Scars

Chapter 2:

Remembering Scars

By: Yuy Ren

It was just past midnight, Jenna noted, as she glanced at the clock on the wall in her bedroom. A year ago, she would have been lo~ng in bed. But this year, without pulling a few nighters, she didn't think that those twelve courses could be claimed. Somehow her mother's "Even if you fail, we still love you." didn't comfort her. Especially when those words were said through barred teeth and with a visible vein. Jenna sighed and hit the books again. At least, after one year, I'll be out of the hell hole. That thought bringing SOME peace of mind as she started to concentrate on the jumbled mess of words that were supposed to be saying something about chemical reactions.

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"The Sky is Blue". Pretty nice DVD. Something about it being a chick flick.. Oh well. Nina will like it. I think. I looked up at the apartment building. Pretty expensive rent. But Nina's with me. It'll be ok. I fumbled through the keys. The one with the dolphin. Yes that's right. I remember. Nina gave me that dolphin a few years back. Said it was a cute keychain and if I lost it, she'd cry. She had such a sad face. Oh no, I don't want to make Nina cry. I'll keep the dolphin, no Nina, I didn't mean it when I said it was stupid… I'm serious. It's very pre—pretty. See? I said it. It's pretty. It's beautiful. Just like you, Nina. Yeah, wipe those tears. Red. No, they are tears. They cannot be red. Red? Why? Nina? What's wrong, what's with this red? Where did that gash on your forehead come from? NO. Sop it. Why won't it stop? So much blood. Stop it… stop.. Nina.. NINA! 

"Dude! Dude, wake it!" Heero could feel someone shaking him. He opened his eyes. It took a few seconds for the room to take shape and then the figures in it. Four figures, all standing around him like a bunch of freaked maniacs. Are they ok?

"What?"

"Um.. yeah… we were sorta, you know, WONDERING THE SAME THING! Sup with you, man?" Duo looked shocked and his free flowing hair seemed ghostly by the pale light coming from the hallway. Well, it did before Quatre abruptly switched on the light, blinding everyone in the room, making Trowa flinch and Duo yell.

"Sorry."

Heero glanced about, and tried to look as calm as he possibly could. Those dreams don't leave one's mind instantly, but linger… for quite some time, actually. He knew they were waiting for him to speak again. Since everyone knew exactly what this is about, it's going to be a game of "Play the fool and pretend you are clueless." Heero sighed, taking the dice. "What's wrong?"

"Um.. are you ok?" Quatre voiced, rolling the dice after Heero.

"Yeah, I'm fine—I mean, why shouldn't I b-"

"Cut the crap!" Duo shouted. Heero sighed Leave it to Duo to flip the game board. "Come on, Heero. We all know it's about Nina. It became kind of obvious after the first 30 times you've woken up in the middle of the night, screaming 'Nina!' "

"I scream?"

"Hell, yeah." All others nodded in agreement.

"Doesn't matter. I'm fine. Go to bed." Heero tried to flip the covers and go back to sleep, or at least pretend, but Duo caught his arm.

"Heero, you're a good friend, so I'm just going to break it to you. Nina's DEAD!"

Trowa raised an eyebrow, completely curious why Duo chose this night to dig his grave. None of them have ever mentioned Nina in front of Heero. She was the forbidden topic. But apparently, this long-haired one didn't care if he wasn't going to leave here without a black eye.

"I know."

Trowa raised the other eyebrow. Ok, no black eye, but admittance, too? This is too much.

"I know she's dead. My sister's dead."

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"Did you hear the news?" Relena inquired Jenna as they were walking towards first morning class. Jenna stared at Relena, wondering what news she was talking about. School gossip? Nah, must be something about actual TV broadcasted news. So what interesting thing did today's morning paper say that Relena would actually pay attention to?

"Uh, No, Haven't heard any news, but I've read about some psycho who escaped the mental asylum downtown…"

"That's the one." Relena confirmed, giving her an incomprehensible look. Suddenly, Relena's eyes shifted and following her glace, Jenna saw that it pointed directly at Mr. Yuy's retreating figure. Observing her friend for several seconds, Jenna concluded that even though it was not her business, she should, and will, ask.

"Relena… Relena… over here… ok.. Um.. Correct me if I'm wrong, and I don't think I am. But have you been paying Mr. Stare a little too much attention?"

"Mr. Who?"

"Mr. Yuy, godammit!"

"Oh.. right… I mean, NO, of course not. How so?... Oh you mean how I just stared at him until he rounded the corner… that kind of attention? Well… I- stop nodding.. Ok, I don't know, he looks familiar. Like somehow, I know him or something… isn't that weird? I mean, I swear I've never seen him before, but then again.. I'm not so sure… do I make sense?… … you can nod now…"

Jenna stared at her friend for some time, not sure what to make of it. She remembered how Mr. Yuy had stared at Relena on the first day. Was he feeling the way Relena was feeling just now? Ok wait…Jenna shuddered, shaking her head too freaky… let's not go there. "Hehe."

"Hehe, what?"

RIIIIINNNNGGGG!!!!!

"Hehe, we're late for class…"

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Heero could have sworn that Relena's gaze did not leave him until he had rounded that corner. He sincerely hoped that she didn't notice his quickening of step. Must have been shocked by the stare I had given He concluded, it's not like she knows something regarding Nina. He thought to himself as he handed out the test papers that had taken him all weekend to mark. He was not as amused as his roommates were by the test paper with a picture of a bulldog labeled 'Mr. Yuy'. Young Rofis Cablinor it was. Heero smiled inwardly to himself as he saw Rofis' shocked face as he stared at the 'Come see me' note beside the pretty bulldog illustration.

"We're sorry we're late." Came the chorused reply from the door as Jenna and Relena stepped into the classroom. Heero didn't say anything, but motioned them to take their seats. However, he couldn't help but notice Relena's stare once more. Quickly, he handed out the rest of the papers and stopped by Jenna's desk, looking at her, before giving her the paper.

98%. Jenna smiled to herself. Not bad at all. She quickly turned around and before she could ask, Relena was shoving the 68% into her face. Jenna lowered the test to look at her friend. Then smiled as sincerely as she could, but only causing Relena to scoff at her.

"I get it already; you beat me by like… 50%."

"29"

"Whatever, I don't know how you do it… I've studied for this thing too… dammit."

"Cheer up, it's only the second test. There will be plenty more."

"Goody!" Relena exclaimed in sarcasm, not understanding why "plenty more" is such a good thing. Just going to be more opportunities to show how NOT well she's doing.

"Girls in the back." Heero said, without a hint of treat or annoyance. However, that seemed to do the trick and they shut up.

Heero continued with the lesson, only briefly going over the next unit and then started writing out notes on the board, with speed that made his students eat his chalk dust.

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Humming to herself, Relena walked down the street. It was dark already, she noted, and grimaced at the fact that she had stayed after school until Six o'clock. If it weren't for Jenna's badminton tryouts, she would have left before the bell finished ringing. Sighing, Relena concluded that she was such a good friend.

Tap.Tap.

Relena stopped humming and slowed her steps so her own footsteps would not interfere with her trying to listen to the sound.

Tap. Tap.

It seemed like normal sounds of footsteps. Nothing to worry about. Relena started to walk again, but didn't hum.

Tap. TAP.

She quickened her footsteps, and suddenly a flashback of earlier that morning came to her mind.

"Uh, No, Haven't heard any news, but I've read about some psycho who escaped the mental asylum downtown…"

TAP TAP TAP TAP

She started to run.

 TAP TAP TAP TAP

Ok, convinced that she was indeed being followed, her running footsteps were accompanied by shrieks coming from her throat as fear started to rise.

Barely able to keep up with her own feet, she raced down the block, cursing over the fact that she had to live so far. The next thing she knew, her face was one with the cement floor and a pain shot through her body. Not a good time to trip!

The tapping were getting closer, looking back, Relena could see the running figure of a man. By the looks from his build, he was about 30-40 years old. Ok, DEFINITELY NOT A GOOD TIME TO TRIP!

FLASH.

Bright light. Relena raised her arms in front of her face, trying to shield herself from the light. Headlights. Car!

The car screeched to a stop and she could hear the driver getting out. He seemed to walk towards her. He tried to remove her arm from her face, but she kicked him and screamed. She landed a solid fist onto his face, but the fist was caught by his hand soon after.

"It's ok. It's me."

Relena blinked and looked up. "Mr. Yuy?"

"Who was chasing you? I didn't catch him."

"I don't know. I , he.."

Her pained face, about to burst to tears… seemed to much like Nina's, Heero noticed reluctantly. He would never want Nina to cry like this. Not knowing what to do with the girl. He embraced her in a hug.

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"This your house?" Heero asked as he shifted the car to parking and pointed to a house partly hidden by trees.

"Yes." Relena muttered, not even looking up. She opened the door on her side.

"Wait. I'll walk you."

"Huh? No, it's ok. You don't need to, really." Relena stuttered, still flustered about the earlier experience of being chased and almost getting run over.

"It's not safe. I'll walk you." His comment gave no room for any more contradicting words.

Walking beside her, he stepped up the front porch, lifting both his shoulders as a gust of cold wind breathed by his neck. She rang the doorbell and a muffled yell came from inside. A second later, the door opened and an older lady presented herself. She was smiling and looked a little flushed, she smiled at Relena but that smile faded as her face turned to look at Heero.

"Odin." She whispered under her breath, barely audible. However, she was soon to regain her composure. She smiled at him palely and motioned Relena to come inside.

Relena, not noticing the change in the woman's reaction, began to explain. "Oh Mom, this is Mr. Yuy, my chemistry teacher, he gave me a ride home after I was chased by this weird guy."

Mrs. Darlian's gaze never left Heero during the entire time Relena spoke. "That's great, honey. Congratulations."

"Huh?"

Mrs. Darlian didn't respond to Relena's inquiry, but merely grabbed her arm and pulled her into the house.

"Thank you. Bye." She said curtly to Heero and shut the door in his face.

Heero stared for a few seconds, then turned around and walked to his car.

"Odin?... My father?"

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OK, that's it for Chapter Two…. Hehe…yeah…

If you are reading from Fanfiction.net. Please Review!! 

Um… from the people last time:

Mi-Mi Piker: thank you for your support! Keep reading and reviewing plz!

Bama: Well, now you know who Nina is (~_) !!

To be continued… I hope soon…