FPE Impetus AU: Grading

*RUBY walks through the halls. She's hoping to meet a specific- *   RUBY: Riley?   *Riley Turns her head to see who spoke. *   Riley: Yes?   RUBY: Do you wanna study at my garage again? Petunia and Lizzy will be there though.   *Riley looks away for a moment. Does she really want to talk with those two. "They probably dislike me. RUBY will be there though. She wouldn't - No, why would she care about what others think of me. She'd probably ..." Riley thinks. Her mind trails off. *   Riley: Okay ... but on one condition. If they say ANYTHING negative about me, I'm never studying with you again.   RUBY: Okay. I guarantee it.     *Petunia is retrieving her things from her locker as she talks with Lizzy until -*   *A fox boy walks up to them. Petunia and Lizzy silence themselves and look at the fox, waiting to see what he does. * Happy Fox Boy: Hey ... do you know the cat guy? *The happy fox boy shows Petunia and Lizzy a phone. Kevina and Cubbie are on the home screen. * The other guy found this, but none of the guys on the phone are there, but you guys -   Lizzy: Yes, we know him. We don't know where he is. He didn't show up to school, and no, he won't respond to calls. Happy Fox Boy: *A frown appears on Reggie's face, a rare occurrence. * oh. sorry. *Happy Fox Boy hands the phone over to Lizzy. * Please return it to him if you see him.   *The Happy Fox Boy walks away. *   *Lizzy looks at the phone. "They should've never come to this school." Lizzy Thinks. *   Petunia: Hey? A-are you okay?   Lizzy: yeah. why wouldn't i be?   Petunia: you're crying.   *Lizzy puts her hand up to her eyes. Petunia's right. Lizzy feels tears drop from her eyes. "w-why didn't I -" Lizzy thinks. *   Riley: Are they seriously crying over that guy. He was a loser. They should be happ-   RUBY: RILEY!!!   *Petunia and Lizzy turn to look at Riley and RUBY. The girls with crowns are rather unpleased with Riley's words. They're looking directly into Riley's eyes. *   Riley: What? Why are you looking at me? I'm right. He-   *RUBY puts her hand over Riley's mouth and then stands in front of Riley, making sure to lower her voice. *   RUBY (Whispering): Are you trying to give them a reason to dislike you? Comments like those are why people don't like being -"   *RUBY notices Riley's eyes droop down in disappointment.  "Maybe I should-  No! I can't just let Riley get away with everything by looking sad." RUBY thinks. *   RUBY (Whispering): around you. Look Riley. I said that I would guarantee that they wouldn't say anything bad about you, right?   *Riley nods. *   RUBY (Whispering): Well, I can't do that if you make them hate you. I've made two promises to you. You've only made one so far. Can you make one more?   Riley (Whispering): yeah   RUBY (Whispering): Please ... don't say something like that again. At least ... not to them. And make sure to apologize. Not now. later. It'll look more genuine.   Riley (Whispering): okay   *RUBY turns around. Petunia and Lizzy are ... gone. RUBY stands completely still for a moment. *   RUBY: We're not studying today.   Riley: what? B-but i-   RUBY: RIL- *RUBY lowers the volume of her voice. * Riley. I ... I need to be alone. We ... We'll study tomorrow. Just give me your phone number and we'll set up a time.   *Riley gives RUBY her phone number. RUBY leaves the school. Riley stays at the steps. Alone. Once again. *