Solar and Fawn part 3

Bullying at school One afternoon in the school hallway, a group of popular, loud students surrounded Solar, snickering. A particularly cruel boy, one who had a history of making snide comments, purposefully used her old name, loud enough for others to hear. Solar's face became a mask of stone, his deep red hair hiding his expression as he stared down at his combat boots. He took a slow breath, bracing himself for the wave of hurt he knew would follow. That's when Fawn arrived, her soft floral dress and gentle demeanor belying the fire in her eyes. "Excuse me," she said, her voice clear and steady, cutting through the snickering. "Solar has a name, and it's not that." The boy sneered. "What's it to you, Fawn?" "It's about respect," she continued, her voice gaining strength. "You can't go around disrespecting people like that." She moved closer to Solar, taking his hand in hers and wrapping his arm around her. Her warmth was a silent shield. "You should go…," Solar mumbled, not wanting her to be drawn into his misery. "No," Fawn said firmly, holding his hand tighter. "I'm not going anywhere. If you want to talk to him, you'll have to go through me." Her unwavering defense caused the bully's bravado to crumble, and the group eventually dispersed with a final, muttered insult. Later, hidden away in a quiet corner of the library, Fawn turned to Solar. He was trembling slightly, the stoic mask finally cracking. Tears welled in his eyes as Fawn pulled him into a hug. "You didn't have to do that," he whispered into her shoulder. "Yes, I did," she replied, her voice muffled against his gothic attire. "You stand up for me, and I stand up for you. That's what we do."