Rowen and Serenity sat quietly as they read their own books.
Every once in a while Rowen would sneak a peek at Serenity, but she was absorbed in her book.
He wondered if she was actually reading the book or just looking at the pictures. Seeing that it was a book designed for adults he decided to ask her in a way that he hoped would not offend her.
"What are you reading Serenity?" he asked keeping his voice quiet.
Serenity looked up from her book and gave him a shy smile "It's a book about Myths and Legends" she told him also keeping her voice low.
The next words she said to Rowen startled him and yet it broke his heart at the same time
"Please don't tell anyone at school I can read" she begged him "I'd be treated even worse if everyone knew"
Rowen was thoughtful for a moment and then thought of something.
A secret for a secret though his secret was much more scarier and caused more harm than hers ever would.
"I promise not to say anything as long as you can make me a promise" he told her
Serenity looked down at her book and was quiet for a moment
"Does it have anything to do with what I saw?" Rowen could hear the terror in her voice and took a deep breath
"You can't tell anyone what you saw and I mean no one" he told her seriously "We'll both get hurt if anyone finds out"
Looking up at Rowen he was surprised to see her eyes were wet with tears. He wondered why she was crying. Perhaps he was asking too much of her. She was the same age as he was and she most likely never had to keep a secret like this before.
"I won't tell anyone Rowen" she looked around making sure no one was around to hear what they were saying "I'm a good secret keeper" she wiped her eyes with her sleeve
Rowen looked at the little girl trying to think of something to say to make her feel better "Thanks for all the lunches you've been giving me and that breakfast on my birthday"
Serenity gave him a small smile "You're welcome" she looked away "I guess you didn't like the birthday present I left you. I'm sorry I can get you something else"
Now that really made Rowen feel bad as he thought back to the third package he had left in his cubby.
He wondered if it would still be there when he returned to school.
"I umm well you see I really didn't want to be your friend at first. I was already having problems at home and my mom left me and I I didn't want to let anyone get close to me. I hoped by ignoring you, that maybe you'd get the hint and leave me alone, but you didn't. How come you choose me over everyone else to try to become friends with? Even after I pushed you away from me, you still continued to be kind to me"
Tears came to his eyes and embarrassed to be caught crying by a girl he covered his face with his arm. His shoulders shook as the tears fell.
A few moments later he felt a gentle hand touch her should and he moved his arm and saw Serenity looking at him with concern.
"You look like you needed a friend" she told him sadly "I needed a friend as well and thought we could be best friends. I kept trying and trying because you were the only one at school who seemed to accept me. Even though you ignored me it was much better than what the others were doing to me"
Rowen looked down ashamed of his behavior towards her.
"I got the gift at my house if you still want it" Serenity told him quietly and watched him carefully for his reaction.
"How'd you get it?" He demanded angrily "You shouldn't give someone something and then take it away from them"
The little girl flinched at the tone of his voice. She took a deep breath and looked away
"The teacher was telling her helpers that if we left anything in our cubbies to toss it in the trash as no one would be there for two weeks and if we left anything it was obvious that we didn't want it. After you left everyone had to go inside and wait and so I took it out and brought it home with me"
Rowen looked at the bruise on her face and reached up to touch it, but she pulled away
"Didn't anyone ask you what happened to your face?" he asked
It had bruised right away when Genichiro slapped her and he had pushed her pretty hard when he was dragged away
Serenity shook her head
"No one will speak to me unless I talk in Japanese and my Japanese is really awful" she reminded him
Rowen frowned 'Well what about your Dad?" he asked thinking of the way the man who picked her up every day carried her in his arms with a smile on his face.
Serenity shrugged her shoulders "He didn't say anything. He just thought I fell" she told him
Rowen said nothing more on the issue
The day wore on and the two children talked off and on about their likes and dislikes.
When Rowen told Serenity he didn't like veggies, she agreed not to pack him anymore
They agreed to trade books with each other when they were finished reading and when they finished reading the other one's book they took turns getting new books to read so they could have their corner to themselves and not worry about their spot being taken.
Lunch time rolled around and Serenity tried to get Rowen to join her.
Remembering Genichiro's threat he refused to leave
After being asked why a few times, he told her he was to stay there until closing and wasn't allowed to leave.
Serenity promised him that she would return within the hour and left
Watching her leave Rowen felt a pang in his heart.
How he wished he could be like Serenity and be able to have a normal life.
He made the decision to be her best friend, but it would have to be done in secret lest the school tell his Father what was going on.
Having made this decision Rowen felt the weight from his shoulders lift and his heart wasn't as heavy.
No longer did he have to bear his painful secret alone. Now he had another person, a friend none the less that knew.
Finally Serenity returned and this time she had her backpack.
She joined Rowen in the corner and opened her back and handed him a sandwich bag filled with cheese and crackers
"I figured you could eat this fast and put the trash in here" she said reaching in her bag and pulled out another bottle of water.
Rowen devoured the lunch quickly and took a long drink of water.
They hid the bottle in Serenity's bag and brought it out when he wanted water.
Later She pulled out two brownies which they shared eating quickly least they get caught and scolded for snaking in the library.
They continued to talk and read aloud to each other until the sun began to set.
Serenity said she had to go home, but first she had something for Rowen
Opening her backpack she took out a familiar package and handed it to her friend
Without any hesitation he ripped off the wrapping and stared at the gift in his hands.