Chapter Thirty-One – Weakness and Courage

Her lips set in an angry way, Irma left her house on Christmas Eve. Still angry about what had happened the previous day, she hadn't gone to the Silver Dragon when she was supposed to, still stubbornly angry, despite the girl phone calls.

Today was supposed to be a special day, full of fun and delight. The girls, as they did for the past two years, were to be gathering at one of their houses, exchanging gifts. Irma, being the stubborn person she was, didn't go, and wasn't planning to. She just needed fresh air.

It had snowed last night, Irma realized, but she didn't bother to go inside and get anything warmer than her worn orange jacket. She set off into the sparkling word, the sun glinting off the snow, enhancing its beauty. Irma wasn't in the mood to admire such pureness, at the moment, though. She made as many tracks as she could through the yard, ruining its perfect surface.

Her hands shoved deep into her pockets, Irma regretted not going to get her large, marshmallow like coat, but she just wanted to walk. The way her friends thought she was weak, numbed away some of the cold. Irma walked along, head down, not admiring how particularly lovely the snow looked this year.

Irma couldn't help but feel like her four best friends had marched up to her and announced, in her face, "You are the weakest link, goodbye."

In her mind, she fought an internal battle, about how her friends thought she needed to be watched. How they thought she was vulnerable. On one side, she thought they were wrong. She could take care of herself, she always had. Wasn't she the one with the bad past, and yet had the jokes?

Still, the other side reasoned she was weak. She WAS the weakest link. Her world had fallen apart, and she wasn't the proud, independent person she had been under a year ago. That Irma was slowly being devoured by pain, sorrow, and confusion.

What had happened to her life?

She used to be in control of her life, at least when she became the water guardian. She could make choices, easily. Without anyone worrying about her. Irma didn't like being worried about, being pitied. It made her feel weak, weaker than she really was.

But deep down, Irma knew she was weak. And it hadn't just started. She had always been weak. Insecure. Unloved. It was just her damn pride. She was weaker than she let on. She was sensitive, and every insult everyone shot at her cut into her skin, haunted her nightmares. Despite how nonchalant she reacted to them, they hurt, and she would cry on the inside. She just wanted to be loved.

But who could possibly love her? Even like her? She was an ugly creature, on the Earth only for others to laugh at. Only for others to hate and despise.

By then Irma had gone two blocks, and she nearly bumped into someone. She quickly wiped a few tears that had welled up in her eyes, and looked up in to the familiar face. Her face immediately went cold. Her eyes looked like the ocean had frozen.

She pushed past the boy, and stalked off, not in the mood to scold him, but he turned around, and grabbed her arm. "Hey Irma." He said softly.

Irma turned on her heel, and glared up at the boy. He was fairly tall. "I thought you said you wanted to see me again. I didn't even receive a call from you." She snapped.

The boy's eager smile dropped off his face, as he stared at Irma. "What?" Irma snapped. "Did you not know I was raped, before we went out? That I was pregnant? That my life is completely screwed? What? What is wrong with me?"

She didn't give him time to answer to that. "Am I too helpless? Hopeless? Ugly? Stupid? Am I just that unlikable?" Irma paused. "Or do you think I am fragile? That I maybe some ticking time bomb?"

It sure did seem like Irma was a time bomb, right now. And she had just exploded. But he didn't dare to say so. So Mitchell stayed silent.

"Well you are wrong. I am fine. I am as strong as I always was." Irma said, her voice dying out. Suddenly, on impulse, Irma pulled his head down and quickly brushed her lips against his, and pushed him away. His eyes widened, and his fingers brushed his lips, much like would girls did when they were suddenly kissed.

"Well you are wrong." She barely said, he almost missed her say it. And suddenly she was gone.

Author Note – Waaaaaah. I am such a bad person. I started my novel, which is much better written, of course, and forgot about this. I hope this surprise kiss helped my ignorance to this story.

Thank you so much, for the wonderful reviews!