It's What's On The Inside That Counts [FireBlaze]

He led her confidently onward, protecting her from the stares and whispers as best he could. "you know, if these people knew how strong you were, they wouldn't dare say anything."

She trembled in his grasp and looked away hesitantly.

"Yes, I think I do," he gripped her tighter so she couldn't push him away. "I'm going with you to the library whether you like it or not," he said lowly.

She tensed and hesitantly tried to push him away, tears in her eyes, "You don't have to" She whimpered and sniffled.

Cocoa glared at the one who said the cruel words, though he didn't stop. He ran until he was at her side, walking beside her. "Here, walk with me," he murmured and drooped his foreleg around her to hold her closer to him.

Sola hadn't gone to the library, she went to the cafeteria, her ears drooping more as she heard comments directed toward her, "Hey! Look! It's Sola! The big fat whale!" One of Sola's bullies yelled and laughed.

"Ill do my best, I really do like her," he assured him and turned to go, waving as he left and chased down the hallway towards her, shouting her name to get her attention.

He sighed, "Go after her, she needs the comfort I can't give anymore, maybe you can do it, but believe me, if I hear you've made her upset I'll find you" He huffed, folding his arms over his chest, "She just didn't want to drag anyone else into what she's in" He said quietly.

He stared at him, shocked. "I'm sorry, I didn't know..." he tried explaining but gave up. "I didn't mean to..."

"Because I've been with her through everything" He snapped and stood, "She can't ask her parents to stop smoking around her because if she asks, she gets beat, if she does something that don't like, she gets beat, everything else, she gets yelled at, school used to be her own little place where she was safe, but now look, just because she doesn't meet some bitches standards she gets out down" His voice began rising.

He glared back at her friend. "And what the hell would you know about that, huh?"

Sola flinched and stepped back slightly, just the tone set her off and she walked past him, her head low, "Moron, she's trying to save you from feeling how she feels every blasted day of her life" He friend snapped, his ears back and glaring at Cocoa.

He narrowed his eyes at her. "Look, if you don't want me to go with you just say so, alright?" The words came out more sharply and he had intended.

"I guess" She mumbled and grabbed her things, "Though you might get made fun of for being around me" She sighed.

"Can I come with you?" he asked.

"Well... It's my usual time to head to the library.." Sola murmured and stood, she normally left some classes early to go to the library.

He stepped back at their reaction. "Oh, uh, sorry to hear that," he said awkwardly, scared he had offended the pretty girl. He was pretty sure he liked her.

Her friend suddenly frowned and Sola's mood seemed to drop drastically, "I've tried, it doesn't work" She murmured.

He winced at the list of reasons. "Don't worry, you look great. Have you ever asked your parents to not smoke inside?"

"Uhh yeah... I have athsma and lugging all this weight around doesn't help" She murmured softly, running a hand through her hair, "And all the smoking around the house doesn't help" She huffed.

"Awesome," he replied, nodding to her and her friend. Suddenly he thought of something, and he asked as carefully as he could, "I noticed you seemed really out of breath when you finished."

"Well... We did just do the most important scene for the main characters so... I guess we are the leads" She chuckled.

"He's right," he affirmed. "That means you'll both get a spot in the play then, I presume?"

"Really?" She asked, "I'm not as good as the others" She shrugged, getting her shoulder smacked by her friend, "Gurl, you're the best" He laughed.

He waved a friendly wave to Sola's friend, and turned his attention to Sola. "Yup, but that's not important. What you just did was amazing!"