It happened in chemistry class. One spilled beaker, one too many sarcastic comments, and suddenly Jessica and Molly were both staring at Principal Carter, arms crossed.
"You're both on detention. One hour. Today." He said. "No complaints. And maybe try not to kill each other."
So they sat, in silence, in room 209. Jessica leaned back in her chair, tossing a pencil between her fingers. Molly sat ramrod straight, arms folded tightly.
"Awkward silence really suits you," Jessica said finally.
"You're not funny," Molly snapped.
"I'm hilarious. You're just emotionally repressed."
Molly glared at her. "You don't know anything about me."
Jessica tilted her head. "Try me."
A long beat of silence stretched between them. Then, without looking up, Molly muttered, "I wasn't supposed to be in that class today. I switched with Amy because she had cramps."
Jessica blinked. "Wow. Was that…honesty? From the royal throne?"
Molly rolled her eyes. "Shut up."
"You know, Jessica said, voice softer, "you don't always have to act like you're untouchable. People might actually like the real you."
Molly turned to face her. "And what if the real me doesn't like….who she really is?"
Jessica looked at her for a moment, surprised by the vulnerability. "Then maybe you should hang out with people who help you figure that out."
Their eyes locked - blue and grey, fire and storm - and something shifted in the space between them.
Not hate. Not yet friendship. But something new. Something dangerous.