The two were classmates. The taller girl was Lily Chandler, and the shorter one was Erin Webb.
They were from Room 302 and didn't usually have much to do with them.
Caught red-handed bad-mouthing someone—and by Holly Winslow's good friend, no less—Lily Chandler and Erin Webb panicked for a moment before quickly filing out of the bathroom one after the other.
Iris Kensington rolled her eyes at their retreating backs, walked over to the sink, and grumbled indignantly while washing her hands, "Psychos. Our Holly didn't do anything to you..."
Anna Willow had just gotten her meal card from Brian Willow. She was holding three bottles of milk, ready to head upstairs, when she ran into a fuming Iris Kensington. "What's wrong? Someone hog the sink on you?"
People fighting over the sinks in the bathroom was a common occurrence.
"No, it was Lily Chandler and Erin Webb. They were bad-mouthing Holly, saying she's two-timing someone."
Iris Kensington's small, round face puffed up in anger, and she couldn't help but rant, "What is their problem? They're making our Holly sound like some kind of tramp."
Anna Willow was instantly on her side. A stream of curses flew from her lips. "Fuck, two-timing my ass! It's always the ugly ones who love to stir up trouble."
「In the classroom.」
Hearing the scrape of chairs, Holly Winslow looked up from her book at her two friends. "I put a bag of chips in each of your desks. Don't eat them during class."
Noticing that they both seemed a little angry, she asked, "What's wrong? Did something happen?"
Iris Kensington was about to say something, but she saw Anna Willow give her a look and quickly changed her tune. "Nothing."
She pulled the chips out of her desk. "Wow, Holly, you're the best! These are my favorite, and they're even barbecue flavor."
"There's more back in our room. You can have them all if you want." Holly Winslow used to love these chips, but she wasn't much of a fan anymore.
"Holly, you're the greatest! I love you so much!"
Iris Kensington leaned forward from her seat and kissed Holly Winslow's cheek. Holly didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Anna Willow passed out the milk, one bottle to each of them, and said smugly, "I went to get my meal card and ran into my brother right after he'd bought milk, so I just helped myself."
"Anna, if I were your brother, I'd disown you," Iris Kensington said, feeling a pang of pity for Brian Willow.
"Then don't drink it. I'll give yours to Holly. This is her favorite kind of milk, anyway."
Anna Willow pretended to take it back, and Iris Kensington quickly stuffed the bottle into her desk. "Anna, I take it back!"
"That's more like it." Anna Willow pouted and let out a "Hmph."
Just then, the bell rang, signaling the start of class.
「English Class.」
Anna Willow ducked her head down to scribble a note. When the teacher wasn't looking, she secretly passed it to Iris Kensington and then glanced over at Lily Chandler and Erin Webb.
Iris Kensington nodded, glanced at the teacher writing on the blackboard, then tossed the note to the student at the adjacent desk, whispering, "Lily Chandler."
Holly Winslow noticed their little scheme and reminded them, "Pay attention."
The two of them quickly nodded.
The note was passed from one student to the next until it finally reached Lily Chandler. It read: If you dare bad-mouth Holly Winslow again, you'll regret it! -A.W.
A flash of panic crossed Lily Chandler's face. She glanced toward Anna Willow, only to see Anna making a fist at her. Frightened, she quickly averted her gaze.
The whole class knew Anna Willow had a brother who was a senior. Once, when a girl in their class was bullying Anna, her brother came to their classroom and warned her off.
"Anna Willow! Who are you craning your neck to see? Why don't you tell your teacher who's so interesting to look at? I'll look with you! Let's see if you can stare a hole through them!" Clara Zane pushed up her black-framed glasses and slapped the lectern, exasperated.
Anna Willow ducked her head guiltily and said meekly, "Teacher, I was just borrowing a pen. Mine ran out of ink."
Iris Kensington immediately passed her a pen from behind.
Having been a teacher for over a decade, how could Clara Zane not see through their little tricks? Still, she decided to turn a blind eye.
She said curtly, "Just pay attention to the lesson."
With that, she resumed her lecture.
After class, Holly Winslow grabbed Anna Willow by the arm. "What's going on? Don't even think about lying, or our friendship is over."