[name_f]Leticia[/name_f] " [name_f]Cici[/name_f] " [name_f]Paige[/name_f] Challinder (18) is Minnie’s best friend, primary authority on the school paper’s graphic design format, and the person technically responsible for [name_u]Ale[/name_u] and Civ meeting. Planning on majoring in a combined degree of graphic design and visual communication at college, Cici’s a very driven person in all areas of life: incredibly loyal, headstrong in how they approach others and, admittedly, not the most forgiving personality. Some attribute this to Cici’s background. Their parents went through a contentious separation before [name_f]Cici[/name_f] was even born, and while they thankfully weren’t raised amidst conflict, they’ve heard a lot of stories about the vicious arguments that dominated the latter half of their mom’s pregnancy [most notably their father insisting on having a DNA test to prove [name_f]Cici[/name_f] was his child, something that caused them to be emotionally distant from him for several years, having only just gotten back into a good place thanks to the betrayal and rejection it pushed them into - worst of all when they were questioning their gender identity and coming to terms with being nonbinary]. Thanks to Cici’s dad living in another state, they only see him during holidays - something they used to dread - but they’re now able to enjoy their time with him, as he’s a webpage coder who very much endorses their passion for technology; and they’ve formed a good dynamic with their stepmother and stepsister from his second marriage.
The nature of the distancing between themself, [name_f]Minnie[/name_f] and their former friend is a very sore spot for [name_f]Cici[/name_f], right to this very day. When the trio were in middle school, the girl who left was constantly being picked on, and [name_f]Cici[/name_f] was the main person to defend them, having little fear of confrontation, and tenaciously refusing to back down once someone’s snide comment reached their ears. They encouraged her to take pride in her talents alongside [name_f]Minnie[/name_f], and their brashness was tempered by their best friends, who stopped [name_f]Cici[/name_f] recklessly embroiling themselves in confrontations. Sometimes [name_f]Cici[/name_f] can’t help but wonder if the separation stemmed from they and Minnie’s notable closeness - they were basically a pair whenever referenced by others, on account of being in the majority of classes together, and the chalk/cheese nature of their dynamic stood out - but given their feelings of betrayal, such a question hasn’t been asked.
Truthfully, the intensity and pacing of their former friends romance put [name_f]Cici[/name_f] on edge, and a serious row once happened when they voiced their opinion that their other best friend was ‘settling’ with her now fiancé: merely accepting the first guy who showed so much interest because she still suffered with her self-esteem. While they meant well with this - and [name_f]Cici[/name_f] just wanted to not see her friend boxed in so soon - their delivery of these points was terrible, and although it took a few more months for the estrangement to officially set in, they’ve confided in [name_f]Minnie[/name_f] they blame this as a major instigator; suffering a great deal of guilt given it impacted her so much as well. There was a semi-cold war between [name_f]Cici[/name_f] and Minnie’s group opposed to their former friend’s boyfriends’ circle: never an outright conflict, but no-one wanted to associate with each other. [name_f]Cici[/name_f] can’t help wonder if their former friend badmouthed them and certain others - they’re doubtful [name_f]Minnie[/name_f] was slandered, given her patience [and honestly, they know they’d hit the roof if she was trash talked] - but with the newfound pregnancy rumours swirling, there have been whispers said girl wants to reach out once more…