M O M O .
The thoughtful.
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Dawn had spread her fingertips overhead, sending streaks of pink into the skies of gray. Momo looked up and sighed quietly, relishing the last of night's cold darkness. She had not returned home that night, wandering the town aimlessly. She was in the city, in a snug, closed-off alley. Her face felt dirty with dried tears, and she was still hiccuping slightly. Momo looked down at her phone and read the time ;; 6:37 am. Sighing to herself, she opted that it was time she was heading home. She had school today, after all. She didn't want to be late..
The teen did not remember much of the walk back to her house. Her mind was completely at blank, focusing on no thought in particular. Her feet, however, seemed to know exactly where they were going, as before long she found herself walking into her apartment door. Ryuu was fast asleep on the couch, and Momo was sure not to disturb him as she silently closed the door behind her. She knew how her friend could get if she woke him too early..
Ryuu, however, had seemed to already be awake. For as soon as the door closed behind her, his eyes opened. Rubbing them momentarily he lifted his head, the part in his hair slightly askew from sleep. "Hey Mome.." he mumbled, pausing to yawn. "Where were you last night? I waited up for you."
"Oh, nowhere in particular." she lied, her voice masked with fake casuality. "Are you coming to school today?"
"Nah," Ryuu said, shaking his head. "I went three days last week. I can skip a day.." Momo sighed quietly to herself, before shaking her head and heading to her room to get ready.
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8:12 am.
Momo read the time on her phone and growled, turning around and checking herself in the mirror one last time. She had less than 20 minutes to get to school or else she'd have detention. Again. The teen grabbed her Gears of War shoulderbag and slung it over her shoulder, snatched up her phone, and was quick to leave her room. Ryuu was still sound asleep on the couch where she had left him. Flashing him a slight half-smile, Momo power-walked past him and left the apartment, closing the door gently behind her.
Momo was at her school within 10 minutes flat. She pushed past the kids crowding the hallway, her small frame being crushed between them. Heading for her locker she halted, pausing her music to unlock her locker. 13, 9, 23. Within a moment or so, she heard the click and pulled the handle, the locker opening before her. There wasn't much in there. Just a few textbooks, but mostly band posters. Momo put her shoulder bag in her locker, reaching up to grab her Science textbook - the subject she had first period.
Laughter made her freeze in her tracks. She knew those laughs all-too well. Footsteps were heard behind her and she swallowed, lifting her chin but not looking at any of the four teens in the eye. Someone shoved her to the side and she gasped, while another slammed her locker door closed. "Hey Momo." One of them sneered, putting his arm around her shoulder. "How's it been going?" Grimacing, Momo pushed his arm off and walked back to her locker, trying to re-do her combination. However, another one of the guys turned her on her heels and pinned her against her locker. "When Jacob talks to you, you listen." He snarled, his stinking breath making her gag slightly.
"Or else what, big boy?" she retorted. "What are you -" she jabbed him in his burly chest, while her emerald gaze raked over the other three, "Or any of you, going to do if I don't?"
"Then we just might have to teach you a lesson.." Jacob snarled through gritted teeth, and all four teens in-time stepped towards her. Momo, however, was quick on her feet, and she whirled around. A blonde cheerleader was in her way, and in a flash Momo punched her in the face. The cheerleader reared back and clutched her nose, screaming that Momo had attacked her. Jacob, however, pulled Momo's arms behind her, leaving her chest open. The other girl - a brunette with a big nose - began to slam her in the stomach. Momo felt the wind being knocked out of her but she gritted her teeth, rearing out and kicking at the other girl. The burly black teen punched her in the face, and Momo slunk to the floor with a gasp. She touched over her bottom lip and winced, feeling blood beginning to well at the fresh wound. Looking up, all four teens loomed over her, sneering and jeering at her. Momo narrowed her eyes and snarled at them, but she knew that she was badly outnumbered..