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Another day dawned upon Penelope, prompting her to get ready for the same old day of school. She quickly got dressed and got on the bus. Upon arriving at the school, she noticed a large crowd of students making a commotion nearby. She promised that she'd stay out of drama, but she had to see this. When she got into the middle of the crowd, she saw a girl with vitiligo being pushed around and bullied by two other kids while everyone else watched.
"C'mon, cowgirl! Show us your quirk!" The first kid teased, pushing the girl to the other kid.
"Yeah, blotches! Stop being a weirdo and show us already!" The second kid sneered, throwing her to the crowd, causing her to be harshly shoved to the ground with scars on her knees. The two kids who pushed her dumped out the contents of her bookbag and lunchbox on the ground.
One of them poured her entire bottle of tea on her head, threw the empty bottle at her face, and took her treats. They caused an even worse misdeed when they began to tear the pages from her beloved notebook full of countless stories and drawings she worked so hard on. Penelope had seen enough and decided to step in.
"Hey! Leave her alone!" She barked, rolling up her sleeves.
"And if we don't?" The first kid sneered, stepping up to her. Penelope took his wrist and twisted it until she heard a crack. The bully screamed and writhed in pain. She did the same to the second kid before helping the girl. She picked up her things and put them back where they belonged before handing over her bags.
"You okay?" She quizzed.
"Y-Yeah," The girl replied. "Thank you for saving me."
"No problem! Want me to walk you in?"
"Yes please.." The girl slung her bookbag over her back and walked out of the crowd with Penelope. Penelope gave a small growl from their insults.
"Dykes!" A voice from the crowd sneered.
"She had the nerve to save the cowgirl! What a desperate slut!" Another voice cackled. The girl whimpered and hid under her hood. Penelope gave a reassuring grin and put a gentle hand on her back, causing her to flinch.
"Don't listen to them. They're just insecure."
"What do they have to be insecure for? I'm the ugly cowgirl.."
"Don't say that! You're prettier than them by one-hundred thousand!" Penelope's words made the girl blush, and her face began to light up.
"You think I'm pretty?"
"Of course! I love how pretty your skin is. Your vitiligo makes you stand out from the rest, and I love it"
"That's the nicest thing someone besides my family has ever told me. Thank you so much!"
"Everyone deserves kindness, y'know."
"I'm Alice Landwonder."
"Penelope Hatter. Nice to meet you!"
"It's nice to meet you too!" The school bell rang, sending them to their classes. Alice and Penelope had the same classes, calling for an easy day for Alice until her last class, biology. She despised her class because of today's subject and the constant bullying from the rich girl, Bianca Durgess. Alice hid her head in her arms and sat nervously in her seat as class began to start.
"Today, we'll be learning about sexual reproduction," The teacher told, rearranging papers on his desk. Bianca gave a mean smirk and glared at Alice.
"Something cowgirl won't experience cos no one wants to fuck, let alone kiss her what with that disgusting disease that makes her look like a fat, ugly cow," She teased. Alice sunk into her seat more and some students laughed.
"I-It isn't a disease..," Alice squeaked.
"Bianca, go to the principal's office. I'll call your mother shortly," The teacher sighed.
"Fine. How could you stick up for that freak anyway?" Bianca scoffed, aggressively gathering her things.
"That's two detentions and Saturday school for you, young lady!"
"Whatever. It's not like I wanted to be here anyway." With an eye roll, she stormed out of the room. The teacher sighed and walked to Alice's desk. She looked up at him with doe eyes.
"Would you like to leave early? I'll let you go if you don't feel comfortable."
"I-I'd like to leave.."
"Alright. Pack your things, I'll call your brother so he can pick you up," The teacher said. Alice gathered her things and left the classroom. As she walked through the hall, she heard the insults and sneers of the students who dragged her name through glass-filled dirt behind her back.
"Oh, look, it's the cowgirl!" A student sneered.
"Wonder where her little slut girlfriend went," Another student teased.
"She probably got sick from that disease she's got!" One student mocked with a snicker. Alice clutched her books tight to her chest and kept walking. When she saw Bianca at the end of the hall, she looked down and walked faster, tripping over her foot and dropping her books.
"Oops. Looks like karma killed the freak," She teased with a wicked smile. Alice picked up her books, got up, and hit her on the nose as hard as she could with one of her books. Bianca stumbled and fell onto the ground. Alice looked down at her with anger.
"You stupid bitch! What is wrong with you!?" Bianca screeched.
"The only freak karma killed is you," Alice stated with a stern expression.
"No wonder everyone hates you. You'll always be nothing but a disgusting, ugly loser!"
"Save me the petty insults. You're not worth fighting anyway." With her last statement, Alice exited the building. She sat on the stairs and idled on her phone, waiting for her brother to pick her up. She perked up when a familiar voice sounded behind her.
"Hey, Alice! What's up?" Penelope asked, sitting next to her. Alice's face lit up when she saw her.
"Penelope!" She chirped, throwing herself at her to hug her.
"Hah, I missed you too! What're you doing out here?"
"Waiting for my brother to pick me up. Mr. Clawser let me go early cos Bianca made fun of me and I felt uncomfortable with the subject."
"Don't listen to her. Whatever sneer or insult she throws at you isn't true."
"Thanks. Wanna come to my place?"
"I'd love to! Maybe we could get boba later too." Penelope and Alice leaned in, almost seeming to kiss each other before the blare of the horn of a Jeep startled them.
"C'mon, Alice! Mum's waitin' for us!" Alice's brother, Charli called. Penelope took Alice's hand and got into the Jeep with her. As he drove back home, Charli talked with Alice and Penelope.
"Did you make a new friend today?" He queried.
"Mhm! She saved me from a crowd of bullies this morning. We have the same classes too," Alice inquired.
"Well, that's good! What's her name?"
"I'm Penelope Hatter." Penelope gave a soft grin.
"Nice to meet you! I'm Charli, Alice's brother. How'd you two meet?"
"I saw that she was being bullied, so I stepped in to save her before things got worse.
"I see. You've got a brave heart, kid." He looked back and gave a quick grin towards Penelope before looking back at the windshield and pulling into the driveway of his and Alice's home. He opened the car door to let them out and unlocked the door to the house, letting them in first.
"We're back, mum!" Charli called. Silence lingered in the air. "Huh, she must've gone out."
"In that case, anyone up for boba? Penelope suggested.
"Nah. Y'all can get some if you'd like. I had a long day," Charli said, plopping down onto the couch.
"More for us then!" Penelope chuckled, heading over to the front door with Alice and opening it.
"Stay safe, you two!" Charlie waved.
"We will!" Penelope waved back, heading out the door and walking down the street with Alice.
"I hope you don't mind me asking but, do you java a quirk?" Penelope questioned.
"Y-Yeah, but I don't usually use it," Alice answered.
"I see. Wanna see mine?"
"S-Sure." They came to a stop and faced each other. Penelope opened her hand and raised it to a sunray, summoning a yellow flame in her palm. Alice examined the dancing flame with a wide smile.
"It's so pretty! It's my favorite color too!"
"What a coincidence! Yellow's my favorite color too! Oh, and you can touch the flame, too! It's warm and fluffy like a blanket." Penelope held the flame close to Alice. Alice slowly reached ouch and touched it. She expected a hot, burning feeling but instead felt a warm, comforting feeling that almost seemed to draw her in.
"You were right. It's quite comfortable."
"It's good for keeping warm and retaining heat."
"Interesting! Let's go get boba before it gets dark." Alice and Penelope kept walking to the boba shop. Penelope put out her flame and put her hands into her pockets before texting her dad to let him know that she was out with her friend. They made it to the shop shortly. After they ordered, they sat at one of the outside tables.
"Are you from here?" Penelope asked, sipping at her matcha boba.
"I came from England. My family moved here when I was young," Alice replied, taking a small sip of strawberry boba.
"I could tell from your accent. How was your hometown?"
"It's popular cos of tourism. It's the unofficial gay capital of England, too!"
"How cool!"
"Mhm! By the way, I want to show you something at the park tonight."
"A surprise? I'm already interested! Are you sure your parents will let you go?"
"As long as I'm safe and with someone I trust, they let me do a lotta stuff so long as it isn't dangerous or involves drugs. You're the first and closest friend I've had, and I trust you enough to show you this surprise."
"Well, in the case, it's a date!" Penelope beamed.
"I've never been on a date before. I hope it goes well. I also have a confession to tell you tonight. I just hope you don't hate me for it."
"Don't worry! Whatever you tell me, I'll be okay with it."
"How about I take you back home? I'd hate for you to get in trouble for getting home late."
"Sure! Do you know your way back home?"
"Yeah, but I'll call Charli to come pick me up."
"Great! Shall we?" Penelope extended her hand to Alice who took it with a small grin and walked her home with her guidance. On the way, they talked about their interests and ambitions. Like Alice, she wanted to become a writer but her terrible stepmother always disapproved and put her down for it. Hopefully, her dad would be home to fix all of this, As she got closer and closer to her home, she began to feel nauseous. Alice took notice when she saw the troubled look on her face.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Just worried."
"Wanna go back to my place?"
"No, but thanks. I promise that I'll still make it to the park tonight." She gave her a small grin before going up the porch steps and entering her house. She sat on the couch and was about to start on her homework when her evil witch of a stepmother burst in and screeched her full name.
"Penelope Ainsley Hatter! Where have you been!?"
"I was at the boba shop with my friend. I thought dad already told you."
"Don't get smart with me, brat! Your father may treat you like a princess but you doesn't mean you can do it with me! You were supposed to do my hair hours ago! Now it looks like a bird's nest! Who's this friend you were with, anyway!?"
"Alice, the girl with vitiligo I go to school with."
"You hung out with that disgusting, diseased cowgirl!? No wonder no one likes you! That repulsive thing should be killed!" Her stepmother's hateful words struck anger into her heart. She shoved her binder aside and stormed up to her with flames in her eyes.
"Alice is not a repulsive thing. She's my only friend, and I won't allow you to spit on her name with poison. I'm seeing her later tonight, and you won't stop me."
"I forbid you from seeing that freak! As your mother, I know what's best!" Her stepmother raised her hand to strike her, but she grabbed her wrist with a tight, angry grip.
"You aren't my mother. You have no right to treat or talk to me like some weak slave. All you are is just some low-down whore who took advantage of my dad with your evil siren spell!" Penelope shivered from the flaming rage within her. Her stepmother pulled her hand back and hit her so hard, she fell onto the glass coffee table. Her stepmother looked down at her with a vile glare.
"If you even think of seeing that quirkless freak again, I'll kill you both." She stormed off, leaving her to bleed on the floor. Penelope used the fire she stored in her body to heal herself. She left a note on the kitchen table for her dad to read before finishing up her homework. After that, she used her bedsheets as a rope to climb out the window. She ran off to the park, hoping that she wasn't too late. She sighed in relief when she saw Alice sitting under a cherry blossom tree. She sat beside her, watching as she looked up at the star-filled sky.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Alice asked, turning to her with a small grin.
"Mhm! I've always been interested in the stars."
"Hah, same here!"
"Say, what surprise did you wanna show me?"
"Look up in the sky. Do you notice something missing?"
"Hm, I don't think so."
"It's the moon that's missing."
"Ahh, I see."
"Would you like to see my quirk?"
"If you're comfortable, go ahead!" Penelope gave her a small, comforting smile. Alice took a deep breath and closed her eyes. A white light surrounded her, and her arm began to tremble as she lifted the moon into the sky. Alice opened her eyes and turned to see Penelope's beaming smile.
"That was amazing!" She gushed.
"Thanks! That's not all, though! Ready for a light show?" She chirped with a wink. Penelope gave an excited nod and watched in awe at the sky. The stars floated down from the sky, spun around them, and flew in front of the moon to reflect off the light and make a mesmerizing light show. Penelope witnessed the event with a smile that shone brighter than the stars. Once it ended, she clapped and laughed with joy.
"Alice, that was beautiful!" She beamed, bringing her in for a hug. Alice blushed and returned the gesture with a light chuckle.
"It wasn't that good. It was only half my quirk," She giggled.
"Are you kidding? That was phenomenal! Your quirk is wonderful, and I'm so glad you showed me what you can do," She beamed, looking up at the night sky.
"Ever since we've met, I've been keeping something from you," Alice admitted.
"It's okay, you can show me," Penelope reassured. Alice took a deep breath before turning to her.
"Ever since you've saved me, you've helped me see the good in life. You taught me to be strong, and I can't express my gratitude enough. I thank you for giving me the best night of my life. I love you with so much of my heart and my being that none is left to protest," She professed, crying with joy. Penelope gave a gentle smile, taking her hand.
"I feel the exact same way," Penelope breathed.
"Y-You do?" Alice responded, stammering in surprise.
"Of course! Why wouldn't I? You're pretty, very easy to get along with, you have an amazing personality, and I don't see you any different because of your skin condition. I love you for you, and only you," She professed, looking deep into her lemon yellow eyes. Alice looked into Penelope's viper green eyes.
"Is this the part where we kiss?" Penelope playfully quizzed.
"Almost. I have one last thing to show you," Alice answered with a grin. She stood up from the ground and took off her coat, revealing her wings. They were the color of the sun with a tint the color of the dark purple, starry night sky. There were light yellow speckles on the purple part along with lines connected to some of them that looked like constellations. She also swept her hair back, revealing her pointed ears. Penelope gasped in joy and surprise.
"Alice, you're so adorable!" She gushed, cupping her cheeks in her hands and letting out a happy squeak. Alice chuckled with a smile.
"Alright, love. Now we can kiss," She cooed, leaning in, closing her eyes, and tenderly kissing Penelope on the lips. Penelope held her close, deepening the kiss under the moonlight. Though it was only a few seconds, to them, it felt like hours. Shortly, they broke up the kiss, laughing from the serotonin surging through them. After a bit, they sat back on the grass.
"Y'know, I'm gonna see my other dad when I move to Ireland over the break," Penelope said.
"I'm moving to Ireland, too!" Alice chirped. "Maybe on the plane, we could sit together!"
"I'm counting on it. My parents are gonna love you," Penelope grinned. Alice happily flapped her wings. Penelope smiled and wrapped an arm around her and kissed her cheek, prompting a blush from her. The two sat under the stars and spent time with each other until near midnight.
The next few weeks at school were mellow since they were now in a relationship and protected each other. Not only that, but Penelope's dad, Gale kicked out Penelope's rotten step-mother after seeing her mistreat Penelope. He even got to meet Alice in person. On the last day of school, Alice announced her class before they left.
"Are you sure about this, love?" Alice questioned.
"I'm positive, Stargirl," She reassured, adjusting her collar and kissing her cheek. "Go knock em' dead out there, babe. And if anyone tries to fuck you over or give you any problems, you know I've got your back."
"And you know you have mine. For now, and for always," She smiled, pecking her on the lips with a grin. The two shared a tender kiss before Alice went in to make her announcement with Penelope by her side. The teacher quickly hushed the class before speaking.
"Alice has come to make a special announcement before the summer break starts. Everyone please listen and be respectful of them. Don't make any rude comments," She clarified, stepping out of the way so Alice could make her announcement.
"What's this about? Losing your virginity? Oh, wait, you probably didn't cos no one wants to catch that weird skin disease you've got," Bianca sneered.
"If you don't wanna be turned into roast bitch, I advise you stay quiet," Penelope warned, summoning a flame in her hand.
"Bianca, be respectful or leave," The teacher stated. Bianca rolled her eyes and looked at the wall. Alice cleared her throat before speaking.
"Last year in March, I moved from Brighton expecting and hoping for a better life at school, but instead, I was treated with the same hate and disrespect I got from the kids at my old school, and all because of my vitiligo," She said.
"Yeah, because it's weird, and nobody wants to be around you because of it. That, and you're a quirkless freak," Bianca rudely teased.
"I have a quirk, I just haven't shown it because of rich, prissy, entitled people like you who bring down my self-esteem and pride low enough for me to be afraid to show it in fear of judgment," Alice stated.
"You've got a lotta nerve talking to me like that, cowgirl," Bianca growled, stepping up to Alice. Penelope got in between them, staring down at Bianca.
"Back off," She snarled, conjuring up a burning flame in her fist. Despite this, Bianca wasn't intimidated.
"Go on, do it. Burn me," Bianca challenged.
"I just might," Penelope retorted.
"Neither of us will fight you, Bianca. Penelope, it's okay," Alice said.
"Stop being so scared and fight me already!" Bianca demanded.
"She said she isn't gonna fight you. Now sit back down," Penelope stated. The teacher gave a warning glare, prompting Bianca to reluctantly go back to her seat with a groan. Penelope moved back beside her as Alice continued her speech.
"The point of this announcement is to tell you all that Penelope and I are moving to Ireland!" She chirped.
"Finally! Gods, it took you long enough to realize that no one here wants you or your weird disease," Biance chastised.
"That's it, I'm gonna slam her head into a wall!" Penelope snarled, stomping over to her, pausing when Alice stopped her.
"Penelope, don't. She just wants a reaction," She advised, putting a hand on her shoulder. She clenched her fist, calming the once-rising flame developing on her palm as she took a deep breath. She took Alice's hand with another deep breath.
"Is that all, girls?" The teacher inquired.
"Not quite. We'd also like to say goodbye to everyone. Even though our time here wasn't the best, there were some of you who were supportive of us despite what others said. For that, we thank you. However, to those who bullied us and treated us with the utmost disrespect and mistreatment, we may forget, and we may forgive, but karma won't. Have a good summer, everyone!" She gave a wide grin to the class as the bell finally rang. Everyone ran out from school to get home for the summer break. Alice and Penelope were the last to leave, but they didn't mind. They'd be spending their whole summer together, and everything was finally looking up.
They celebrated at Alice's house, complete with a pizza party and a movie night with some of the kids from school and some of their cousins. Over the next few weeks, Alice and Penelope along with their family packed for the trip to Ireland. They already bought their houses a few weeks ago. During the flight, Penelope and Alice sat together as they promised. They moved close together so they could see each other and hang out every day. On that starry, full-moon night, Penelope called Alice her Stargirl, spreading a pair of majestic wings she can call her own.