Bubble Boy

The weeks passed slowly for Troy. His body healed, but his mind remained restless. Most of his time in the hospital was spent at Annie's bedside, the two of them talking for hours about everything and nothing. Their bond grew stronger, flirting, teasing, sharing quiet moments as they found comfort in each other's presence.

Annie was different now. The scars on her body were a permanent reminder of what had happened, but Troy never looked at her with pity, only admiration. She was still the same Annie to him, strong and stubborn, the girl who had stood by his side when no one else did.

Troy was released from the hospital first. His broken arm had healed, but his routine barely changed. Every day after school, he would visit Annie, sneaking in snacks and joking about hospital food. He told her stories about how Jackson and Carter had started teasing him more, how Kasey barely looked at him anymore, and how the Bubble Crew was starting to feel like an actual team.

Annie just laughed, shaking her head. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

Troy smirked. "Maybe a little."

She rolled her eyes, but there was warmth behind them.

Another few weeks passed, and finally, Annie was discharged.

Annie sat on the edge of her bed, staring at herself in the mirror. The scars stretched across her face and arms, twisting down her body like cruel reminders of the past. She touched them lightly, her fingers trailing over the rough texture.

Tomorrow, she had to return to school.

Her stomach twisted at the thought. She knew how people would look at her, whisper, stare, judge. She had been bullied before, but this was different. She wasn't the same girl anymore.

Her mother, standing in the doorway, watched her quietly before stepping inside. "You're thinking about tomorrow, aren't you?"

Annie didn't answer.

Her mother walked over and knelt beside her. "People are cruel, but they're also predictable. When they see something they don't understand, they stare. But if you give them something new to focus on, they forget."

Annie glanced at her. "What do you mean?"

A small smile tugged at her mother's lips. "You need a makeover. A badass one."

Annie frowned. "Mom..."

"No arguments," her mother interrupted. "If you change your look enough, people won't focus on the scars. They'll see someone new. Someone powerful."

Annie hesitated.

Her mother stood, hands on her hips. "You're not the same girl you were before. You survived. You fought. And you're going to walk into that school tomorrow looking like you own the place."

For the first time in weeks, Annie felt a spark of excitement.

"…Alright," she said. "Let's do it."

That night, Annie's mother worked her magic.

First, the hair. The frizzy, untamed green curls were styled into a bold, wild look, shorter on one side and longer on the other, sharp and deliberate. It made her look confident, like she was ready to take on the world.

Next, the glasses. Gone. Instead, her mother handed her a pair of stylish, sleek frames that made her eyes stand out.

Then, the clothes. No more oversized sweaters and long skirts. Instead, a black leather jacket, ripped jeans, and combat boots.

Her mother pierced her eyebrow and put more piercings in her ears.

When Annie looked in the mirror, she barely recognized herself.

She didn't look like a victim anymore.

She looked strong.

Her mother smiled. "Now, when you walk into that school, hold your head high. Own it."

Annie took a deep breath and nodded.

She was ready.

The next morning school started.

The moment Annie stepped onto the school grounds, the air shifted.

The usual morning buzz came to an abrupt halt as students turned their heads, eyes widening in disbelief. Whispers spread like wildfire, some hushed and awed, others sharp with jealousy or shock. No one recognized her at first, not the boys who used to ignore her, not the girls who used to mock her.

She walked with a confidence she never had before, her boots clicking against the pavement, her leather jacket draped over her shoulders like armor. The new hairstyle, the piercings, the sleek glasses, all of it screamed power, screamed transformation.

Then realization hit.

"It's Annie…"

"Wait, that's Annie?!"

"No way. There's no way..."

"Dude, she looks hot."

"I thought she was, like, some nerdy plant girl?"

"She was."

"She's not anymore."

A few girls scowled, whispering among themselves, jealousy clear in their eyes. Others looked on with a mix of confusion and admiration, unable to believe the girl they once dismissed had become someone untouchable.

Troy stood near his locker, casually chatting with Jackson and Carter, oblivious to the commotion at first. When he turned and saw her, the words died in his throat.

His mind struggled to process the sight before him. This wasn't the Annie he had known for years. The one who used to hide behind oversized sweaters, the one who always shrunk into the background. No, this Annie looked like she could break hearts and shatter expectations in a single breath.

She smirked when she saw his stunned expression.

"Morning, Troy," she said, her voice smooth but teasing.

Before he could even react, she leaned in and kissed him.

Gasps rippled through the hallway. A few guys muttered curses under their breath, realizing they had never even considered Annie before but now? Now she was the girl everyone was looking at.

Troy blinked, his brain catching up. His face burned, but he managed to smirk. "Well, uh… good morning to you too."

Annie just chuckled and walked past him, her confidence radiating as she made her way through the hallway.

Jackson whistled low. "Damn, dude. You sure she's the same girl?"

Carter shook his head, grinning. "I think we underestimated her."

Kasey, standing a few feet away, clenched her jaw. She wouldn't admit it, but jealousy burned inside her. Annie had been nothing before. A nobody. Now? Now she was all anyone could talk about.

Troy was still trying to process what had just happened when the bell rang, snapping him back to reality.

This was going to be an interesting day.

The cafeteria was buzzing.

Annie sat next to Troy at the Bubble Crew's usual table, casually picking at her food as conversations swirled around them. Everyone's eyes kept darting toward her, but she ignored them.

Jackson smirked. "So, Annie, what's with the new look? You trying to give the school a heart attack?"

Annie smirked back. "Maybe. Is it working?"

"Oh, definitely," Carter said, taking a sip of his drink. "People are losing their minds right now."

Emily, for once, was speechless, staring at Annie like she was seeing an entirely different person. "I gotta admit… I didn't think you had this in you."

Annie arched a brow. "Guess I like surprising people."

Troy still hadn't fully recovered. He kept stealing glances at her, still adjusting to this new Annie. Not just her looks, but her confidence. The way she carried herself. The way she wasn't afraid to own the room now.

Then there was Kasey.

She sat across from them, silent, her expression unreadable. But her posture was stiff, and she barely touched her food.

Annie noticed. She met Kasey's eyes for a moment, and something passed between them, something unspoken, but heavy.

Kasey looked away first.

The lunchroom continued to buzz, but for the first time, Annie didn't feel like a nobody anymore.

She felt like she belonged.