The next few chapters may be slow in coming, I am working on revising what I wrote about 2 years ago but I am hoping to finish this story. It will continue to be kind of slow going as I finish my last semester of grad school. I made a lot of new notes today about the direction I want this story to go and I have a renewed excitement about it. But enjoy this chapter and I hope to have chapter 4 up tomorrow or the day after, it is written (has been for a while) just needs to be edited.

Chapter 3: Avenged

"Have fun, sweetie?" her mom asked as Serena finally came traipsing through the door.

"Yeah, actually." Serena admitted honestly, dropping her backpack on the floor beside the couch and going to the fridge to pull out a bottled water.

"Great! I'm so happy to see you enjoying your senior year…finally." she pulled her glasses off as Serena sat on the couch beside her. "Also, I wanted to let you know I made an appointment with Dr. Thompson tomorrow."

Serena groaned, falling back against the couch and scowling at her mother. "Why?" she whined.

"I think he should know you've made a friend. Especially after what he said the last time. He needs to reevaluate you now that you're opening up to somebody else. This could be a breakthrough for your shyness!" her mom argued. "You're going and there won't be any arguments about it. I'll be picking you up from school tomorrow at two o'clock so be sure to let your teacher know."

Serena sighed, turning her eyes to the flickering television screen. "How can you watch this?" she asked after listening to the brainless chattering for a minute.

"It's funny." her mom replied, smiling at the handsome male lead as he fell down a flight of stairs in a comedic fashion.

"Sure," Serena replied, peeling herself up from the couch and grabbing her backpack. "If you need me I'll be doing my homework and steeling myself for Dr. Thompson's pit of torture."

Her mom chuckled as she went down the hall and closed herself in her room. Despite her annoyance with her mother, Serena was in a cheerful mood and attributed it to her afternoon spent out in the fresh air as opposed to being shut up in her room whenever the sun was out. As she started in on her homework she found her mind kept wandering to Endymion's story. If she hadn't seen him emerge from the lamp herself she wouldn't believe any of it. But it was true. It was actually happening. She half wondered if it was the contract she'd made with Endymion that made her able to accept his history. And if it was the contract that made her heart hurt a little when Endymion looked deep into her eyes.

Her gaze kept moving to her window and the fence that separated her house from Andrew's. He said Endymion was coming over. She smiled at the thought of him being so close and imagined herself going outside and hanging around until he showed up. Then he would see her and smile that smile that hit her in the pit of her stomach and catch her eyes with his and…She shook her head, noting that she'd spent twenty minutes staring off into space dreaming about Endymion. She'd never been the boy crazy girl. She'd had crushes on boys on and off through middle and high school, but after she realized how different she was she'd given up the hope of a boy ever reciprocating her feelings.

But now she had Endymion. He was hers. She felt the connection the contract had made and knew that they would always be together. She knew it would take time before they took their relationship to the level of an actual couple. But she thought they were off to a good start.

The sun was starting to set when she finally finished her homework and set her books aside for the night. She heard her mom moving around the kitchen making dinner and decided to check her e-mail before she called her in to eat. She sat at her desk and turned on the ancient computer, listening to the fan turn as it fought to load up. She knew she'd have to ask her mom for a new computer for college, but she was putting it off for as long as she could, hoping her mom would get the promotion she was working so hard for before she asked. The out of date operating system pulled up and Serena opened up the internet browser, her e-mail account set as her homepage. Her jaw dropped. Her inbox had over fifty unread messages. She'd been anticipating an e-mail from Columbia or maybe an aunt or uncle. But this? She opened her inbox and immediately recognized the names of several of her classmates.

"Stargazer22," she read, noting her username and wondering how they'd gotten hold of it. "Alexia posted on her blog about you getting married. Is that true? Kelly Opal."

She felt her stomach drop and read on, each e-mail confirming it. Alexia had announced on her blog about Endymion's confession, a blog almost everyone in the school just happened to follow. She clicked on the link each e-mail contained and the page that loaded was neon pink with sparkling letters splayed across the background that spelled out Alexia's name.

"Freak Gets Hitched," the title of the blog read. Serena felt her face heat up and tears collected at the corner of her eyes. "Resident psycho, Serena Marshal, deigned to show her gigantic ears at the mall today. At my favorite hair salon, no less. Let me tell you, they've lost my business by allowing weirdos like her inside. Anyway, I was just walking by innocently, thinking about getting my naturally blonde hair trimmed, when I see Serena sitting in said salon. With a guy unknown to Centerville prior to today. When I innocently introduce myself to him and attempt to welcome him to our fair town she jumps all over me about talking to her man and I'm like, OMG! Seriously! Then she announces, like she's so important that they were engaged! I'm like, are you preggo? Because why else would somebody get married in high school. Teen Mom, anyone? Anyway, I'm just warning you all to stay away from Serena, her "fiancé" and use protection! Don't be a Serena! Kiss, kiss! Alexia."

Serena's hands curled into fists at either side of the keyboard as tears splashed on the metal desk. Alexia had gone too far. How could Serena show her face in school after that? She knew she'd mention the engagement, but to accuse her of being pregnant? And those blatant lies about how Alexia found out! What was worse was, Serena knew the accusations of pregnancy were not far-fetched. She knew her mother would probably ask the same question when she was told. But for Alexia to spread it all over the internet…Serena didn't know what she was going to do. She considered faking sick the next day until she could come up with some kind of plan to finish school without having to actually attend.

"Dinner!" her mother called from the kitchen. Silverware clinked as it was laid on the table and plates and glasses followed. Serena had to act natural. Her mother could not know about this. She wiped her cheeks dry and fanned her eyes to drive away the redness. She watched her face in her makeup mirror until it resumed a semi-normal color and left her room. Her mother was setting a casserole on the table and smiled as Serena came in.

"Hello, dear. Did you finish your homework?"

"Yeah," Serena replied. Her voice was a little thick and she cleared it to sound more natural. "Did you finish your work?" she asked, turning the attention on her mother.

"Just about, there's still this small part I'm trying to work out," And just like that her mother took off with the conversation. Serena sighed internally. Usually when her mother got started, she could talk about her job for hours. She was a social worker who worked with foster children who have been abused. She was hoping to get promoted to a supervisor position which would allow her to transfer to New York and had to write a case study to be considered. Relieved that her mother could so easily monopolize the conversation her thoughts turned to Alexia and school the next day. Maybe she could skip school without her mother even knowing. After she dropped her off she could run back out and catch the bus to the public library and hide in the stacks until the end of the day, getting back in time for her mom to pick her up. But what if Andrew rode to school with them again?

Her mind raced through her options as she ate her dinner. When she finished she placed her plate in the sink, relieved it was not her night on dishes and said goodnight to her mother before returning to her room. The blog was still up on her computer and like a moth drawn to a flame she returned to it, rereading it. Each time her stomach clenched tighter and tighter until she thought she really would be sick.

A tapping on her window drew her attention away from the screen as she quickly minimized the internet browser. Andrew peeked through her window, grinning mischievously. Serena frowned at him and motioned for him to go away but he stayed, refusing to leave. She sighed dramatically and went to her window to open it, keeping an eye on her door. It was not in her mother's nature to barge in but if she heard strange voices it was likely she would make an appearance.

"What do you want?" she whispered after cracking the window.

Andrew's grin turned to a concerned frown. "I saw Alexia's blog." he replied. "Are you okay?"

Serena sighed, collapsing in the chair by the window. "No," she replied miserably. "If I was a social pariah before, think about what'll happen to me tomorrow?"

"What about the whole spiel about having to become impervious to gossip?"

"Pregnancy?" Serena said. "That a whole other level!"

"C'mon," Andrew tried to comfort her. "Do you even know how many times Alexia's been accused of being pregnant? You're the last person on Earth that anyone would jump to that conclusion over."

"I don't know," Serena said, hiding her face in her hands. "I thought I could handle it. But just the thought of everyone looking at me and talking about me behind my back…it still terrifies me." her voice choked on the end and fresh tears spilled over her eyelids. Her embarrassment over Endymion doubled with embarrassment over crying in front of Andrew and the tears came harder as her face stained red.

Andrew jumped through the window and pulled Serena against him, wrapping his arms around her and rubbing her back, while whispering soothingly into her ear. Serena's sobs caught in her throat at the shock of Andrew holding her. He wasn't as warm of Endymion, but she still felt comfortable in his arms. She felt his chest rumble as he continued to whisper to her and it sent ripples of excitement through her. She couldn't help looking up at him; his face was mere inches from hers. Her breath caught at his nearness and he stopped whispering, staring into her eyes. His eyes were so blue, she felt like she was falling into a cloudless blue sky. Their faces were drawing closer and Serena closed her eyes, knowing he would to kiss her, realizing she wanted him to. Didn't she? She felt like she was forgetting something. Or someone. A shooting star and black. Ebony. An ebony bottle, no, a lamp. And ebony eyes.

"Endymion," she whispered throatily. Andrew jerked back and Serena's eyes snapped open as he pushed her roughly back against her chair.

"Sorry," he said gruffly.

"I made him a promise." Serena said. Her cheeks were still wet with her tears and she knew they were also cherry red, as was, no doubt, her nose and eyes. "I can't betray him." she thought about how close they had come and she could feel the contract she had made with Endymion restricting her, tight in her throat and in her chest.

"Did you want to kiss me?" Andrew asked, looking at her once again.

Serena looked at her faded gray carpet. "I am upset, I am not myself, but…" she nodded. Andrew placed a hand under her chin and made her look at him. He was smiling, albeit a little bitterly.

"Then that's all I need to know." He lowered his face to hers and gently kissed her cheek. Like Endymion, his lips left a burning sensation on her skin and she caught her breath as he pulled away. "I'll see you tomorrow at school." he said before climbing back out her window. He turned as he prepared to leave. "Don't skip. It'll just make them talk more." He winked at her and was gone. Serena felt emotionally drained as she slumped back in her chair, astounded at what had just happened. Andrew had almost kissed her. Or she had almost kissed him. How had that happened? What did he expect of her? He knew she had promised herself to Endymion and could not go back on the contract she had made that had rescued him from his enslavement.

Serena wished she could see Endymion, remind herself of the way she felt when he held her hand or smiled at her. But her mind was filled with the blue of Andrew's eyes and his lips on her cheek. With a jolt she realized she was in the middle of a love triangle. The last thing she thought she'd ever have to deal with. If only Alexia knew about this, there'd be another blog post in a second. Of course if she knew the truth about Endymion, the last blog post would have been a lot more interesting. And just like that, Serena knew she could face Alexia and everyone at school the next day. Simply because she knew she had bigger fish to fry.

Andrew was at her kitchen table when she came out of her room the next morning. He smiled at her as though nothing had transpired between them, making it easy for Serena to act as though nothing had happened as well. Her mother was over the moon that Andrew had shown up again and was only too happy to drive him to school, no questions asked. As they drove, Serena prepared herself for the battleground that would be school. She'd thought about it nearly all night and had fallen asleep with her plan cemented in her mind. She was going to ignore the whispers and rumors and laughter. If anyone confronted her, she would tell them Endymion was her boyfriend but they planned on getting married someday, after college. Because it was technically the truth.

She was so busy thinking about what she'd say to anybody who approached her at school she did not hear her mom calling her name until she'd said it several times.

"Yeah?" Serena turned.

"Are you okay, honey?" her mom asked, sending a worried glance at Andrew in the rearview mirror.

"Yeah, I was just thinking about a test I have later. I was going over my notes in my head." She was finding it easier and easier to lie. That thought did not make her feel better.

"Oh, well, I am sure you will do fine. Andrew and I were talking about his friend, Endymion. I invited Andrew over for dinner and he wanted to bring him. Do you both know him?" her voice seemed casually interested but she knew her mom would be happy to know her daughter had more than one friend.

"Yes, actually. He goes to Centerville Community. I met him at the mall with Andrew and Molly." Her daughter replied.

"Who's Molly?" her mom asked, her smile growing.

"We eat lunch with her," Andrew supplied. "She's my girlfriend." Serena looked back at him with wide eyes.

"Since when?" she asked incredulously.

"Since last night," Andrew replied, blue eyes burning into hers. "She finally said yes. I guess after hanging out at the mall all afternoon she realized she couldn't live without me." He chuckled. Serena's mom giggled, though it seemed a little forced. Serena suspected she had harbored hopes of Andrew and Serena dating, another feat in the eyes of Dr. Thompson. Serena knew her wish would be granted soon enough. Such as that evening. When she finally met Endymion, though she would not know he was her future son-in-law.

She dropped them off at school, her happiness only slightly dampened. At least Serena was talking to people. That was something she was told would probably never happen. And now Serena had three friends. While her mother's mind was swarming with thoughts of her daughter's introversion, Serena was watching the faces of everyone she walked by. They seemed curious certainly, but nobody sneered at her or looked at her like she was some kind of freak. Andrew stayed beside her, watching her carefully in case she decided to bolt. They met Molly at Serena's locker as he had asked her to and Molly also watched Serena with caution.

"You saw it to?" Serena asked.

"Duh!" Molly replied. "I don't think there's anyone in the tri-county area that didn't see it." Serena sighed; trying to ignore the way Andrew slid his arm around Molly and pecked her on the lips and the way Molly smiled so adoringly up at him. Feeling more irritable than she had a moment ago Serena slammed her locker, attracting even more attention than she'd had before.

"It'll be okay," Molly said, mistaking the source of Serena's agitation. "Nobody really believes you're pregnant. In fact, most people don't even believe you're engaged or dating anybody."

"Then what are they staring at?" Serena whispered angrily.

"They're wondering what you did to upset Alexia so much that she even mentioned you in her blog."

"Well, she got the engagement part right. She'll never tell the real reason she's mad is that Endymion turned down her offer." Andrew laughed. Andrew and Serena went on to homeroom after Andrew kissed Molly again, Serena barely containing her angry grunt. She realized as she sat down that she was acting like he did yesterday when it had been Endymion and Serena acting cozy. But that was before the near kiss with Andrew. She didn't think it counted.

"Hey!" a slightly deep female voice called. Serena looked up and saw Raye Waters standing by her desk, smiling down at her. Raye wasn't exactly part of the popular crowd at her school, but she was nice and pretty with long black hair she usually braided and big dark blue, nearly purple, eyes. "I'm Raye," she introduced herself as if they hadn't gone to school together since middle school. Serena supposed everyone felt like they had to reintroduce her to modern life since she had participated in so little of it.

"Hi, Raye." Serena said, a little tentatively. "How are you?" Raye took the seat in front of Serena, ignoring the fact that somebody else had sat there all year.

"I'm good, better than you what with all this hype Alexia's been spreading." She watched Serena curiously. "It's not true, is it?"

There it was, there was the question Serena had been expecting all morning. She took a deep breath and tried to smile at Raye but she was sure it looked more like a grimace. "No," she began. "I'm not pregnant and I'm not engaged." Not in the way everyone thought anyway, Serena added to herself.

"I thought so," Raye grinned at her. "You don't seem like the type of girl who would present yourself like that. But why did she say all that? Are you two, like, fighting or something?"

"No," Serena explained patiently. "I ran into her in the mall with my…boyfriend," Serena stopped herself from stuttering and couldn't help a smile of pride. "She thought he was single and she asked him out but then he told her we were dating and I think she got upset."

Focused on protecting herself from the rumors, Serena didn't notice how quiet the room had gotten until she had finished her story. She looked around at all the eyes on her and managed to hold her smile. "You shouldn't believe everything you read on the internet." A few people laughed and everyone settled into their seats. Raye smiled back at her.

"That'll be spread around the school by lunch," she assured her. "You probably won't have to worry about the baby rumors anymore."

"I hope not." Serena sighed. "Thanks," Serena said heartily. Raye nodded and turned in her desk.

Serena looked at Andrew and he grinned back, causing her heart to beat a little faster and her face became slightly warm. She looked back to her desk and tried to study her notes for her next class.

The lunch bell rang at twelve o'clock and Serena somewhat reluctantly made her way to the cafeteria. She met Molly and Andrew at the double doors and made her way into the cafeteria and the lunch line. A tap on her shoulder alerted her to the approach of Alexia and her posse. Serena gulped and girded her stomach for the confrontation. A hush settled over the room, even the lunch ladies appeared to be interested in what was going on. Serena saw a teacher move forward like they would interfere but another held them back, shaking their head.

"So, I heard you've been spreading lies about me." Alexia began in her annoyingly fake feminine voice.

"I've been correcting the ones spread about me." Serena replied.

"Whatever." Alexia held up her hand. "Why would I ever want a guy who would be seen with you? What are you? Nothing, that's what. Just a freak." Her cronies laughed and high-fived her, but everyone else in the cafeteria was silent.

"Really, Alexia? Because I distinctly remember you writing me a note last year, asking me out." Andrew piped up, stepping beside Serena and crossing his arms. "I hang with Serena."

"That is a lie!" Alexia exclaimed, paling a little.

"No, it's not. But what you have been saying about Sere is." Andrew replied quietly. "I'm tired of you bossing everyone around like you own the place. You cannot do this. Leave Serena alone."

Alexia's lips puckered in distaste. "Whatev." she said before sashaying away. The chatter resumed slowly in the cafeteria, though people still watched them curiously, and Serena breathed a sigh of relief.

"Well, it wasn't the pownage you usually see in teen movies, but it definitely worked for the moment." Andrew laughed.

"Thanks," Serena said.

"No prob," Andrew replied, wrapping an arm around Molly. Serena suddenly felt lonely as Molly and Andrew chatted easily with their arms around each other as they found a table and settled in. Not talking to people had meant she'd never known what it felt like to be the third wheel. Maybe the one upside to being introverted. She wished Endymion were there.

"Serena Marshal?" a teacher called from the cafeteria door. Serena looked up to see the vice-principal waving her over. She sent a slightly panicked look to Andrew and Molly before splitting from the lunch line and walking over to her. "Your mother is here to pick you up." she said. Serena was confused, but then remembered she had an appointment with Dr. Thompson. She relaxed and waved to Andrew and Molly, who had been watching her. Her mom was early but probably just wanted to get lunch with her.

Serena followed the vice-principal to the office where her mother stood with a small leather purse slung over her shoulder, chatting with the office clerk, Mr. Howell. She smiled at him as they talked and Serena realized she was flirting with him. Feeling awkward she walked up to her mom and cleared her throat.

"Oh, Serena!" her mom exclaimed, jumping a little. She smiled guiltily at her daughter and smoothed her hair to try to cover the awkwardness. "Sorry, I'm early but Dr. Thompson had to move up your appointment due to an emergency."

"It's okay," Serena assured her, grabbing her elbow and steering her away from the curious and entertained eyes of Mr. Howell.

"Oh…well, goodbye, Roger!" her mom called back, sending another lippy smile over her shoulder.

"What are you doing?" Serena whispered as they walked down the hall.

"What do you mean? I was just being friendly!" her mom replied, blinking at her.

"No, you were flirting, blatantly." Serena accused, anger tingeing her voice.

"Well, I am a single woman."

"What about Dad?" They were outside now and Serena raised her voice.

"Serena, we're divorced. He left a long time ago. He's not coming back. I can't live my life on might-have-beens." her mother reasoned. They climbed in the car in silence.

Serena's mind turned to the father she barely remembered. He had been a good dad, up until he left. She remembered playing with him in the yard, jumping in the leaves they raked, riding bikes. She could still see her mom smiling and laughing with him on the patio as she played in the sandbox. He left them when she was seven. She could remember screaming from her parent's bedroom, a slamming door, and silence followed by her mother's weeping. She'd never seen him again. Serena assumed her mother attempted to track him down, for child support and such, but he'd never tried contacting Serena. However, she couldn't give up the hope that he would return and they could be a family again.

"I know what you're thinking," her mother said after they'd driven in silence for a while. "That's not realistic you know."

"What?" Serena asked, feigning ignorance.

"Happily ever after. Staying with one person for the rest of your life. That doesn't happen these days, not for everyone."

"Maybe if people tried harder," Serena began, really meaning her mother.

"You can't force somebody to love you, Serena." her mother said softly. Serena looked at her mother and saw her jaw quivering and immediately felt bad for attacking her.

"I'm sorry," she began, but her mother stopped her.

"I want that for you, Serena. I want you to find a man to love you until you die. Don't not try because of me. But one day when you get married, make sure it is to the right one, the one who you truly love."

Serena looked at her clenched hands, thinking of Endymion. She knew he would never leave her, because of the contract. Suddenly she wished the contract did not exist, that Endymion and she could be together without the contract looming over them, keeping them on that path. She wished their future could have been a natural one. But it was too late for that and besides it happened so quickly. And it was more than a relationship. She would be giving a man freedom from eternal servitude. Her mind flicked to Andrew but she pushed the thought away. She could not be with Andrew. Besides, he was dating Molly. And they looked pretty happy together. Natural. No paranormal marriage contract required.

Her mom pulled into the clinic's parking lot and they walked into the waiting room. Serena saw the usual occupants. Teens with troubled childhoods, adults with bruises, some spaced out, kids with mental disabilities. She'd been in this waiting room so many times she knew the exact number of tiles on the ceiling and cracks in the wall. She and her mom took their usual seats by the window and her mom occupied herself with a magazine while Serena studied the others waiting. A little girl was watching her, with limp, brown hair, big hazel eyes and a gapped smile.

She had a piece of paper before her and crayons and was mindlessly doodling on the paper and the table. Serena remembered the first time her mother had brought her here as a child. It hadn't been that long after her father left, Serena now knew one of her big triggers was that event, and her mother was struggling financially. She'd managed to hold a job as a secretary but was just starting school to get her degree in social work.

Serena had been given a piece of paper and crayons as well but hadn't touched them, choosing instead to sit at her mother's side and hide her face in her coat, peeking out when she thought nobody was watching. The walls had been green then, instead of the neutral beige they were now. However, the clinic's therapist from her childhood visits had retired and Dr. Thompson replaced him three years ago. It was his diagnosis that gave Serena and her mother little hope in Serena ever successfully assimilating into society. Serena was sure her mother couldn't wait to rub his face in the truth. Too bad she didn't know the whole story.

Serena hadn't told her that it had been Andrew who had brought her out of her shell, though she knew her mother assumed he had a lot to do with her sudden social flourishing. Without him, she wasn't sure how she'd have reacted to Endymion, she probably would have passed out. And she certainly wouldn't have been able to stand up to Alexia as she had at school. Andrew had helped her in ways he probably couldn't imagine.

"Serena Marshal!" the secretary called from the desk. Serena and her mother stood up and hurried through the single door, down a hall and the second door on the right. Dr. Thompson sat in his swivel chair with a chart held before him, checking off various item as he awaited their entrance.

"Doctor," Serena's mom announced primly.

"Welcome, Ms. Marshal! Serena!" he smiled, gesturing to the overstuffed chairs placed before his desk. "How have you both been?" he asked jovially.

"Fine. Yourself?" Her mother replied, sounding a little bored, though Serena knew she was putting on an act. Her mother always acted that way with Dr. Thompson. If Serena hadn't begged her not to change doctors, she'd refused to build another relationship with a different therapist in a different office with different patients, she would have switched after that first visit.

Serena studied Dr. Thompson as he replied to her mother, explaining the emergency that had caused him to move up their appointment, his young son had stepped on a nail and his ex-wife called asking if he would come to help comfort him. He was still young, relatively, perhaps a few years older than her mother. He had blonde hair that was tinged at the temples with gray. He had dark blue eyes that crinkled when he smiled; the smile was wide and contagious. He really was handsome in that older man sort of way. Serena was glad her mother was so adverse to Dr. Thompson, otherwise he was exactly the kind of man she would want to date.

"How has school been lately?" Dr. Thompson asked, addressing Serena.

"Fine," Serena replied minimally.

"She's made a friend." her mother blurted. Serena scowled at her mother and tried to keep the blush from rising in her cheeks. Dr. Thompson looked from her mother to Serena with raised eyebrows, clearly surprised.

"This is news!" he exclaimed, smiling. Serena's mother frowned at him, pressing her lips together tightly. "What is her name?"

"It's a he," her mother supplied again.

"Ah! So it's a boyfriend?"

"No!" Serena said quickly. "He's just a friend. His name is Andrew and he's our neighbor."

"Tell him about your other two friends." her mother prompted her. Dr. Thompson stopped what he'd been about to say to look at Serena again with surprise.

"You seem to have had some kind of breakthrough!" he exclaimed, scribbling on his board. "It seems my prognosis of your condition was incorrect."

"Whatever do you mean, Doctor?" her mother asked impishly.

Dr. Thompson frowned at her before explaining himself. "Well, you see, an introvert cannot be "fixed" by the standard definition. It is the way their brains work that keep them from inserting themselves into social settings. They can make friends and be social with those they are comfortable with, as Serena was with you, so of course I assumed. But if she is making friends at this rate and communicating at least moderately comfortably with them she does seem to have made a breakthrough with whatever has kept her back all this time."

"What's your new diagnosis?" her mother asked, now switching her tone to one of concern.

"I would say her tendency to social isolation was not introversion brought on faster by her father's departure, but rather a mental agitation brought on directly by his departure. After he left, she appears to have shut herself off to any new social interaction that might result in similar departures."

Serena raised an eyebrow at him as he smiled at her, amazed that he had gleaned all that without her really saying anything except she had made a friend. Well, three.

"What are your other friends' names?" he continued, returning to his clipboard.

"Molly and Endymion." Serena supplied, hoping to keep her mother out of the rest of the conversation.

"And how did you meet them?" he pressed.

"I met Molly through Andrew, they eat lunch together. And Endymion…" she paused, hoping he could not tell she was lying. "I met him at the mall when I went with Molly and Andrew."

"Interesting," Dr. Thompson chewed his pen thoughtfully studying her. "You paused when you explained how you met Endymion. Why was that?"

Serena panicked as her mind raced to find an excuse. She wished she had prepared everything before she'd come. She should have known a therapist could see through her thinly veiled lies, even if her mother couldn't for hopefulness.

"I was just trying to remember exactly." she supplied lamely.

"Umhm." Dr. Thompson scribbled. "Describe Endymion for me."

"Um…he's…tall." Serena began, shrugging. "He has black hair and black eyes."

"Most unusual," Dr. Thompson interrupted her.

"Well, they're so dark they look black." she quickly amended.

"Of course, continue."

"Um…he's from the middle east," Serena said honestly. Even if the country was still called Persia at the time. "And he goes to CCC."

"So he's older than you and your other friends?" Dr. Thompson clarified, marking through part of what he'd written and scribbling even faster.

"Only by a couple of years," Serena replied, remembering that his papers had said he was a sophomore.

"That's not such a big age gap." he agreed. "My wife and I were five years apart." he commented as he crossed out another scribble. "How far apart were you and your husband, Ms. Marshal?"

Serena's mother looked surprised at the question and counted on her fingers. "Let's see, I was twenty when we got married and he had been out of high school for six years…He was four years older than me." she looked even more surprised at the fact that she had to count the years between them. "I'm sorry," she said shaking her head. "It's been so long since I let myself think of him."

"Of course," Dr. Thompson said sympathetically. "Separations such as yours typically have that effect on the participants. I do not doubt Serena was not the only one mentally scarred from your husband's disappearance."

"What do you mean?" Her mother asked, stiffening.

"Well, he was your husband and you loved him at one point. His abrupt departure and subsequent absence had to worry you."

Her mother glanced at Serena and back at the doctor, reluctant to reply. "I got by," was her only reply. Dr. Thompson smiled at her.

"I can see that. And you've done quite well by yourself. All things considered." He turned his smile on Serena.

"I expect to hear about even more budding friendships on your next visit." his smile broadened as the timer dinged and he put his pen down. "Until then," he stood and extended his hand towards Serena's mother who took it cautiously, as if shocked by the gesture.

"Goodbye," he called after them as they shut the door and walked slowly out of the clinic, each digesting what he'd said.

"Well, I'm glad he's finally changed his mind about your recovery." Her mom finally spoke as she put the car in drive.

"Me too," Serena chuckled, smiling at her mom. "How did it feel to have him turn on you like that?"

Her mom looked at her sternly. "I am an adult. I can handle my own affairs. You, as a child, have a delicate mind that needs airing once in a while."

"Wow, I've never been called delicate minded before." Serena was laughing now and her mother laughed with her.

"Hey! We're having company for dinner tonight! Your little friends, Andrew and Endymion. I hope he brings Molly. I would like to meet her to." her mother rambled as she drove down the freeway.

Serena thought back to how close they'd been in the cafeteria. "He probably will." But she would have Endymion. Granted they had to act as if they barely knew each other, but it would still be comforting to know she would not be a third wheel. If anything, her mother would be a fifth wheel. Suddenly she felt sad for her, realizing that she would be moving into a dorm next year, she'd have Endymion, and her mother had been holding back because she hadn't wanted to upset Serena. She deserved to be happy with someone if that was what she wanted.

"I don't care if you date again." Serena whispered. Her mom looked at her, surprised.

"Really?" she raised an eyebrow dubiously.

"Really. You're going to need somebody to aggravate when I'm gone to school." Serena smiled at her mother, who was still young and pretty and was content in her decision to let go of her vision of her father returning.

"Well, thank you." her mother replied, grasping her daughter's hand in a moment of understanding. "So, for dinner, I was thinking we'd order it and then pretend I spent hours cooking." she grinned at Serena. Serena smiled back.

They stopped at the grocery market and picked up the tubs of food before heading back home. Serena settled on the couch to watch the afternoon movie on the classic movie channel. Her mother disappeared into her room, Serena thought to freshen up for company but she emerged a few minutes later with an old shoebox and a determined face.

"I'd been hiding these from you for years now, but after today, I don't see how I can hide them any longer." she admitted, setting the box in Serena's lap. Serena pried off the lid and inspected its contents. It was filled with pictures of her father. Pictures of him laughing, candids, and family portraits Serena couldn't remember posing for. It was like a shrine devoted to him.

"I've never really forgotten him." Her mother admitted, stroking her daughter's hair. "I just was afraid of how having his things around would affect you. After today I'm not worried about that anymore. You need to remember him, to know he was your father at one point. It has been unfair of me to hide him from you." Serena skimmed through the pictures, tears blurring her eyes until she could barely make out the images. "You can have these." Her mother whispered.

Serena turned and wrapped her arms around her mother's waist, her tears making wet spots on her mother's shirt but neither cared. "Thanks mom. Thanks for understanding how much he still means to me."

"I know sweetie. And I don't want you to hate him. Some people just can't handle being a parent. Had I not been around I don't think he would have deserted you. He knew you would be loved and cared for. He just wasn't ready for the responsibility. Perhaps he never will be." Serena nodded and pulled away, drying her eyes and replacing the lid on the box of memories carefully.

"What a day, huh?" her mom chuckled, going back to her room and watching Serena from the doorway. "Dinner's at six," she winked and closed her door, leaving Serena holding the box against her chest, tears shining in her eyes and a smile blooming across her lips.