C o t r a v e n i n g S i l e n c e


Chapter 8: or so you've said

A.

"What do you think of this dress?" Alicia held the blood red cocktail dress to her curvy body. "Is it too slutty?"

Claire and Massie both shook their heads.

"It really does compliment and enhance your boobs," Claire joked, her eyes dancing again. She side-glanced at her boyfriend in the store across from the store they were in. He winked at her and discreetly waved her over while the other boys were occupied with looking some video games or something.

Claire walked over there, leaving Massie and Kristen alone—Alicia went into the changing room across the store to try on that dress.

"So…" Kristen drawled, looking bored and uninterested.

Massie bit her lower lip.

"—Massie I'm going to put this in the kindest way I can place it, okay?" Kristen began in a sickly faux sweet voice, her eyes darting towards where Alicia strutted off. "I want you to stay away from Derrick. I've heard that you actually talked a couple of times for him—and that's nawt acceptable. Okay? He doesn't deserve a low-life like yourself, got it? Good."

Feeling her heart snap a little more, Massie stared hard and long at the dirty blond in front of her. She opened her mouth to retort, but knew that Kristen didn't deserve to have bragging rights to say she got the silent-child to talk. Instead of telling Kristen off, she pursed her lips tightly, and closed her eyes until she counted to ten.

"I'm glad to see you know where you stand." Kristen smugly summed as she swayed her hips suggestively towards Derrick. Derrick was pointing out a new Call Of Duty video game that was $57.99 when Kristen reached him. He looked bored—similar to the way Kristen had earlier—and kept talking to Kemp about the game even though Kristen kept clearing her throat repeatedly to earn his attention.

"What happened, Mass? You look like you've seen the ghost of your past!" Alicia exclaimed, her chocolaty doe-eyes, wide and caring. Massie assured Alicia with her hands that it was nothing and its fine.

Alicia didn't look convinced though because she glared at Kristen's long dirty blond hair when she wasn't looking.

"If she gives you any more bull shit, come to Claire or me—we can handle it." Alicia snarled under her breath as she lifted the cocktail dress to put it back on the hangers, answering Massie's quizzical look.

"It looked too revealing." She explained, eyes still following Kristen's seductive moves towards Derrick—who was still looking like he was so fascinated by a cover over video games; but out of the corner of his eyes, he locked eyes with amber orbs—shooting her a peculiar undecipherable look.

She was so caught up in wondering what look Derrick shot her that she didn't even notice Josh trying to catch her eyes.

"Where's Plovert?" Claire realized as she wandered back, without her loyal whipped boyfriend.

"He couldn't come," Alicia explained. "His Grammy was visiting."

Alicia and Claire giggled; Massie cracked a smile.

Ruining the fun like-wise, Kristen stomped back over to the giggling girls who immediately stopped smiling when they saw Kristen—either Alicia told Claire about how Kristen said something mean to Massie—or Claire just down right disliked Kristen—because she glared daggers at Kristen.

"What's so funny?" Kristen proposed, her eyes smirk and knowing.

"—nothing." Claire seethed, her back now turned away from Kristen, staring at a sapphire blue deep v-necked—just below the knees—dress. It was silk, and would go beautifully against Massie's just-right natural tan.

"Try this on." Claire commanded as she eagerly handed Massie the dress. Hesitant, Massie reached for the silky dress and stared at it in awe—it really was incredibly beautiful.

Massie walked slowly to the dressing room, and opened the door and slammed it shut—double checking that the lock was on. She stared at the dress for immeasurable moments and contemplated the pros and cons of doing this.

Deciding that if she were to try it on only for her view only, then nothing would happen.

She slid into the silk dress and zipped up the back zipper with ease. It felt comfortable and perfectly easy to wear. Then she turned towards the full length mirror and stood there like an idiot for moments.

The dress really did enhance her tan—but it definitely showed too much –Too much back skin. Her cleavage was full, and the nape of her neck was showing as well.

She tried to pretend that those scathing scars weren't traced all along her back, or the fact that there were a couple of scars that were engraved on her neck. She tried to ignore it all—but it was so overwhelming when she saw these scars—hence why she didn't like to wear more revealing clothes. She doesn't need the interrogation.

And come to think of it; she couldn't even handle retelling the horror story.

"—Massie, are you okay?" Claire's voice called worriedly. Massie took a large deep breath, and clicked open the door to peek her face through, revealing none of the dress to Alicia or Kristen's far away view.

"Lemme see the dress!" Claire was eager and hyper.

Massie shook her head no frantically.

"NO! Lemme seeee!" Claire whined, grinning. But Massie was stubborn. And stubborn people usually hold their own.

Massie kept shaking her head no, but Claire managed to squeeze herself into the dressing room, blocking the doorway and efficiently slamming the door shut.

"Well, let's see it, Miss—I'm-so-modest." Claire exclaimed. Massie was up against the wall, tears threatening to fall from her glassy amber pools. "Please?" Claire begged.

Massie kept shaking her head no, but Claire managed to see Massie's dress and her entire body. Her back.


:::-:::

D.

"So I heard my girlfriend was doing some 'under cover' work for you," Cam conversationally added as he examined the suit he was looking at for the dance.

"What makes you bring that up?" Derrick suspiciously questioned.

Cam ran a hand through his hair uneasily. "Dude, well, uh, I think you need to give Massie…um…time." Cam stammered.

"What? Why?" Derrick protested, putting the video game back on the shelf as he turned his full attention to Cam—something he rarely does: give his attention anyone.

"She—she's healing from a rough past, we all know that." Cam observed as he glanced nervously at the store across from theirs. Alicia and Kristen were bitching at each other, but Claire and Massie were out of sight.

"Yeah…I guess." Derrick reasoned.

"Well—just be careful with her, okay? She's special."

Derrick nodded, "I know that."


:::-:::

M.

"Shit Mass, what happened to you?" Claire simpered, her Tiffany Robin blue colored eyes wide and confused. She ran a hand through her blond locks and looked uncomfortable.

Massie opened her mouth to say something, but her voice wasn't working.

"I—uh—you need to buy that dress." Claire said. Massie looked incredulous.

"What?" Claire asked in a high voice. "It looks killer on you—gorgeous actually."

Massie gaped. Why wasn't Claire screaming and running out of the dressing room? Why wasn't Claire gossiping to Kristen and Alicia about Massie's disgusting back that was covered with scars?

Because she's your friend…Massie's inner conscience reasoned. Massie just didn't believe it.

"Please buy it? Or I'll buy it if you don't…" Claire threatened; an easy grin on her face once again—the bubbly blond was back—hopefully to stay.

Massie nodded reluctantly. She didn't need Claire buying her clothes either, so she shooed Claire out of the dressing room and slid out of the dress and into her normal clothes.

She picked up the dress and carried it to the cash register and handed them her visa with a nervous jittery feeling overwhelming her.

"This is a one-of-a-kind dress." The cashier made small talk. Massie nodded in acknowledgment.

"You know, it's really expensive…right?"

Massie knew that too, so she nodded in response.

"Okay well…" And she handed the credit card and dress back to Massie in a wrap so it wouldn't get torn; like her life seemed to have been.

Torn.


:::-:::

C.

"Hey Derrick, can I talk to you?" Claire asked as she knocked on her brother's door. He answered it immediately and opened it welcomingly for her. She walked in, her hands intertwining and fiddling: she looked unsure…nervous.

"What's up, sis?" Derrick propped.

Claire sat on his bed and gestured for him to too. He did.

"Well, I—had Massie try on this indescribable dress on…" Claire began. Derrick waited with eager and impatient eyes. "And she was really…hesitant and stubborn about letting Alicia and me see." Claire tried to put this in the most rational way she could.

"And I managed to squeeze into the dressing room and I saw," Claire took some deep breaths as she got lost in her own memories. She could easily recall those slash marks on Massie's back, and even a couple on the nape of Massie's neck. It was terrifying to think what had happened to Massie.

"What did you see?" Derrick demanded, impatient as usual.

"I," Claire's breath caught in her throat. "—Scars."

Derrick cocked his head to the side and shot her a bewildered look, urging her to continue.

"They were," Claire was fighting to stay in the present, not get sucked into her thoughts, "all over her back. They were brutal, and pale compared to her skin…they looked painful. And god damnit, they were long and when I said all over her back—I am dead serious." Claire's eyes were huge now.

She couldn't comprehend what she saw, or piece together the pieces of that mysterious amber eyed brunette's past. None of it added up—and all Claire's theories weren't rational enough.

Derrick's mouth was open but he couldn't find words either. He was just as lost as Claire was.

"I—don't know what to say to her." Claire admitted feebly, her eyes landing on Derrick's solid figure. "She's so…delicate in my eyes. I feel like if I was to—oh I don't know." Claire changed mid thought. She was quick minded.

"I know what you mean." Derrick whispered through on moving lips, his eyes still frozen and on the ground. He was staring at the plush carpet with unfocused brown eyes.

"It's very unnerving." Claire summarized.

Derrick nodded his head in full agreement.

"We have to figure out what's wrong with her—or else." Derrick realized shortly later. Claire took that in and nodded.


:::-:::

Arriving at home from a havoc filled day, she logged onto IM and as usual, watched all her ex-friends log off. But she was more then terrified when she received her first IM from a long last…enemy.

2Marvilous4U: Long time no talk Block—eh? It's great to actually talk to you—wait no, that's right—you don't talk. At all. All because…why? Hmmm?

Frozen and unable to find the strength to type in words and Dylan seemed to understand that because Massie didn't reply immediately.

2Marvilous4U: Well whatevs. I got my revenge anyway: all thanks to your boyfriend stealing bitchiness, isn't that right, Block?

Massie shuddered, her eyes tearing up again; her chest pained.

2Marvilous4U: It's funny how you thought you could escape California like that—that you believed your past wouldn't come back to bite you hard in the ass, eh? Well anyways darling, I have to go. It was fabulous talking to the biggest whore in California. I'll be looking forward to seeing you soon… Ta, Ta For Now.

2Marvilous4Uhas signed out at 8:31pm…

What. The. Fuck?


Author's Note: Hmm I hinted at SO much in that chapter. Be glad; and good golly gosh: SO MANY REVIEWS!!! That's amazing, guys, thank you!!! Sorry about that crass last word...-looks shameful- Forgive meee?


Review Replies:

Fanfictiontastic: Yeah I know right? Hmm… facebook stalking is kinda fun when you do it with your friends, hahhaha. I'm such a creeper. And under context, I always liked to imagine Alicia as a good friend—and Kristen the enemy.

Kai-XCrunner4life: There were tons of hints in this chapter about Massie's intriguing past in this chapter :P Oh! And thank youuu! (=

BraidedTissues: You're too funny!! (: My mom can be like that sometimes…she does it a lot actually. Haha. Indeed—I feel honored for you to be using big words just for MOI! Hehe. :P

Chantal xoxo: The dance I think will be in the next chapter. I'm not too sure yet, and yes, havoc is one of my favorite words to describe such chaos. I really do think that Derrick is still a sweetie. (;

AlphaSkier: I repeat for the billionth time: Couples are not set in stoneee!!! (: Derrick… awwh man.

Cliquexxloverxx9: Derrick…he's a very complicated child. So I guess that you'll have to theorize Massie's past, AND figure out Derrick's emotions and stuff! Whaddya know? A puzzle to solve.

Raison icecream: Dude, I love you too! Hahaha, you're hilarious. I love using quotations and stuff to word out actions that happen because they're always fun to do hahahaha. I loveee Cam myself—he and Claire are a minor couple right now, and I don't want to cause drama between those two lovely love birds. (:

Cheer09: The couples… that's a secret. Surprise pairings, remember? And I am ANXIOUSLY curious to hear your theory for what you think I'm doing with this chapter. I hope this story isn't predictable.

Xjgege: Your loss, haha. (: I hope that's not the last review I'll receive from you—but I can't use all reader's opinions because where do my thoughts and ideas come in??? Hmm?

just a little CRAZIEE: (: awwh, I haven't received a silly review from you in soooo long—I was wondering if you forgot about lil' ole' me. ):

dodo955: I dunno about you—but I just simply ADORE awkward reviews. :P


REVIEW.

-J.H.Q.S.316