"No," Taylor said, casually putting her bookbag on the empty seat.

Kira looked, stunned by the sudden rejection, then went to go sit with her brother a few tables over. Of the many things they could've talked about, all Kira could do was question why her best friend would snub her like that.

"Maybe she's just a bitch," Kieran offered before taking another bite of mac n cheese. "That's the general consensus around school."

"She's not a bitch," Kira grumbled. "She's just mad about something."

"I'm mad at Timmy every day, but I don't treat him like shit. Maybe you need a friend who can handle their emotions better."

Kira shrugged it off, but by the third day of Taylor completely blowing her off, her demeanor was starting to falter.

"I still haven't figured out what I did to her," Kira lamented.

"Listen, I love you and all, but I can't drown in Taylor Talk while I'm trying to eat. I don't want to barf all over the place."

"Maybe she's just playing a prank on you," Timmy offered.

Kieran made a face. "See? I'm mad at him right now for that ridiculous tidbit of information, but I still treat Timmy with respect."

"I guess so," Kira grumbled into her chicken pot pie.

Two weeks into Taylor's cruel prank, Kira decided to try to talk to her. Her opportunity came in science class when they had to pick partners. Kira sat with Taylor purposely, though Taylor ignored her, and they were paired up. Taylor rolled her eyes and got out the textbooks and the crayons.

"Can we talk?" Kira had asked a few minutes into the experiment.

"No."

"Why not? What did I do?"

"God, you're so clingy. Let's just get this stupid thing over with," Taylor hissed.

"What did I do for you to act like this?"

Taylor just rolled her eyes and kept coloring grey clouds. Kira couldn't stand it anymore.

"I didn't do anything to you, and you just started treating me this way. Why? What could I possibly do to deserve this!"

"You are such a baby! Go play with dolls and color in coloring books."

"Fuck you!"

"Kira James!" Mrs. Klifelt said as she had migrated over to the commotion.

"You're a fucking baby," Taylor said coldly. "I outgrew you. Move on."

Instinctively, Kira picked up the science textbook that they had been using and smacked Taylor in the face with it. She was sent to the principal's office. As she walked with the hall monitor, holding her breath to keep the hot angry tears from falling, she murmured softly to herself, "I'm not a baby. I'm not a baby", though she couldn't help but wonder if Taylor was really right about her.