Chapter Two
STRIKE FIRST

Mara examined herself in the mirror still not sure if she was going to go through with this. What Demetri said the day before gave her a boost in confidence and she decided she wanted to switch things up.

Mara had spent an hour this morning going through her clothes to find the perfect outfit. Clothes lay discarded around her room, all having been tossed to the side. She usually just wore jeans and a t-shirt but today was the day she was going to try something new.

She decided on wearing a red plaid mini skirt with a long sleeve back shirt. She threw a grey t-shirt over that and tucked it into her skirt. She finished the outfit off with black combat boots. She felt confident in herself. She even left her hair down for the first time and let it fall down her back in its natural waves.

     She turned away from her mirror and grabbed her bag that was sitting on her desk chair. As soon as she left her room, the smell of bacon filled her nostrils and she furrowed her eyebrows in confusion knowing that her family never cooked breakfast. She made her way down the hall, mentally preparing herself for what she was about to see.

Her dad was standing in the kitchen with three plates of bacon and eggs sitting on the counter in front of him. He looked up when he noticed her come in and gestured for her to take a seat.

"What's the special occasion", she wondered aloud.

"Your brother was named captain of the football team. So we are going to congratulate him with a celebratory breakfast."

Mara frowned at her father's words. "I'm happy for him but this seems kind of out of character for you. You never did this before."

"Well before there was nothing to celebrate."

"I got first in my cross country meet last year and got named co-captain."

"Well your team isn't very good, so it wasn't that hard. Your brother, however, had to go against a bunch of talented boys to get that spot. It takes hard work and dedication."

"I spent months training for that meet. I had to go against talented people from other's schools to win too."

"Mara I don't have time for your dramatics today so can you please sit down and eat."

Mara reluctantly nodded. She ignored her brother as he came out of his room. Her father patted his back and put his plate in front of him. The two talked about Ryan's tryouts for the team and Mara just stayed silent while she ate. It was times like these she missed her mother. Laura Abrams was always supportive of both her children and constantly made an effort to make sure they knew that.

The three finished their breakfast and Mara quickly washed the dishes and put them away. She followed Ryan out the door and the two got into their separate cars before leaving for school.

Walking into school Mara suddenly felt self-conscious at all of the eyes glued to her. She didn't feel as confident in her outfit choice anymore. She folded her arms in front of her and looked down at the floor as she made her way to her locker.

"What happened to you?"

She turned to see Demetri approaching her locker with Eli trailing behind him. Demetri looked her up and down raising an eyebrow at her outfit.

"I decided to change up my style a bit. I just wanted to try something new."

"Well, it is certainly working for you. You look hot. Don't you think Eli?" Demetri nudged his friend's shoulder.

"Y-yeah you look..really pretty."

Mara smiled at him. "Thanks Eli." She closed her locker after grabbing everything she needed and turned back to the two boys. "Eli and I have first period together so we'll see you later Demetri."

Demetri nodded, slowly walking backward and shooting them finger guns. "See you later my binary siblings." As soon as he was around the corner, Mara and Eli intertwined their fingers and set off to their first class.

Mara was now in Chemistry, a class she unfortunately didn't share with Eli or Demetri. But it was a class she shared with Moon and she hated it. The teacher was assigning lab partners today and Mara could only hope it was anyone but her ex-friend.

"Ok," Mr. Johnson called out "today I'm going to be assigning your lab partners for the rest of the semester, so when I call your name please take a seat next to said person." He pulled out his list and started to read the names. As more and more people got called and started to move Mara grew more nervous. Mr. Johnson hadn't called her name or Moon's yet. "And then we have Moon and Mara. Ha, you guys can call yourselves M&M!"

Moon laughed at Mr. Johnson's joke but Mara just put her head down and groaned. She heard the chair beside her screech as it was pulled out. From the corner of her eye, she saw Moon sit beside her sporting a hopeful smile. "Hey Mara. How has your day been so far?"

"Like you care."

"Look I know you hate me but I just want us to be friends again."

Mara turned and glared at the blonde. "Well sorry to tell you, but you can't get everything you want."

"I miss you Mars."

"Well you should have thought about that before you completely cut me off and started hanging out with the people who bullied me. And don't call me Mars. You lost that privilege the moment you started being friends with Yasmine."

"I-"

"Maybe I should throw your clothes in the trash, see how you like it. You had no problems doing it to me when it scored you points with the queen of bitches."

"Mara, I'm so-" Moon was cut off by the bell ringing. Mara didn't spare the girl a glance as she quickly packed her things and rushed out of the room to meet her friends for lunch. She didn't notice the blonde staring after her with tears in her eyes.

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Mara stood in the lunch line in the cafeteria. Demetri was in front of her and Eli was behind her. The three were in deep conversation as they passed through the line. As Mara grabbed her lunch she made sure to grab one chocolate pudding and one applesauce and Eli did the same.

The three sat down at their table and Mara immediately put her pudding cup on Eli's tray and Eli put his applesauce on hers. Demetri smiled at his friends. They did this every day. "Mara you have the weirdest obsession with apples."

"What can I say? They're the best fruit to exist."

Eli laughed as he took a bite of his pizza. It was no secret to the people that knew Mara that the girl was obsessed with all things apple. His mom even made sure to keep a stash of applesauce in his house for whenever Mara came over.

Mara scowled as she watched her brother walk into the cafeteria followed by Brucks and Kyler. They all crowded the vending machine and started hitting it so they could get free snacks. Idiots.

Mara tore her gaze away from her idiotic brother and started to eat her food. Of course she started with her applesauce, shoveling the snack into her mouth with little manners. Demetri stared at her in disgust. "Do you really have to eat it like that?"

Mara looked up at the boy and gave him a 'duh' look before continuing to shove the applesauce in her mouth.

"Is it cool if I sit here?" The trio looked up to see a tall, lanky Hispanic boy standing by their table. He must be new since Mara's never seen him around before.

Mara leaned closer to Eli and whispered "Is he talking to us?" She never stopped looking at the Hispanic boy as Eli leaned into her and whispered back "I think so."

"Sorry, tables really blowing up right now." Unsurprisingly Demetri was the one to answer. "I can put you on the waitlist but it's probably next semester at the earliest."

Mara and Eli giggled to each other at their friend's joke. The boy, however, clearly didn't know what sarcasm was since he cleared his throat and nodded before starting to walk away. "Ok."

Mara grabbed the boy's wrist and pulled him back. "No he's just kidding. Sit."

The boy nodded and sat down in the seat next to Mara. "Miguel" he introduced himself.

"Mara. This is Eli and Demetri." She pointed to each boy as she said their names.

"Eli's a man of few words." Demetri added noticing how the blonde boy avoided making eye contact with the newcomer.

Mara discretely reached under the table and grabbed Eli's hand. The boy gave her a grateful smile. It was normal for the two to hold hands. They did it all the time, when they walked each other to class, when the other was nervous, and even when they were just hanging out.

Their conversation was interrupted by Yasmine and Sam LaRusso walking past their table. Mara scowled as she watched Miguel's eyes follow their every move. Of course he would immediately feel drawn to a bitch like Yasmine. She didn't know Sam, but she could guess she was just like Yasmine and Moon.

"Dude don't torture yourself. Those are the rich girls." Demetri had also noticed how Miguel's stare lingered on the girls as they walked past. But he couldn't say he blamed him.

As if suddenly snapping out of a daze, Miguel looked back at Demetri. "Do you ever talk to them or-"

"Oh yeah! All the time. We hang out after school, make out, give each other hand jobs."

Mara furrowed her eyebrows at the boy's last statement. "Demetri, I don't think-"

"Eli here is the homecoming king. He gets laid more than anyone. Isn't that right Eli?"

Eli smiled at Demetri, amused by the boy's joke.

"Talk to them? You realize what table you're sitting at, right? You've pretty much signed away all hopes of losing your virginity before college."

Mara shook her head. "Nope, I have that on my before I finish high school to-do list." All three boys looked at her with shocked faces. She shrugged her shoulders talking a sip of her apple juice. "I don't know why you're surprised. A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do."

Eli smiled but as soon as he looked ahead his dropped. "Oh shit, Yasmine's looking at us. Probably just making fun of me."

"I don't think she's making fun of you. I mean just because they're hot doesn't mean they're mean."

"That's exactly what it means." Mara shook her head. Miguel was nice but he was oblivious. Mara looked over at Yasmine's table and noticed them laughing and staring at Eli. She made eye contact with Moon who was also laughing and glared at her. The blonde immediately stopped and looked down. She reached over and removed Eli's hand from his face. She held his hands in her lap to prevent him from covering the scar and rubbed small circles on the backs of his hands. The boy relaxed enjoying the comfort Mara gave him.

"I don't care if Yasmine is the meanest girl at school. I'd kill all three of you just to get her to spit in my face." Both Eli and Mara gave him disgusted looks but Demetri ignored the both of them.

Miguel's eyes suddenly lit up as if he just came up with a great idea. "If you don't make a move, you'll never have a shot with her."

"True, but I'll also never suffer a humiliating rejection. I'm at peace with my depression. The last thing I need to be is suicidal."

"Do I need to call someone Demi?"

"What? no."

"Depression is a serious thing and even if you say you're at peace with it, it never hurts to have some support. I'm always here for you."

"I was just joking!"

"It's ok. You don't have to lie to me."

The two were so stuck in their conversation they didn't notice that Miguel had stood up and started to make his way to Yasmine's table.

"What are you doing?" Demetri asked him.

"Striking first."

The trio watched as the boy got farther from their table. "Oh shit. Hope we don't get hit with the shrapnel."

"No we'll be fine. I'll just use you as a shield." Demetri look at Mara offended that she would even think about doing something like that. The girl just shrugged, taking another sip of her apple juice.

Miguel was almost to the table when Ryan, Brucks, and Kyler beat him there. Kyler wrapped his arm around Sam's shoulder and Mara scoffed. Of course she would go for a jerk-off like him. Kyler mockingly waved at Miguel who stood like a deer in the headlights in the middle of the cafeteria. Miguel shook his head and made his way back over to the trio. "See you later, Rhea," Brucks called after him. Mara noticed her brother watching Miguel walk away. He better not be planning to mess with him.

Miguel slumped back down in his seat, aggressively taking a sip of his drink. Mara patted the boy on the shoulder and gave him a smug smile. "So, how'd it go?"

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This is what Mara's outfit looked like. My girl's a baddie.

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