She threw the crumpled ball of paper with so much force it hit the wall across us. It bounced a few feet, before landing and disappearing somewhere behind several chairs at a corner. No one witnessed this outburst but the three of us. The classroom, as well as the hallway outside, was empty. Everyone, even the teachers, had gone out to eat their lunches.

I looked up at the fire before us. Curls blazing and waving around. Brows knitted together. Deep creases on her forehead. Jaw tightly locked. Nostrils flared. She stilled, arms beneath her chest. Hands trembled ever so slightly, trying to contain the fuel within. But her eyes revealed it - the blue flame inside, the smallest yet the strongest and the most furious, the core of it all.

"C'mon, Mrs. Banner--" She placed her gaze on Ethan beside me, the flame in her eyes flashing.

Clearly, it wasn't the best time for pet names and joking around. Although, she had always liked being called Mrs. Banner, with the male version being her favourite character of all Marvel characters.

Ethan immediately sunk deeper into his seat.

I casted him a sideway glare. Idiot.

He caught my gaze, and shrugged sheepishly.

I suppose, I wouldn't blame him for his attempt in cheering Jade up. Or for shrinking. Jade wasn't usually like this. Our quiet and sweet little Jade didn't seethe, or threw balls of paper on walls. Or even resembled fire. But I guess I should have known. She has always claimed she had quite a temper, which, I guess, she controls so well that I honestly don't believe she does. The fact that she's having this sudden eruption must mean that she's truly, truly livid. She's in her Hulk form - a much calmer version of Hulk, though equally frightening.

It would actually be better if she was Hulk, you know. Thrashing around, smashing everything and bawling. Because there's this safe knowledge that, that's all she's going to do. But with this serene and tense composure, she can do anything. This unknown, this unpredictability is a hell lot more terrifying.

Silently, Ethan and I watched her. This quietly raging She-Hulk. Still as a post. Burning holes on the wall across us.

And then - something gleamed in her eyes.

Before I could even think about it, she looked up. Blinking rapidly, as if she's trying to fight it. But it was a losing battle. She bit her bottom lip, and placed her gaze on the floor instead. Black curls slid past her shoulder, curtaining her face. A shudder went through her body, as a hand was placed on her mouth to cover the sound - but, we had already heard it - a whimper. The composed exterior was crumbling. She was crumbling.

Ethan and I stood at the same time, about to approach her - when she raised a hand, gaze still on the floor. I stopped in my tracks, but Ethan, that dimwit, didn't. At once, I reached for his sleeve, pushing it softly but firmly.

He swivelled to face me, the expression of concern on his face. He must've seen the resolute look on mine, because it shifted into something more desperate.

"Lily," he whispered. Pleaded.

We hated seeing her like this. Neither of us enjoyed the sensation of helplessness, or watching our best friend fall apart, alone. But, no matter how hard it was, we had to do. Because it was what she wanted. It was what she needed.

So - as much as I didn't want to do it - I shook my head at Ethan.

He looked away, contemplating what to do. A beat, and then - he stepped back, and stood next to me. Fidgeting, uncomfortable. Restless. Itching to do something.

That makes two of us, I thought.

But there was nothing we could do.

Like my mom once said, there are some things people have to do on their own.

This was one of them.

So, together, we watched as our best friend crumpled like the ball of paper she threw. Unwanted, hopeless and of no use. We watched as our best friend was chucked on the wall, rebounding only to land on the dusty, cold floor. We watched as our best friend tucked herself behind the vast shadows of wooden seats, away from human scrutiny. We watched as she disappeared somewhere we couldn't go.

We watched - and only, helplessly, did. Fearing if she will remain that way - like a crumpled ball of paper.

But then, we also watched our best friend unfolded herself from the creases. Tucking away a black curl behind her ear, she looked up at somewhere across the room. The fire in her eyes softened, puffy and crimson and glistening. We also watched our best friend stand and approach whatever she has set her mind in, sliding between chairs before finally reaching and disappearing into that corner.

Ethan and I caught our breaths, practically simultaneously - was she really ... ?

And we watched our best friend appear, standing with her usual proper posture. Lifting her arm, she unfurled her fist to reveal the crumpled paper she had tossed moments ago. She glanced at us, a small smile on her lips. The flame in her eyes flickered softly.

Beaming at each other like proud parents, that's when all of us knew.

She wasn't going to be the crumpled ball of paper.