First Day of School (Final)

--- Maya ---

(Okay, this is starting to go too far! I’m supposed to be the reckless one!) She complained, not even hesitating to back Ying up.

“Salvador.” Her usually more responsible friend called.

The bullying brunette turned to face them before scoffing. “Zhang.”

“Somehow I find myself surprised to find you harassing someone on the first day of school.” Ying practically growled, despite her voice taking on that haughty tone she used whenever she was stuck dealing with the other rich kids in the school.

Nyssa rolled her eyes. “Please Zhang, just because you saw… potential in your little hood rat,” (Bitch did not!) “doesn’t mean all of them deserve their place in this school.”

“True not everyone deserves their place in this school.” Ying admitted with some (false) sympathy. “After all Miss Sader earned her place by being a straight A student, where as your father bought your place here.”

(Ooh, burn!) Her inner passion cheered.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” Nyssa scoffed. “Just because I’m not an overachiever, who’s only good quality is her grades, doesn’t make me an idiot Zhang. I just take the time focus on more worthwhile pursuits.”

“Like your fashion blog?” Ying queried.

(Ooh, Ying is on fire today!)

(Yes, well as interesting as this is, shouldn’t we be more focused on the victim of the situation?) Her inner logic pointed out.

Maya’s eyes drifted to the girl Nyssa had been bullying before nodding to herself. (We should.)

Careful sidestepping Ying’s verbal duel with (the rich bitch) and moved to help the girl –(Sader)- who froze as Maya drew near.

“Don’t worry, I’m just trying to help.” She whispered to try and avoid drawing the attention Nyssa’s hangers-on. “Let’s get your stuff together and go while they’re distracted.”

The girl glanced at Ying and Nyssa before turning back to Maya and nodding as she collected her cards. “Thank you.”

“It’s no problem.” She assured the timid girl, as she helped gather the cards together. “Alright, got everything?”

Sader nodded again as she held the cards to her chest.

“Good, then let’s get moving.” She told the other girl as she helped her to her feet.

Once they were far enough away that Nyssa wouldn’t be able to bother them without actively following them –(something that’ll hurt her more than us in this situation)- she waved to catch Ying’s attention.

Noticing her and Sader, as well as how close they were to the cafeteria exit, Ying gave her a subtle nod before turning her attention back to Nyssa for one last parting shot. “I’d consider continuing this duel of wits Miss Salvador, but it is becoming woefully apparent just how unarmed you truly are.”

(Ye-es Ying!) Her inner passion cackled as she helped Sader through the exit. (Make it hurt, so good!)

(I kindly ask that you do not talk like that any further.)

(Yeah, that was kind of creepy…)

“Thank you.” Sader told her, drawing her attention away from her own madness.

“Oh, like I said, it’s no problem.” She assured the other girl once more, before realizing she didn’t actually know Sader’s first name. “Uh, I’m Maya Williams, it’s nice to meet you.”

“Aisha Sader…” Aisha returned with a timid smile. “And uh, we have math together.”

“Oh, well.” She blinked awkwardly. (So that’s how Ying knew her name.) “Well, welcome to the school!”

“We had it together last year too…” The other girl trailed off with a grimace.

(Abort, abort!)

Her eyes darted to the cafeteria doors, where she was wondering (where the fuck is Ying?!) before darting to the cards in Aisha’s arms. “Uh, what card game were you playing?”

“Oh, um, Deviant’s Masquerade…” The other girl told her. “I’ve um, I’ve got this thing after school and I, uh, I wanted to have my cards together for it.”

“Okay…” Maya nodded, figuring the girl was probably embarrassed about playing a ‘nerd game’ due to Nyssa’s bullying. (Luckily I am queen of the nerds.) “Arcane or M.A.D.?”

“Huh?” Aisha blinked.

“Well, I mean you could play Psychics -if you like being a cheating cheater- but you honestly seem a bit squeamish for Deadmen, and no one sane plays a Madness deck.” She continued as if the girl hadn’t said anything.

“What about Wonderlander Decks?” The girl asked cautiously. “They, um, they don’t have as many draw backs…”

“Sure, their minions are viable, but their skill cards still use a ton of gambles and Psychics are better at card scouting.” Maya argued dismissively.

“Maybe, but madness cards are good at limiting enemy options or opening new ones, since they have so many draw and discard effects.” Aisha pointed out.

“Some of which cost you your own cards or give them to your opponent.” She reminded. “Clearly if you want a minion deck M.A.D. is better.”

“If you want to waste all of your resources on your gear cards.” Aisha scoffed. “What’s more their skill cards are crap outside of a few cheap heals.”

“But our Op cards make up for that!” Maya argued. “And clearly reusable resources are superior to a bunch of one-shot skill cards.”

“Which is why Wonderlander builds are the best Madness decks.” Aisha agreed with some satisfaction.

She let out a snort of amusement. “That wasn’t the argument.”

“Perhaps not, though it was an entertaining one all the same.” Ying comment- (Wait, what?)

“Ying!” She jumped. “When did you get here?!”

“Somewhere around the debate on the merits of Madness.” Ying admitted with an odd look between fondness and a grimace.

(See even Ying agrees Madness decks are shit!)

(You do remember that Ying doesn’t play Deviant’s Masquerade, in any of its forms?)

(Oh, right her mother’s a bitch.)

(Quite.)

“It’s was no trouble.” Ying said, Aisha apparently having given her an apology while Maya had been distracted by her own insanity.

(Yeah, you’ve got to work on that.)

(Shut up.)

“Still, I had been hoping such drama would’ve held off for the first week of school at the very least.” Ying continued with a sigh.

“Sorry.” Aisha apologized.

“No.” Ying told her firmly. “Salvador was the one who ruined my day not you.”

“Yeah, it’s not your fault Nyssa’s a bitch.” Maya agreed with a nod. “In fact, if she’s gives you anymore trouble you just find me, or Ying and we’ll run her off.”

“Nice of you to say,” Ying smiled in that way that said she was about to deliver some bad news, “but unfortunately I believe she’s the type of bully to only attack when her witnesses are the only ones present.”

“Yeah, that’s why the teachers didn’t stop her last year. She had a bunch of witnesses and I didn’t.” Aisha confirmed sadly.

“Well… you’ve got two witnesses now.” Maya pointed out.

“True but despite getting better grades, the Salvador family and friends are a little higher up in oligarchy than us combined.” Ying explained with no small amount of bitterness.

“Then… that just means we’ll have to stick around and make sure she doesn’t bother you.” Maya decided. (After all that’s what a hero should do, isn’t it?)

Ying smirked. “I suppose that is the easiest solution isn’t it?”

Aisha blinked, before rushing to tell them that, “you two don’t have to do that!”

“Mm, too late.” Ying told her. “I’ve found that my friends tend to be annoyingly stubborn when they set their minds to this kind of thing. I’ve also found that’s it significantly easier to just run with their madness.” Ying paused and smirked. “Literally at times.”

“Yeah, what she said.” Maya nodded. “I’ve decided we’re going to be friends, so we’re going to be friends.”

“Um, don’t I get a say in this?” Aisha asked.

“No.”

“Don’t worry the Stockholm syndrome sets in surprisingly quickly.” Ying assured the other girl.