DISC: I DO NOT own any of the characters from LOK. They belong to Brike. I Do however own the storyline and anyone you don't recognize.
Enjoy!
A/N: This story deals with some heavy subject matter. Please use good judgment when reading it.
"Senna's New Start"
Chapter 1
"Senna?"
The eleven-year-old glanced up at the person addressing her.
"Huh?" she said.
Keita Haisen sighed. She walked over to the pre-teen's desk. Kneeling down, she looked Senna full in the face.
"Senna, are you okay?"
"Yeah, I Mean yes," Senna corrected herself. Realizing her teacher wasn't buying it, she decided a half truth wouldn't hurt. "I…I didn't get much sleep last night."
Keita had a feeling there was more to Senna's explanation. She had gotten the job as the middle grade teacher because she was especially good at reading children.
"Why don't you go rest in the back," Keita suggested.
Senna shook her head.
"Mrs. Haisen, I promise, I'm okay," Senna insisted even as a yawn escaped her lips.
"Sweetie, please, it's okay. I won't say anything," she assured her. "Everyone needs a break once in a while. You've been working hard on this reading assignment."
Senna thought of protesting again, but she refrained when she saw the compassion in the woman's eyes.
"Okay," she softly agreed.
"I'll wake you up right before I read the next chapter in Stable falls," her teacher patted her shoulder.
As Senna curled up on the cot kids used if they came to school sick or just needed a break, she closed her eyes. She just prayed Mrs. Haisen kept her word. As Senna tried to sleep, images from the night before flooded her mind's eye. Senna blinked back tears. She had lie awake, praying the yelling would stop. But most of all, she prayed he wouldn't hit her mother again. Focusing on her teacher's calm voice, Senna was asleep in minutes.
******
"Senna? Senna, honey, it's time to wake up."
Senna's cyan eyes opened. Feeling someone nudging her, she jerked away.
"Wha-what? Let go!" she demanded.
"Senna, it's okay," the calm voice assured her.
Senna blinked as her surroundings came into focus. She locked eyes with Mrs. Maisen. Breaking eye contact, Senna's eyes widened at the possibility of hurting her.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to…" her voice trailed off as her breathing started to quicken.
"Sweetie, it's okay. You didn't do anything. You're fine," Mrs. Haisen soothed. Reaching out, she frowned when she felt how badly the pre-teen was trembling. "Did you have a bad dream?"
Senna nodded. She silently thanked the spirits for the break.
"Do you wanna talk about it?" her teacher offered.
"No thank you," Senna softly replied.
"If you change your mind, I'm here," she assured her.
"Thanks," Senna stood and went back over to her desk. She sat down and put her chin in her hands. She tried to let the chapter Mrs. Haisen read them distract her, but it was no use. No story could change the fact that she was going home to a never-ending nightmare. The sound of someone whispering her name caused Senna to jump.
"Sorry," Lena apologized.
Senna shrugged.
"Do you wanna come over to mine this afternoon?" her best friend offered.
"I don't know," Senna hedged, "I'm really tired."
"You could stay for dinner," Lena offered.
"I didn't ask before I Left," Senna explained. "I don't wanna get Mom in trouble."
"Huh?" Lena raised her eyebrows.
"I mean I don't wanna get in trouble. I'm really tired. Maybe tomorrow."
"Okay," Lena frowned.
Senna turned her attention to their teacher.
******
"Are you sure you don't wanna come over?" Lena asked as they got ready to walk home together.
"I do want to, but I can't," Senna explained.
"Okay," Lena shrugged.
The walk home was partially made in silence.
"You're not mad, are you?" Senna hesitantly asked.
"No. Just disappointed," Lena honestly answered.
"I'm sorry," Senna softly said.
"It's not your fault," Lena grasped her friend's hand. She growled in frustration just then. "I HATE your father! He's a jerk!"
Senna sighed.
"I know. I don't hate him, but he is a jerk," she agreed.
"How can you not hate him?" Lena asked incredulously.
Senna shrugged.
"My Mom and Katara say you shouldn't hate anyone," she explained. "I know I Don't like him."
Lena nodded.
"My Mom says the same thing. But I think there are exceptions."
Senna sighed.
"Well, I'll see you tomorrow," Lena said as they reached her house.
"See ya then," Senna embraced her friend.
"I love you," Lena said. "If you need me or my Mom, just come over."
"I love you too. Thanks," Senna pulled away. She turned around and started the short walk home. Even though she was grateful for Lena's offer, she knew she would never take it unless things got worse. She would NEVER forgive herself if something happened to her best friend. Entering the house, Senna closed the door behind her. Going to her bedroom, she laid down. Pulling her plush snow leopard close, she was asleep in no time.
*****
Senna awoke to a soft, gentle female voice calling to her.
"Senna? Senna, honey, it's time to wake up."
Feeling a hand stroking her hair, Senna's eyes opened slowly. Smiling at the familiar touch, she relaxed instantly. Opening her eyes all the way, she locked them with her mother's identical ones.
"Mom, hi," she greeted.
"Hey, sweetheart. Listen, I thought we could go out for dinner tonight, just you and me," her mother bent down and kissed her forehead.
Senna sat up. She soon found herself in her mother's arms. Hugging back, she felt some of the tension in her body decrease.
"What about…him?" Senna asked.
"We'll leave a note," her mother assured her. "Besides, Wednesdays are his late nights at work. Come on, let's have a little fun."
Senna smiled a little at the prospect.
"Okay," she agreed. "Will you braid my hair, please?"
"Of course," her mother kissed her cheek.
Senna got ready in ten minutes. Once she was dressed and had washed her face, she went in search of her mother. She found her in the room she shared with Kaito. She was wearing a blue skirt with a matching sweater. Her hair was combed and put up.
"You look pretty," Senna commented.
"Thanks, sweet girl. So do you. Come here and sit down," with that, her mother started the braiding process. "There you go, sweetheart."
"Thanks!" Senna grinned for the first time in a few days.
"Aw, you're welcome, my precious Senna. Ready?"
"Uh-huh," Senna followed her mother out of the house. They walked down to the shopping district. They wanted to stay close to home just in case Kaito spotted them in the city.
"So where do you wanna eat?" Kamaria asked her daughter.
"I get to choose?" Senna was surprised.
"You sure do," her mother confirmed.
Senna thought for a few minutes. She pointed to a diner called the Jasmine Garden.
"Does that one look okay?" she asked.
"Uh-huh," Her mother replied. With that, they walked inside. They were seated fairly quickly. As they looked through the menu, Senna actually started to relax. This was how life was supposed to be. Having a nice time with her mother, doing normal stuff. Why couldn't every day be like this?
"What can I get you to drink?" the waitress asked, breaking Senna out of her thoughts.
"I'll have some water with a twist of pineapple," her mother replied.
"And what about you, sweetie?" the waitress addressed Senna.
"I'll have the apple cider, please," Senna replied.
"You got it. I'll be right back," with that the waitress was gone.
"This is nice," Senna commented.
"It is," her mother agreed. She smiled over at her little girl. She couldn't believe Senna was almost twelve. Where did the time go? Reaching over, she squeezed Senna's right hand. "So how was school?"
"Good. Mrs. Haisen read us a chapter in Stable Falls. It's getting exciting!" Senna relayed.
"I'm glad you like it," her mother replied.
Just then, the waitress returned with their drinks.
"Have you decided what you want to eat yet?" she asked.
"I'll have the artic hen salad," Kamaria replied.
"How about you, honey?" the waitress turned to Senna.
"I'll have the pasta and shrimp bowl, please," Senna answered.
"Great choice! I'll be back soon."
While they waited for their food, Senna and her mother talked about this and that.
"Do you think I'd make a good healer?" Senna asked.
Kamaria smiled. Squeezing her daughter's hand, she replied, "I don't think, I know. I know you'd make a wonderful healer. You have the personality for it. You're sweet and compassionate. You'll help anyone."
Senna blushed with pleasure. She loved making her mother happy.
"I'm sorry you never got the chance to be one," Senna frowned.
"Sweetheart, don't worry about that. When we get out, things will fall into place," her mother assured her.
Senna nodded. She was about to say something else when the waitress arrived with their food. As they ate, they kept the conversation going. Senna found it easy to talk to her mother about almost everything. She was grateful they were so close.
Before long, they had finished eating and were walking home. As they passed the bookstore, Senna spotted something in the window.
"Mom, can we go in just for a few minutes, please?" she begged.
"We sure can," her mother replied.
Senna smiled and lead the way inside. Going over to a shelf, she found what she was looking for in no time. Pulling the book down, she read the back.
"Did you find what you want?" her mother asked.
Senna nodded.
Approaching the counter, Senna shook her head when her mother put down some money.
"I can get it," she said. "I have the money Sokka gave me for helping him last week."
"Okay," her mother put the few bills and coins back in her purse.
After Senna paid for her book, the two left.
"Do you have any homework?" her mother inquired.
"No. We're working on a story this week. I finished it a few days ago. I'm working on the next one, but it's not due for two weeks."
"Okay," her mother patted her shoulder.
Entering the house, Senna closed the door behind them.
"Why don't you go read for a while and then I'll tuck you in bed."
"Okay," Senna wrapped her arms around her mother's waist. "Thanks for an ice time tonight."
"You're welcome, sweetheart. I Love you," her mother kissed her cheek.
"I love you too," with that, Senna turned and went in the direction of her bedroom. Entering, she got comfortable on her bed and opened her new book. Four chapters in, she started getting tired. Closing the book, she put it in her backpack. She knew it would be safe there. Kaito hardly ever went through it. Lying down, she fell asleep in her clothes.
******
Senna was awoken a few hours later by two things. The first was pain stabbing at her stomach. The second was yelling coming from the living room. Praying both would stop, Senna curled up in an attempt to stop the pain. Swallowing hard, she blinked back tears. She had felt fine earlier. What was wrong with her now? The sound of the front door slamming, followed by silence made Senna sigh with relief. A few minutes later, her bedroom door opened.
"Senna?"
"Yeah," the eleven-year-old answered.
"Did the yelling wake you up? I'm sorry," her mother sat on the edge of her bed.
"Mom, my stomach hurts!" Senna whimpered.
Kamaria frowned.
"Is it okay if I take a look?"
"Uh-huh," Senna said through gritted teeth.
Kamaria tried to be as gentle as possible.
Senna swallowed hard just then.
"Mom, I don't feel so good," she revealed.
"I know, sweetie," her mother soothed, "I'm gonna try-"
"No, I mean I'm gonna throw…" Senna suddenly heaved. Clapping a hand over her mouth, she uncovered it only when her mother slipped the trash can underneath of her chin. Tears streamed down her face as Senna threw up twice before finding some relief. "It hurts!" she sobbed.
"Sweet girl, I know, I know," her mother soothed, "I'll be right back." She returned a few minutes later with a pill and some water.
Senna swallowed the medication with a few sips of water. Lying down, she wasn't surprised when her mother climbed in next to her.
"Shh, shh, Senna, it's okay. You'll feel better soon. Do you think it was something you ate?"
"Maybe," her daughter softly replied. She sat up quickly just then. "Mom, I feel…" she clapped a hand over her mouth once again. After she was done, she was shaking a little.
"Aw, sweetie. We need to take you to see Katara," with that, Kamaria picked Senna up and left the house.
As they made the short walk to Katara's house, Senna just prayed Katara would be able to make her stomach feel better…