Hey everybody! Get ready for another heart-breaking chapter!

Todd: When is all this depression going to end?

Um, this is an angst story. It's supposed to be depressing.

Todd: Yeah but this is ridiculous yo! In fact I'm surprised nobody committed suicide yet!

Just wait, it'll get better soon. (shakes her head) Characters.

Nobody Understands

And so, that's how Todd managed to get suspended from school for an entire week. Lance had told Pietro to never give Todd advice again. Later that evening Todd sat on his bed going through the small box of pictures of him and Serena. He couldn't be sure exactly how many times he had done it before. He thought that going through the box each day would bring some of his memory back, but they did nothing for him. He had given up trying to remember, because every time he tried his head would start to throb. One time he had tried so hard to remember he had ended up passing out from the excruciating pain it had caused him. It was as if there was a wall blocking him from his memories, a wall he tried several times to climb over but failed. While Todd was going through his pictures Pietro came in unannounced.

"Hey Toad. Time for your…" Pietro stopped when he saw what Todd was doing. "Oh crimony."

Todd hastily started throwing the pictures back into the box in embarrassment. "Haven't you ever heard of knocking?"

"Toad, you can't seriously still be obsessed over that Aqua chick are you?" Pietro asked in disbelief.

"That's none of your business!" Todd snarled.

"No wonder you're so messed up! This is pathetic!"

"But Serena…"

"Forget her! She is gone and she's never coming back! Quit living in the past!"

"How can I live in it if I don't even remember it?"

"Which is exactly why you need to let it go. It's ancient history, done and over with." Then he grabbed the box of pictures from Todd and sped out of the room. "H-hey! Get back here!" He bounded out of the room. "Those are mine! Give them back!" He yelled as he hopped down the stairs in pursuit of the speed demon. When he had gotten downstairs he gave a high-pitched scream. Pietro had thrown the box of pictures into the flaming fireplace.

"What are you doing?" Todd yelped.

"What should have been done a long time ago." Pietro said in a valid tone.

Lance came into the living room to see what was going on. "What are you two… Oh my gaud."

He stared at the box of pictures burning in the fire place. Tabitha and Fred, who had also heard the noise, came down the stairs to witness the shocking scene. Todd was about to jump into the fireplace and retrieve the burning pictures but Lance quickly held him back.

"Toad no!"

"Let me go!" Todd wailed.

"Toad snap out of it!" Lance shouted.

"I gotta get them!"

"It's too late." Lance told him. "They're gone."

Todd watched with a heavy heart as the picture of two happy people reduced to ashes. Everyone was speechless. If anyone had even the slightest sliver of an idea what the small teen was feeling, it was Lance.

He loosened his grip. "Toad, I'm sorry." Todd didn't say anything as he pulled away from him and tore out of the house.

Everyone glared at Pietro. "I was only trying to help."

"You have a really sick and twisted way of helping people." Lance spat and left the room.

"That was just not right." Fred said as he shuffled out of the room.

Tabitha shook her head and followed them. "He'll never learn."

Pietro normally thought that anything he did was usually for the good of the team. He had never doubted his actions. Now he just stood there. Not even he was sure if he had done the right thing anymore.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Serena was swinging back and forth on the swing set looking at the ground. Nobody ever listened to her. Not even Rogue.

It was right after the X-Men had arrived home from the hectic day caused by Toad.

"Serena is that you?" Rogue asked.

"Yes." Serena said slowly.

"Oh, well I was just checking."

Serena raised an eyebrow. "Checking for what?"

"Well, to see if it was you or Flood."

"Who's Flood?"

"You know the other girl living inside you? That's her name now." Rogue explained.

Serena could not believe her ears. "Rogue I told you not to trust her. She's evil don't you understand that?"

"How do you know? She might not be."

"How can you say that? She tried to kill you!"

"Yeah but…"

"Listen, I'm the only one who knows what she's really like. You can't trust her, she's only using you."

"How can I be sure?" Rogue asked her. "How do I know it's not you who's using me?" Serena gaped at her. She didn't have time to respond before Scott confronted her.

"My money is gone, along with everyone else's!"

"Um, Scott, that was Toad's fault. Remember?" Rogue reminded him.

"I was missing some money before that little creep took my wallet. I hadn't noticed it until today."

"So you're saying that I took it." Serena said offhandedly.

"Who else could it have been?"

Serena shrugged. "It could have been anybody."

"Where'd you get the leather jacket?" Scott asked suddenly.

She blinked. "Huh?"

"For the past couple of days you've been wearing a leather jacket which I've never seen on you before."

"Are you trying to make a point?" She said annoyed.

"Leather jackets aren't cheap." He stated.

"I have my own money too you know."

"And you just happened to buy one after everyone's money is gone." Scott remarked.

Serena glared at Rogue. "Do you believe me now?" She screamed and ran out of the mansion. Scott was left confused at this sudden outburst towards Rogue.

"Um, what was that about?"

Rogue rounded on him. "None of your business!" Then she stalked off.

"Okay." Scott said unaware of what had just happened.

Serena thought that Rogue was her friend, and yet she didn't believe what she said about Flood. Flood was evil. She had even tried to kill Rogue. But Rogue, she thinks she's just misunderstood. But Serena knew better. When she had talked to Flood in her mind she could feel the pain, anger, and hatred towards the whole world. Flood knew nothing of happiness, compassion, or love. She wants revenge, it's her motivation. That motive is giving her the strength to obtain what she needs in order to fulfill her wish, control. Serena on the other hand had nothing to give her the strength to keep going. While in deep thought Serena had rocked herself to the point where the swing was starting to jerk when she came back down. She just wanted all this pain to stop. She wanted to let it go. Just let go…

For a few seconds Serena felt a flying sensation. She wasn't exactly sure what was going on. It almost felt as if everything had just stopped. Then the sensation evaporated as world rushed past her and she heard a distant scream. Reality set in as Serena realized she was about to plow into someone.

Man that Pietro has an evil streak in him doesn't he? Next, find out who Serena ends up running into. Or more specifically, flying into.