Though not everything changed for the better. After all, no story is perfect.
The whispers still followed Mara's blue hair through the crowds she walked, where she wouldn't glance back to give away that she knew what they were talking about. But so far, no one had spoken in anything more than a whisper. In fact, it didn't seem Beck was aware of such things going on at all.
But then things become more than a whisper. Paige recalls the first she realized so...and to think it had seemed like nothing.
There was the sign taped to their door. Who knows what time it had been put up, but Mara was ahead of her on the staircase when she suddenly froze.
"Mara? You alright?"
She says nothing, before ripping the paper up and crumpling it up in her fist.
"I'm fine." She says finally, before unlocking their door.
Any other instances are a blur. However, she notices that Mara has once again been showing up less outside of their workouts together.
And tonight, she's late.
Paige sits on the bench where she can easily see the glass doorways. She already stretched, but she can't start without her partner. It's both unfair and dangerous to do so.
She glances down to her watch. Fifteen minutes late. That's unusual for her…
Wait. She glances up at the flash of blue as the door swings open and shuts carelessly behind Mara, whose rapidly rubbing the sleeve of her jacket over her eyes.
"Mara?" She's brushed off as Mara runs to the bathroom, and locks the door behind her. Paige stops in her tracks at the click, dropping her reached out hand.
Something's wrong. Mara never brushes people off like that, and...had she been crying?
Who was it? Who hurt her?
How dare they?
If it was that Zed, I'll make him pay! I never trusted him anyways…
The door opens again, and her head snaps up again. Speak of the devil.
"Is Mara here?" Zed asks as he practically runs to her.
"That's not your business." She finds herself asserting. "If you hurt her, I swear to god I will end you_"
"What? No!" Zed waves his hands in front of him as a sign of surrender. "No I would never do that to her! I just…" His expression falls. "They were bad tonight, and she ran off. I want to make sure she's alright."
"Who's they?" Paige invades his personal space after he sits. "What happened?"
The door unlocks with a click, and both look to the door as it opens. Mara sniffles, still gripping the edge of her sleeve to wipe away any tears. She turns, and starts to find the two waiting for her.
"Are you alright?" Zed approaches her first, taking her hands in his. She doesn't meet his gaze, instead looking dimly to the floor. Paige crouches, gaze still on her friend as she digs through her bag for the extra bottle of water. "Mara, please. I just want to know if you're okay."
There it is. She snatches it and stands, and Mara shakes her head. She closes her eyes, and still tears race down her face. Her two friends exchange a shocked glance, before Paige jerks her head towards the bench. Zed nods, and gently leads Mara to sit. Once she does, Paige and Zed sit on either side of her. They stay silent until her silent sobs fade away, and she's left staring at the floor.
"Here." Mara glances up to where Paige holds out the bottle. After a pause, she takes it and focuses on unscrewing the top. Nobody says a word as they wait for Mara's say.
"I'm not a whore."
Paige blinks at Mara's final statement. "Okay? I know that."
"But the whispers…" She shakes her head. "Everyone thinks I am."
"Why?"
"Think about it, Paige!" She snaps, her voice trembling. "Since the beginning, Beck has given me top ranks, Beck's always giving me compliments…."
"...Oh."
She nods. "They think I'm sleeping with him for high marks. That he takes it easier on me because of...that."
"What? That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard!" So that's why they've been calling her those things. I never realized there was a story behind it…
"They think it's possible." Zed chimes in, glancing to Paige. "Since they've known each other for so long."
"But...it's not true."
"I've known Beck for as long as I can remember. But we're practically brother and sister; I could never think of him as a lover. That's just…" She wrinkles her nose. "That's just too weird!"
Paige nods as Mara continues. "But they think every time I've been gone that I've been with him."
"But you've been with me."
"And me." Zed adds in, taking her hand. It doesn't go unnoticed by Paige that Mara squeezes his hand.
"I know…"
"Mara." Paige kneels down on the floor in front of her. "You can't listen to them. The three of us know it's not true...Beck knows it's not true. In fact_" She rises_ "I'll go tell him now!"
"Wait!" Mara grabs her wrist and pulls her back. "You can't tell him!"
"Why not? He and the Renegade will take care of it!"
"In everyone else's eyes, that will prove their point. I can't let them win."
Paige pauses, but is eventually brought back to her knees. "...What do you want to do then?"
She shrugs, then looks up to her friend. "Act like they aren't there."
"...I suppose." She takes her friend's hand, and squeezes her hand. "But if it gets worse, I'm taking care of this."
Mara laughs, voice still wet and eyes teary. She squeezes her hand. "Thank you."
"For what?"
"...For being my friend when I needed one."
"For your sake...I hope things get better from here."