EtherealButterfly: hey hey new chapter! Sorry I took forever (was it really almost two months?) but I really wasn't inspired and from where I see it it's better not to force the writing or it will get crappy and I really didn't want it to happen, but yes, I was also a bit lazy. Anyway, guess what? we'll finally reveal who's the secret writer! That's right, plus some clues on a new mystery. And now I'll shut up cuz I'm starting to sound like a cheap TV show. Enjoy and R&R. Really sorry for the long waiting.
13. Secrets
Needless to say that Monday is always the worst day in the week for any student. At EASI it was no different.
The schedule informed that 10th A would have Gym, Chemistry and then Literature, by that exact order and starting at 9:00 sharp and ending at 13:30.
But by some unexplained reason, which many attributed to a hairdresser appointment, Professor Henrietta Johnson was forced to change her class with Miss Challenger, making a slight modification in the schedules of both 10thA and 10th B, since their Chemistry class was conjoint. And that was the information that was passing around that morning at breakfast.
"To me is all the same really," stated Michael.
"Of course it is, it's always classes," confirmed Tala.
"Precisely, all damn boring," continued the American.
"But luckily we have gym class first," turned the red head. "And we better enjoy it for this will be our last class outside. Next we're moving to the swimming pool. And there's where things will get hard." Tala stretched his arms.
"We're at the table," recalled Mena on a very mom-like tone.
Tala stared at her. "Whatever." And he put his arms down.
Mena got back to her waffle with a melancholic glance on her eyes.
"You're not okay," noticed Robert staring at her.
"I'm as good as anyone could be," she answered.
But he knew her well, he wasn't buying that quick-made answer.
"No, you're not. Tell me, what's wrong?" he insisted.
"Nothing. Everything is perfect." And she faked a smile.
"Fine, if you don't want to tell me then don't but don't lie to me."
Mena was getting tired of that sentence, she had heard it a lot on the past days. But still Hiro's advice was kept vivid in her mind so she used her usual half-truth scheme.
"Remember that thing that was bugging me the other day?" she said. He nodded. "Well, still can't find it and it's driving me nuts."
He smiled.
"Thanks a lot for smiling at my misery," she glared at him.
"I'm not smiling at your misery," he replied.
"Then what were you smiling at?"
"At the fact that you totally didn't follow my advice. I told you to drop it but you just couldn't," he widened a smile again.
Mena didn't really know what to say so she turned her eyes back to her half-eaten breakfast.
Eventually she started to sigh over and over again. Soon she would have a new message in her room for yes, she succeeded in convincing him, and it also meant she would have a new chance to find him. Though she had tried it before, she had waited for him and still he had always been able to elude her. Once he had even put the message beneath the door as she was sat on the other side waiting. So basically for the more that she tried he was still able to get away.
When she finished her breakfast she got up and turning to Robert she said:
"I gotta go. From now on we have to use the dressing rooms for gym class so I must leave."
"Yes, I've noticed that you weren't wearing your tracksuit," he said.
"So there you have it. Well, gotta go. See ya." And she left the table joined by Chelsea.
The girls headed for the dressing room where they found some other girls from her class, including Delancee.
"I'm glad we're moving to the swimming pool," commented Chelsea.
"Me too," answered Mena. Yeah, she liked water, it calmed her down and God knew she sure needed it.
She walked to her locker, #274, and opened it using a key held on a key-ring with a silver skull. She took out of the locker a pair of black sweatpants, a short coral and black top that showed her midriff and a black hoody to put over, for it was really cold.
As soon as she was ready she walked to the mirror to tie her hair.
"Can you help me with mine?" asked Chelsea.
"Sure." And Mena tied Chelsea's hair mechanically.
"You're not very well, are you?" the brunette asked.
"Why d'you say that?" she replied omitting the fact that Robert had made that same remark just a few minutes before.
"I don't know really, your eyes look sad and you all look anxious," Chelsea said.
"Lack of sleep," Mena lied. She knew that Chelsea was right and she also knew what caused it.
"Are you worried about your grades in the exams?"
"Not really."
"Then what are you worried about?"
And suddenly Mena regretted not to have pointed the exams as the cause of her concern, now she would have to think of a quick answer.
Chelsea's eyes stared at Mena demanding an answer.
"I don't know really, some sort of passing insomnia." The red smiled without amusement.
"Okay." And Chelsea smiled back. "Lets go outside, shall we?"
Mena nodded.
But the entrance of the room was blocked.
"Isn't it great?" It was Madison, who was telling Delancee something absolutely amazing, judging for her tone. "I knew I could do it, it was just a matter of time. And we're getting really close!"
"Oh, I'm so happy for you!" Delancee exclaimed. "Finally you're getting him!"
"Yeah! I'm really happy!" continued Madison.
"Good for you, now let us pass please," said Mena with a glare.
"In a bad mood, are we?" replied the tanned American.
"If I am that's your fault. Now, excuse me!" Mena's features got harder and Chelsea glared.
Madison and Delancee glared at the other two but stepped aside.
As soon as Mena and Chelsea passed through the door Madison and Delancee got back to back to their excitement.
"Really, Delancee, I'm super happy! I think it's a matter of days till he asks me out."
"I bet. And Kai is SO hard to please!"
So Madison was after Kai, huh? Again. Good for her. And once again Mena thought of giving the American her place next Kai.
"Madis... No forget it." But she couldn't, again the possessions thing. No, she couldn't give her place at the lunch table nor at Chemistry class.
Outside most of their colleagues awaited the start of class. Soon Miss Steadman came and they were commanded to run twenty laps around the field.
At first it seemed like hell but then they got actually happy to be doing it since it was really cold that day.
Time had run fast, Fall was nearly over and so was November. Soon they would go back home for Christmas break and relax for two whole weeks. And then they would have the so wanted Snow Week, when they would go to the Swiss Alps and stay in some cute bungalows for ten people each. There they would be able to ski or snow board, depending on what they preferred. That would be fun.
Gym class ran without much trouble. Occasionally Michael made fool of himself, which was turning tradition, Tala laughed himself out and they all ran a lot, which considering the tremendously cold weather wasn't such a bad thing.
Next it was Literature and that wasn't any better. Professor Johnson sent them thousands of pages to read and work on plus another thousand of homework pages. And if it wasn't enough the teacher kept glancing at her watch every five minutes, like if she had to leave very punctually at a determined time.
"Guess what they say is true," started Mena turning to Chelsea right in the middle of some essay question.
Chelsea raised an eyebrow in reply.
"She really has a hairdresser appointment," the British explained.
"Really? That's so unprofessional. I don't think she would do it. They're making that up." Chelsea frowned sceptically.
"Lets test their theory then."
"What d'you have in mind?"
"Watch." Mena opened a deadly smile. Definitely she was up to no good. "Hey teacher," she called aloud.
"What is it Miss Thyssen?" asked Johnson as though she was bored with this sudden call.
"Well, I was wondering why are you glancing at your watch every ten seconds. You're certainly not thinking of letting us out earlier, are you?" A fake hopeful look took out Mena's eyes and was combined with a deadly smirk on her lips.
"Well..."
Mena didn't let the teacher finish: "You know, that smells just like a hairdresser appointment."
It was it. The bomb was dropped, and in the shape of such a simple word: hairdresser.
"What are you insinuating, Miss Thyssen? That I have a hairdresser appointment?" And this was Johnson biggest mistake, she got defensive.
Mena grabbed the opportunity to release a bit of her sarcasm, this time with a twist of cynicism: "Oh no, ma'am," she said on a sweet tone. "I just said that the fact that you're constantly glancing at your watch reminds me of a hairdresser appointment. But isn't it silly? Why would such an invent interfere with our Lit class, huh? It's like I said, silly me." And to finish Mena slapped her forehead theatrically, showing the teacher and the whole class that she knew what she was talking about.
The rest of the students and especially Chelsea watched amazed and respectful. That was teaching Johnson a lesson. She was always so inflexible with her students but in the moment of truth she failed.
Still and for an unfortunate hierarchy detail Johnson was more powerful in that school than any teacher should be and consequently she gave the proper punishment for such serious, nevertheless true, accusations. The girl received a week detention and a lecture heard practically by all the school since Johnson was yelling out loud.
So this was what had remained of Literature class for Mena: lots of homework and a week detention. Luckily there were people willing to help as it would be proven in a matter of seconds, as the news of Mena's stand up ran around the school.
As soon as Mena got out of the room five minutes and another lecture later she found Chelsea, slave Enrique and his friends – Tala, Michael and Oliver's mop of hair held with his blue cap.
"Mena, Mena, Mena," Tala started. "I was never really a fan but today you got a few extra points in my book."
"Really?" Mena widened a cynical smile.
"Absolutely. You've done what many of us wanted..." he went on.
"But didn't do," she said under her breath and with her mind set on that detention week.
"If you weren't popular already now you certainly are," continued the dark red haired boy.
"I have to agree with Tala on this one," said Michael. "You did well, von Thyssen."
"Like I need your approval." Mena smirked.
"Always so damn acid," protested the American shaking his head.
Mena kept her smirk and was about to leave when she received the most rewarding compliment:
"Well done Mena." It was Enrique.
The red's jaw nearly dropped. Enrique? Complimenting her?
Mena got so amazed that she merely nodded. Unfortunately Enrique took it as despise so their relations that could now be on a good way were as good as between the French and the English during Waterloo, meaning: about to turn into World War III.
The two girls decided on returning to their dorms and change their books for the Chemistry ones. Enrique intended to follow Chelsea but he felt the stronger appeal of the golden salty chips on the school's cafeteria.
So the two friends climbed up the stairs to their dorm leaving behind the four males: two blonds, a red haired and a green one.
Upstairs Mena and Chelsea were finishing their talk as they entered room 274.
"Well, guess you were right after all," reckoned Chelsea.
"I told ya. Gosh, I was so sure!" Mena started laughing and Chelsea joined her.
She took out her keys and unlocked the door, opening it and letting Chelsea pass.
"Thanks."
Mena was about to close the door silently when she noticed a small squared piece of white paper. Needless to say that she immediately recognized it and as the short brunette was just passing by her bed she slammed the door, winning half a second with Chelsea's jump, and sat exactly over her dear paper.
The auburn haired noticed something weird but didn't know exactly what so she glanced to Mena hoping for some light.
"What?" turned Mena.
"Nothing," replied Chelsea.
In her mind Mena kept thinking "why doesn't she go to the bathroom? Why doesn't she go to the bathroom?" But Chelsea wouldn't, so Mena picked her paper in another jump and departed to the bathroom.
Inside she sat on the top of the toilet, which had become a usual chilling spot in times of stress, which was quite the case for the last three weeks,
Finally she unfolded the paper and started reading:
How d'you do? (Not so well) I must say it still amazes me how you got to convince me to keep writing. (No one is more amazed than me) Please don't get me wrong (I won't), it doesn't bore me writing to you. (I hope so) In fact I've come to enjoy doing it.
A soft smile of true happiness lightened Mena's features before she continued to read. Love was really in the air...
I still haven't asked you what d'you think of the soccer team's game being called off. (You should have seen me when I heard about it. Maybe you have...) I s'ppose you got really pissed, since you seem to like football a lot. (Yes, it was pretty bad) But there will be more matches, don't worry.
Now something else, did you get good grades on your exams? (Yeah, mainly As) I hope so. (Thanks) It's tough the examination month here at EASI. (Yes, it is. But it could be a lot worse)
Well, I don't have much more to tell you. I think you're better so I have less to write about. Maybe you should be more condescend with people around you,
Suddenly she heard the bell ringing.
"Mena! We gotta go, we can't be late for Chemistry," told her Chelsea through the door.
"Right. Coming," the hurried British answered.
She put the paper back in front of her eyes and read as fast as she could.
Maybe you should be more condescend with people around you, they're not perfect and sometimes you make them feel like they'll never be good enough just because you don't let them please you. You have plenty of qualities so you shouldn't let this flaw coexist with them.
I really don't have anything else to write you. Have a nice day. (Thanks)
And she put the letter on the pocket of her jeans and left the bathroom, picking her stuff and following Chelsea out of the dorm and into the next class.
The girls practically run but still got late. The door was already closed and the teacher was informing her students about their task for the day. They knocked on the door and entered, all eyes set on them as always happened when any student got late to class.
They went straight to their places and sat to hear what Miss Challenger was saying.
"Like I was saying before," directed her eyes to the late girls, "today we're doing a worksheet that I'll correct to check how well you're going with what we're studying now. I wanna know where you have difficulties so that we can fix that and of course I wanna know how well you would do if this..."
Mena wasn't listening anymore. Apart from the death glare she got from Enrique as soon as she walked in the worksheet thing didn't exact bring her a lot of joy. Instead it summoned her darkest side.
"Don't you just love when she says 'worksheet'? Really, it makes you actually happy for having showed up in class," she stated taking a pen out of her bright pink pencil case.
"We're sarcastic today, aren't we?" commented Rei with his usual smile.
"Me? No, I'm just so incredibly happy for having got out of bed. In fact I had a fantastic day so far." She faked a sweet smile followed by a death glare that wasn't exactly meant for Rei.
"By the way, you did great on Literature class. That Johnson really got what she deserved." He tried to change the subject but there was no point.
"Not really. The real thing is that I never learn when to shut up. Now I got a week detention and all for entertaining a dozen morons and two slightly more evolved people. Great deal I made, huh?" When Mena had something on her mind it was nearly impossible to take it out and now she was determined to be pissed with the world. She didn't know from where that feeling came but it didn't matter.
"So you're having a bad day?"
"A bad day? That's being nice. We're forgetting that I also had a tremendously fun gym class with all those jackasses: Tala and Michael and so on."
"C'mon, they're nice guys."
"Oh yeah, great guys. Especially when they're checking on some girl and being incredibly disgusting. That's when they're really great." Suddenly she stopped and realized she was working up for no reason so she calmed down. "Fuck, sorry. I didn't mean to discharge on you or anything. I'm sorry."
"It's all right. Everybody gets mad sometimes." Rei was one of that people who seemed never to get angry. It was almost annoying how he always smiled even after being so mistreated. Mena thought that that was probably how an actually good person acted but it didn't work for her.
"Oh, and Mena?" Rei kept his smile. "Don't worry about your detention."
"How can I not?"
"Just trust me. Tomorrow, at the time you're supposed to present yourself for detention? Don't do it."
Mena gave him a sceptical look.
"Don't worry about a thing and trust me."
"Okay," she finally said but still doubtful.
As she was too lost in her own thoughts she received her worksheet but barely noticed it. It wasn't until she saw everybody answering to it that she realized she should be working already.
The worksheet wasn't particularly difficult. It had a couple of problems about concentration and some other True or False questions. Besides she had to explain the evolution of the atomic model and how, unlike some books showed, an atom isn't a flat thing with orbits similar to the solar system ones. It wasn't difficult, it was just boring.
Of course that Mena saw that such classes as this were extremely advantageous to the teacher, since everybody was quiet, silently answering to the questions, making calculations and writing them down. It was quite agreeable to Miss Challenger, who could do whatever she wanted to, even go away and take a coffee for it was unlikely that anybody would go away since the worksheet was to evaluated.
It's amazing the power that the word "evaluation" has over students. The same task will be performed with completely different spirit and correction depending on whether it will have a small letter written in red or green at the top of the sheet or not. If something doesn't count for the final grade then it's worthless of being done.
Most students felt that way, if not all of them. Strangely it was more important to them to have a good grade, even if they didn't actually know anything, they had just memorized it for the exam, than to actually learn that stuff. It's not very logical but on most cases true.
Both A and B class went on writing their very best answers for those 90 minutes that Chemistry class lasted. They couldn't wait to get rid of it and have lunch. Not because they were hungry but more because it meant classes were over till the next day.
When there were only five minutes left till the end the teacher raised her eyes from her papers and looked straight to the students in front of her and then to her watch.
"Well, time to finish everybody. Mena, d'you mind collecting the worksheets?" asked Miss Challenger. "Please put them by alphabetic order."
"Sure." And Mena got up picking her own sheet which was finished for a long time.
Then she received Chelsea's, Rei's and Kai's at once and already on the proper order, all she had to do was put her own before Rei's.
She changed table and collected Mariah's, Salima's, Enrique's, Michael's, Tala's, Madison's, Delancee's, Kenzie's and so on. She would have also collected Kane's but he asked for two more minutes so that he could check his answers.
So, ended the two minutes, she approached Kane and received his paper sheet.
She skimmed through the papers looking for people with names started with K. His place would be just before Kenzie.
As she skimmed the papers he suddenly stopped frozen. She recognized a handwriting, it was impossible not to. That was the handwriting of the most important person for her.
And just like Robert had said: When you stop looking you'll find it, just like that. Just like that.
She had been searching, wondering for days after days who he was and suddenly there he was. All she had to do was turn the paper sheet and she would finally see his name.
The truth was that now that she was about to discover his identity she wasn't sure if she that was what she really wanted. A part of her didn't want to know anymore. What if he turned to be someone like Michael? For countless times she had rejected that possibility. He was stupid. But now that he was at the distance of only a page turn of knowing who had been writing to her every day so devotedly she had to consider it all.
Because it was a really important matter, whoever he was he had achieved something she thought to be impossible, her heart. That was the sad truth, she had lost her heart to the owner of that worksheet. And the thing was that she didn't know if she wanted to put a face on the faceless shining knight she imagined to be the writer.
Unable to wait anymore she slowly turned around the page, first revealing all the complete answers he had written. And then the date, his class – 10th B. He belonged to 10th B, ciao Michael. And finally the name appeared: tari, watari, i Hiwatari, Kai Hiwatari.
It was it. And suddenly the world fell apart for Mena. From all guys in the world, in Switzerland, in EASI, in The Gang – it had to be him.
Slowly she realized she was still in class and probably being watched so she walked, step by step, back to her place but nothing seemed more painful than that. She was still walking but already fearing the moment her eyes would meet his.
It was bad enough already that she had fallen in love at all without even having to be for him.
It was a desperate situation but luckily, like in many other times, she was saved by the bell. Everybody had already gathered their stuff and was waiting for the supreme command to leave the room – the bell.
As Mena approached the table Rei and Kai and everybody else passed by her taking their stuff and walking fast to be able to get to the canteen earlier than the others. But on their table Chelsea was still waiting for her.
"So, lets have lunch?" Chelsea widened a smile.
But Mena just couldn't. She knew she couldn't skip meals forever but at least she could go have them at another time that not the one he had chosen for himself. Still for the present moment the last thing the red haired wanted to know about was food. She already had butterflies on her stomach so she didn't exactly need food, in fact she was unable to swallow it.
"I don't think so Chels," she answered. "I think I'm sick."
"Really? Did you have something strange for breakfast?"
"Maybe."
"Poor thing." Chelsea hugged her friend. "D'you wanna go to the infirmary or something?"
"No, it's not necessary. I think I'll just go to our dorm and rest or something. You go have lunch."
"Okay. I'll pass by later to check you."
"Okay, thanks." And Mena and Chelsea went separate ways, the British to her dorm and the American to the canteen. Mena, though "sick" took Chelsea's books – all to be alone.
That had been a harsh discovery. Not one time she had consider that the head over the shoulders of her knight of the shining armor would be Kai's. That was the irony of fate. She had rejected him not once but twice and now she saw herself in a position in which she was the one who wanted him and most likely would be rejected. That was unfair, or at least she thought so.
Mena wasn't sure anymore if she was even happy to have discovered who her writer was. She was tem times worse than before. She had a knot on her throat and butterflies on her stomach.
Finally she reached her room. She opened the door that she right away slammed to throw herself on her bed and do what she inevitably always did when she found herself under deep emotional stress – cry.
It wasn't like she had any intention of doing it, since it proved she was not as tough as she would like, but it all was quite overwhelming and so she couldn't help it.
Not always you have the reaction to things that you would wish or thing themselves work out the way you want. Unfortunately Mena was starting to really know what that meant, and the hard way. It hurt, of course, and way more than she could have imagined but that's the way things work. She was no longer a child so she couldn't remain protected on a crystal ball forever without risking to break it.
Her heart felt miserable, like if someone had wrapped it in a cloth band and was pulling both sides of it till she couldn't take it anymore, till she was suffocated. It was like if suddenly she had aged a lot and got heavy and tired.
It was pretty bad: she was all messed up and confused. No one should have to feel that way (maybe just Michael – to pay for his annoyance – and only from times to times).
The question "why?" wouldn't leave her mind. Why him? Why now? Why her?
She had pretty clear on her memory both the times he had asked her and how, both times she had answered. Mena wasn't proud of her attitude. She had been unfair and even partially cruel. But the saddest thing was that she couldn't change it...
Flashback...
She was biting her bottom lip as she always did when she got nervous. She knew he was about to drop the bomb. Her heart beat faster every second and her face was feeling hot, maybe she was blushing but she couldn't know – she would never know.
She heard him gain breath and then… "Mena, I… I like you," he said. "I like you most probably since I met you but I… wasn't… hadn't… enough courage to speak to you before."
Mena froze but she felt all the hot blood coming to her face and neck. She had to be blushing, or at least she thought so. She was almost certain that this was what he wanted to talk to her about but she kept denying it to herself. She didn't know why, it's was probably defensive. She REALLY didn't handle emotions well. So basically when he spoke she was totally caught by surprise.
"I… I… I don't know what to say… I," she said and that couldn't have been more honest.
"Then don't say anything," he said approaching her even more and with his lips standing quite close to hers.
That she knew what it meant, all of it. That "Then don't say anything" was way too familiar. Probably he was waiting for her to close the kiss, like if it was some sort of deal.
"No, the thing is that…" She turned her face away. It was incredibly uncomfortable to have his look, not to mention his lips, standing so close. She had the feeling that if she didn't move or said anything he would kiss her. She took a deep breath and gathered all the courage she had and even some she hadn't. Then finally she spoke: "I think it is common in a situation like this to say you're thanked for the feelings devoted to you, and I'll do it. Thank you. Thank you but… But I feel I've gotta be honest and I… I don't think I feel the same."
'It was all very quick,' she said to herself. Suddenly she thought that that was what usually people who had shot others said: It was all very quick. And strangely she sort of felt like she had shot him and that felt painful. Unlike people thought and even sometimes it could seem she didn't enjoy being unkind to others, she really didn't and she felt bad for probably making him feel sad and disappointed.
"I'm sorry," she added hoping to bring some inexistent comfort.
She felt his eyes lay upon her and that nearly killed her. It was like if his eyes were actual daggers.
"Don't be," he answered her. "These are my feelings and though I must confess I thought they were mutual you're not obliged to share from them."
She swallowed dry. "But I want you to know that I'm really really sorry but I… I just can't think of it working," she said. And she really didn't.
Rain was falling like hell, that was what she first remembered. Every now and then a far lightning stroke the sky.
The furious raindrops stung her skin like thin needles and made her blink while she adjusted to that uncomfortable water falling into her eyes and resting in her eyelashes. Still it was kind of beautiful and emanated and certain feeling of freedom.
But he had to go, he had to go after her. "Wait. Come back. You're going to get sick."
Suddenly she got mad at him. She felt like she couldn't stand his presence like if he had done something awful to her.
"And since when do you care?" She had been perfectly clear, why was he insisting upon that? She just felt the rage flowing through her, in her blood.
"You know I care." And that was the worst. That attempt of persuasion through loving words. He would never know how much she had hated him in that moment and how much she regretted it later.
"No, I don't. Nor I want to know." Cold and harsh she walked away wishing never to see him again.
"Wait. Please." No, she didn't mind seeing him, she just didn't want to hear him.
"Why should I? I doubt you have anything to say to me."
"But I do," he said. Mena turned around. He wouldn't get it! Why didn't he see she just wanted him to leave her alone! "I promise I won't bother you with this again," he insisted. "But I need to know if your feelings have changed."
So that was the thing! What else could it be really? Why did he have to like her? Why her? Half school would die to have him even join the words "you" and "love" in the same sentence, regardless of the actual meaning. She truly couldn't understand it, he didn't know her or anything.
But he was demanding an answer. "Why d'you keep asking it? It just hurts you," she said.
"Let me decide that," he replied. She just hated his quick answers.
"I know what sort of idea you have but what d'you think that could possibly persuade me to think about it any other way? No, my feelings haven't changed and they couldn't possible had."
"Fine," he mumbled.
"How could you think I could feel that way if I don't even know you!" A strange sorrow had overcome her features mirroring what she felt inside. He had never showed himself to her. He hadn't changed the way he acted towards her since he first presented his feelings. He was still as ordinary to her as anyone could be, to her he didn't singled out in the crowd. "All I know is that you play soccer, you're fifteen and you take good grades. Big thing, that fits half the world." And that was the reality, he hadn't worked to earn a special consideration or affection in her heart. No, he was a stranger.
"And being in love with you doesn't make any difference?" He was brave, no question on that. Being denied twice and he kept riding the same horse. But sometimes it's just stupid not to know when to quit.
The rain kept falling on straight lines, merciless upon them. The water had reached their bodies and was plastering their clothes to their skin. Nor even the strongest most impermeable coat would have stood perfectly after more then fifteen minutes under that storm.
The air was heavier than ever when she finally answered: "No, it doesn't. Not when your love is nothing but pride. Not when you come and assume I'm in love with you too without even knowing me or bother to show me who you really are. Not when take me for granted." Mena was particularly sensitive about this subject and it was hurting her a great deal to pronounce those words. It was like if her heart was shattering very slowly. "You took me for granted that other night and now you took me again. You never expected me to turn you down that's why you came no problem both times. Seriously, what did you expect?"
"You're wrong. I didn't."
No she wasn't, she was completely sure of it. "Don't tell if I'm wrong or not." She glared at him raising her tone. She had suddenly lost the reason. Her heart was breaking with anger and she couldn't explain it. How could he answer her?
"But you are. This time I didn't take you for granted." She would never believe him. He did, he had taken her for granted, he was incredibly proud maybe he didn't even like her he just didn't want to live with a denial.
But then he made something she wasn't expecting, he was honest. "The first time yes, I assume. But not now. Today I came to ask you again because I needed to know if I had any chance. But I can see I don't."
That cost her even more, to see him so vulnerable but he had made his choice.
"No, you don't. No because as I see it you have never been there for me." He would never know how she blamed him for that. That she would never forgive him. "I even wonder how can you be in love with me if you never talk to me, if you're never with me," she said. She felt she was as alone as ever. Mena smiled sadly. "The only goddam thing I asked you you weren't even able to do for me. Neither control those asswholes from your gang you're able." She was about to reinforce it, what she would never really forgive him: "Every single day I take all sort of abuse from that Michael bastard. Every day he tries something with me. And not a single time you did somethin about it. Honestly, if you like me doesn't it bother you that an ass like Michael is constantly trying to get me down?" And that was the center of all the hate she was feeling, he was never there for her, he had never helped her, never protected her.
"Yes, it does. It even hurts," he said avoiding her eyes that were focused on him.
"Good, cuz to me is way worse. Goodbye." And she left leaving him behind but not feeling not even just a tiny little better.
The storm of the century kept falling down but gods weren't angry, they were.
...Flashback
It would be nice to say that everything would get fixed if only time would be allowed to interfere but probably that would take too long and by that time Nature had taken care of the business some strong pills would have already done their job.
Mena handled emotional stress very badly. It wasn't like she was disturbed or anything, she just wasn't perfectly balanced. It was difficult for her to deal with too strong emotions: she didn't know exactly and with the right proportion how to conceal her feelings, how and when to show them and more important how to live with them. So this was proving to be one hell of a test for her and that she only could take.
As promised Chelsea showed up after lunch.
"How are you?" she asked with a sympathetic smile.
"Not so good," answered Mena with her face turned down, buried on her pillow.
"Well, I brought someone to cheer you up," the brunette said.
Mena slightly raised her head. Through the door she saw her tall purple haired friend – Robert.
On a usual situation she would be glad to see Robert but under the current circumstances maybe it wasn't the best thing.
Robert walked in with fast long steps and sat on the corner of Mena's bed where she was lying down, literally.
"Chelsea said you were sick," he started.
"Yeah," she mumbled with her face back on her pillow, her eyes were red of whipping and she didn't want him to notice it.
"Maybe anything you ate or..."
"Not so sure."
"I see..." He turned his head as Chelsea made a lot of scandal trying to leave the room silently.
"Chelsea's gone?" Mena asked after hearing the door shut quietly.
"Uh-huh. Look, shouldn't you be lay with her head higher than your stomach?" Like if he had guessed Robert suspected her body was all working perfectly, the problem was on the soul.
"Maybe," she answered.
"I see... You found what you were looking for, didn't you?" He had touched the spot.
Mena nodded.
"And it wasn't what you were expecting?"
She shook her head. Her face was getting hotter, almost burning. In no time tears would be back. And just like that, taking Robert by surprise, she sat up to rest in his shoulder and burst into tears.
Robert had never seen that side of her and in the beginning it scared him. She always seemed so tough, so strong and now she was all vulnerable, crying like that.
"Now, why do we fall?" he said on a slow compassionated voice. "Why d'we fall? So that we can learn to get up. And you'll do it, you will. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger and I don't doubt that's what will happen to you."
She eased her breath and calmed a little as tears began to dry and the small red veins in her eyes were the only proof that she had been crying.
"Thanks, you're a good friend."
"Anytime girl." And he kissed her head. "Are you any better?"
"A little."
"Don't you prefer to be with Chelsea? Talk to her?"
"No." It wasn't like Mena didn't trust her friend but she felt a bit restrained to suddenly open her heart like that, even if it was to Chelsea.
"Okay. So you'll be fine?"
"Eventually."
He kissed her head again. "Look, I gotta meet somebody now but I'll pass by later."
"Okay."
"If you really need me you'll find me outside."
"Outside," she repeated. He kissed her for the last time and left smiling to console her.
Robert was far from knowing the details of his friend's problems but he had his suspects. He would bet both his hands on how at the center of that entire story was boy. He definitely didn't know who he was but he was sure he was the problem. Robert knew too well that lack of glow on her eyes, he had seen it on another pair of pretty blue eyes, these last framed by a jet black hair.
Mena remained a bit longer on the same state as Robert had left her, trying to calm down completely. It felt nice to have talked to Robert even though she hadn't been much specific, she couldn't.
Slowly she realized why she was so shaken and how talking helped. It was when she understood she needed help to deal with all that was happening. The solution had one name – Hiro Granger – but she wasn't sure how to reach him.
Finally she decided to go meet Robert and ask him Hiro's number. Hopefully he wouldn't do too many questions but she really didn't care, all she wanted was to feel fine again.
So, after taking a deep breath she got up, took a look at herself in the mirror and concluded she looked fine enough and that only for a tremendous misfortune anyone would understand she had been crying. She passed by her closet and took her trench coat and a scarf (now she REALLY didn't need a cold) and went out to find Robert.
He had said he would be outside if she needed him so she walked towards the front garden. Though the weather was cold most people were sat outside talking or taking a walk. Everybody had rather heavy coats on but still they were enjoying that pale afternoon light.
At first sight Robert wasn't anywhere and he sure was hard too miss, not many guys were that tall, not to mention the purple hair. As she didn't see him she approached a group of seniors that she had seen a couple of times with him, maybe they had seen him and would know where he was.
"Excuse me." Two boys and two girls turned to Mena. She didn't look different from them as she was really tall and wore structured clothes. "Haven't you, by any chance, seen Robert?"
"Robert Jurgen?"
"Uh-huh."
"We saw him walk towards the forest. I think you'll meet him there," one of the girls said.
"Yeah, we didn't see them return," said the other.
"Them?" Mena frowned.
"Oh, his friends joined him after a while," the first girl explained.
"I see. Thanks." And the younger walked away.
For a couple of minutes she forgot her own problem. That was sort of intriguing. Robert went away to the forest with the guys from The Gang? Why didn't he tell her? It wasn't such a big deal. That definitely wasn't common, he always told her everything. "Gotta meet somebody?" No, there was something there and Mena's curiosity was already pumping.
She wasn't a nosy person or a fan of gossip but she felt like she couldn't hold that curiosity and mainly because that was a very out of routine behavior for Robert. By all means she still had to find him so she walked towards the surrounding forest.
That was a beautiful path: a fabulous alley with huge leafy dark trees on both sides that now were becoming red and gold. It was good it hadn't rained much that year for that way most trees still had their leaves on. And then there were the towering pines, with their rich scent and beautiful deep green. There was a perfect harmony between all those reds, golds, yellows, greens and even the pale bluish-grey from the sky, high above, and the rusty burnt brown of the path. So, part of it, no wonder the guys had walked that way.
She walked down the trees alley enjoying the beauty of the view and slowly feeling better. It was all very peaceful and that was exactly what Mena was needing. But suddenly she started hearing voices. At first she couldn't distinguish them clearly, she could only tell they were sort of discussing but she didn't know what.
Attracted by the curiosity she approached on an attempt of understanding what was going on and between whom. She couldn't see anybody so she concluded they would be behind the tall trees in front of her that marked the end of the alley, a dead-end.
As she walked towards the voices she also had the perception of movement, people were moving behind those trees, and then a female voice spotted out in the crowd of voices. It sounded like an assembly and that was the idea she was getting as kept stalking those voices. But what sort of group had an assembly on the school's forest?
'Maybe the school's nature club,' she first thought. But no, those people were hidden, they weren't showing themselves on purpose. That was probably why they had chosen that particular spot, behind the trees. That should be a glade, most likely unknown to the rest of the students. Something secret, undercover and mysterious was happening right there, right in front of her.
Mena's curiosity was reaching her highest levels ever (registered in Switzerland). She was dying to know who they were so she moved forward towards the trees. Then the voices became clearer at each step until she began distinguishing and singling them out.
And then the mystery disappeared. She recognized the voices. First a boy, then a girl and another boy again. She knew them all, it were no others than Rei, Mariah and Tala. Then Enrique joined the argument, of course, as the subject seemed to be his favorite brunette, Chelsea.
Suddenly Mena got it all together: she had come looking for Robert and ended up finding all The Gang. That matched what those seniors had said, Robert's friends had joined him. And who else could be his friends if not those guys? So that was why he was covering the sort of meeting he was going to have. That was definitely a secret thing.
As it happens with most secrets in this life, they end up making you more and more eager to know about them and as Mena was only human she was also under that spell. In consequence she climbed up one of the trees, decided to have a good look at that gathering but most important a good hiding spot that would allow her to hear it all without being seen. That would be embarrassing if she was caught.
She had climbed up trees lots of times during her childhood. As she had a twin brother she ended up being quite a tomboy whenever she caught her mother distracted.
Possessing the right skills to do it she easily got to a good branch on which to stand and hold on to. Then she saw them all, all sat in a circle gesturing as they spoke and Robert was included, of course.
"I think it's safer to clearly define her a status among us," stated Johnny.
"I agree." Enrique nodded.
"Of course you do, especially if her status goes according to your wishes," replied Hilary.
"Who heard you might think you don't want Chelsea to join us," attacked Enrique.
Mena laughed to herself at the expression "who heard you".
"But I do," defended herself Hilary.
"Well, we gotta think carefully. I'm not so sure that she's tough enough to endure a bad decision of ours," said Rei.
"He's right, it's quite risky," added Mariah. "Have you consulted the others, Kai?"
Mena almost forgot about him and in addition why she had come all the way till there to meet Robert. But there he was steady, clean, tough, reminding her all the pain she had been through and still was. His eyes were focused on the horizon showing deep concentration. His lips moved as he answered Mariah. "Yes" was all that came from his mouth.
The discussion went on with various opinions coming at the time. There was no general agreement on whether they should or not invite Chelsea to join them. Mena learned that usually outside boyfriends or girlfriends acquired a special status that was just temporary till a decision was taken. Also it seemed to be a rather dangerous thing, though she couldn't understand why. She had asked herself countless times why they were considered a gang as they never acted like one but as they talked of a concrete danger it sort of became more logical.
Besides all that she discovered that they met there every week and sometimes every day, but only when possible as they talked about a time in which it was nearly impossible to meet as they were risking themselves to be discovered.
That same problem stroke Mena when Michael told a rather interesting joke and she, fighting her will to laugh (and how she needed it!), cracked a small branch making more noise than would be safe.
"What was that?" Johnny's voice pumped out.
"D'you think is somebody there?" asked Salima.
"This is over," said Kai on his cold tone and getting up clearly to take a look around.
Mena leaned completely against the tree's stem and blessing the few wind that year that hadn't ripped off all the leaves.
"We have to go," said Robert. "We can't take the risk of someone actually being near here and listening to it all."
So they really took it serious the secrecy of the meetings. 'Now seem more like a gang,' Mena thought.
They all got up and began leaving, spreading through the woods as not to seem they had been all together. She let them walk and totally disappear of her sight till she got down from the tree.
Her brain was working fast on the new information. The Gang seemed to her more interesting than ever. But one thing didn't make sense: they were still considering the possibility of Chelsea join them but they had accept both of them, strangers and fresher in that school, at their table. Obviously there was a lot more going on under the surface.
Mena walked back to the school building with her mind set on finding Robert. She hadn't quitted on that idea of having a session with Hiro although she was feeling way better.
Besides all that stuff about The Gang she had discovered one important thing that after noon: is that the less you think just about yourself the happier you feel.
EtherealButterfly: and this is it. I hope it hasn't disappointed you but even if it did I wanna know. I wanna know everything: what you think of it, what you liked the best and what should be improved. Also it helps to know what moments, from the whole story not just this chapter, you think are the most interesting. If there's one particular thing you like let me know. Oh, and as I'm only writing two more chapters before bringing the rest of The Gang in it's a good idea, to the people who sent their OCs, to give me an idea of how you would like to have your characters introduced and I would also appreciate some advice on how presenting a lot of characters without making it confuse. And also give me a little feedback on my correction while writing. Well, I guess it's everything for now. I'll start working on the next chapter right away, I really don't want to keep you waiting as much as I did. C ya around