Hey guys! Sorry for not writing sooner, but I just my two months as a Junior in high school, and that took a lot out of me. I have Dance 2, AP Lit., Advanced Algebra, and more on me as well.

And for this chapter, I'm not going to lie: My heart hurts for the pain I'm about to put Charlotte through. Please forgive me!

Oh, and Happy Fall/Welcome to October!

ENJOY!

Previously...

"Well?"

"You know the phrase, 'You look like someone kicked your puppy'? Well, the look on Char's face is as if somebody ran over her puppy, checked to see if it was dead, spat on it, made fun of her over it, and then drove off laughing."

I quickly put Charlotte's head on my lap, or what's left of it, and rubbed her wet hair soothingly. Even from Jon's arms, I could tell that she was shaking and the sobs were just...terrible.

"I'm a horrible person, I'm a horrible person, I'm a horrible person..." I heard her muttering repeatedly and my blood boiled.

"I remembered hearing myself using a cruel, cruel voice. Emma was the only one who tried to be reasonable, but Rikki, as expected, was angry with me. But Cleo...she glared at me so hard, I felt it yet the Old Charlotte didn't. It started to play as it happened, but the words that were said...They were never said at all! When Old Me told the girls what I planned, they protested. Cleo hit a nerve on both me and the Old Charlotte, about people never wanting to be around us. I have excessively bullied all my childhood and even other kids that got picked on didn't want to be friends with me!" Charlotte exclaimed, "I mentally had hoped that those words weren't said by her but from Rikki. But they weren't."

"How do you destroy a monster without becoming one? Easy. By finding someone else's inner crimes and releasing them, make sure they destroy themselves in the process so you don't have to release yours," I stated, in both seriousness and sarcasm, as the venom and malice spit from me in a tone I didn't think Brendan even got to hear it!

IT WAS MY BODY, MY HANDS! As long as it's my body doing these things, it is always going to be my fault!

I felt my heart rate accelerate and a painful throbbing was forming. My voice started to hitch and it took a lot of my self-control. Jonathan was sitting right next to me and he didn't need to see my panic attack so soon.

I turned around and screamed, "LEAVE. ME. ALONE!"

What have I done!?

I looked up as Riley climbed out of the pool, drenched and soaking wet, as he pulled out my unconscious mother as well. Instead of him, she was knocked out cold!

I'm a monster.

October 6th, 2009, Tuesday, Morning...

3rd POV

The first thing Charlotte woke up to was the beeping of her alarm clock. It was ringing all through the room, bouncing off the walls, breaking the mermaid out of her dreamless slumber.

The first thing was Charlotte did was adjust her eyes to the slightly-lit room. The only light on was from her clock and a nightlight that was plugged in the wall. Other than that, her room was relatively dark, but she could still tell she must have slept the night away.

Slept the night away...

Almost instantly, the last few memories from the other day flashed before her eyes and it was now taking all she had not to cry.

How could she have let her emotions get the best of her?

How could she have hurt anyone close to her like that? Yeah, she was upset and on the verge of a VERY bad mental breakdown, but that didn't justify anything.

Nothing she did ever have.

Looking at the clock, Charlotte moved her back off the door, wincing at the pain in her back as she got off the floor as she stretched.

"Ugh," Charlotte groaned. Her back was stiff and hurt like hell. Did she sleep on the floor all night? Against the door?

Wincing again, she realized: That would be a Yes.

Charlotte looked down at the clothes she wore the previous day and couldn't help but groan in frustration as she changed to new clothes. She didn't have time to take a bath and then dry her tail in the process, but she did have scented oils, and, luckily, she only had Choir for the day.

Changing into a blue, striped blouse and some dark pants with some sneakers, she opened her bedroom door to see Thomas looking up at her.

"What?" she asked, not expecting him to answer back.

Then, he started barking before grabbing her satchel with his mouth and dragging it downstairs.

"Thomas!" she exclaimed before chasing after him.

Yesterday was not the best day of life and I wanted to turn a new leaf.

...Oh, who was she kidding?!

She nearly killed Laguna, Brendan hates her, Alaine is reverting into her old ways, and using her powers out in front of her Mom and Riley was the tip of the iceberg! And now she...!

She used her powers on her Mom and Riley...

She used her powers on her Mom...

She used her powers...

SHE USED HER POWERS IN FRONT OF THEM!

Now, Charlotte had a good idea of what Thomas wanted her to do.

Not only had she been knocked out all night, but someone had to get her unconscious mother out the pool.

Rushing into the living room, she finds her mom nursing an icepack on her head with one hand and drinking coffee with another. Charlotte looked down to see Thomas sitting beside her feet with her satchel beside her.

She looked up at me and smiled.

And she couldn't have felt guiltier.

"Good morning, sweetie. How did you sleep?" she asked her daughter.

"...My back is stiff. I don't think I slept comfortably that night," Charlotte lied, sort of. Her back is stiff, but she wasn't expecting her mother to be so calm.

"So...mom...Why do you have a bag of ice on your head?" she asked. Honestly, Charlotte was expecting her to go crazy at the teen and ask what happened last night.

"Honestly..." she started. Charlotte held her breath and stood still.

And she waited. She waited for her eyes to bug out.

She waited for her to look up at Charlotte with shock, and possibly disgust, in her eyes.

She waited for her to say something, or rather scream.

She waited for her to something. Yell, scream, disown her, call the authorities, ANYTHING! Any reaction beyond the normal capacity would do!

But then she just shook her head.

"Honestly, I have no idea what happened. The last thing I remember was being outside, working on Alaine's garden, and the next...I woke up with this... pounding in my head and I woke up on the couch. And my clothes were damp," Annette concluded.

Charlotte couldn't help but let out a long breath that was held deep inside her.

By all honesty, Charlotte was expecting anything but this. For the most part, she was glad her mom lost any memory, or hardly remembered her display of supernatural powers.

But part of her, maybe a small part of her subconscious, actually wanted her to know.

"Well, I'm sorry about your head. You should probably take an aspirin to get better. I'm going to take the bus to school," she said, "since you're not feeling well and all."

Annette shook her head and slowly took the ice pack off.

"No, I can take you. Just give me a minute to grab my keys and..." she started, but her daughter cut her off.

"No," she said, grabbing my satchel, "you need to rest and it's not like I haven't ridden the bus before."

Charlotte looked down at Thomas, who seemed to be giving her worried eyes.

He had brought her down here to see her mom. No doubt he also saw what happened and wanted to see if she remembered anything too.

Looking back at her mom, Charlotte noticed the dark bags under her eyes and her pale skin. Thinking back to what her mom said earlier, she said she woke up in damp clothes.

Please tell her that Riley didn't at least try to dry her off before he left!

And now Annette might have a cold because of her!

Looking at a clock on the wall, she realized she had to get out of the house to catch her bus.

"Listen, I need to go. When I get back, I promise to help you with the garden when I get the chance. Love you! Bye!" Charlotte exclaimed hastily as she rushed out the front door.

"Charlotte! Charlotte!" Annette yelled after her, but the teen was long gone.

At Valencia High...

Charlotte's POV

During the bus ride, I had an uneasy feeling in me, like today was going to change. And I wasn't going to like it.

What's the point? My life changed the moment I found out mermaids are real and I chose to become one! And as Fate would have it, I'm now stuck in a deal that was still binding after I lost control!

I never told Laguna this, but sometimes I wondered just how much "mermaid magic" was taken out of me that fateful night. 'Cause now I'm sure there are possible traces of it left in my DNA!

Checking my schedule again, I groaned. I honestly didn't want to go to work. I couldn't face the Coves right now. Yeah, Laguna and Karen told me that it wasn't my fault, but they've never been to the magnitude that I've been. They didn't watch themselves enjoy pure delight as they broke three girls' hearts. They didn't see the level of pure evilness on their doppelganger's face as they took the very powers that were practically loved by said girls.

They didn't watch the horror unfold right in front of them and do anything about it.

I let out a sharp breath as I slowly walked towards my locker. I just knew this would not be my best day.

"Hey, Charlie."

I snapped my head up to see Riley leaning against my locker, looking at me with a straight face. He was expressionless and had his arms folded in front of him. The still look in his eyes clearly said: "I'm-not-taking-No-for-an-answer!"

This was not good.

Suddenly, I could think of a hundred scenarios of how this would go down. One started with his asking a zillion questions on how I pretty much sent him flying into my pool, my mother alongside him.

The next was him telling me how much of a freak I was, or threatening blackmail or even calling the police if I decided to use my powers on him again, considering the possibility that he figured out that I do have powers, and then, I'd have to worry about him suspecting that I'm not the only one with abilities and- Oh God, this is so complicated and confusing as Hell and there's no way I can convince him that-

"Are you a Mutant?"

What the-?!

Out of all the things that could have come out of his mouth, he chose the craziest thing he could come up with! A mutant! Really?!

"Yeah, really," Riley stated, realizing I just said that last part out loud, "but that's the best I can come up with to explain what the hell happened last night!"

I pushed him off my locker and proceeded to get my stuff for class. I did not need this right now!

"And what exactly happened last night? I went to bed," I lied, hoping to sound as normal as possible.

But Riley wasn't buying it.

"Yeah, and I'm Doctor Who! I know what I saw last night, Charlotte. Whatever you did, you sent me and your mother flying into the air! Wait! Does she even know?!" he exclaimed.

"What she knows about me and what she doesn't is none of your business!" I retorted.

"Funny, seeing as I was the one to drag her out of the pool!"

"Oh good for you! You saved another woman from the brinks of death! Oh, your mother must be so proud! But wait? Isn't she 6-feet under, where your daddy put her?" I taunted harshly.

I honestly didn't even realize I said that until the words left my mouth. I started to apologize, but I knew I hit below the belt.

I swore I felt the heat radiating off of him for what I said. I don't even know why I said that, but it was like it was waiting at the tip of my tongue!

I didn't look up at him. My time in Queensland and with Jonathan can testify to when someone was furious.

But Riley...

He was LIVID!

"You know, I thought you were different than that. I thought you weren't the type to label people, especially when you don't know the truth. I thought you were completely different than that!" he exclaimed, banging on the lockers, leaving me to fearing for my life, "but now I see it. You're a hypocrite! I spent so much time going after you, and just when I think I have you figured out, you pull a complete 360! What's the matter with you? I get it. You're a freak. You hide from those so-called 'normal people' because you're too insecure about yourself that no one is allowed to see who you are! And to stoop so low to that...PEOPLE SAY THAT I'M THE ONE WITH ISSUES BUT YOU'RE THE REAL FREAK AROUND HERE! NOT ME!"

Suddenly, it was like everything was blocked out around me.

It was just me, all alone. No Riley, no busy hallways, no worrying, no….it was all silent.

My eyes were bugged out of their sockets and suddenly, I could hear the loud thumping of my heartbeat and it was echoing all around me. My breathing started to quicken as I found myself being pulled under into complete blackness.

Freak…

Freak…

Freak...

Freak...

Freak!

Flashback...

Druid Hills High School, Atlanta, Georgia...

"Hey, Freak!"

I flinched at the harsh, taunting voice that came behind me. I was tempted to pull the hood over my head and walk away, but before I could I felt a hand grab me by the arm and throw me against the fence.

I hissed in pain.

Looking up, my eyes met the mocking glare of Georgia Walkers, the ring-leader of Druid Hills Princesses, and her two sidekicks, Nikki Roselle and Tamara Davis.

The three had dedicated their year to make my life a living hell since I entered Druid Hills in the middle of the year, sometime after December.

And it was a disaster from there!

It all started when I was trying to find my way through campus shortly after I moved to Atlanta when I slip and mistakenly caused a smoothie to fly onto Georgia blouse, causing it to be seen through and everyone staring…completely humiliating her in the process.

I tried to apologize but I just got pushed down to the ground and told that I'd be sorry.

After that, the teasing began. Turns out, I had EVERY. SINGLE. CLASS with her and her posy and I couldn't get away from them.

Georgia was the stereotypical blonde supermodel that put Emma Gilbert's beauty to shame. She was a blonde girl with blue eyes that had all the guys following her like lost puppies and she ruled the school.

Nikki Roselle was a Hispanic girl that spoke with an accent but was clear with her words. But that doesn't mean they were nice words.

And Tamara Davis was a light-skinned African American and my unofficial rival in art class. She made it no problem criticizing my work or 'accidentally' messing up my drawing by spilling paint or 'mistakenly' steal my work and claimed it as her own.

But the teasing didn't get worse until I mistakenly threw out my hands at them one day.

It was stupid. I knew I didn't have my powers yet I made a gesture out as if I did.

And since then, my new name was…

"Hey, Freak, what are you doing out here all alone? What? Nobody wanted to be around you so you decided to hang out by yourself?" Georgia taunted.

Nikki snorted. "Oh please, she's probably wondering why David Brown suddenly decided to ask her out?"

I almost got sick to my stomach.

David Brown was a basketball player and on the same royalty-level as Georgia. They were the type of couple that was supposed to get together.

He had suddenly saved me from Georgia one day and asked me out to the movies. At the time, I wasn't looking for a boyfriend or anything, but I was stupid enough to yes. But the night he came to pick me up in his car, we drove until we found ourselves in the neck of the woods. He made it seem like he had a dead battery, but when I went to help him check it out, that's when he did the 180.

He revved his engine and rolled his wheels, causing me to get covered in mud and drove off without me.

I walked all the way home.

It took me until midnight when I got home. Nearly gave mom a heart attack too at my appearance. I told my mom what happened, but to let it go before she started making police threats.

Now I know how he got put up into that prank.

Or rather, who.

I tried to get up again, but this time, Tamara grabbed me by the collar and threw me to the ground. Hard.

I hissed as I hit the ground with my right arm, probably breaking it too.

"Maybe Fatso herself has a new trick out for us? What's the matter? Too freaky enough to show us your little powers? What are you going to do? Make it rain?" taunted Tamara, laughing.

"I bet she'll have a show for us! Take this!" Nikki exclaimed, kicking me in the stomach.

I gasped in pain as I curled up in a fetal position.

KICK!

KICK!

KICK!

PUNCH!

THWACK!

I felt something heavy hit me and felt the contents of my backpack splatter all over me.

"Come on Freak! Show us something!'

"Yeah, Freak! Get up and teach us a lesson!"

"Freak!"

"Freak!"

"Freak!"

And it all fades to black.

Flashback ends...

It took me being shaken out of my memory when I finally became aware of my surroundings. I realized that I must have slid down to the floor, much like last night.

I looked around to see the entire student body staring holes into me and I remembered what happened a few minutes prior.

I looked up to see Riley looking at me in concern and guilt. Suddenly, bad memories started to cloud my judgment.

"No…" I mumbled, shaking my head, "no…"

I could feel my blood pressure rising and my breathing going hectic. Soon enough, I was heaving and I knew I had to getaway.

"Charlie…" I heard Riley say, but I just couldn't handle it.

I got up from the floor and picked up my things as I just started running. I could hear the murmurings and whisper from the crowd, words I didn't want to hear, as I covered my face and ran. I did my best to stop the tears from running down my face.

"Charlotte! Wait!" Riley exclaimed, trying to catch up with me.

But I was already gone.

I was towards the middle of the day, around lunchtime, that walked into the Band room. Sometimes Miss Anelies let the choir use it for various practices or to hold private meetings or such.

And after that 'dispute' with Riley, if one could even call it that, I just made myself fade into the crowd. I didn't want to be bothered. I didn't want to run into Riley.

I still don't know why I said the things that I said. I'm willing to admit that both of us crossed the line, but my nervous system still hasn't recovered from this morning's nightmare.

This was the first time in MONTHS, since moving to California, that I ever thought about the abusive nightmares that lead to the very depression that put me in the hospital!

It still gets to me that just one word can have such an impact.

Surrounded the small yet spacious room was several music instruments lying around the room, there was a grand piano that stood in all its glory.

I've seen Miss Annelies play it several times, even called her a prodigy, at her skills. She played so well it was like weaving a tapestry into the full-blown art itself.

I was broken out of my thoughts when I heard music beginning to play from the keys of the piano.

I hid a little behind a chair as I began to listen.

Suddenly, I silently hitched and covered my mouth.

It was Alaine's voice.

I will worship the Lord

For He is worthy

I will lay down my sword

The Prince Of Peace is His name

King of the flood

The Lord is mighty

The Lord can quench the evil flame

Peace when trouble blows

Jehovah sees, Jehovah knows

He is my peace when sorrow nears

Jehovah sees, Jehovah hears

Feel the presence of God

Upon the water

Hear the voice of the Lord

Within the thunder that rolls

King of the flood

The Lord is mighty

The Lord can calm the troubled soul

Peace when trouble blows

Jehovah sees, Jehovah knows

He is my peace when sorrow nears

Jehovah sees, Jehovah hears

Like the breath

I need to live

Jehovah takes, Jehovah gives

Gives me peace

When trouble blows

Jehovah sees, Jehovah knows

Judgments coming, He is my peace

Men pursue me, He is my peace

Judge! Judgment is coming, He is my peace

Men pursue me, He is my peace

Alaine had stopped playing by this time and I couldn't help but clap.

I noticed her jump and pop her eyes out when she saw me. I almost giggled. The expression on her face was one as if she got caught with her hand in the cookie jar.

"Al, that was amazing! Not the type of song you'd sing, but amazing none of the less," I concluded.

Then, she shook off her surprise and glared at me. I groaned internally.

I would be dealing with that Alaine.

"It's the song I'm singing for the Halloween show!" she exclaimed defensively, "And what do you mean that it's not the type of song I'd sing!?"

I raised my hands defensively. "I'm just saying, it's not your type. And I've heard you sing, Al. From VV Brown's 'Shark in the Water' to Alicia Keys' 'No One', to Rihanna's 'Take a Bow', to Mary J. Blige's 'Just Fine' to a hell of a lot more. You are the type to choose, and have the voice, for feel-good songs that also have a soul and leave a message. Plus, you are not fully a Christian girl but believe some of his ideal topics and make references now and then.

I know you, Alaine. And this song is NOT for you."

I look deep into Alaine's eyes, and I swore, for a hot few minutes, that I saw my best friend.

And even she couldn't disagree that I was on the spot for her music choices.

But then I was forced out by a hardened glare and zoomed out. I almost had her.

"I don't know what you're talking about, but you must be having me confused with someone else. My mother personally picked out this song!" she stated.

I rolled my eyes. Should've known Andrea would pull this.

"Seriously? What the hell has she done to you!? I don't understand how you're finally bowing down to that…that... despicable excuse of a human being after she's used you as a punching bag for so long! You're better than this. You're stronger than this!" I exclaimed, fury now showing.

I've been meaning to break through to her, but this is ridiculous!

Suddenly, I found Alaine right up in my face. For a moment, this was nearly similar to my confrontations with Cleo or Rikki but that was different.

This is my sister.

"You don't know anything! And judging by this morning's performance, you're one to talk! You love 'em and leave 'em! You think the whole world revolves around you when it doesn't, but play the victim card when nobody cares! Just like nobody cares about you! And for what? What could you have possibly done during you're entire 17 years of existing to deserve anyone, you self-centered, lonely bi-"

SLAP!

Those words shouldn't have bugged me.

Those words shouldn't have gotten to me.

Those words shouldn't have had any effect on me.

So why did the pain hurt so badly?

I didn't pay attention to the words that will come out nor the very sin I just committed. Nor did I pay attention to the bruise forming on Alaine's cheek.

I didn't care.

"Listen," I said, my voice hoarse and strained, "and listen good, Alaine Williams. I am no saint and I'm not proud of the things I've done. I've caused a lot of hurts, intentional and unintentional, but that is NO excuse to throw that back in my face. I can't even begin to describe how painful my life has been since I moved to the States. I went to the hospital because I've felt bad about the things I've done and it is NOTHING compared to what I feel on the inside. But you…you are one of the VERY best things that have EVER happened to me. And I'll be damned if I had to lose you too!

To grow a goddamn backbone and get the hell away from Andrea! You are…so beautiful and her toxic will destroy you."

Breathing heavily from my words, I marched out the Band room.

I didn't care if I was leaving Alaine angry at me or completely gobsmacked. As much as it hurt me To raise a hand to her like that, I didn't care.

I could work my butt off to save her, but she needed to save herself as well. I want my best friend back, but she also needs to come back to me.

Walking back to my locker, I grabbed my things and went into the hallway stairwell before exiting the school building.

I never skipped school before, and I mean NEVER. But I couldn't stay in that god-forsaken building any longer. I just couldn't.

And I couldn't go to work in Paradise either. I'm not ready to face the Coves, especially Laguna and Karen.

No, yesterday, I burned those bridges badly. And Brendan won't forgive me or so easily letting Marana in and nearly hurting his family.

But I can't go home either. Not only because my mom would ask questions, but because I can't face her either. Despite not remembering it, I used my powers on her.

I hurt her.

After everything we've been through, I promised myself that she would never see that side of me. The harsh, broken side that I've spent months trying to conceal from her.

And I failed.

The whole point of moving to Cali was that I could start over, make a fresh start for myself. Me and my mom. Just us.

I wasn't supposed to be a mermaid again. I was supposed to have a normal life. Why can't I just have that! Why! WHY!

"Why the long face, Charlotte?"

I instantly looked up to my side to see a familiar face looking at me through the driver's seat of a van.

"Damon?"

Alright, people, to start: This was VERY painful for me to write!

Secondly, Druid Hills is an actual place and school but I've never been there.