PS: A quick warning to my younger readers... This chapter contains some strong language, sexual references, and minor violence... Although I consider it pretty mild, I wanted to drop the warning just in case!
My anger and frustration had failed to dissipate even by the time I reached my dorm room. I stormed about the small space, ransacking what was left in my drawers, and hastily throwing the items in my closet onto my bed. I was just about to yank my last suitcase from the back of my closet, when my foot suddenly came down on something small with a loud crunch. Curious, I looked down, and to my horror, I suddenly noticed my precious rose had fallen out of my top drawer during my attempt to rapidly pack my suitcase… My entire body went cold as I realized I had crushed it. Tears filled my eyes as I knelt down and tried to pick up the broken pieces of every perfect petal. I sat down heavily as I realized it was useless, and reached down to tuck my knees under my chin as sobs wracked my body. I cried for the rose, I cried for Raye and Jarod and everyone back home who was hoping for me, but mostly I cried for Darien. He would never know the truth about his best friend at Madison, and he would probably never see Serena again.
It seemed hours had passed before my tears finally ceased, and once I lifted myself to my feet I felt completely exhausted. However, the war zone that was once my room still needed to be cleaned up, and it took nearly an hour to do the job. I packed the rest of my clothes, swept up the shattered rose, and even set my luggage in the corner for tomorrow. Most people weren't leaving for a couple of days, but there was no need for me to stick around for the parties and get-togethers. I was tired, and I wanted to go home.
In retrospect, I probably should have known that taking a shower without Jarod to stand guard probably wasn't such a good idea. At this time, however, I didn't really care. I was hot, tired, and I wanted to get clean and go to bed. Almost in a daze, I grabbed my shower kit, towel, and bathrobe and headed down the hall to the bathroom. Much to my relief, the entire dormitory was empty, and I knew most of the boys would be out quite late, and none of them would be home for at least another hour or so. I had plenty of time, but I undressed hurriedly anyway, approached the showers quickly, and turned on the faucet, letting the steaming liquid wash over my skin and hair.
The water felt wonderful against my exhausted form, and it seemed like the longer I remained under the steady, flowing stream, the more this evening and the past few months would feel like some strange dream. I could forget Darien's surprised and slightly repulsed features from Halloween night, I could forget our many nights spent on the rooftop under the moon, and I could definitely forget Beryl's scantily clad body wrapped around him.
I was taking too long under the showerhead, but I didn't really care. It was therapy for me. This ordeal was almost over, and if I stayed under long enough, maybe the pain would go away. However, just as I switched off the water and began to press the remaining droplets away from my skin with my hands, I heard a door click shut behind me, and I froze. I couldn't believe it. I had forgotten to lock the door!
My heart was pounding fiercely in my chest as footsteps echoed softly off the linoleum floor. Oh God…my mind screamed. This is it! I reached frantically for the towel that hung next to me, and had just managed to wrap it around myself, when a figure rounded the corner of the last stall. Terrified and completely vulnerable, I looked up, and met the violet eyes of Lucas Diamond. This situation couldn't possibly get any worse.
He surveyed my trembling form with lustful eyes, and proceeded to crack a malicious, but knowing smile. Oh God! I though frantically. He knows!
"Careless, Ren… very careless," he chastised softly, clucking his tongue. "You've been hiding your secret for almost four months now, and it's me that manages to catch you with your pants down--or should I say… skirt?" He smiled again, and I shivered. "Would that be more correct, Serena?"
My name spoken from his mouth sent chills down my spine, but I didn't respond. He didn't seem to mind.
"Not that I didn't have my suspicions before," he assured me. "That night at the bonfire was a pretty big tip-off. You should really be careful when you insult someone… Sometimes it rings a bell!" He grinned wickedly.
"I don't know what you're talking about," I managed weakly.
"Oh don't play stupid, Serena. 'It's not my fault you're deaf as a post?'" He sneered. "Did you really think I wouldn't notice? And even if I didn't, I'm completely aware of your breasts through that towel. Oh yes, I know who you are, and I know what you are… The question is, can I keep it a secret?" He finished, and my eyes widened.
"You wrote the note," I whispered.
"Of course I wrote the note!" he exclaimed, and I flinched as he took a step closer, driving me closer to the wall. "I must admit," he went on, "I had quite a few laughs watching you look over your shoulder for that first week." He chuckled darkly, and I moved further away, but couldn't help but notice he was closing in on me. "What I don't know is why you're doing all of this, although your motivation is hardly important now. I guess I'm just curious how you're going to persuade me to keep my mouth shut…" His eyes took on a dangerous gleam, and I pulled my towel tighter as they wandered over my body.
"I don't get you," I murmured slowly.
"Payment, sweetheart. I'm not going to just look the other way on this. You're going to have to convince me to keep quiet. You never get something for nothing you know," he assured me, and I edged further away.
"No," I answered softly, and his expressions hardened.
"I'm not kidding Serena," he said darkly. "I'll go to the dean's office right now and tell him everything. You know it's a federal crime to impersonate someone? You could be arrested, the school would be publicly embarrassed, and everyone would know just who you really are…"
My heart quickened with fear, but I struggled to remain outwardly impassive. "What do you want?" I asked finally, standing straighter.
He smiled, obviously liking my new tone. "Just you," he answered, and my eyes widened.
"No," I murmured.
"What?" he asked.
"I said 'no!'" I repeated, my voice rising.
His eyes narrowed, and I took another step back, feeling the cold, wet tiles of the shower walls press against my shoulder blades. "I don't think you're in any state or position to argue with me," he growled, glancing at the now-seemingly flimsy towel covering my nude form.
"I don't give a shit what you think," I managed bravely, but inside I was trembling. "You stay the hell away from me! I'll scream, I swear it!"
His next move happened so quickly that it wasn't until my body slammed against the wall that I realized he had run at me. I struggled against him, but my efforts were rewarded only by a resounding slap to the face that immediately caused my eyes to water. I screamed involuntarily, and I heard him laugh over my ringing ears, his breath tickling my lips. I nearly gagged as the smell of alcohol invaded my nostrils.
"Go ahead and scream," he whispered, and I sobbed as he pinned my arms above me. "Everyone's down in the gym or partying by the lake. It's just you and me, Serena."
"Let me go," I begged. "Please."
He made no response, and instead moved down to press harsh kisses against my neck. I struggled against him, and finally managed to get a leg free. Before he knew it, my left knee made contact with his groin with a satisfying crunch. He let loose a groan and sank to the floor beside me. Still sobbing, I side-stepped him, and tried to fix the towel that was starting to come free. My world was turned upside-down, however, when Diamond reached out and grabbed my foot as I moved past him. Unfortunately, my balance was no match for the still-wet floor and my own momentum. I went down fast and hard, screaming as I did so, and nearly blacked out when my head cracked harshly against the blue tiles below.
Suddenly, Diamond was over me again, and he was absolutely furious. Terrified, and still dazed from my fall, I knew I wouldn't be able to fight him anymore. In one terrible moment, my towel was thrown open, and as I watched in disgust and fear as his eyes roved my exposed body hungrily, the door of the bathroom opened once again. I only had time to notice Diamond's surprised expression before a body collided into him, knocking him away from me. In seconds, someone was pulling me to my feet, and I sobbed with relief as I met Jarod's kind and worried blue eyes.
"Jarod," I whispered, and fell against him.
He caught me easily, and reached for my towel to cover me as I sobbed into his strong shoulder. Somewhere behind us, someone was pummeling Diamond to a pulp, and as Jarod lifted me once again to a standing position, I caught sight of Darien, who was roughly pulling a bruised and battered Diamond to his feet. His worried blue eyes scanned me quickly, pausing only at my breasts, and suddenly his mouth dropped open. For a few moments he stared at me openly, his expression fully conveying his disbelief, and I knew then that if he didn't have any idea I was a girl before, he certainly knew now.
However, I didn't have time to explain, because at that moment Mr. Wakefield burst in, followed closely by Mr. Bowman. I think if it would have simply been two roughed up boys in the bathroom, the two of them would have immediately sprung into action--but combined with a woozy, short-haired girl in a towel with a slightly bruised face, they could only remain frozen in the doorway.
"What the hell is going on in here?" Mr. Bowman finally managed, snapping out of it.
"Lucas attacked her," Jarod answered, nodding towards the two boys over by the wall. Darien was now yanking a dazed Diamond into a standing position, his face pale. "I think she's hurt. We need to get have her checked out."
It took a second for the information to settle, but finally Bowman nodded. "Find Susan Haruna, let her know what has happened and have her head down to the medical office," he ordered Mr. Wakefield, who nodded eagerly and left. "Mr. Shields--you, Mr. Bellmont, and Mr. Diamond will go to the dean's office and wait there for me."
The three boys nodded, and Jarod reluctantly let go of me, but not before giving my shoulders a comforting squeeze.
"It'll be all right, Serena," he promised quietly.
Tears suddenly filled my eyes as I realized he might get in trouble for all of this. It was obvious he knew who I was, and this fact probably would create quite a sticky situation for him. I glanced at Darien, who refused to look at me, and just as I was whisked out the door by Mr. Bowman, I saw both he and Jarod take hold of one of Diamond's arms. My attacker had apparently given up for the moment, and I shivered as Mr. Bowman led me silently to the medical office. The floor was cold beneath my bare feet and my towel was still damp, but the professor kept his eyes respectfully to the front. I tried to manage a "thank you," or some other sign of gratitude, but I think I was still in shock over the whole moment. It didn't seem to matter though--something told me he understood.
Once we reached the office, I noticed Ms. Haruna standing in the doorway. She was still in her evening gown from earlier, and she looked very worried.
"Richard," she said quietly, and he shook his head.
"I can't stay," he told her. "I've sent the boys up to Darren's office to wait for him there, and once it is certain she's all right, I want her to follow. Her parents need to be called, and all of this needs to be sorted out."
Ms. Haruna nodded, and turned to me, her eyes softening considerably. "Come in," she ordered gently, and I obliged. I turned back, ready to thank Mr. Bowman, but he was already gone.
Ms. Haruna was silent as she passed through the med ward. She motioned for me to sit down on one of the cots, disappeared through a door, and when she returned she had a large robe, a white dressing gown, and blanket in her arms.
"I'm sorry," she said quietly. "We're out of socks."
"It's okay," I murmured, and the silence resumed once more as she reached forward to check the bump that had formed on the side of my skull. As her fingers brushed against it, I flinched, and she pulled away apologetically.
"Do you feel dizzy?" she asked, and I shook my head. She nodded approvingly, and stepped back a little. "Well, besides being a bit shaken up, how do you feel?"
"Sick," I whispered.
She nodded, and led me to the bathroom where I promptly rejected what was left of my dinner. She was quiet the whole time, but her cool hand was quite soothing against my hot forehead. When I was finished, I sat back and began to wipe the tears that had slipped from my eyelids.
"Why did you do it?" she asked.
I laughed bitterly. "It's a long story."
"Was it Darien? Or Jarod?"
I glanced up at her in surprise, and she chuckled. "Don't look so shocked," she chided. "I always knew there was something strange about you. The first day of my class I noticed it, and it didn't take me long to figure out what you were."
My mouth dropped open. "W-Why didn't you tell anyone?" I stammered.
She shrugged. "Curiosity. I wondered what drove a girl to risk everything to enter an all-boys school."
"Believe me," I muttered, "If I could have gone into the girls' school, I would have."
Haruna laughed for a moment, but then her face turned serious. "It was pretty brave of you, but pretty stupid too. You had to have known you'd get caught sooner or later. I'm just sorry it was Lucas Diamond that figured it out."
I started to cry again as I remembered all that had happened, and she put a comforting hand on my shoulder until my sobs had subsided. "What's going to happen to me?" I asked finally.
"Well, you and Lucas will be expelled, your father will be called, and Darien and Jarod will most likely be sworn to silence." She picked at her nails nervously, and sighed. "Madison won't want the embarrassment of appearing incompetent, so they'll want to settle everything as quietly as possible."
"I can't say I blame them," I murmured dully. "I just don't know how I'm going to face Darien."
"So it's Darien then?" she asked, and I nodded. She was silent as she thought this over, and finally stood up, sighing again. "Well, I can't say what he'll do, but he probably won't be happy with you."
"I'm sure that's the understatement of the century," I said sarcastically.
"I'm sure it is, but what can you do?" she asked, and I shrugged. "We better get going," she said suddenly, motioning for me to stand up. "The dean will want to see you, your father must be called, and this whole thing must be covered up. I'm really sorry dear," she said sincerely. "I hope it all works out."
I didn't reply. Somehow, I didn't think it would.
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