I no longer considered school to be hideous. No one was actively bullying me. The mean girls continued emulating my style and trying to get close to me. The bad girls avoided me, although I caught a few of them glancing warily at my little bodyguard. The boys were back to pestering me once they realized that neither Biscuit nor DeMarcos were interested in me. Bill thought it was hilarious anytime some kid began to awkwardly flirt—that was until a little freshman girl started ...