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A Truth And A Rumor

The class was loud with the hustle and gossip of students. Girls talked about the upcoming Junior Prom and the most recent break-up between the captain of the football team and the head cheerleader, putting bets on who broke up with who, while other girls were busy flirting with guys hoping to score a date to the dance while the guys just had their fun looking the girls up and down, leading them on since most of them already had girlfriends in other classes or schools. Everything was like it normally was, including one girl sitting at the very back of the class.
Serenity sat in the farthest desk to escape any unwanted attention from the ‘Gossip Girls’ or the ‘Jerk Jocks’ by keeping her nose stuffed in a book. But even then she was till somehow included; she could hear her name whispered between friends but she managed to ignore it, that was until Mackayla and the group that followed right behind her soon stood right before her.
“Well, hi there Serenity… how’re you doing?” Serenity inwardly flinched at the fake kindness so thick it was like an accent. Mackayla stood there before Serenity in very short shorts, a shirt that barely covered half her stomach and so much make-up, Serenity could have mistaken her for a clown but she knew better than to aggravate the Queen of Drama so she just simply nodded.
“Aw, how sweet… she’s speechless around me!” Mackayla squealed while her friends just smiled cruelly making Serenity squirm in her chair. Mackayla unaware, or uncaring, about Serenity’s discomfort just continued. “And her braids…adorable!” Mackayla gave a quick tug to Serenity’s dark auburn hair that was neatly put in two braids making her wince.
“And her shirt; don’t you think her shirt is just peachy Ashlee?” A dark haired girl bobbed her head making her wild curl’s bounce everywhere. “Like, totally!” But unlike Mackayla with fake kindness, Ashlee’s voice was cold and cruel. Serenity smiled, trying to return to the adventure and excitement of her book, but just one quick head nod from Mackayla, Ashlee hit the book out of Serenity’s hands. When Serenity looked up she saw Ashlee with the same cold cruel smile she had before.
“Sorry,” Ashlee said with a snap of her gum and flicked her hair over her shoulder. Serenity tried to shrug it off and bent down to pick up the book, her most prized possession at the time only to find an Ugg boot rested protectively on the book. Serenity sent a pained expression and she couldn’t help but wonder what she ever did to them.
Mackayla opened her mouth like she was about to say something when the teacher, Mr. Beauregard, walked in. “Please take your seats everyone; that means you too Mrs. Morrix!” Ashlee was the only one who was still standing and hesitantly remover her foot from the book and turned to give a sickly sweet smile to the teacher, “Of course Mr. Beauregard!” Soon class started; it was by far Serenity’s best and favorite subject; Mythology.
“Does anyone care to explain to me why Athena, Goddess of Wisdom, and her Demi-god children are terrified of spiders?” The group was silent, and slowly one-by-one glances were thrown to the back of the class. If possible, Serenity shrunk deeper into her seat and brought her book up to cover her face. Snickers could be heard from every direction as the teacher finally sighed and followed the class’ glance.
“Mrs. Clairview, do you know why?” Serenity Clairview gave a pleading look which Mr. Beauregard disregarded and continued to stare at her expectantly. Serenity sighed, she had two choices; one was to say she had absolutely no idea and throw away the perfect A+ average she worked so hard to get, or she could answer correctly and have to deal with public humiliation for the next three years of High school. But Serenity already had her sentence to humiliation, so she decided she might as well keep her grade average.
“Well Mr. Beauregard, there was a maiden who was the best weaver known to mortals. Her name was Arachne but she became arrogant about her talent and started to compare herself to the Goddess best at weaving; Athena. One day Arachne declares she could easily beat the goddess in a weaving competition. This offended Athena so she took the form of an old woman and advised that Arachne beg for the Goddess’ forgiveness but when the maiden laughed at the old woman form of Athena, she became enraged and turned back into the Goddess, challenging Arachne to a weaving competition.” Serenity started to hear murmurs amongst the crowd but continued anyway.
“Arachne realized her mistake but refused to let her pride so she accepted the goddess’ challenge. Athena won against the mortal and Arachne was so ashamed she hung herself. Athena found the maiden and took pity on her, turning her into an immortal being with eight hairy legs.” Laughs could be heard by the boys from a row a head of her but Serenity just rolled her eyes and continued. “Now whenever Athena or her children, demi-gods, are within the Arachne and her descendants, the spider, radar, the creatures will seek out the ones who did that to their mother.”
Mr. Beauregard looked as if he expected as much, and most the class was rolling their eyes. Serenity’s eyes drifted to the clock hanging above the door.
10,
“Well, very well done Mrs. Clairview.” But she didn’t hear.
9,
Her thoughts drifted to what she would do when she got home,
8,
The door will probably be locked,
7,
She will yell that she’s home,
6,
Her parent will be yelling and shoving,
5,
So she’ll avoid the kitchen,
4,
And check on her two year old sister,
3,
Her mom will yell at her,
2,
She will enter the bathroom,
1,
And she will relieve all her pain.
The high pitch shrill of the school bell hit vibrated in her ears. Serenity slowly picked up all her books, personal and school related and headed towards the door when she was interrupted again, “Serenity!” Mackayla all but shrieked.
“Sooo, sorry we were interrupted earlier…” Mackayla dragged out the o, making her mocking intention obvious. Mackayla looked towards Ashley who took that one look as an entire conversation.
“We are throwing a pool party! It will be so cool!” The two blond twins, Franchesika and Amy, nodded with enthusiasm. Serenity gave a weak smile but shook her head.
Amy’s smile switched immediately to a unbelieving glare, “What do you mean no?” She demanded.
“It was really nice for you to ask but I really don’t want to go…”
“One of the most popular girls in the SCHOOL, just invited you to her pool party and declined?” She stated still confused.
All four girls stood there shocked in front of Serenity, so she took it as her ticket for escape so she tried to squeeze by, but Franchesika was able to snap out of her shock and made a grab for Serenity’s arm only to manage in tugging up her sleeve up to her elbow revealing countless intricate lines cutting across her arms, some new some old.
“I said I didn’t want to go!” Serenity hissed before dashing out the door, only to be knocked down by a steady form. Standing above her was a tall form, a boy, with a green shirt and jeans. As Serenity slowly looked up from her place on the floor she saw a face she wouldn’t forget.
“Hey are you okay? God I am so sorry!” He fussed as he reached to help her up. Hesitantly Serenity took his hand as he hoisted her back to her feet. The boy had black hair that stuck out every way and eyes that couldn’t decide whether they were green or blue. Serenity found herself staring into them trying to figure out which color they were the most often, as the boy seemed to be staring into Serenity’s violet colored eyes until someone cleared their throat Serenity looked over the boy’s shoulder to see two other guys. Serenity could feel heat rise to her cheeks as she quickly excused herself and was about to leave when the boy grabbed her arm.
“My name’s Chris.” He stated. Chris hadn’t removed his hand from Serenity’s forearm and she knew she would have to give her name as well. “Serenity.” She said and as soon as she felt his grip loosen she bolted past.
Serenity’s last class, Social Studies, was almost finished when a familiar boy walked in. When he looked around the class for a seat his sight stopped on Serenity and he started heading over to her when the teacher called his name. Chris lowered his head and slowly retreated to her desk.
Serenity couldn’t help but notice that they seemed to be having an argument and the boy seemed quite upset.
“Serenity, could you come up here a moment please?” It was phrased as a question but Serenity knew that she had no choice. At the mention of her name Chris seemed to stiffen then relax, and seemed a bit happier than previously.
“Mr. Durant here is having, grade issues.” Mrs. Picket seemed to be choosing her words carefully.
“I advise him to search for a tutor but he seems to be under the impression he doesn’t need one.” Serenity could feel Chris roll his eyes, but Serenity accepted the unanswered question as she needed extra credit anyways.
“Good, you will start after school which is in…” Mrs. Picket glanced at her watch. “Two minutes. Go grab your books and you may head to the library now. No homework today just go head out.”
“Okay, um… describe responsibilities and processes of the justice system in Alabama.” Serenity looked at Chris expectantly but he just looked at her blankly. Serenity sighed heavily, realizing just how long this tutoring was going to take.
“You know, things like the Aboriginal justice system or the Youth Criminal Justice Act.” Chris still stared blankly into her eyes as Serenity just sat there awaiting an answer.
“Do you wear contacts?” Serenity was taken aback for a moment before glaring at Chris.
“No, I don’t wear contacts!”
“So, your eyes are naturally purple?”
“Violet!”
“What?” Chris asked confused.
“My eyes are naturally Violet!” Serenity huffed. “Now are you going to answer my question or not?”
“Are the rumors true?” Serenity gave an exasperated sigh, and put her head in her hands until the question Chris asked fully registered in her brain.
“What rumors?”
Chris fiddled with his hands a bit before getting the courage to look Serenity in the eyes.
“Um, Franchesika said that you,” Chris seemed to be nervous so Serenity just gave him a look that clearly said ‘get on with it’.
“Franchesika said you cut yourself!”

Three Reasons

Serenity

Serenity sat there stunned. There was no way that Franchesika would say anything to anyone, Serenity understood she was mean but this was evil. What happened in Serenity's life had nothing to do with the rest of the school.
"Hello? Earth to Serenity?" Chris started to wave his hand in front of Serenity's blank face. Suddenly Serenity's hand flew up and grabbed his wrist.
"That is extremely irritating!" Her previously light violet eyes were now bubbling with annoyance and anger. Chris pulled his hand out of her grip with a almost sullen look.

"So it's true then." Chris didn't put it as a question but Serenity nodded anyway. Serenity didn't even know why she answered him; It wasn't any of his buisness and he was a 'popular' he was sure to say something to someone.
Serenity suddenly felt a hand underneath her chin lifting her head up to meet those eyes that still left her pondering which color they prefered.
"Why Serenity?" At the moment, Chris' eyes seemed to hold a dark forest floor green that was almost menacing. Serenity could tell he cared, she didn't know how but she knew he did and that was how she found herself pouring out her life's story to someone she had just met that morning.

"Do you know what it's like? To come home and know what is going on and that you can't do anything because you could get hurt? It's a helpless feeling, and it's why i started cutting because it was something i felt in control of." Serenity broke down in tears, silent sobs escaping her throat. Sometime during her meltdown, Chris had taken her hands in his and Serenity couldn't help but think it was somewhat comforting.
"Can i see you scars?" Chris asked softly. Serenity nodded and at that gesture Chris brought up her sleeve to her elbow just like Franchesika had. Even though Serenity had her eyes closed in effort to stop the flow of tears, she could feel Chris trace the trails they had left behind.
"Please stop." Chris whispered it so silently that Serenity wouldn't have heard it if she had still been crying instead she opened her eyes to meet Chris' steady gaze.
"Give me three reasons."
"What?" Chris gave her a confused look but Serenity only shook her head.
"Give me three reasons, and I mean good reasons not 'because it destroys your body' reasons, REAL reasons by the end of the school year!"

Chris

The moment Serenity fell in front of Chris, he knew she was beautiful not just outside but inside. But Chris could also tell she was broken and all Chris wanted to do was help. So naturally Chris started fussing over her when she fell down, but it was when she stood up he got a good look at her; her fiery auburn hair was pulled into two messy braids signaling she had curly hair, her eyes were a light purple so that they still soft and gentle. The girl wore a green sweatshirt with Kermit the Frog on it and worn out blue jeans. All in all Chris thought she pulled off the look really well and it made her beautiful.
But Chris' eyes made their way right back up to her eyes staring into them getting all too lost in the emotion hidden in them.
"Ahem." Chris turned to see Mark and Josh, his best friends, looking at him with a raised eyebrow. Chris just shook his head at their immaturity but when he looked back Serenity wasn't there, she was just passing him. Immediately Chris reached out to grab her arm. The girl turned to him with a look that said 'what?'
"My name's Chris." Now usually Chris would have given something cooler like 'It's Chris' or 'm'name's Chris' but he had a feeling he needed to give a proper introduction to her. The girl looked down at his arm that was still on her arm and right as Chris was about to loosen his grip she spoke, oh so quietly, "Serenity."
That name seemed to stay with him all day along with the emotion that was the definition of peace. Chris seemed at peace, at Serenity, all day like he was actually having fun at school. All day he was looking for Serenity so they could have a proper discussion so when he saw her in his Social Studies class he was over excited. But of course as soon as he started heading down the aisle towards Serenity, the teacher called him up.
"Mr. Durant i strongly advise you to find a tutor, your grades are below failing. Now if you smarten up now you just MIGHT pass this years Social Studies." This had completely brought down his mood even though he knew she was right.
"I don't need a tutor Mrs. Picket, honest I'll grow some and do the work i can seriously do this!" Mrs. Picket shook her head in disappointment then called up a student, "Serenity." That name sent a feeling through his body and he realized that if Mrs. Picket was asking what he thought she was this wouldn't be so bad a tutor lesson.

Serenity kept on asking questions about things he didn't have a clue about nor did he care about. So finnally his lack of attention won out.
"Do you wear contacts?" Serenity seemed slightly stunned he would ask that but he was still curious so when she answered "No, I don't wear contacts." He still had to verify.
"So, your eyes are naturally purple?"
"Violet!"
"What?" Chris said confused.
"My eyes are naturally Violet!" Serenity huffed. "Now are you going to answer my question or not?" Chris voted for the not because one, he didn't know, and two because he still had a question.
"Are the rumors true?" Serenity burried her head into her hands realizing no he was not going to answer the question. But then what he asked seemed to pick her intrest.
"What rumors?"
"Franchesika said that you," Chris looked up nervously from his hands. He knew he shouldn't say it, he shouldn't talk about the rumors about Serenity but the other part of him said she deserved to know.
"Franchesika said you cut yourself!"

More than a Friend

Chris

If Chris could take away all of Serenity's pain, he would have since just the look that showed on her face pained him. He could tell she had gone through a lot with no one to talk to. After their tutoring lesson, which had consisted mostly of crying and comforting, Chris had promised to walk Serenity home. Even though she had poured out all her problems on Chris he knew she was far from fixed and on top of school, tutoring and football Chris had to find three reasons for Serenity to stop cutting herself and stay.
Chris really didn't expect Serenity to admit that the rumors were real. He expected something like 'Of course she would start a rumor like that!' or 'That... i swear i'm going to kill her!' The most he got was a nod of the head and silent tears. Chris had never known anyone who cut themselves, or did anything self destructive for that matter, but after she admitted it Chris seemed to see her differently; she was no longer the quiet type of personality, but she was quiet because if she made friends she was scared they would find out. Chris understood that she didn't think any relationships were permanent and that everyone would leave at one point.
It was clear that if he wanted to help, Chris would have to go through drastic measures, which meant he couldn't just be Serenity's friend, but he had to be more. Not in the romantic way but he had to be the friends she never had, the brother she never had, the parents she never had. Their relationship had to cover all of those that had been destroyed but Chris was willing to try.
When they finally got to Serenity's house, she turned towards Chris and he was again struck by how beautiful she was when she didn't try.
"Thanks Chris, I-" Suddenly there was a thud against the door like a body had been tossed against it. Suddenly Serenity crumpled into Chris' arms and he realized it probably was a body being thrown against the door. Slowly, after many reassuring words as he rubbed her back, Serenity composed herself said goodbye.

Serenity

Once Chris was out of sight, Serenity took a deep breath and entered the hell called her house. There, right beside the door was her mothers crumpled body in a fetal position. Serenity had to stifle a scream, at the sight of her father standing over top of her mother breathing heavily.
"I-is she dead?" Serenity stuttered. Her father shook his head in a manner that said 'no, but that isn't important'. Slowly her father took a step over top of the body.
"Who was that?"
"Who?" Her father rolled his eyes and slapped Serenity across the face.
"The boy you idiot! Who was the boy outside the door? Was he your boyfriend?"

"N-no he wasn't Reginald." Another slap to the face. Her father had obviously been drinking, as he was always drunk. Strange enough though he never slurred.
"Good, because your too ugly for a boyfriend. And it's SIR Reginald." Serenity never called him dad she never had and she never would, it was always Reginald. Serenity managed to squeeze by her father and ran up the stairs, tears running silently but surely down her face.As she opened her door, instead of slamming it shut she quietly closed it and flopped down on her bed. It was then that Serenity realized she was still wearing Chris' jacket in which he had let her wear when it began to rain. Serenity gave a sad sigh as he forgot to take it back.
She was shrugging off the jacket when a small white piece of paper floated down to the ground. Serenity neatly placed the jacket down on her bed and bent down to pick up the paper only to see a number written on it. Below the number was a short message;

If you ever need to call ;)
Chris <3

Serenity sat there, debating whether or not to call him. She eventually debated on the not. In the library, when he had been comforting her she came to the conclusion he had only been playing with her and when he was done she would fall, a feeling she knew all to well.

Forgotten Trust

Serenity

There she sat, in the tub of her bathroom, the one her parents all to kindly gave her. Serenity wore a grey cut-off t-shirt. With her pocket knife in her left hand and her eyes pressed tight she slowly brought the blade to her exposed bare wrist but hesitated; it seemed Serenity was having a internal argument.
He doesn't really care!
Than why would he ask us to stop?
It was an act!
He sounded like he really did care!
Shut up! He doesn't understand!
Maybe he does...
I don't want his help!
Yes you do!
He can't control me!

The sharp thin blade glided across Serenity's smooth, scarred skin. It was easy for the blade to cut across because of the new thin layer of the skin that had recently grown over the previous cuts. Again and again Serenity ran it over her wrists, relishing in the twisted sense of relief. The pain expanded, creating a bubble blocking out all the stress and anxiety. The bruise that had formed on her cheek no longer hurt compared to the burning feeling as the nerves were sliced in half and the warm trickle of blood dripping on her already stained t-shirt. Her father no longer mattered, the unconscious body of her mother forgotten, her sisters shrieks and her father shook her blocked out. All connection to the world that spun around her, completely forgotten. By the time she had five slices on each wrist, Serenity was breathing heavily. Suddenly, banging sounded on the door.
"Serenity, if your cutting yourself again, i don't wanna see no blood in that tub, ya hear me? The maid almost saw some last time! I don't want no stupid police roaming our house ya got it?" Serenity nodded then realized her father couldn't see her. "Yes R-Sir Reginald." Serenity caught her mistake and corrected it before things got out of hand. Slowly she pressed the button that retracted the blade that disappeared once again.

Chris

All Chris could think about was Serenity, how she seemed to always have an opinion but she was always too afraid to speak it, how she didn't trust him. Although Chris knew it wasn't just him, he couldn't help but feel a little hurt that she refused to let him in. It was fair though, Serenity had been hurt bad and no one had been there to help her so now that there was, she didn't know how to deal with it. That forgotten trust was still buried deep inside of her, so deep she didn't know how to uncover it.
"What's the matter Chris honey?" Chris looked up to see his mother looking at him with worried eyes. His father stopped chewing looking between Chris' mother and Chris trying to understand what it was his mother saw to draw worry.
"It's nothing mom, just school." His mother raised an eyebrow.
"You came home late, i suppose it was because of the tutor Mrs. Picket mentioned? What was her name again? Serenity? Is that why you seem so... worried?" His mother hesitated, as if choosing which word suited best.
"Yeah."
"Do you want to tell me?" His mother's voice was full of curiosity.
"Honestly mom, it's not mine to tell." His mother nodded as if she expected as much, but Chris knew he couldn't tell her, or at least not until he earned her forgotten trust.

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