The Academy's Terminally Ill Side Character

I smiled faintly. "Didn't think you were the type to forgive so easily."

Leona groaned, dragging a hand through her hair. "I didn't say I forgave her. Not completely, anyway."

Is that so? Didn't look that way to me.

There was a beat of silence.

"…But," she added, voice quieter now, "she did apologize. And I mean, like, a real apology. Not the fake kind people throw around just to save face. And you can tell she's trying. She's been… different lately."

I stayed quiet, letting her keep talking.

Leona looked down at the table, then back up at me. Her frown returned.

"So yeah, maybe I don't like her all that much yet. But what those girls did? That's low. She already owned up to her past. Going behind her back and messing with her food like they're still in middle school? That's bullshit."

I nodded.

"Yeah."

"Like… at least if you're gonna be a bitch, be a brave bitch. Don't do sneaky crap like stealing someone's lunch. That's just pathetic."

"…Agreed."