Bruises

It's a rainy day. The kind where you can't really tell the time by just looking outside. The alarm on Theas phone has been sounding for a while, before she starts reaching for it, without opening her eyes. It's a slow process to wake up. She isn't exactly sure what day it is, and she feels like her eyes are heavy to open. A dream is still playing around faintly inside her head. Eventually though, she forces one eye open to look at the phone. It's half past seven, monday morning. She should be finishing her breakfast by now. She quickly pulls herself out of bed and starts picking up clothes on the floor. As she struggles to pull a shirt over her head, she hear the door open. She stops with her arms in the air.

"Oh so you are awake. I thought I would have to drag you out of bed. Hurry up so that you won't be late." Dura sounds quite unimpressed. "And when you get home you can clean your room. See it as punishment for being home late."

When she hears her mom turn and leave she finishes struggling with the shirt, and just catches a glance of her back turning down the hall. She looks around the room and see what her mother means. There are clothes laying around, some are from last weekend. Some throw pillows are also on the floor, since she hasn't made her bed for some days. On her desk stands empty plates and some soda cans.

She comes down the stair in full speed, and meets her mother and her brothers in the entrance hall. They are about to leave, but stop when Thea shows up.

"Of to a great start this week are we sis?" Bavas taunts.

"I'm not late yet am I?" Thea throws back, and start heading for the kitchen.

She doesn't get there however, since her mom has put out her arm in her way.

"Hold on. What happened to your face?" She looks down on Thea, judging and concerned at the same time.

Thea doesn't understand the question, and lifts her hand to her face. As she presses lightly on her cheek, it stings. Suddenly, she remember what happened last night. She had been so focused on almost being late, that it had left her mind until now.

"Eh… I f-"

"Fell? No I won't buy that."

Thea looks up on her mom. She won't get anywhere without explaining, that is clear to her. Her mom turns to Bavas and Jazec.

"Take the small car. It seems that Thea isn't the only one who's going to be late. At least you two can leave." She throws them the car key.

The brothers say goodbye and leave, giving Thea a last teasing look, clearly thinking that she's in trouble.

"You, in the kitchen, now." Dura says to Thea, and goes to fetch Almund.

As Thea sits by the kitchen table and waits for her parents, she looks at her face in the camera on her phone. It's not pretty. Her left cheek is a weird mix och purple and blue, and just a little bit swollen. She puts her fist against it to measure. It seems that Tristrams hands are a little bit bigger than hers. Soon enough, her parents show up. Almund seem worried and furrows his brow when he sees Thea. They sit down across the table.

"Where were you last night?" Dura asks. Her voice isn't condescending, but rather wondering. Although Thea can tell that there is no room for nonsense.

"We were at the stables. We stayed there until it was late, and then we headed home."

"Is that where you got that?" Almund asks and makes a concerned gesture to her face.

"... No…"

"So where did you go then? After the stables?" Dura keeps them on track.

"I drove Dabria home. And then I stayed outside her house, and texted some… friends, for a bit."

She hesitates. She doesn't know what reaction to expect if she tells the whole truth.

"Go on."

"Well then I heard some noises." She tries to read her parents faces. "So I went to check it out."

"Where did you hear noises?" Almund doesn't follow.

"Inside Dabrias house." She closes her eyes and quickly rambles the rest. "I thought something was of so I ran inside and Tristram was drunk or something and it looked like he was threatening Dabria, so I stepped in and then he punched me."

She opens her eyes slowly. Almund looks shocked to say the least. He turns to Dura and they exchange a confused but serious look.

"I'll call the school." Dura finally says, picks up her phone and stands up.

Almund also stand up and walks around the table to Theas side. He hugs Thea, and frankly she thinks it feels good, and safe.

"Thank you for telling us."

When he lets go and turns around, Thea quickly picks up her phone and texts Dabria, now also concerned for her.

Are you okay? Sorry for just leaving last night. Plz answer quickly. 3

Meetings

The school is quiet. Well at least as quiet as you can expect a school to be when everyone is in class. The rain is still falling outside. It's not heavy rain, but the windows are hard to see out of because of the water constantly running down. Thea sits on a chair in the hallway, outside of the administrations office. She was told to wait outside for a moment, but apparently both the principal and the curator wanted to hear her story. Her mom was inside, talking to them right now. She sighed and looked at her phone. Still no answer from Dabria. She told herself that it was because Dabria was in class, and not because she was still at home, with god knows what problems. She flipped through her contacts, wanting to text someone but not knowing who. The distraction form the phone made her miss the sound of someone walking down the hall. She noticed first when someone stopped in front of her.

"Thea? Hello? What are you doing here?"

Thea looked up and saw Amber standing there. Amber stepped a step backwards when she saw Theas face, then sat down so that they were on the same level. She lifted her hand and carefully put it on Theas cheek.

"What happened? Where you in a fight?" Amber spook with a soft and caring voice.

"Yeah you should see the other fellow." Thea snorted.

Amber looked at her, trying to read her.

"I just wanted to help. I thought Dabria was in danger or something." Thea sighed.

Amber thought for a moment before answering.

"Where is Darbia now? This isn't new, it's at least a day old." Amber said and stroke her thumb over the purple skin.

"I don't know. I haven't heard from her since yesterday. And that's worse than this stupid…" Theas voice breaks as she gestures to her face. She draws a breath, trying to stay composed. Before Amber can say anything more however, the door beside Thea opens and Dura walks out.

"Oh hello Amber. Thea, are you ready?" She holds the door open.

Thea shrugs but then nods and stands up. She gives Amber a small smile before walking into the office.

Down the hall, the class Thea should have been in is just finishing of. Everyone put their stuff back into their bags, and head out the door. Amber stand just outside, and looks at each and everyone of them, until finally, Dabria shows up in the door. Amber grabs her arm and pulls her to the side. Dabria is not ready for the sudden action and reacts by shoving Amber away from her.

"Hey! Cool down!" Amber catches herself and speaks with a sharp voice.

Dabria looks down on the shorter girl.

"Don't sneak up on people and suddenly grab them, without expecting to get a reaction." Dabria defends herself. "What do you want anyway? Today is not a good day, if your planning anything…"

Dabria crosses her arms, and try to look as rough as she feels. She usually don't hang out with Amber, and most of their interactions are stupid pranks or attempts to roast each other. She does not have the energy for neither of those right now, having slept really bad the last night.

"I just wanted to see if you were alright. I saw Thea, and she said something about trying to protect you. I thought that if she looked like that, maybe you-"

"Looked like what? Is she badly hurt? i didn't have time to see what actually happened." Dabria interrupts, worried.

"Well.. she had like a bruise on her face."

"I'd imagine. It wasn't a light punch…"

"Who?" Amber also crosses her arms.

"What?"

"Who punched her?"

Dabria bites her tongue. She's not keen on people knowing about how her dad is. Not even the gang knows all of it, even if they know a lot.

"I have to go. I need to talk to the others before the next class." Dabria pushes pass Amber, leaving her alone in the hall without answers.