“So, Ms Dazzle… you wanted to talk to me about Sonata?” the principal asked.

“Yes, Ms Thire,” Adagio smiled, sitting down in the chair in front of the principal’s desk, “Sonata has been rather troubled by a lot of bullying here. From both the students and the teachers.”

“I see,” said the principal, sighing, “She’s come to me a few times, actually. However, lately, she hasn’t come to report anything.”

“She thinks that the staff here don’t care about her,” Adagio said softly, “And that nothing has been done about the harassment.”

“We do try everything we can,” said Ms. Thire, placing her pen down, “We give troublemakers detention, suspensions, and everyone has their hands full as it is. I’m not saying it’s right, but unfortunately there isn’t always a lot we can do.”

Adagio wasn’t satisfied, “How are the students encouraged to deal with this kind of bullying?”

“Usually, they’re told to ignore the bullies.”

“Now, I know for a fact that that never works,” Adagio said, her eyes narrowing, “Does the school at least have some place where bullied students can go to be safe?”

“Yes,” Principal Thire nodded, “Adjacent to the guidance counselor’s office, there’s a room we call the Safety Retreat. Every day after school or during lunch hour, students who are subject to bullying of some sort tend to go there to talk with one another. It’s kind of like an AA meeting of sorts. The guidance counselor runs it.”

Adagio, while unsatisfied by the bandaid solution, understood that there was in fact very little a school could actually do without angry parents threatening to sue. Sighing, she stood up.

“I would hope to see something done to help Sonata specifically. She’s been talking about-” Adagio was cut off when she heard the sound of metal slamming and turned her head to the door, “...Excuse me.”

She strode out of the principal’s office and down the hall toward the sound, turning left to find two girls grinning as they held Sonata against a locker.

“What’s wrong, Sonata? We thought you liked this kind of thing,” one of the girls sneered.

Sonata struggled, looking very much afraid, “N-No! Please! Let me go!”

Adagio pursed her lips and strode down the hall, stepping lightly so her footsteps were not heard. Positioning herself behind the girls, she loudly cleared her throat.

Both girls whirled around, wide-eyed. Given the looks on their faces, they were clearly a little intimidated. Sonata meanwhile breathed heavily, before getting out of the line of fire and standing a few feet away. The girls made a motion to run, but Adagio’s hand whipped out and grabbed them both by the shirts, pushing them both against the locker.

“What’s going on here?” she asked softly, her eyes narrowed as she lifted them off the floor.

“W-We were just… just…” One of the girls stammered, shaking.

“Be honest with me,” Adagio said firmly, “Or I’ll hurt you.”

“We just wanted to have fun with her!” The other girl cried, “She’s a lesbian and likes that kind of thing!”

Adagio cocked an eyebrow and lifted them a little higher, “And by fun you mean…?” she asked, less of a question and more of a leading statement.

“Y-You know… sex stuff…” One of the girls gulped.

Adagio looked over to Sonata and took note of how Sonata was on the verge of tears, “She doesn’t look all too happy about that, does she?”

“...No?” Said the other girl, shaking a bit more.

“We thought she did… That she was playing hard to get…” The first girl gulped again.

“Bullshit,” Adagio glared, giving the first girl a shake and smacking her back against the locker, “Let’s try that again, shall we?”

“L-Let us go… please! We promise we won’t touch her again!” The first girl cried, cringing in pain.

“You see, I don’t believe you,” Adagio glared, “I think that the minute I leave, you’re going to go right back to it. Aren’t I right?”

“No!” Said the other girl, shaking her head wildly.

“Sona, what were they doing?” Adagio asked, looking to Sonata with a smile on her face.

Sonata shook a bit, but managed to speak, “They were… trying to molest me. They thought since I was a lesbian, I’d find that hot… b-but, I didn’t like it!”

Adagio glared back at the girls and lowered them to the floor. The girls breathed a sigh of relief before Adagio’s hands shot down, grabbed their skirts and ripped them clean off their waists.

“Go back to class, the both of you,” she said in a hiss.

Not at all protesting, the two girls ran away down the hall. Once they were gone, Sonata immediately rushed to Adagio and threw her arms around her tightly, beginning to sob. Adagio whispered soft shushing sounds into her ear as she rubbed her back.

“It’s okay, Sona-baby,” she said softly, “I’m here, they’re not gonna hurt you any more.”

“I’m scared…” Sonata whimpered, clinging to her, “I… I… I like the idea of being dominated, but not like that! Th-They were going to rape me!”

Adagio raised an eyebrow, curious as to why Sonata felt the need to tell her she liked being dominated, and gently rubbed circles onto her back, “I know, sweetie. C’mon, I’m taking you home. You’re not staying here the rest of the day.”

“Thank you,” Sonata sniffled, managing to pull back, “You’ll stay with me, right…?”

“Are your parents still gone for the week?” Adagio asked softly, running her hand through her hair.

Sonata nodded slowly, “Yes…”

“Then you’re coming to my apartment,” she said softly, guiding her out to the main foyer, “I’m going to make you some lunch and you’re going to be perfectly safe.”

Sniffling, Sonata gave a small, sad smile, “Thank you… I really-”

“Wait a second,” came a voice from behind them.

They turned, finding a girl standing a few feet away. She looked at them in a seemingly bored manner, holding out a backpack. The moment Sonata saw her, her eyes went wide as she took a step back. She wasn't necessarily scared, just a bit put off.

“Before you go, you should take your backpack. I saw you drop it earlier,” the girl said.

Sonata shook, but then accepted the bag, “...Thanks, Aria….”

Adagio smiled and guided Sonata outside to her car, looking back and smiling at the girl in thanks, “C’mon sweetheart. You’re going to be alright.”

Adagio sat down next to Sonata, who had just finished her spaghetti, “Feeling better, Sona-baby?”

“Yeah, I do feel a bit better,” Sonata nodded, “Thank you… for helping me there. I-I was sure I was a goner.”

Adagio wrapped her arm around Sonata and pulled her close, kissing the top of her head, “It’s okay, I won’t let anybody hurt you, sweetie.”

Letting out a sniffle, Sonata cuddled against her and buried her face in her neck, “I don’t want to go back there! I hate school! Sure I get good grades, but I hate it!”

“Shhhh,” Adagio said softly, patting her back as she cuddled her, “You’re gonna be okay. School’s going to end soon.”

Whimpering, Sonata sighed and sniffled, “I don’t want to go because it also means I can’t see you… I like being with you more than going to school…”

“Aw, that’s sweet,” Adagio smiled, nuzzling her head as she leaned back, pulling Sonata on top of her to snuggle her like a teddy bear.

“I do,” Sonata nuzzled her neck, “I haven’t had this much fun with someone in a long time…”

“Me too,” Adagio whispered softly, kissing her cheek as her hand drifted down and gently patted her rear before swiftly returning to her back.

“No way… you must have a lot of fun with people all the time…” Sonata shook her head.

“Actually no. I kept to myself in school and live alone,” Adagio said softly, nuzzling Sonata’s hair, “I just keep to myself. I’ve been trying to get my own business off the ground. No time for socializing.”

“Oh, come on…” Sonata pouted, “...What kind of business?”

Adagio giggled, “To be honest? I want to open my own strip club.”

“Strip club?” Sonata blinked, surprised at this, “Um, how come? Not that I’m saying it’s bad! Just wondering why, that’s all!”

Adagio giggled, “Good chance at success, lively atmosphere, and lots of pretty girls to look at.”

“O-Oh… okay,” Sonata blushed at the thought, “I wouldn’t mind going to it when you get it opened… when I’m eighteen, though.”

“If I can get it open at all,” Adagio smirked, “And don’t worry. I won’t card for ID.”

Sonata giggled, then snuggled against her, “I’d help you get it open if I could, Adagio… you’ve done so much for me already…”

“How could you help me?” Adagio asked, raising an eyebrow and looking down at her.

“Well… I could get my Dad to give you a loan…” Sonata suggested.

Adagio’s eyes widened, “...Oh my god… you could really do that?”

“I could try,” Sonata nodded a bit, “It’s a long-shot, but… I think I can work something out. I can ask my dad, or you can meet him…”

“...Oh my god!” Adagio grinned, squeezing her tightly. “Oh Sonata! I could kiss you!”

Sonata blinked, then smiled brightly, “Hee! Really?! I-I mean, um… yeah! S-So, we’ll try doing that! Um, getting you help, I mean! Not that the kiss doesn’t sound nice! I uh… well, um…”

Adagio just didn’t care anymore. She pulled Sonata up and kissed her fiercely, wrapping both arms around her shoulders and squeezing her. Taken aback by the kiss, Sonata was frozen in surprise. At least until the passion kicked in and she kissed her back. She wrung her fingers through Adagio’s fiery curly hair, eager for more contact.

Adagio pulled her in closer as she felt Sonata reciprocate, her hand snaking down to cup her rear as her tongue brushed against Sonata’s lips. Breathing heavily through her nose, she suckled onto Sonata’s bottom lip as she felt the girl heat up against her.

Moaning against her lips, Sonata shook, this time in pleasure, as she took in the kiss. She held closer, adjusting herself to be more comfortable, running her fingers along Adagio’s hair. Adagio shuddered as she felt Sonata squirm against her. After a while, she had to pull away.

“...Wow,” she smiled, nuzzling Sonata’s nose, “You’re a surprisingly good kisser…”

“Y-You really think so?” Sonata blushed heavily, wide-eyed.

Adagio nodded, trailing the hand not currently gripping her rear over her cheek, “Mmhmm…”

“I…” Sonata blushed heavily, “I want to do it again…”

Adagio smiled and nuzzled her nose, before tilting Sonata’s head back and kissing her again, trailing her tongue over the younger girl’s lips.

“Mmm…” Eagerly, Sonata opened her mouth to welcome Adagio’s tongue.

Adagio chuckled to herself and slid her tongue into Sonata’s mouth, curling around her’s in a playful embrace as she squeezed her rear tighter.

Sonata’s tongue returned the gesture curiously and eagerly. She ran her hands down to Adagio’s back, clutching at her tightly. Whatever overtook her, Sonata ground her hips lightly, coming in closer contact with Adagio’s thighs. Adagio snickered as she pulled Sonata closer against her, her leg curling around hers as her tongue explored deeper. She groaned softly as the scent of Sonata’s hair filled her nose, driving her to grind back against her.

“Mmm...mm...mmmm…” Sonata squirmed in pleasure, kissing her deeper in return. She clutched Adagio’s shirt in her fingers, rumpling the fabric.

Adagio giggled as she held Sonata as tightly as she could, slinking down on the sofa as she grinded her hips against her, slipping her thigh between Sonata’s legs and squeezing her rear through her skirt.

“Nngh!” Sonata squeaked in a pleasured moan, panting. “Adagio…”

“Yes?” She smiled, pulling away ever so slightly.

“I just… this is…” Sonata blushed heavily, “I don’t know how I feel… I just… I like this… a-a lot!”

Adagio kissed her neck, “Do you want to go farther, sweetheart?”

“I… I do… just… wait,” Sonata pulled back a little, “I want to! I just… not like this…”

“What do you mean?” Adagio asked, her eyes soft and her smile warm.

Sonata blushed even more, looking downward a bit, “I don’t want to do it while I’m feeling scared and sad. I wanna be… all passionate and stuff.”

“Okay,” Adagio smiled. Sonata was giving her a chance to get her business off the ground, she could wait a little bit to get this adorable little muffin out of her clothes. She nuzzled her nose and hugged her, “You come to me when you’re ready. Alright?”

“Really?” Sonata looked at her with surprise, then smiled, “Thank you, Adagio…! You’re… oh come on, you’re making me all tingly happy!”

“That’s a good thing,” Adagio grinned, nuzzling her cheek, “You’re supposed to be all happy.”

“I’m happy with you around…” Sonata giggled happily, kissing her cheek, “Um… so, what does this mean we are, now?”

“It doesn’t have to mean anything if you don’t want it to be,” Adagio said, nuzzling her, “But if you do, nobody else can know.”

“...I do, I just… I hope it can be more than just a fling…” Sonata murmured.

“We’ll see how it goes. I don’t like to make promises,” Adagio said, nuzzling her cheek, “But I think we’ll be fine.”

Sonata nodded, sniffling, “Okay… we can do that…” She snuggled close, nuzzling into her neck.

Adagio smiled and cuddled her close, “Do you want to sleep here tonight?”

“You wouldn’t mind?” Sonata looked at her curiously.

“Of course not,” Adagio smiled, kissing her cheek, “There’s another bedroom just down the hall. You can sleep there if you want.”

“Thank you…” Sonata wiped her eyes and smiled, “I’d be glad to…”

Adagio smiled and kissed her cheek, “Of course, you also welcome to sleep in my bed if you feel up to it,” she snickered.

Giggling happily, Sonata nodded, “I’ll remember that! I love to snuggle while I sleep…”

“And I’d love to have your cute little bum in my lap,” Adagio winked, kissing her nose.

“Eee!” Sonata giggled, blushing heavily and holding her cheeks, “Adagio, come on! I can’t take it! I’m going to burst if you keep that up!”

Adagio giggled, “I’ll stop if you show me your cute little tush,” she teased, nuzzling her.

Sonata looked confused, before she stood up and turned around, “...Like this?”

“Well I can’t see it very well with that skirt in the way,” Adagio winked, “If you were wearing jeans, that’d be different.”

“True…” Sonata giggled, “Um, okay!” She lifted her skirt a bit, bending over, “Like this?”

Adagio sat forward at the sight of Sonata’s rear being squeezed by her panties and nodded in approval, “I knew you were tight, tiny and adorable,” she purred, standing up and moving behind her, squeezing her rear as she kissed the back of her neck.

“Oooh!” Sonata squeaked, giggling, “That really… it feels good and it tickles!”

“Ooh, someone likes having her bum squeezed?” Adagio purred in her ear, bringing her other arm around her waist.

“Yes…” Sonata giggled, leaning back against her a bit.

“Oh you and I are going to get along just fine,” Adagio giggled, kissing Sonata’s cheek.

Sonata beamed, “I think we are…” Next Chapter: Far Enough Out Of The Way Estimated time remaining: 9 Hours, 32 Minutes