Naomi meets Stella

Naomi shifted her backpack to her other shoulder and stuck close to the lockers, trying to make her way to her classroom against the throngs of students filling the halls. She was nearly there when a head of blue hair caught her eye further down the hall. Chandler was saying goodbye to some of his friends, and about to head in her direction. Her tail bristled and she glanced side to side, hoping for an escape route. 

Just before he saw her, she was able to duck into the girl's room.

"Whew," she sighed to herself, leaning against the wall by the sinks and closing her eyes. On Friday, she'd worked up the courage to tell him that she had a crush on him, but rather than respond, he'd simply blinked at her like he didn't comprehend her words. She'd counted to thirty, but he still hadn't answered, so she'd apologized and ran from the classroom. It was Monday now, and despite a weekend of preparation, she still wasn't ready to hear him turn her down. His silence had been hard enough.

Naomi opened her eyes again and was surprised to see Stella watching her curiously as she washed her hands. Naomi had never spoken to Stella, as they were in very different social circles, but nearly everyone knew who she was. 

"Sorry," Naomi apologized awkwardly, turning to leave.

"For what?" Stella asked. 

Naomi stopped abruptly. "I... uh... I'm not sure. I just-"

"Needed a minute? It's alright, we all do it." Stella reached for some paper towels and dried off her hands. She was effortlessly pretty, and Naomi felt bland and frumpy in comparison. It surprised her that Stella was being so nice. "Hiding from someone?"

"Yeah," Naomi admitted, fiddling with the strap on her bag. "A boy I like."

Stella's eyes lit up. "Why are you hiding? Go out there and tell him that you like him!" 

Confused and defeated, Naomi sighed. "I did... he didn't say anything."

"Maybe you stunned him speechless. Some boys get that way when a pretty girl confesses her feelings."

Naomi's eyes flew up to meet Stella's. "Pretty? Me?" She'd never imagined that someone like Stella, who seemed to roll out of bed looking perfect, would call her pretty.

Chuckling, Stella confirmed, "Yes, you!" At Naomi's hesitance, Stella hiked up her backpack and started forward. "Come on, you. We're going to go get that boy." She hooked her arm around Naomi's and pulled her out of the bathroom.

Shocked and strangely excited, Naomi wondered it this might just be the start of a new friendship.