Richard

It was wrong. He was wrong. They were all wrong. I hadn't always been so cruel. It was all their fault. For the world being so cruel to a little boy. For Bruce, to force the burden and weight upon my frail shoulders. Everything had been spinning out of control, until it had all come to a point; to an end.

"Mommy…I'm so sorry!" I had cried, madly stroking her raven locks, willing her with all my heart to wake-up , to come back. I sobbed, my little hands curling around hers motionless, pale ones. It had all been such a mistake. He hadn't meant for the bookcase to fall on her, it had been him he'd been targeting. For pushing him and his dear Mommy around like they were worthless toys, sources of amusement that didn't mean a thing. I wanted Mommy alive and well, to hold me in her arms and whisper comfort into my soul, my pure, flawless soul. But she didn't. All she did was lay still as the blood formed a pool that seemed full enough to take a dive into and never re-emerge again.

And then there was Kori's face, mirroring my own as my unmerciful father raised his fists. Fear. And for once, I didn't want to see it on Kori's innocent face. I swear I could even hear her beautiful voice. She deserved better than that.

"Hey, dude!" someone called out, breaking my train of thought. I wasn't too bothered.

I lifted myself out of the corner and forced myself to look reasonably together; this was probably my new roommate, Alex. I brushed my hair out of my face and leaned casually against the wall, the perfect picture of carefree, yet blended with some intimidation.

"What do you want? You stay on your half and I stay on mine. Period." I said nonchalantly.

"No." Floated the reply. My head whipped up from studiously examining my converse shoelaces. I cracked my knuckles and began stalking to the other side of the wall.

"You trying to start something buddy?" I growled and turned the corner.

"Al…alex?! What the hell are you doing here!" I babbled excitedly. He just smiled and pounded his chest, cocky as ever.

"I couldn't let you have all the fun, man. So I booked the next flight down and had my parents hook me up with a spot at the school. A little money goes a long way." He said examining his cuticles, as if he randomly showed up at boarding schools twelve hours away from home every day. I grinned and just stared at him til he looked back. We locked eyes and I was suddenly ecstatic to have someone I knew at this school. Even I hated being completely alone.

"I can't believe you're here. What do you wanna do?" I asked heading for the door. But Alex stood rooted to the spot, grinning. I then noticed a trickle of blood leaking from his lip. Where did that come from. I decided not to mention it, maybe he'd been beaten up. Ha.

"Well?" I asked impatiently.

"I was thinking we could stay in. I got you a present." Alex said grinning evilly.

And that is NEVER good sign.

Rachel

Where is everyone? Kori ran out after I coldly scolded her and who knew where Gar was. I pluck my cell out of my jean's pocket and look for Vic's number. Kori clumsily punched it in for me earlier, muttering something about his kilnog needing me or something ridiculous like that.

It had been two hours since I'd heard from anyone. I admit, I was getting a little nervous. Maybe they were all at some party to welcome new kids and forgot to invite me. I smacked my forehead and sighed. If they were at some party, Gar would be checking out every girl there. I immediately pressed send and waited I listened to the irritating drone of some rap song. Music to enjoy as I waited? Right.

"'Lo?" Victor's voice grumbled through the phone.

"Sorry. Did I interrupt something I asked sarcastically. He snorted on the other end.

"Actually yes. Something ya need?" he asked grumpily. I rolled my eyes at his current demeanor and waited.

Victor

Apparently Rachel was waiting for me to apologize for my behavior so I did. She just sighed and I guess that was Rachel's way of forgiving me. I wasn't trying to be a dick, I just get pissed when I'm roused from my seriously needed sleep. I'd gotten none on the plane, all I could do was worry about Kori and that guy, Richard. He had seemed pretty shady.

"Hello?" Rachel asked through the phone.

"Sorry, I was just….thinking. What did you say?" I asked. She repeated her question. Hmm…when did I last see everyone.

"Bout two hours ago. When we dropped you guys off. Gar was real down when he came to my room to visit, so I shooed him out and told him to explore the campus." What I really said was he should go find Rachel and talk to her.

"Oh…he was down?" Rachel asked timidly. There was a strange tone to her voice that made me sad. She was trying so desperately to hide she cared.

"Your guys' fight really got to him. I guess you haven't seen him? You should drop by his room and work things out." I hope she listened. I could almost hear her nod through the phone and then she clicked the line dead. She didn't even get his room number. Have fun finding Gar's room out of 30. I flopped back into bed.

Kori

I have this completely unrational fear of closets. I get a little claustrophobic you could say. Once, when I was a little girl, I failed an agility test. My sister was so ashamed of me she threw me in a closet for two days.

That's how long it took them to find me. Clarria and Kevlin. My parents…I suppose.

No time to wallow in my heart-warmingly pleasant past now. Let's start by evaluating the situation here. Some kid, who a couple hours ago randomly ran up to me and introduced himself as Alex then proceeded to drug me for no apparent reason, dragged me into his dorm room and told me to be a nice little girl.

FLASHBACK

"I don't care who you are." I said coldy, looking him boldly in the eyes. He glared back, defiantly but with a certain degree of cockiness. This Alex disgusted me.

"Come on…" He paused, waiting for me to fill him in on my name. I did not allow him the pleasure. He sighed and hung his head.

"Stupid, stupid girl." He said condescendingly, as if speaking to a disobiendiant puppy who had no idea what was coming. "Don't you know who I am?" he said looking up at me. How is he doing that? Hanging his head, yet looking at me unwavering, but placing half, and only half, a puppy dog pout on his face. Begging me to acknowledge him.

"Should I?" I asked nonchalantly, feeling anything but nonchalant. I was scared. I was more than scared. Fifty things more than scared. I was alarmed and frightened and didn't want to know what this boy was going to do to me behind closed doors. I am seriously regretting not taking those martial arts classes seriously. Sure I knew some moves, but after sizing up Alex, I grit my teeth just thinking that this despicable speck had a name, I knew he was strong. Unbelievably strong actually. The strength displayed when he whipped me inside was incredible, because I had pulled back with all my power, and he had barely been trying. Which was extremely alarming.

"Yes, you should. If you know what's good for you." He muttered darkly, moving his face close to mine. He playfully rubbed noses with me and I turned my face away, closing my eyes and furrowing my eyebrows in panic. What the hell was he doing?! WASN'T THIS A NICE, RESPECTABLE BOARDING SCHOOL? I know I hadn't come here to be harassed. I should rethink my education location. He leaned forward and I realized he actually had the nerve to try and KISS me! I decided on an escape plan right then. I let him lift his hands and try to pull me to him, then kicked him in a…sacred place…and pushed him to the floor. I jumped over him and to the door, pulling the knob as hard as I could. It was freaking locked. Just. My. Luck. In my current state of panic, I fumbled with the handle. My shaking hands couldn't get a firm hold on the teeny, tiny slit of a lock. Why did these have to be so small! Finally, FINALLY, it twisted open and I had nearly made it out the door when strong hands grabbed me and swung me back in, throwing me into the same wall I had vacated merely a minute ago. I slid down the wall, holding my now aching head. Alex calmly walked to the door and peeked into the hallway. Peeked was the wrong word. He looked down the hall with this annoying air of self assurance. He turned to look at me and cocked an eyebrow, as if saying, "Oh, what a shame. No one out here to see you. Golly."

I just stared at him. He would not hear me complain.

"Cat got your tongue?" Oh. No. He. Did. Not. Why do the rude, obnoxious people at this dumb school always say that? It is not cool. Not in the slightest. I stood up and walked calmly over to him.

"Open. This. Door." I said icily, adding a jab to the chest with each word for good manor. He smiled and shook his head. He suddenly looked up with such a malicious and ominous look in his eye that I backed up. He looked…hungry. I turned and tried to run to the bathroom, hoping to X'hal there would be a lock on the door. But I never even got there. He grabbed me by the wrist and jerked me back so hard I thought my hand might just drop off completely. I whimpered, against my will. It was the same wrist Richard had unmercifully twisted earlier in the alley. Did I have an aura that attracted guys like this?

"Oh…gee, hope that didn't hurt!" He says with mock concern. I merely narrowed my eyes and ignored the painful throbbing in my wrist. He stalked forward unnaturally fast and knocked me to the floor. He came soon after. I kicked and screamed, but he soon covered my mouth.

"Shut the hell up or you'll alert every kid on this floor." I grinned. Was he delusional?? That was the POINT! He smashed his mouth against mine and I bit his lip, hard.

"Shit!" He screeched. He pulled me up and threw me into a closet near the door.

"Keep your mouth shut or I promise you you will regret it." He was serious. The mad glint in his eye told me so." I heard the door finally open and someone storm into the room, slumping against the door I was hidden behind. Who was this guy's other roommate?

Richard! I held my hand to the door and willed him to sense me behind it, but apparently my telekinetic abilities weren't up to date and the door remained firmly shut. I tried whispering to him behind the door. Alas, that too failed. So I just slumped down among the dirty clothes no one bothered to hang up and waited for my next treat. PLOP. Wonderful. Being assaulted and now having assaultees sweaty socks tangled in my hair. Wonderful

END FLASHBACK

I could still hear them talking, but couldn't make out any of the words. Just the feelings. One guy, I assume Alex, was excited and mischievous. And Richard (?), he just sounded alone. I realized he always had, since the second I had met him on the plane. And in his voice, I could faintly hear a trace of sadness. Sadness I wanted to end.

Suddenly the door whipped open. I hadn't even realized I'd been leaning on the door until I spilled out of it and onto the linoleum.

"Off!" I cried as I hit the tile, sprawling out. I rubbed elbows and then realized I was just laying there. What should I do? I try my hardest to keep my panic at a down low, because I can't afford to have a freak out now. I have a feeling it might provoke them. Like….throwing a piece of steak at a lion eating chicken. They like steak better.

"What do you think, Richie? I got her just for you. She's feisty, though. I'm warning you." Alex says playfully, then laughs. He grabs my arm and pulls me into a sitting position, but I keep my eyes firmly on the floor. I don't want to see him…Richard.

"Pay some respect, girl." He says shaking me hard. I whimper and he laughs.

"Her name is Kori." Alex cease laughing immediately.

"You know this chick?" he asks uncertainly. I try and become really small, small enough to catch air from the vent and just float out of this room. What are these guys doing here?

"Ya, I know her." He says quietly. I sneak a glance at him and he is staring right at me. My breath catches and the panic crashes in, breaking me like a shard of glass. As I hugged myself and began hyperventilating and crying, Alex just laughed and laughed and laughed. And all Richard did was stand in front of me, dejectedly and sad.

Raven

I probably should had asked what number Gar's room was. I had been down at least five hallways that looked exactly the same. I think I was lost. I hadn't seen his name on the door yet and I was deciding on giving up. He probably isn't even there. I continued walking down the hallway not really noticing any of the names on the doors. I was willing to bet that he was flirting it up with some gorgeous girl outside. I imagined her laugh curling around him and beckoning him to her. I shook my head and actually started reading the names on the door. Of course. His is the very last one.

I raise my hand to knock, but my heart starts pounding wildly and I put I back by my side. What's wrong with me? I've known Gar my whole life. Just knock on the door. So I do. Shaking the whole time.

"Okay then." I finally state after five minutes of standing outside the door. My suspicions were correct. I sat down and leaned against the door, and it swung open. I fell into the room and I shrieked. Did this count as breaking and entering? Who cares. It was just Gar's room, as it appears he has no roommate. Well, that's what the door told me anyway. I sat up and peered into the room. No one in this half of the room. I stood and took it in. Apparently he hadn't unpacked yet. All his green luggage remained unopened in this vacant room. I walked around the wall and there he was. Leaning against the wall and snoring. Typical. He looked so peaceful. I tiptoed over to him and sat next to him. I looked at him and suddenly I felt overwhelmed. I desperately wanted to grin like an idiot. I leaned my head into his shoulder and breathed him in. I would NEVER do this if he was awake. Lucky for me, he wasn't.

Garfield

I yawned. Wonder what the time is. I let my sleepy eyes flicker to my watch and saw it was 11 PM. Wonderful. I'd wasted time already. I had a bad knack of doing that. Time just slipped away. I flexed my shoulder. It had this weird sore on it. The slight pain continued, so I flexed it again. It temporarily relieved me of the discomfort, so I snuggled down into the wall again. I sighed. Such comfort. I was drifting off to slumberland once more, when the pain came back with newfound vigor. I decided to slap my shoulder in an effort to cease the yucky feeling. Raising my palm, I bring down into my shoulder with a slap. But I don't feel a thing. I hear something though.

"Ow!" I start up and whoever it is falls forward and hits her head into the wall.

"Ouch!" The mystery person screeches. I back away and look for a weapon.

"You dolt! You could have just said, "Wake up, Rachel!" You didn't have to beat me up." I now confirmed her identity as Rachel and she was mad. She stood up, and before I could warn her, knocked her right into an open cupboard. She fell and I ran forward to catch her.

"Gotcha." I said smiling down at her. She looked a little dazed, so I tried to sit her down.

"Rachel…ugh…just…grr…SIT DOWN!" I finally yelled, as she kept trying to fight me. Finally she obediently listened and sat, rubbing her head and staring daggers into my eyes. I smiled warmly.

"Stay here. I'm getting an ice pack for your head." I said, standing. I began walking away when she called out, "Right, with the invisible refrigerator that doesn't exist." She hollered to me, dead pan. She turned her head to the window.

"It's dark." She commented. I couldn't resist.

"No duh, Rach." I said carelessly. She flinched and stood abruptly, but she swayed slightly and shut her eyes, rubbing her head. I jogged forward and tried to steady her.

"Don't touch me." She warned. I knew she was trying to sound mean. But she didn't. She sounded like a little girl who's favorite toy just broke.

"Listen, Rach, I'm sorry. For…you, know. Everything." I said looking right into her eyes. They widened in response and she backed up, into the wall again. I couldn't help but giggle.

"Rachel, your adorable." I said playfully. She looked shocked and then turned away. I reached out to her, cautiously. One wrong move and I was scared she would bolt.

"What's the matter." I asked soothingly, grasping her arm. She shook it free and shouted, "Everything." She rushed past me and out the door. I couldn't stop her. I was to shocked to move or think. The rage and loss and loneliness in her voice held me there.

"Rachel…" I choked out. I sat down right where I was and hung my head. I need to tell her….the whole truth.

REVIEW!! What do you think?? I didn't review forever because I get so darn distracted, but here it is!! This is by far the darkest chapter. I prefer comedy, but oh well. REVIEW!! Sorry for keeping you waiting so long.

I love you all!

-Me of course.

PS-OLD PEOPLE ROCK! YA DANI! whoooo