CRINGES Hi...guys..it's me. YEEP!!!! ducks as people throw rotten food. I know, I know, I haven't updated in forever. . . PLEASE FORGIVE ME!!! It will get better after this, I promise you. I just started college. . . for all those out there, you know what it's like! For those of you who are blessed with not being in college..DROP OUT!!! DROP OUT NOW!!! You'll either faint/die from the college load. . .Just kidding. Enjoy. ******************************************************************

Hidden By Silence

SilverSwan



Chapter 2: First day Whoos! and Boos

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'He'd go with you. . .' These words haunted my mind. Eyes closed, I wondered if Nick was serious.

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEE -

Shutting of my beeping wristwatch, I sighed and opened my eyes, jerked rudely out of my thoughts by the tiny but insistent beeping. Sunlight was just beginning to pour into the sky, golden streaks in the east. 6:00 a.m.

I got up from the meditative position I was sitting in, legs crossed Indian- style, with my palms resting on the tops of my knees. Not that the meditation I did in any way helped me manage my, as people said, 'temper,' but that wasn't the point.

Stretching, I walked towards my balcony from the roof. My two-story house was built so that one part of the roof sloped gently towards my balcony.

Once there, I crawled back into my window and inside my room, heading to the bathroom to begin my morning hygiene.

I meditated in the mornings, mainly to get my focus, clear my head, and get my goals for the day straight, another habit of mine from Shotokan. It was perhaps, the secret of my success, before I flew around all day, busy every instant, always on the go, brainiac-Meryl, who did every assignment the second she got it.

No one, not even my closest friends knew I did this. Not even my. . .family.

It was pathetic, really. Mom and Dad had a fancy alarm system set up, to keep any possible break-ins away. We lived in a country house a little ways from the city where my school was located, about 15 or so minutes

Not that it really would stop a burglar from entering, mind you, but at least the alarm systems company would be alerted whenever the alarm went off for longer than thirty seconds, and call to make sure everything was alright. If no one answered the phone, then the police were sent over.

The alarm went off whenever anyone opened a door - unless it was shut off. Mom and Dad would activate it every night, religiously, and without fail.

But the expensive, top of the line alarm, while wired to go off when doors opened, failed to detect the opening of a window; quite pathetic.

So, as I said earlier, Mom and Dad had no idea that I meditated everyday without fail, getting up at 5:15, and practicing Shotokan until 5:45, then meditating until 6:00.

Morning hygiene complete, I went to my closet and pulled out a pair of jeans, tight fitting at the hips and slightly flared at the ankles. They were the dark-denim, of course. I couldn't stand the light-washed denim.

I got my favorite shirt, a black one that fit snuggly, and had little sleeves. On the middle of the shirt were Chinese characters for STRENGTH. On the left sleeve were the characters for PRIDE. Exactly me.

I grabbed my makeup (the little that I wore, and all neutral colors) and put it in my backpack. I'd put it on in the car, only at stoplights that I knew from experience were long, long enough for me to put the car in park, even. Sliding my feet into black flip-flops, I proceeded down the stairs, keys to my car in hand.

Dad was at the table, reading the paper. He usually got up around six, that is whenever he didn't get called in to work the night shifts. He gave me a glance before looking back at whatever he was reading.

"Leaving so soon? It's only 6:45."

"I know." School started at eight. "I wanted to get there early to organize everything," I replied, truthfully.

Turning the page, and not looking up, he said, "Come home soon as you can, we need to talk about your going to college."

"Yeah," was my abrupt reply, as I walked out of the door, silently cussing him out. If he couldn't trouble himself to look at me when he spoke, I wouldn't.

'I hate them'

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"Oh Meryl, you know it's no problem, we should always do good for others when we get the chance!" Exclaimed Milly as she looked both ways before proceeding to turn left at the stop sign.

"Thanks Milly, anyways."

Inside I was cursing, once again. But this time at my car. The stupid thing refused to start this morning. And, rather than go ask my dad to drive me to school in the everlasting silence or stilted conversation, I called Milly instead on my cell.

'Well, at least I have time to do my makeup nicely,' I reflected, pulling out my compact and proceeding to apply power. Still, I'd rather have my car, driving myself. Milly was not the best of drivers.

"OH MY GOD!!!"

I jumped, placing my hands protectively over my head. Looks like I won't be able to do my makeup so nicely after all. . .not with Milly driving.

"What? My god, Milly, I thought you were about to hit something!"

"I forgot to tell you. . .it totally slipped my mind, but I don't know how it could have!! Nicholas asked me if I wanted to go with him to that Welcome-Back party the school's having. . .can you believe it?!?"

I hid a smile beneath my smile of happiness for her. "That's great, Milly. When did he ask?"

"Last night, when I was driving home, and stopped at an intersection, he pulled up right next to me on his bike! And then he asked me if I would like to go with him!!! Can you believe it, Meryl?!!!"

I laughed, and rolled my eyes, affectionately. "That's Wolfwood's style, alright," I said before applying a neutral-colored lip gloss.

"Oh yes. . .my silly Nicky. . ." she smiled dreamily, her eyes distant.

"MILLY!!! Watch the road, please!"

"Oh. . .I am. Hey, have you heard this song before? It rocks." Milly turned the radio up a coupl'a notches.

You never gave us a chance to be.

And I don't need you to be by my side, and tell me that everythings all right.

I just wanted you to tell me the truth, You know I'd do that for you

So why are you running away? Why are you running away?

'So why are you running away?' The song struck a nerve. My thoughts drifted to last night, of everything Wolfwood had said about Vash.

'Why wouldn't you want to go with him? He's not a bad guy.'

No one understood, only Milly and another close friend, of what my family was like. But even they did not know the true reason to why I never 'hooked up,' with anyone.

"Isn't that the greatest song?" Milly chirped. I was surprised she hadn't picked up on my silent mood. She normally would, but I suppose it was because of her recent excitement with Wolfwood.

"Yeah, it's pretty good," I replied, feeling suddenly tired, as Milly pulled into the high school parking lot.

"It's better than 'pretty good,' it's -" she cut her self off, frowning in concentration as she parked. I held my breath too; Milly's come so close to having hit other people's cars before. Correction, she hit a Jaguar once, and took off before someone saw.

"I. . .think I. . ." she bit her tongue in concentration. "Got it!"

Whew. I could breath again. I smiled, thinking of my friend, Milly, whom I've known practically about forever.

Standing at 5ft 11, she was star of the basketball team, and played center. Her speed and aim were pretty good, too. Don't mess with Milly on the court. Too many opponent teams have been taken in by her bubbly, air- headed personality, only to find them themselves trampled on.

Milly gets serious on the court, and I wouldn't be surprised to find her playing for the WNBA in a few years. She also had plenty experience playing basketball growing up, after all, she did come from a family of ten siblings.

"Hey look, there's Dominique!" Milly said as she got out of her car.

I looked up, getting my backpack out of her backseat. "Sure is. . .what's she doing here?"

Milly tugged on my elbow. "C'mon, let's go say hi!"

I went, willingly. Dominique had been my second closest friend, after Milly. The three of us had been friends ever since high school began.

Dominique was tall as well, though not quite as tall as Milly at 5ft 9, with model looks and a figure to match. Her hair was long, dark and shiny, and her complexion perfect. Oddly, she'd never had a boyfriend. Dominique was nice, but a little edgy with guys, due in part, I think because of her family's situation.

Dominique's father, Carlo, was often abusive to his wife. Once, when Dominique was about 7, she got tired of seeing her mother being pushed around and beaten. She ran in front of her mother and tackled her father, or tried to. There wasn't much she could do; the strength of a 7-year old girl can't possibly compare to that of a 35-year old man, no matter what her mood.

Nonetheless, she managed to sink her teeth into his right hand. Carlo, with his free left hand, punched Dominique in the right eye. The heavy, elaborate gold rings he wore not only gave her a black eye for months, but also damaged her eye tissues, and for about a year afterwards, she had to wear an eye patch over her right eye. Her mother, Maria filed for a divorce soon afterwards.

Ever since then, Dominique's always been wary of guys, slightly cold to them. I can't really blame her.

'Hmmm. . .come to think of it, almost everyone I know has some sort of 'dysfunctional' family.'

Knives and Vash, living with their aunt due to their parent's tragic death; Nick with his mom and six other kids; me with my silent jailers; and Dominique with her past. Milly's family is probably the most normal, although, I don't really consider having ten children as normal.

Dominique is the school's best fencing player, even topping all of the guys. I wouldn't be surprised if she leads our school to state, or even national finals. She also is a drill team captain, and in the top 20. Her only true flaw is her fear of guys, which she covers up with an I'm-better- than-you attitude.

But hey, the ideal that females were superior to males was held up in my mind, too. Just ask Legato.

"Dominique!?!" Milly cried, "What are you doing here?"

"Yeah. You were supposed to be at fencing camp. . .wasn't it supposed to end next Monday?" I asked.

Dominique turned and smiled at us, before giving us each quick hugs. "It ended early, this year."

"Why didn't you call us?" Milly demanded.

Dominique smiled. "I just got in last night, around 11 or so, and I thought I'd surprise ya'll. . .and it looks like I did."

"You sure did, D," I said, putting extra emphasis on the pet name I'd come up for her in freshmen year.

She mock-glared at me. "Don't called me that!"

Our private joke, just between Milly, Dominique and I. We were all heavily into anime, and after watching 'Vampire Hunter D, Bloodlust,' (it was the first one of the two we saw) Dominique's nickname was born. Not only did her name conveniently begin with a 'D,' but like D, she had long hair, even if the color wasn't the same, and her specialty was her Demon's Eye (the name of her fencing sword). . .as D fought with a sword. It was too convenient. She hated the name, even though she liked D.

I smirked. "Whatever, c'mon, let's go in. Have you got your schedule yet?" I asked her.

"No. . .I need to pick it up," she replied, a slight frown marking her face.

"DOMINIQUE!!! You'll never guess what happened to me last night!" Milly squealed.

I sighed, rolling my eyes. 'Here we go again.' I tried to convince myself that it was annoyance and not jealousy over the fact that Milly was the first to actually go on something akin to a date.

"Oh man. . .let me guess, new pudding flavors?" Dominique tossed her hair over her shoulder as we made our way towards the building. "No. . .Nicky asked me to go with him to the Welcome-back party!"

I saw Dominique smile at Milly, yet only with her lips. She was worried about Milly, and her eyes held a reserved, somewhat wary look of a dog that's been beaten by its masters.

Out of the three of us, Milly had always been the friendliest, and had the easiest time making friends, while D and I were less likely to talk to a stranger sitting next to us. Guys recognized that too, and friendly outgoingness was a trait they went after. But Milly was in no way 'easy;' she had never given encouragement to any other guy, having her heart set on Wolfwood.

"Hey, baby," Wolfwood called from across the parking lot, roughly twenty feet away where he was parking his bike.

"Oh! Excuse me, I gotta go. I'll see you both later. Bye!" With nothing further, Milly rushed off. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw D raise her right eyebrow, a cross between somewhat annoyed, but more in partial genuine fear.

I looked at Dominique and gave her a cautious, half-smile. "So. . .what do you think about this?"

"Doesn't really matter what I think," she replied. "She's been in love with him for years. Never mind the fact that she probably doesn't really know what he's like."

"True, but I know him, more or less. He's not a bad guy at all. Except for his smoking."

"It always starts out with something small," she replied, averting her face as she quickened her pace and walked inside the schools doors. "I'll see you later, I've got to go see about my schedule." Practically running, she went in the direction of the office.

Poor Dominique. Her father's abuse seemingly had marked her for life. *****************************************************************

"Damn this shit," I thought for what must have been the millionth time today.

My classes were difficult this year. . .all of them honors, or Advanced Placement. Not hard. . .I wasn't worried so much about the difficulty level as I was about the homework I knew each class would eagerly load on me, to 'prepare me for college.' Although, we hadn't done much, other than do some ice-breakers, and the 'how was your summer,' talks. And naturally, Legato was in all my classes. Dominique, Milly, and Nicholas were in a couple of them, so that wasn't so bad. . .on second thought, I don't know how much longer I can put up with Milly and 'Nicky's' endless flirting.

Was I jealous? Maybe. Not over the fact that Milly was talking to Wolfwood. . .more of the fact that she had someone. . .

Nah.

Then there was Vash. . .surprise, surprise, he was in a couple of my classes too. I always knew he wasn't dumb. . .somewhere deep beneath his idiocy. And Knives was no moron, either. In my honest opinion, the both of them were really smart, but didn't apply themselves. I think Legato's position would be threatened if they did. But not mine, of course.

I sighed and glanced at my schedule to see my last class. . .

1.English AP 115 2.Biology II Honors 210 3.Chemistry II Honors 212 LUNCH Cafeteria 4. Computer Science II AP 100 5.Forensic Science 215 6.Calculus AP 110 7. Spanish IV AP 113

Last class of the day. . .Spanish.

'Piece of cake,' I thought.

Learning languages was easy for me, and I more or less spoke it fluently already, due to my parents. They had made me take lessons ever since I was 10.

'I need a blow off period, anyways.' Smiling, I made my way to the class, ready for a year of an easy, stress-free class.

But I spoke to soon. Legato, Nick, and Vash were in my class. So was Dominique, but, she was nowhere near annoying me. Smiling, she waved me over to sit by her. Legato was sitting to her left, with Vash behind him, and Nick behind Vash. The only available seat by Dominique was behind her, next to Vash on his right. I took it.

'Only so I can sit near Dominique,' I argued to myself. Who in their right minds would want to sit next to Vash and Nick? And especially, Legato? It was going to be one hell of a year.

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I apologize, once again, for the delay. . .and when I finally updated, it that it was such a crappy chapter. Maybe it was crappy, but necessary! THE SURPRISES??? WHERE ARE THEY? Ah well. . .I do have a lot. . .there are so many plot twists planned for this, I'm getting' dizzy, they will come in the future chapters!!! C'mon, ya'll needed all this background character info. . .right? At any rate, drop a review. Oh yeah, I'm working on the next chapters to my other fics, Special Thanks to Vash's Girl for e-mailing me encouragement! Gratzi! SilverSwan