked back down.

  Please don’t do it here.

  Raising my eyes above the ptop, I noticed the blue-eyed girl was still there, but she wasn’t staring at me. She was staring at the three girls.

  Leaning back in her chair, chewing on the end of a straw. Her hoodie was still up, so I couldn’t see any detail other than her eyes, upturned nose, and down turned lips.

  “OMG, look who’s here!” The high-pitched voice chirped sarcastically.

  I quickly ducked below my ptop.

  Way to go Misaki!

  “What a nerd!” One of them sneered.

  Closing my eyes I did my best to ignore them.

  They weren’t wrong. All I’ve done my entire life is study. I don’t know anyone, I don’t have any friends.

  A crumpled up napkin bounced off my forehead. A straw wrapper nded in my p. Their ughter grew with my embarrassment.

  I shrank behind my ptop.

  “Loser!” One of them hissed, while another crumpled napkin bounced off of me.

  Bang!

  The loud noise made me jump.

  It was her, the staring girl.

  She stood, fists pnted on her table, gring at the girls.

  They must have known her, because when they saw her they rushed out of the coffee shop.

  “Later Bob,” she said calmly, then slipped out the door.

  I sat in stunned silence.

  Did she just stick up for me? How mean is she if the mean girls were scared?

  My final thought echoing in my head.

  I quickly packed up and left before any of them could return.

  The days blurred into the next; the same teasing, assignments, coffee and staring.

  “I must be stuck in a loop.” I sighed, walking back to Spill the Beans.

  I set my ptop up while waiting for my mocha and sandwich. The blue-eyed girl wasn’t here today. Maybe the loop is over?

  I breathed a sigh of relief while taking my tray. When I turned the girls were there. I tried to ignore them, and make it back to my seat.

  “She’s not here to save you today!” One of them scoffed. “You think you can embarrass us like that?”

  I froze.

  Why would anyone save me?

  The blonde girl suddenly smacked the tray out of my hands.

  My tray and everything on it crashed to the floor. My mocha exploded when it hit the floor and the ingredients of my once beautiful sandwich y scattered about on the floor with the mocha.

  Looking up in shock, just as her hand smacked me in the face. My hand flew to my stinging cheek. I stood paralyzed in fear.

  Another girl pushed me. I stumbled, reaching for the chair behind me. Instead, I fell over it, and nding ft on my back. I y there, my face, wrist, and back in pain. I was so shocked, I couldn’t even think.

  They stood ughing over me while I cried like a helpless baby, begging them to stop.

  The door chimed, I looked up through teary eyes to see the strange girl storm in, moving directly toward my bullies.

  Without a word she grabbed the blonde by the hair, smming her head into the table. Then punched the girl who pushed me down.

  “Pepper stop!” Bob yelled as he flew over the counter.

  But it was too te, the third girl got knocked out too.

  “Misaki are you alright?” Bob asked.

  I nodded, trying to calm down. She crouched in front of me, her hoodie was down, her wavy light brown hair hung above her shoulders.

  He natural beauty caught me off guard while I stared at her in awe.

  Her hand reaching toward me, I jerked back, she paused. Following her eyes to the hem of my skirt. A sharp gasp escaped, seeing my exposed body.

  She didn’t wait for my permission, easing my skirt back over my knees then helping me sit up. Her hand cupped my face, thumb gently sweeping over my stinging cheek.

  My breath caught, my eyes wide, a tiny flutter racing from my stomach to my heart while staring into her eyes.

  “Can you stand?” Her voice carrying a cool confidence. The world around me faded, for a brief moment.

  Why did she save me? This wasn’t how my fairytale was supposed to go…but I didn’t want to stop her.

  Taking my hands, pulling me to my feet, she packed my stuff into my backpack and slung it over her shoulder.

  “Sorry Bob, I gotta bounce,” she said.

  She slid her hand in mine, leading me outside. Her hand was dry and a little calloused, it was slightly bigger than mine, but her touch was comforting.

  Comforting? Wait! Why are you letting her pull you around?

  “Where are you taking me?” I asked.

  Seriously? Where are you taking me is the best thing you come up with? How about stop or why are you doing this?

  She didn’t respond, her grip tightened around mine, pulling me a cross the street.

  I looked up as the sign came into view. Rockin Records.

  She opened the door, nudging me into the store while holding the door open. Then led me down the isle passed the middle-aged man at the counter. He just watched as we went into the backroom then up the stairs.

  She opened the door at the end of the hall, pulling me in, before I knew it the door clicked shut behind me.

  I didn’t know why I followed her as she pulled me. I felt safe being tugged behind her, like I’d be happy with her pulling me everywhere.