Chapter 7: Apology

Zephyr buried her head in her hands as soon as she had gotten to school. Her stomach lurched with each step. Preparing for school had simply been a change of clothes and washing the alcohol, blood, and glass off of her face. Depression set in when she looked at herself in the mirror. Her eyes had surprised her; sadness and guilt were all that she saw in the pale orbs. She began to look gaunt, and the marks on her face just dragged her self assessment to an even lower level. What hurt most of all were not the blows her father bestowed upon her or the fact that he was hitting her, but instead the order that she was not to tell a soul. Ever. All she wanted was a confidante, yet the ones she had were in danger if she breathed a word to them. She knew that it was going to take a pinch of time and a ton of courage to get her through this.

"Hey Zephyr, what's wrong?" She heard Aelita's voice but bit her tongue. She could feel them, surrounding her. Zephyr didn't trust herself to answer; knowing that she couldn't bring herself to tell another lie.

"Is she asleep?" Ulrich asked, and she felt his face closer to hers. She wasn't surprised that Odd chose to remain silent.

"No, probably just-" Jeremie's reply was cut off when Zephyr raised her head to look at them, and she looked so downtrodden that Aelita gasped at her sad eyes peering up at them from her seat on the back of the bench. She was really beginning to hate that bench.

"C'mon guys. Just…leave her alone." The Odd-like, quiet defense was surprisingly uttered by Yumi, who herded the other three off. Zephyr realized that Odd wasn't among them, which easily explained his silence. As soon as they were gone she headed in the opposite direction, towards where she knew he was.

It was Odd's turn to stare out into the distance and sigh as Zephyr came to stand beside him on the roof.

"Odd-" She started off quietly, but Odd anticipated her and answered her question. At least, he answered what he thought she was going to ask.

"I wasn't there with the others because I saw you come with your face all cut up." He replied, almost disinterestedly.

"I was going to-" She continue, but he turned to her with an angry fire in his eyes that was somewhat akin to that in Jack's eyes. This fire she saw now made her shrink back, but her friend didn't seem to notice. Or was it that he didn't care?

"What? What are you going to do? I've done everything in my power to help you and then you get beat up again and won't tell me why! What am I supposed to do? What power am I going to do unless you tell me? I have nothing without knowing what's happening to you." His voice was painted with frustration and something related to resentment. The blond waited for her to explain, watching her with an angry helplessness as she stared at her feet. For a few moments it was just them on the rooftop, the wind letting the rift that had grown between them become something almost tangible. Odd stood there, hand halfway through his golden hair, she looking quite ashamed and embarrassed.

"Well?" His anger had subsided but it still tinged his impatient question. The boy felt his heart splinter as his slightly harsh words made the girl visually reel, and something in her eyes flashed and died like a falling star. Had he not been blinded by frustration he might've seen that same spark of anger.

"Odd," She sighed, gathering up all her courage, "I can't tell you because it'd only make things worse. Much, much worse. Worse for Yumi, Jeremie, Aelita, Ulrich, me, and you. That's why I can't tell you. I wanted to tell you but…I'd rather leave you ignorant than hurt."

"But I could tell the principal, or Ms. Hertz, or Nurse Dorothy. They'd help you. Whatever this is you can't go through it alone," Odd pleaded with her. Without even thinking about it he grasped her hands in his. "C'mon, Zeph. We're best friends. You know you can tell me."

Emotions had overcome Zephyr and she was keeping tears and bay vigilantly. Odd could almost feel that she was going to tell him everything. He was a little fearful that she would break down, but the urge was stronger to know the source of those bruises and that pain she so carefully tried to shelter and guard, only to have it be grown and nurtured, feeding on her.

"I'm sorry." She said so quietly it was almost inaudible. She rushed passed him and down the stairs, never once looking back. Odd stayed, arm still uselessly extended, reaching after her. All he could hear was her shoes falling on the concrete stairs as she fled. She was running away from him, it seemed, and he mentally slapped himself for being too overbearing.

"I am so very, very sorry."

Yeah, it was short. I might be able to get one more chapter in before the big upgrade. If not, then I'll update ASAP.