The next morning, Sophia was in the school bus with Emma Pearson. A lot of students were also there, glancing at them, but no one was speaking.

The weird silence didn’t seem to bother Sophia, and she was happily chatting with Emma, who was doing all she could to pretend not to notice the stares.

When the bus stopped in front of the school’s gate, a bunch of girls and boys were there in a group, holding signs.

The moment Sophia exited the bus, they all cheered for her, and Sophia frowned at the writing on the signs. School hero, power fighter, Sophia for the win. Strange signs, she thought, especially because she expected most students would hate her because of her speech at the end of the competition.

Then, a girl came close and explained, “We were all bullied by Eliza and her gang until you stopped them, and we all loved your speech yesterday. It was about time someone told a few things to all the cowards that didn’t help us! Including the Principal and the teachers! We had no idea Eliza’s parents were paying the Principal! How did you find out? Because he didn’t even deny it!”

“My father found out when he had a meeting with the Principal and Eliza’s parents. My father’s girlfriend got angry and called her father so that his lawyers could take care of that sold-out. I don’t know why he is still working at this school, but I know he is being watched.”

“My parents — I mean, all our parents — are coming today to talk with the Principal, and demand his resignation. Including the teachers who knew what was happening and didn’t do a thing.”

With a big smile, Sophia said, “That was about time! I was getting tired of being the only one fighting against all of them!”

The group of kids cheered for her and followed her inside the school. A school’s assistant was right after the gate and said, “Calm down, everyone! There is no need for so much noise! Get ready for classes!”

The group followed Sophia and Emma while whispering, still holding high the signs they brought.

When they entered the main building, Eliza and her two friends were there, seated on a bench. Sophia noticed that Emma had her eyes all red, and she was crying. Puzzled, she approached the bench and asked, while crossing her arms over her chest, “I see that things were a little rough at home for you. Or did someone bully you when you got here?”

“Why… why do you care?”

“I don’t care, actually, I was just asking. To me, you could die, and I wouldn’t lose any sleep. So, did your mom scold you or what?”

In tears, Eliza said, “She… grounded me… slapped me… said it was all my fault… I just did what she told me! To be the most popular girl… because popular girls win everything in schools…”

With a sigh, Sophia kneeled on the floor in front of the crying little girl, and while gently placing her hand over her knee, she said, “You know what wins everything in school? Kindness. You should talk with every kid you bullied and apologize. Keep apologizing until they see you regret what you have done to them. Don’t make up any lame excuse by saying it was your mother’s idea. Just be honest. And don’t you ever bully, mock, or insult anyone.”

While cleaning her tears, Eliza spoke in a low voice, “I… am sorry… for what I did to you… I just… wanted to be popular, and I thought… I thought I could do anything because kids were always following me around because I am pretty…”

“Dumbass, I told you no excuses! Just apologize! Geez, do I need to hit you for you to learn?”

Eliza looked up and saw that Sophia was smiling at her while threatening to punch her head. Eliza smiled back and said, “I am really sorry, Sophia.”

“See? That was not that hard, was it? Now you know what to do, right? And if someone starts to bully you for a while, you know you deserve it. But if the bullying is too much, call me, and I will put some sense into whoever bullies you. I hate bullies.”

“Thanks…”

Sophia gently tapped Eliza’s knee and got up, going with Emma and the group of kids who were still following her to their classroom.

…

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By lunchtime, there were a bunch of talks in the corridors. Kids were saying that Eliza Francis and her two friends were apologizing to every student they bullied and receiving some well-deserved face slaps, and even with those reactions from the students who didn’t forgive them, they were still doing it and getting more slaps.

Sophia was walking in the main corridor with Emma, going to the school’s cafeteria, and then a girl came to them and asked, “You heard what happened? A bunch of parents had a meeting with the Principal this morning, and they forced him to resign! They even threatened to call the police and the newspapers! And they also scolded a few teachers!”

“Finally! I thought that guy would never quit! Now what? We will get a new Principal?”

“My mother said the Education Department is going to choose another one, maybe a teacher from this school, one who was not involved in all the mess and tried to point out to the Principal what was happening. Or maybe one from another school; she wasn’t sure.”

With a grin, Sophia said, “I guess my speech was not a waste of time after all. I think this deserves a celebration. I wonder if they sell cakes in the cafeteria?”

“They have slices of cake!”

“Cool! I am going to buy a bunch of slices so that we can celebrate this happy occasion! Our rotten Principal is going away! And he is already late! Hahaha!”

The moment Sophia and Emma entered the cafeteria, it was a mess. Students got up from their tables and started to clap and cheer for her, except for a few students, who Sophia knew were the students who were always laughing and encouraging Eliza when she was bullying someone.

She bowed, smiled left and right, and showed a fist to the students who were in silence, staring at her and making them avert their eyes.

…

When school ended, Sophia and Emma went out the gate, and a familiar boy was there, waiting for them while leaning on the wall. “Hi there, gorgeous! Do you mind if I escort you home?”

“What the heck are you doing here, moron? You want another beating?” asked Sophia with a frown.

Eric Bates approached her, gently caressed Sophia’s forehead, and said, “Pretty girls shouldn’t frown so much. You will get early wrinkles. Not that a few wrinkles will ever make you less pretty!”

Sophia slapped away that cheeky hand and said, “Get off me! What are you doing here?”

“Waiting for you, of course. You never introduced yourself, and I don’t know if you have a boyfriend, so I thought I should ask. Do you have a boyfriend? And if not, are you looking for one?”

“I don’t have a boyfriend, and I am not looking for one. I am too young for that, and I have too many things to worry about besides dating.”

With a smile, Eric said, “Cool! Then I want to apply! I can wait for as long as you need. Years, even. What about when we are sixteen? Or twenty?”

“What about never, moron? Go away! I don’t have time to waste with some random kid who got obsessed with me! I didn’t punch you that hard for you to go this nuts!”

“I am not obsessed, but I think I have fallen in love with you. You are absurdly beautiful, you have a strong character, and you are very competitive and kind. Did I forget something?” Eric asked while looking at Emma, making her smile and say, “No, that is about right. Also, friendly and a bit nuts sometimes.”

While slightly punching her friend’s shoulder, Sophia complained, “Hey! Whose side are you anyway? Why are you even answering this guy? He might be a psycho or a pervert! Who in his right mind would wait for a girl outside her school?”

While pointing to a couple on the other side of the street, Eric answered, “One who was waiting for the girl he likes? Like that guy?”

“Yeah, a weirdo like you. Shoo, go away!”

“So, I can’t escort you home, is that it?”

“Of course not! Why would I want you to know where I live? I don’t know you!”

With an enormous smile, Eric said, “That is easily fixed. Why don’t we all go to a teahouse to have a snack? My treat. That way, I can tell you more about me, and you can also tell me more about you.”

Sophia was frowning, and Emma said, “Your father is not coming to get you, right? So, we have time. We can go with him and catch the next bus.”

“We were supposed to go to the gym, remember? My father and Mia are going there as well, and I want to punch that rich brat’s face.”

With a puzzled look, Eric asked, “That Mia was your coach yesterday, right? I heard a few people talking about her. You often fight her?”

“Whenever someone annoys me, yes. And right now, you are annoying the heck out of me!” Sophia then faced the laughing Emma and warned her, “And you shut up! You are finding this way too funny for my taste!”

While grabbing Sophia’s and Eric’s arms, Emma said as she forced them to walk with her, “Oh, what is your problem anyway? You are blushing too much, my dear Sophia! Did this cute boy make your heart race or what? You need a boyfriend to calm down, and if he is offering to fill the spot, you might as well try it! Who knows? You might fall in love with him and marry him a few years from now! Oh! I want to be a bride’s maid! And wear a yellow dress! I am not wearing a weird colour like peach or salmon! It has to be yellow!”

“Shut up! Why are you talking about marriage and dresses?” asked Sophia with her face all red, making Eric wink at the laughing Emma Pearson.