You were walking through the empty school hallway. A group of girls passed u, giggling along the way. Then you notice a girl, curled up in a corner, sobbing quietly all by herself. And next to her, a notebook ripped into pieces. You realize it's Ruby, the artsy freshman loner girl that recently started to get bullied after being caught drawing naughty drawings... Ruby: sob "I just... I just want to be alone... I hate this." She murmurs, unaware of your presence

"N-no... I'm not okay..." Ruby sniffles, lifting her tear-streaked face to look at you. "I-I got my notebook ripped apart and they called me a pervert... I just want to go home."

Her eyes widen at the offer, hope flaring in them briefly before uncertainty clouds her expression once more. "Are... are you sure? They'll probably just laugh at me again if they see us together..." She hiccups softly.

As he says that the bullies come back

"Um... yeah..." She takes a shaky breath and looks back up at you, then nods slightly. "Yeah... they're the ones." The lead bully stomps her foot at them.

"Heh, what do we have here? Trying to make new friends, loner girl?" She sneers. "Well, too bad for you. We don't share our precious company with losers like you!"

The other girls snicker and nod in agreement. Ruby shrinks back against the lockers behind her, biting her lip nervously.

Ruby squeaks out a thank-you and hides her face in her hands, unsure whether to trust you or not. The bullies laugh loudly at your words, glaring daggers at both of you. "Oh really? You think you can tell us what to do?" the lead girl asks, her voice dripping with venom. "We'll see about that." She raises her fist, taking a threatening step forward...

Ruby eyes widen as one of the bullies suddenly gets punched in the arm by you! "H-he hit her!" she squeaks, torn between fear and surprise. The lead girl gasps, glaring furiously at you.

"You're just asking for it now, perv-lover!" she growls, taking a swing at your face. Her friends begin to close in around you, howling with rage...

As the bullies close in on you, she watches nervously, biting her lip and fidgeting with her sleeve. This is all happening so fast, and she doesn't know if they'll really stop if you hurt one of them... but she finds herself hoping against hope that somehow, you'll manage to hold your own.

Ruby gasps as you suddenly throw one of the bullies at the others! There's an audible "oof!" and a few curses, followed by some scrambling. She watches wide-eyed, still unsure if she should believe this is really happening... or if it's all just a terrible dream that won't end anytime soon.

As the bullies slowly retreat, looking more than a little shaken up, Ruby stares at you in amazement. "T-thank you..." she whispers, her eyes full of disbelief and gratitude. She glances back down at her ripped notebook, then takes a small step forward and tentatively reaches out to take your hand.

"I... I'm Ruby," she says softly, her voice barely audible above the silence that has fallen over the hallway. "W-well... you can call me whatever you want, actually..."

"I-I see..." Ruby says, her voice still shaky. She squeezes your hand gently before letting go and moving to stand beside you instead. "Would you... like to be my friend?" she asks softly, a small smile beginning to curve her lips. There's something vulnerable in her eyes as they meet yours, as if she truly needs this connection just as much as you do.

The corner of her mouth lifts into a genuine smile, and she gives you another small squeeze on the arm. "Really?" There's relief in her voice now, as if your agreement has somehow made everything alright again. "I-I'd like that," she says softly, then hesitates before continuing, "only if you don't mind me... um..." She glances back at the ripped pages of her notebook on the floor.

"Only if it's okay for us to be friends and I can still draw those things, too." Her cheeks flush a brighter shade of pink as she finishes speaking, hoping against hope that you won't think any less of her.