Hey, sorry this took so long. I temporarily had my updating privileges taken away because I had song fics. Apparently, even though everybody does it, you aren't allowed to have song lyrics in your fics on this sight. I got thirteen emails that all said "Main reason for removal: "Not the property of uploading writer" " Hello! None of the stuff we're writing about belongs to us either! ARGH! Sorry, I needed to vent. I'm just taking out the song lyrics and reposting them so take that ff . net !

-Chapter Four-

The Calm Before The Storm

Arlene Tucker took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Was one really supposed to dread going to work this much? She grabbed the doorknob but froze before she opened it. She could hear them moving inside the room, skittering around on their tiny legs. A thump and yell issued from behind the closed door. It was days like this that Arlene seriously rethought her decision to be a teacher.

Taking another steadying breath, she opened the door. Inside was nothing short of pandemonium.

The first graders were all racing around the room. On little boy was pulling a blonde girl across the room by her braided pigtails. A small red-head was doing an exuberant, impromptu tap dance on her desk, while several boys snickered because they could see up her dress. Well, thought Arlene as the class hamster skittered over her shoe, nothing like ending the week with a bang.

Heaving a sigh, the teacher strived to create some semblance of sanity in the room. "Tommy, please catch Fuzz and put him in the hamster cage. Paul stop pulling Ellen's hair. Ellen, don't pinch Paul. Marguerite, please get off the desk." There was a loud banging from the other side of the room. "And would someone please get Andy out of the supply closet?"

Miss Tucker walked wearily to her desk amid the complaints and groans of her students. Resting her chin in her hand, she watched as the children slowly ambled to their seats.

Her eyes roved the room until the landed on this week's enigma. Sitting in desks at the far corner of the room, Marie Darkholme and Remy DeClour were patiently waiting for class to start. Observing the two as they quietly talked, Arlene once again found herself pondering how the two of them became friends a few weeks back. In her mind, they were quintessential odd couple.

Marie was outspoken, outgoing, and very intelligent. She had already earned the reputation as the class tomboy and girls ignored her because of it.

Remy, on the other hand, was quiet and withdrawn. He hardly ever spoke at school, which lead to rumors that he was slow, autistic, or "just plain stupid" as one person had put it. He got the right answers in his workbook, so she assumed the rumors were just that: rumors. But sometimes she had to wonder, was it normal for a child to be that quiet and obedient?

BRRIIIIIINNNNGGG! Arlene jumped as the bell signaled the beginning of the school day. Pushing her musings to the back of her mind, Arlene Tucker turned her attention to her students.

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"Remy and Marie, sitting in a tree,
K-I-S-S-I-N-G!
First comes love, then comes marriage,
then come Marie with the baby carriage!"

Remy ducked his head at the unwanted attention, feeling his cheeks beginning to burn. Marie turned and glared at the group of girls behind them. There was one last shriek of laughter and the group ran off, giggling at "couple".

Marie sighed as she sat down beside Remy again. They had been friends for almost three weeks now and their classmates' teasing was getting old. "Don' worry 'bout them Remy. Auntie Irene said they'll stop soon."

The boy just nodded, continuing to color his picture. Marie leaned closer. "Whatcha drawin'?"

Remy froze, his crayon poised above the notebook. He had never shown anyone his pictures before.

"Please?" prodded Marie. Hesitantly, he held out the book. Marie studied the drawing for several minutes before turning her jade eyes towards her friend. "Is this ya room?"

He nodded.

"That's a pretty scary monster ya're hidin' from."

Remy stared adamantly at the ground in front of him. "Dat's not a monster, dat's m' daddy."

An uncomfortable silence settled between them as Marie stared at the picture again. The awful creature hovering over picture Remy hardly looked human, let alone like his father.

The tension was broke as the bell rang, signaling the end of recess. Quickly Remy grabbed the notebook from Marie and began running towards the door. "C'mon Marie, y'gonna be late f'r class!" He called over his shoulder.

Marie stood up and sprinted to catch up with her friend. He stood there, holding the door open for her. His clothes were baggy on his small frame and his unique eyes watched from underneath a vale of unruly, unwashed locks of hair. Despite this, a grin was plastered on his face. A smile that Marie notice, he only gave to her. As they walked inside, the drawing was fresh in her mind; she couldn't help but feel worried about her friend. Remy nevea wants ta go home when he comes over ta play an' he doesn' really like his daddy, but why did he draw his daddy like a monster?

The duo lagged behind their classmates as they made the trek back to their classroom. Ignoring the taunts she knew would come, Marie grabbed Remy's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. She didn't know exactly what she was making him feel better about, but she knew he needed it.

"Remy and Marie, sitting a tree . . ."

Not again.

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"T'anks f'r dinner, Mrs. Darkholme." Said Remy, getting ready to head home.

"It was no trouble, Remy." Said Raven as she watched him tie his shoes. "You know you're welcome here anytime. In fact," She put her arm around Marie, who was beside her, "We were wondering if you would like to go out to eat with us tomorrow night. It's Marie's birthday." She smiled at the little boy as his face lit up with joy.

"Really? It's m' birthday, too!"

Marie gave him a shocked look. "We have th' same birthday? Wow!"

Raven smiled as the kids continued to talk animated to one another, their faces glowing with excitement. Suddenly, her smile faded into a concerned frown. Her gazed stayed fixed on Remy's arm. He had pushed his sleeves up to his elbows, making it visible.

'It' was a livid bruise. Large and various shades of black, blue, and purple, Raven was surprised she hadn't seen it earlier. How on earth did a child get a bruise like that?

Kneeling beside him, Raven gently held onto his arm. "Remy, what on earth happened to you?" Next to him, Marie's eyes grew wide with surprise as she saw the offending contusion on her friend's arm.

For one fleeting moment, Raven swore she saw fear in Remy's eyes. He quickly yanked his arm away and pulled down the sleeve. "I fell at home. I hit m' arm on de table. M' daddy says it'll be fine in a couple o' days."

The words seemed fake, as if rehearsed, to Raven's ears. The ugly bruise seemed to taunt her; she could still see it even though Remy had covered it up. "Are you sure, honey?" Probed Raven, trying to pull him closer. He pushed her arm away.

"'M fine, Mrs. Darkholme. I gotta go home now. See y' t'morrow!" Then he was gone.

The two of them continued to stare at he spot where he had just been.

"I think he's daddy did it."

Raven whipped around to stare at her daughter. "Marie! You just can't accuse people of- . . . of- . . . that!" She was hesitant to say what it really was, not wanting to expose her daughter to something that dark and disgusting so early in life. Curiosity getting the better of her, she continued the conversation. "Why do you say that, Marie?"

The little girl crawled into her mother's lap. "Remy's afraid of his daddy. He drew a picture of him today at recess. It was scary." Her green eyes were full of worry as she gazed up at her mother. "Mama, is Remy gonna be okay?"

"Of course, Marie." At she sat there rocking her daughter, a thought struck Raven. She had said thatto reassure herself more than her daughter.

As she climbed into bed several hours later, Raven vowed to talk to Annie and Luke DeClour. She prayed thatshe was just jumping to conclusions, but Irene's warning was ringing in her ears: Remy DeClour has darkness looming in his near future.

Dun, dun, dun! How was that chapter? I hope to get the next one up soon, but don't expect anything. I have one regular week of school, exams week, tons of projects, job orientation, and graduation all in the next 14 days. Yeah, kinda busy. I just spent 3 hours typing this that could've been spent doing my Economics project, but honestly, which sounds more fun? Til next time, Takimiromy