Chapter 14: Understanding The Past

Through the Eyes of Sylvia

"Congratulations Sylvia! You just defeated Paul Phoenix with your 'Burning Phoenix' style. No pun intended! What do you plan to do from here?" the reporter asked me. I untied the bun in my hair and let my crimson and black hair fall behind my shoulders.

"I just wanna beat Jr.'s-" I was suddenly interrupted by the man.

"You mean Peter?" he asked. Now he was starting to annoy me.

"Umm, did I FINISH! And anyways, who else is a junior in this tournament, smart one?" After I said that, the reporter seemed to be angry, as he turned around and left to interview Paul Phoenix on his defeat.

"Better recognize…" I said as he left with his crew.

Walking away through the cathedral doors, I smirked to myself. I seemed to be doing quite well in this tournament. I was definitely underestimated from the start. Nobody thought I'd make it this far. Surprisingly, Peter pulled off another victory against Wang Jinrei. What an old fart, that Jinrei character. He even said that I was hot! I mean, this is truth but for real, I don't wanna hear that from someone like him. Wang…heheheh. Who names their kid Wang? Retards obviously. ANYways…

--

"Ah yes…" I said as the warm water hit my body. I let my dark hair flow into the water, making it become one as I rubbed the soap against my belly. Seeing the belly button ring in my stomach, I thought back to a moment long ago. Well…not that long ago. It was in high school back in New York. I came in sporting the new ring and Peter didn't know about it…

"Umm…Sylvia?" Peter said.

"What do you want, douche bag?" I replied.

"I didn't know you got your button pierced…"

I turned around and leaned back against the table, showing him a better view of the silver ring I had in my belly button.

"Isn't it the hottest thing you've ever seen?" I asked.

"Well, if you like setting off metal detectors…" he replied.

"Oh fuck off!" I yelled as I took my things and left the area.

Yeah, I remember that day. Hmm…it was a LITTLE funny what he said though. I tried not to laugh, but I think he may have heard me as I walked away.

After I finished rinsing myself off, I turned off the shower and wrapped the black towel around my chest and waist. Once I finished drying off, I laid down on my bed completely nude, just the way I liked it when I was alone. I turned off the lights and closed my eyes.

…

"Ugh! I can't sleep!" I yelled as I flicked the light back on. Hmm…I know what might help. Peter's letter to me from back in high school. I reached over to my desk drawer and pulled out the folded piece of paper. After I unfolded it, I began to read it…

Dear Sylvia,

I know that this may be weird, but please just hear me out. You've been through a lot of crap throughout your life haven't you? Just being adopted is enough reason to be upset. I had a terrible life also. As much as you may hate me, I don't know why, but I'm just drawn to you. I just feel like you are calling out for someone to help you. I can be that person if you want. I know that this REALLY sounds weird coming from me, but I honestly feel connected to you in a way. I know you want me to just leave you alone, but you see I can't. I'm not willing to write you off, or give up on you just yet. You deserve to have a friend that will understand your pain and accept you for it. I would like to be a friend if only you would let me. I didn't want to say any of this to you in person, because I know it would make you feel uncomfortable. It's just that, I see so much of myself in you. You are everything that I always wanted to be, but couldn't. I always wanted to let my rage out, like you. I have to hold it all in so that nobody else will get hurt. I feel that you and I can connect on so many different levels. You may believe that I'm annoying as hell because I laugh a lot, and always appear happy. Believe me, I'm nothing of the sort inside. I have to put the mask on for everybody, I think you know what I'm talking about. I just wanted to let you know that you can take that mask off around me, I'm not going to tell anybody anything. It could be just between us. Yes, I do want to take the time out to get to know you, I don't care what happened in your past. If you want, I'll tell you everything about me first. I think that together we can pull off a strong relationship. If you decline this friendship, I won't hate you. But I want you to know that if you ever need help, or anybody to talk to, I'll be there to help. I want to be able to protect you from whatever pains you have. Please write back to me and tell me what you think. Be honest, nobody is going to read it but me ok? Just remember that I'm here. Please don't feel alone any more.

Peter C.

Damn, that was deep. I still remember the day he gave it to me. Man, how it must've sucked to be him that day…

"Sylvia?" Peter said.

"What do you want, worm." I replied.

"Ummm…I just wanted to give you something."

"No! If you think buying me some more earrings will make me like you, you're sorely mistaken." I replied.

"No, it's nothing like that. It's just something I was up all night writing for you. I want you to read it."

"Too bad, if it's poetry, I wouldn't read your shit even if my life depended on it." I replied coldly.

"Oh…well it's not a poem, it's just a letter on how I feel about you. If you want…you could write one for me after you read this one…" he said. Ugh, I hate him! He always sounds so innocent, with those damn puppy eyes and all. He just wants to avoid another ass kicking.

"I'm NOT reading it!"

"Umm…I'll just leave it here by your bag. You can throw it out if you want."

"I plan to." I said to him. As he walked away in his trench coat and all, I couldn't help but feel regret for him. But I had a reputation to keep, and if being the Gothic Ice Princess of Long Island meant treating him this way, then that's what it would have to take.

"I hate that kid so much!" I yelled out loud for him to hear as he walked away. He didn't even look back as he walked off, and THAT really pissed me off to the first degree. A few minutes later, the bell rang to get to class.

"Shit!" I yelled as I ran to my bag and picked it up, running towards my classroom.

After a particularly 'lovely' day in school, I returned to the cafeteria to see something posted on the walls. Everybody was reading it and laughing. I don't know what it was, but I wanted in on the joke.

"Outta the way! I wanna see this." I said as I pushed the preps out of the way. The first line of the announcement read, "Dear Sylvia…"

"Oh my god…" I said as I realized what it was. It was that DAMN letter that Peter gave to me, I totally forgot it on the table earlier! Then I saw him. It was like some cheesy slow-motion moment. He gave me a look of hatred as he left the cafeteria. Everybody, and I mean EVERYBODY was laughing at him. I never felt so horrible in all my life…

Yeah…that day must've sucked for him. He probably went home and cut himself, because he didn't show up to school for the next week. Poor guy…his letter actually kind of touched me, but I didn't let anyone else know that. I tracked down the original letter and kept it for myself. Whenever I couldn't sleep, this helped. After folding the letter back up, I put it away again and rolled underneath the covers. I had a feeling that I would sleep well tonight.

Through The Eyes of Jamila

I walked out and felt the night air caress my form. Earlier today, I thought it was funny how Peter pronounced my name. Me being twenty two years old, I laughed at his slight immaturity.

As I removed my robe, I looked out over the lit pool area and caught sight of him. With a sigh, I walked forward, getting ready to talk to him for the first time since I met him. He was pacing back and forth by the edge of the pool. Shockingly, he tripped over a beach chair and fell into the deep end, hitting his head on the way down.

"Ouch…" I said as I folded my arms across my chest and waited for him to come back up.

"Something's wrong…" I whispered. "He's been under for too long…" Leaping into action, I ran to the deep end and dived in after the young kid. Swimming my way to the bottom, I picked up his lifeless body and began to swim back up to the surface. Once I reached the top, I tossed his body up onto the pavement and hopped out of the cold water to help him.

His eyes were shut and he didn't move one bit.

"Peter!" I yelled as I began administering CPR. At least a minute went by and he wasn't moving yet.

"Wake up!" I yelled as I thrust my palms against his chest. As soon as I finished my statement, Peter coughed hard, shooting water out of his mouth and gasping for air. I smiled as I patted his back.

"Welcome back to the world of the living." I said with a smile. Peter looked around, regaining his full consciousness. He seemed scared to see me, but grateful that I saved his life.

I sat him down on the beach chair nearby, thereafter taking the chair opposite him.

"You are going to be alright." I said with comfort in my voice, a feature that normally wasn't present.

I noticed that after a few more seconds, he wrapped his arms around himself and began shivering.

"Hold on a sec." I said as I walked back over to where I dropped my robe and picked it up.

"Maybe this will warm you up." I said as I carefully wrapped it around his body. He smiled at me while shivering and said, "Thanks…"

A few minutes later…

"You know, you're not that bad after all." I told him.

"Yeah I know, neither are you." He said confidently. I shot him a look of displeasure and he quickly changed the subject.

"So…I can't believe it was YOU who saved me. I didn't even think you liked me." He said. I laughed scornfully and replied to him.

"There's a lot of things you don't know about me."

"Well I hope our newfound friendship lasts long enough to let me hear those things."

"Friendship?" I asked. He looked in my direction and nodded after about three seconds.

"Y-yeah…I mean, we ARE friends now…right?" he said sheepishly. I had to laugh inside. He was just too innocent for his own good. The idea of friendship was foreign to me. I never really had the time to have friends, but I guess it wouldn't be THAT bad…would it?

"Yes, I assume you are correct." I said. He smiled at me and offered me his hand.

"Cool. Friends then." He said. For awhile, I stared at his hand, wondering if I should accept his friendship or not. He began to look nervous and embarrassed, and I couldn't tell if he was sweating, or if that was that pool water dripping off his face.

Thinking about it, I decided to accept.

"Friends." I said as I accepted his hand and shook it firmly. We laughed quietly together as we turned our attention to the night sky above. The stars looked so beautiful tonight.

"You know…where I come from, the sky is much more beautiful…" I said after a few minutes. I didn't hear a response, I just heard light snoring.

'Are you serious?' I thought as I looked over at him. All that water and rescuing must have tired him out. Poor kid…he never seems to catch a break. Walking back over to him, I put my extra towel over him to keep him warm before I left to go into the hotel.