Hidden Beneath the Mask

Disclaimer: Well two shows I do not own: "Good Luck Charlie" and "How to Rock", so try not to give me grief, as I'm not claiming them.

A/N:

Chapter 34 (Erasing Molly Garfunkel)

The next morning, Skyler was sitting anxiously in the Gravity 5 meeting room. Grace was to her right, Stevie to her left. Kevin and Nelson were standing in front of the drums while Emmett was giving Kevin some tips. Emmett had decided to tag along with PJ and Skyler, having wanted to see her. The reunion was fun, they laughed about old times, and Emmett even joked about some mess-ups that PJ had gone through over the years. And since PJ was focusing on driving, he couldn't smack Emmett upside the head, which he used to his advantage.

Kacey was standing behind the couch as everyone sitting down listened to PJ playing on the guitar. He was just showing Zander some tips, and trying to calm everyone down. This was not only a big day, but Skyler was actually going to try and take the morning announcements and tell the entire school who she was. There was not an ounce of calm in her at the moment, and she was fidgeting like crazy.

She wanted to see if Kelly and the Perfs were around to give her some motivation, but ever since she left the group with Grace, they've been pretty much out of her life, and her out of theirs. Even this morning, they couldn't find the girls anywhere, but that wasn't such a big problem. Finding them didn't determine how much, or how less, the terror inside of her would be. She was half expecting PJ to run off because of how scared she was, she just didn't think she had the confidence to do it. Yet, he, and everyone there, had been supporting her in this.

"I'm still really nervous about doing this," she said once PJ set his guitar down. He looked to her and she started to bow her head. "I know everything you guys said, and I just…I'm scared." She'd been having constant doubts, with 'Molly' hurling hate after hate in order to convince her that change wasn't going to do anything. She needed to fight this. "I wouldn't blame you all if you just gave up on me." The others sighed and PJ merely smiled at her, which was truly odd in her mind. "I mean it…"

"None of us will do that to you, and you know I won't." He knelt before her and extended his hand, brushing his fingertips beneath her chin. She lifted her head and gazed into his eyes, holding onto her breath. "You can do this, you have the strength, and we're here to support you." He looked back to his guitar and hummed. "Tell you what. I know a song that should help lift you up…maybe give you a boost of confidence." She raised an eyebrow and felt her heart skip a beat. Skyler loved when he would serenade her. "Just a little something to let you know that no matter what…we're all, and especially me, are going to stand behind you no matter what happens." He looked back to her and cupped her cheek with his hand, leaning forward to kiss the peak of her upper lip. The touch tickled her, and she slowly leaned forward as he moved back a whisker. "I'll never leave you."

She watched him pick his guitar back up. Everyone turned to look, and the room became tremendously still. The energy inside shifted between her and PJ, as though they were the only ones there, and everyone else had vanished away. She swept her lower lip with the tip of her tongue and closed her eyes as he swung his pick along the strings. "This song, Skyler, is done by a man named Steve Holy, it's called 'Love Don't Run'." Her cheeks grew red as PJ closed his eyes and started off the song, slow and quiet. "This is gonna hurt, it's gonna hurt like hell. This is gonna damn near kill me, but sometimes the truth ain't easy." His eyes opened up and he curled his lips upwards, leaning forward and gazing strongly into her eyes. "I know you're scared of telling me something I don't wanna hear, but baby believe that I'm not leaving, you couldn't give me one good reason."

She felt her friends pat her shoulders, and caught Zander looking over to Stevie with a glint in his eyes. PJ raised an eyebrow and put his foot up on the couch beside her, kissing her forehead and winking. "Love don't run…love don't hide. It won't turn back away or back down from a fight." He clicked his tongue and turned his head towards the side, breathing in. Skyler's heart was aflutter. She propped her forearms up on her knees and leaned forward, resting her chin atop her tangled fingers. "Baby I'm right here, and I ain't going anywhere. Love's too tough, it won't give up…" He moved his hand from the guitar, placing a gentle finger beneath her chin, tilting her gaze up to his. "'No, not on us, Baby, love don't run. Let's lay it on the line, I don't care if it takes all night…cause this is gonna make us stronger, it's gonna make forever longer." He moved back up and walked around the couch. She twisted to look at him, then turned back around as he leaned forward, resting his head beside hers. He kissed her right temple. She closed her eyes and felt a sense of peace growing inside of her. "I know it'd be easier walking away, but what we got is real, and I wanna save us. Baby we can do it, baby we'll get through it, cause…"

He pointed to Zander, then Emmett, both of whom grabbed up their instruments and joined in for the chorus. Skyler was curious to why Stevie was looking a bit anxious with this song, and Zander was always looking at her, but maybe it gave them an idea about their own relationship. Kevin had handed over the drums, and was now standing beside Kacey, his arm around her shoulders. Grace and Nelson had kept consistent eye contact during this song.

"Love don't run, love don't hide, it won't turn away or back down from a fight. Baby I'm right here, and I ain't going anywhere. Love's too tough, it won't give up, no not on us. Baby, love don't run…" Nelson walked over to Grace and sat between her and the armrest, putting his arm around her. Zander started to circle the couch with PJ. "So come over here, lay down in my arms. Baby tell me everything that's on your heart, cause…" The men stood before their respective lady and knelt down before them. Skyler put her hand to her chest while Stevie leaned forward, gazing into Zander's eyes with a soft smile. "I won't run, and I won't hide. I won't turn away, I just wanna make things right. Baby I'm right here, and I ain't going anywhere. No, love's too tough and it won't give up. No, not on us, cause Baby, love don't run."

Skyler's eyes welled up with tears and her hands moved to her face. PJ let his guitar hang with the strap and moved his hands up over hers, cupping them around her cheeks. She was glued to his soft, inviting eyes, melting into him. "I believe in you, I love you, and I always will. I love you, Skyler. You don't need anyone else to tell you that." She sniffled and felt her heart jumping from her chest as he leaned close. His eyes closed and his lips met hers, forcing her eyes shut as the taste of his kiss caressed her. Her hands slid from beneath his, and moved around his neck. When he pulled back, his eyelids lifted halfway and her hungry gaze fell upon his parted mouth. A fire had been ignited in her, and she felt truly ready to go out there now, to tell everyone exactly who she was and who she wanted to be. "I'm yours for all time, Sky. You know that."

"I know…" She knew this wasn't going to be easy, she knew the people in the school might have varying opinions, but there was only one thing on her mind now, and Molly couldn't change that. "I have to do this." A tear slipped along the bridge of her nose, and before she could wipe it away, PJ kissed it off the tip. Her cheeks were already as red as they could become, and if her heart continued to beat any harder, she might wind up having a heart attack from all the emotions flooding into it. "PJ, thank you for being here…I don't know what I'd do without you." He was her strength in this time, in this moment. She closed her eyes and leaned forward, hugging his neck and resting her head on his shoulder. Her voice lowered to a whisper. "I love you, so much. If I can give my heart to you, if I can trust you with it, then don't toy with it…don't break it, please." She felt him nod his head, and squeeze her tight.

"I would never. Once you have me, you have me. Now if you're ready, I believe your school's morning announcements are about to begin?" Her eyes shot open and she gasped, suddenly remembering what she needed to do. They had to do this before the announcements ended.

"Right! Let's go…" The longer they waited, the more likely she'd start doubting herself again. Now that she had that fire in her, now that she knew Molly was practically dead, courtesy of PJ, she had to let this out before the fire was gone. "I'm ready to do this."

Skyler walked into the auditorium where the morning announcements were given, her friends followed her towards the person in charge, where Grace started talking to her. On the stage was the desk, with a curly haired student giving waiting for next orders. When directed to get off, so Skyler could talk, he did so.

Her heart was going a mile a minute as she walked towards that desk. Her mouth was starting to become dry, and her muscles tense. She felt PJ beside her, squeezing her hand, and enabling her to relax. She took a slow inhale and looked back to her friends, all watching her and giving silent encouragements. "Right." She closed her hands and stared at the chair and desk, fighting back her nauseating feelings. "I can do this. I will do this. I'm scared as hell, but…" She looked up to PJ, studying his reassuring gaze, and smiled as peace descended into her. She felt a familiar old warm feeling inside of her, and squeezed his hand back. "You'll be right there beside me?"

"Yes." He had to stay out of sight of the camera, however. They didn't want people realizing that PJ was her boyfriend, because she didn't want to deal with people in bands coming up to her and asking if she could convince him to let them in. "So go on, you got this one Sky. No one can stop you, and no one will."

"Thank you…" She heard the teacher say something about how much time they had left, and quickly moved for the desk. When she sat down, she stared boldly at the camera in front of her. PJ sat at the edge of the desk that was out of the camera's sight and reached over, taking her hand in his. She cleared her throat and peered down at the remaining announcements. "I…I'm going to finish the announcements now, Brewster High. Then, if I can have your attention…I want to announce something myself. We'll get to that." She flipped through the remaining announcements with a groan, all that was left were sports.

"Okay. So last night our football team won against our rivals, the Seahorses, forty-two to twenty…" After finishing off the sports, which was only about five minutes of material, she looked back to the camera and tried to speak. Her voice cracked, and she felt an insane urge to get up and run. As she sat there, almost dumbstruck, she felt PJ moving his thumb against the top of her hand in a circular motion. When she looked down at it, she became entranced. The motion was slow, soothing, and almost hypnotic to watch. He mouthed 'you can do it', and she slowly returned to the camera. Inside of her, Molly was screaming out at her, angry, pained, and ultimately near death. The fire that sparked inside of her remained strong, flourishing and warming her. "Brewster High…I've been lying to you, to everyone. Molly Garfunkel does not exist, she is not real…but a person I created…because I was afraid to show you…who I really am."

PJ smiled at her, her friends all started to cheer, and inside of her, Molly's anguished cries only increased. She took another deep breath, tears stinging her eyes, and slowly shook her head. Her chest was throbbing, and her arms and legs were beginning to hurt for some reason she didn't know. Perhaps it was just her nerves.

"My name is Skyler. Skyler Bosca." God, what would these students think of her? Would they accept her? Would they hate her? She would find out soon enough, but for now, she just had to fight through this. "I'm Italian, I moved here a year ago and…I live with my father in what is probably…the world's tiniest two bedroom apartment." She chuckled nervously and hurried her finger to catch a stray tear on her cheek. She started to choke up, but continued trying to keep from becoming so emotional that she didn't know what to do. "I created Molly to escape a lot of the stuff I've gone through over the last two years. I won't go into all that, but if you really want to get to know me, then maybe…just…I know it's going to take time."

"Stop it!" Molly screamed out, flames engulfing her visualization. Molly had her hands up in the air, screaming as her flesh began to melt, revealing the monster that she was. "Stop it right now! For God sake, they're all going to hate you. No…how about this? They're all going to laugh at you! They're all going to laugh at you!"

She closed her eyes and tapped her fingertips on the desk. "Ignoring the Carrie reference, Molly, shut the hell up. I'm done with you." Her eyes flew open and her heartbeat increased. There was a silence, a calm that awaited her, and she wanted to rise and meet it. She truly felt like she had everyone's eyes upon her, and here she was, baring her heart and soul to the entire school. "God this is so hard for me. Anyway…though my best friends…Grace, and Gravity 5, and my boyfriend, I've realized that I guess…maybe I don't need to hide. I just need to start coping with a lot of things. My mom died a year and a half ago, I lost my boyfriend, but he came back to me." She smiled at PJ, then flicked her eyes back to the camera. "I've had a lot of letdowns in life, and I just thought a fresh start was needed…I thought if people saw me, then…they wouldn't like me. That I was ugly or something, and…I still think I am, but…I'm done feeling sorry for myself. As my friend, Ivy says, I'm stepping off the 'pity train'." PJ snickered momentarily and Skyler bowed her head, smiling slightly. "I really just want to be friends, but, I don't want to do that anymore by being someone I'm not, so…"

As she lifted her head, she imagined Molly completely melting down to the floor. Her existence was being erased, and after this, she would truly be 'dead'. She could be strong, as long as she had PJ and those who cared about her, she could be strong.

"So let's make a fresh start, again, please? If you want…if you'll accept me…I am Skyler, not 'Molly'. Molly Garfunkel no longer exists…"

Notice the Stephen King's famous Carrie reference? XD. Hope you enjoyed the chapter! Let me know what you thought