The next day is, to put it lightly, awkward.

They avoided each other, feet dancing around each other.

Myka kept her eyes glued to the book she carried around. She'd read Moby Dick at least eight times but it was something else to look at.

She knows Pete can feel the tension when Myka climbs into the front seat instead of the backseat with Helena.

He tries to tell a few jokes but those fall flat and they drive in silence until Myka can't take it anymore and she turns on the music.

"So.. are the lovebirds fighting?"

She wants to punch him. More silence.

"Why don't you ask Myka?"

Pete casts a sideways glance at Myka who shakes her head.

Suffice to say, they were all happy when Pete finally pulled up in the parking lot, Helena jumping out first. They both get out, Myka slamming the door.

"Don't take it out on the lat-mobile. And what the hell happened? I thought things were going great!"

"I don't wanna talk about it." She mutters, turning on her heel and walking away.

Pete's really worried. He doesn't want all of Myka's relationships to end with her sulking for months at a time. Sam was bad enough. Myka had told Pete about her decision to tell Sam she loved him and right before she could tell him, he broke up with her because he was moving half way around the world. Myka was in a mood for weeks and even Pete couldn't cheer her up. He even bought a signed Agatha Christie book for her but it did nothing. He'll be damned if this happens again.

He whips out his phone and sends out a text.


"Dude, did you seriously send us a bat signal?"

Claudia and Jinks are with him in the janitor's closet.

Steve wrinkled his nose at the mop that was hanging close to him.

"And did we have to meet in the janitor's closet?"

Pete rolled his eyes.

"Come on guys, take this seriously." He pauses. "And yes Jinksy, it adds to the atmosphere."

Claudia looks at her watch and groans. "Come on Pete, we have like 3 minutes until class. Mr. Nielsen is going to kill me if I'm late to his history class again."

"Myka and Helena are fighting. Or broken up. Or whatever but you remember what happened last time Myka got her heart broken?"

Steve grimaces at the memory of Myka after Sam. Actually, there aren't a lot of memories due to the fact that they barely saw Myka for 3 months. She was always burying herself into books or fencing practice to take her mind off of it.

Claudia shakes her head. "We have to fix this, I actually like Helena. She's so cool."

"And she makes Myka happy." Steve pipes in.

"That too. Maybe we should get her something to cheer her up. Twizzlers? A new book?"

"I'm pretty sure she's read everything."

Claudia grins. "Maybe we should introduce her to video games."

Pete groans, slumping over. "You guys suck at staying on topic, I don't know how Myka does this."

Claudia high fives Steve, "Alright Jinksy, we've worn him out!"

The bell rings.

Pete rolls his eyes, "Reconvene tomorrow 1400 hours."


Myka can feel the eyes on her, following her every step. She can hear the hushed whispers envelope her and she walks faster.

She hears a few snickers when she approaches her locker and in lipstick, lesbo is written across her locker. Big and fat and red.

Tears instantly well up in her eyes and she reminds herself tears are a sign of weakness, tears are weakness. She chants it to herself until the tears go away and she takes out a tissue from her bag and stars wiping the locker. She rubs softly at first, not wanting to draw attention but the lipstick only smudges more. She rubs harder, willing it to go away.

"Do you need help?" A voice causes her to flinch. She looks to the side, ignoring everyone else's stares. She finds Leena smiling at her. Leena is everyone's friend and mother in the school.

Myka tries to smile but can only nod, handing her a tissue too.

They stay in silence like that even after the bell rings and the crowd dissipates. Myka has study hall now. It doesn't matter. Leena probably has class though and Myka's thankful for her being there.

"I'm sorry." Her voice echoes in the loud halls.

"For what? You didn't do anything." Myka's surprised to find her voice so steady.

"I'm sorry people are dumb idiots." Leena offers her a smile and Myka surprises her by leaning forward and hugging her.

She just really needs a hug right now.

As Leena soothes her, Myka allows herself to cry. One tear, Myka thinks, that's all you get.


Myka is walking with Pete through the hallway. She hasn't told anyone what had happened though she's sure that people have talked about it by the looks of it. Pete doesn't seem to know yet which is good because he'd beat the living crap out of whoever did it and she doesn't want him to get suspended again. So she focuses on her converse, step by step. She clutches her books close to her chest and walks on.

Justin, a football player, pushes into her, knocking her books down. "Dyke." He spits out.

Before Pete could even get his fist up, a punch brings Justin down.

Myka looks up from the mess of papers to see Helena cradling her right hand, her face red. She has a look of vicious fury that Myka's never seen before, even after showing her the film adaption of War of the Worlds.

"Don't you dare call anyone that ever again." Her voice rings throughout the hall and people just stare at her with their mouths open. She spins around and the students part, making a path for her.

Justin stands rubbing his jaw. "Hits like a lesbian." Before he can say anything else, Pete shoves him against the locker and has his arm on his throat.

A fight ensues with the wrestling team against the football team and Myka slips out of the crowd to run after Helena.

"Helena!" She calls out, weaving through the crowd of students rushing to see what the commotion was.

She catches up to her, grabbing her elbow and Helena whips around. Myka looks into the eyes she's spent hours staring at and they look nothing like the Helena she knows. The Helena she knew was warm and understanding and intellectual. This one was angry and bitter and sad. She felt cold looking into her eyes when all she could see before was warmth.

"Don't, Myka. Just leave me alone." Helena shakes her hand off and continues walking.

Myka doesn't have the heart to stop her.