That night, I actually slept well (which was strange because for two years I've been tossing and turning every night) and I woke up pretty early too. Claire had brought me my uniform from school, and I handed her the clothes that she let me borrow from when she was younger. I had an early growth spurt, she said I might get a few inches taller, but other than that I'm done growing. Puberty huh? Luckily Claire's clothes had fit me pretty well, and I wasn't about to wear a hospital gown to school for my first day. I think Simmons chose that school specifically because they had uniforms. Great, another thing I'm not allowed to do, choose what kind of clothes I want to wear. Well, I guess it's alright, since I don't have to stress about what to wear every day.
Our school uniforms (for females) are a blue plaid skirt that extends to the middle of the thigh, or black pants (for winter), white dress-shirt, a black sweater vest with the school emblem on it, knee high black socks, and a small blue scarf. For the boys they just wear everything except the skirt and the crazy long socks, of course. Shoes weren't really specified, but I'm assuming a darker color of dress shoes. I dressed quickly and tossed my gown into the large laundry basket in my "room". My room looks like the average trauma section of the hospital. A small, uncomfortable bed that's adjustable, a small T.V. was set up in front of the bed, a small movable table, and a bathroom in the corner by the door (the bathroom had its privacy, thank god.) Cameras were everywhere, my "room", the hallways, and in the rooms where they conduct experiments.
I had asked my adoptive father (he lets me call him Simmons, not even on first name basis) if I could have Claire sit in with me for my experiments after school today, he agreed and he also let Leon take me to school. He said his agents could do something more useful than just transportation. Leon had complimented on my uniform, which brought a smile to my face. I did feel a bit off wearing something so.. different, guess I'm just not used to the material its made out of yet. Or the way it looks on me. He stopped by a Mc Donald's for some "quality breakfast" but it did taste better than the food at the facility. I got a set of pancakes and Leon bought three bacon, egg, and cheese bagels. Three. I tried to hold back a laugh when he took his first bite, he seems to really love his food. But I couldn't stop the burst of laughter once I saw him finish his food and frown, wishing he bought himself more. Once we arrived at the school Leon said,
"I can pick you up after school if you want, but I'll be here a little bit later. I have an appointment." I glanced down at his phone to see a message, but it didn't say who it was from. There was just the letter "A" on the screen. I smirked and opened my door, looking back to him I whispered,
"I can wait, it's better than being escorted by agents. See you later Leon, have fun." I walked away as I heard Leon chuckle. His car pulled out when I walked into the building. I saw Piers leaning against a locker beside Helena's and he seemed zoned out, just focusing on her. Seeing this as my opportunity to scare him I hide behind a group of people and near toward him and I happen to hear their conversation.
"What? You're going with Finn? That blockhead doesn't even know your last name." Helena slammed her locker and I stopped in my tracks. I don't like the tone in Piers' voice. Helena glared at Piers and shook her head.
"He's nice to me, I didn't see why not. Why are you so upset anyway? You're not my father." She turned but Piers stopped her, grabbing onto her shoulder and pulling her back into a locker.
"Helena listen to me. He's…not for you. You could do better than that." She pushed his arm that blocked her path and she stormed off muttering,
"Like you're any better. Leave me alone Piers." He looked down for a moment, then flung around and punched a locker, leaving it indented. I flinched when Piers looked up at me. His eyes were piercing, it scared me.
"Sherry…I…I'm sorry you saw that. I can normally keep calm with situations like this." I stepped forward and laid my hand on his shoulder.
"Piers, what's wrong? You aren't acting yourself." He let his head drop onto my shoulder as I glance down the hallway. There was a younger girl, who looked exactly like Helena, but she was shorter and her hair was lighter. Who is that? The girl locked eyes with mine for a moment, then disappeared behind the corner. Now the hallway was completely empty.
"It's…ugh.. I never told anyone this. I thought it was so noticeable, but I guess it isn't." He raised his head off of my shoulder and he leaned up against the locker he just punched. "Ever since Helena moved here I have been looking out for her, old friends. But I feel more than that. I really care for her…and Finn? Pf..Finn couldn't possibly handle her. She's an emotional fireball." I cocked my head to the left and he continued, "There is going to be a dance next week, I was planning on asking her to go. Finally tell her how I feel. But she's going with him." He spat out that last word and glanced towards me. I opened my mouth to say something, anything to make him feel better. But what could I say? I've never been in a relationship before. I could only say,
"Piers… I'm so sorry." He pushed himself off of the locker and he stepped a little too close to me.
"I just don't know what to do…" I looked down towards my feet and closed my eyes. I felt so bad but what could I do?
"Do what you think is right, but if you want my opinion I say tell her how you feel. There's no harm in letting your emotions out, if something happens it happens. But you'll never know until you tell her." I felt Piers' arms wrap around me and he whispered softly,
"Thank you, I will tell her. I'm glad you're here for me." I hugged him back. The morning bell rang and we both jumped, looked at each other for a long moment, then started laughing at how we were both late and how scared we were from the loud bell.
"Come on, let's go." I tapped his shoulder as we both hurried to class.
Piers seemed to pick himself up rather quickly throughout the day, at lunch Helena had sat next to the girl I seen earlier and she whispered something to her and Helena basically glared at me the whole time. Why was she looking at me like that? Sheva told me that Piers and Helena go at it every now and then, but within a week or so they will become bet friends again. I hope that she was right, I hated it when people fight. Piers had picked at his lunch, he said he wasn't hungry. We had walked out of the lunch room together and I see Helena glaring at me again with that girl.
"Piers, who is that girl with Helena?" He looked back and said in monotone,
"Deborah, Helena's sister. She is the complete opposite of Helena. But they are very close. Why do you ask?" We walked until I was out of Helena's gaze and I told him that I saw her earlier today after the argument. Piers nodded and told me he'd figure it out, he wouldn't let me get into any drama over him. I went to tell him that's not what I meant but before I could he said goodbye and left for gym. Sighing about my second day of school going so perfect, I head to art.
Art seemed to drag out, I did watercolors on three different posters because I kept messing up. The teacher kept laughing at me, saying I could do it. I guess I'm just not very artistic, because I completely disagree. I couldn't walk out of art fast enough.
Heading to my next class I remember the events of the day before. Maybe I could actually have a conversation with Jake today. I pick up my pace and arrive earlier than I did the day before. Ms. Muller was wearing a long blue dress that fit her small figure well.
"Hello Sherry, early again. Earlier than yesterday," she smiles and I complimented her dress as Jake appeared from Miss Muller's tiny office. He stopped when he saw me, and I could have sworn that I saw a tint of pink on his cheeks.
"Hey Jake, how was your day so far?" I tried to say as happily as I could. He coughed, wiped off his dark shirt and he said,
"I'm fine, thanks for asking." I knelt down in front of him and tried to make eye contact, but he just looked off the other direction.
"You know Jake, I might look big and scary, but I'm actually really nice once you get to know me." Jake looked up to me and I smiled. Making progress. He giggled and said,
"You don't look scary at all, but you are pretty big." His little smile lifted my heart, he was just so cute! I laughed with him and I sat on the floor and he said, "Can I ask you a question Sherry?" I look up to Ms. Muller, seeing a large smile on her face. I nodded to Jake and he whispered, "Are you going to do this every day? You know, talk to me."
"Do you want me to?" It was Jake's turn to look up to Ms. Muller, and looks back to me. He nodded and I said, "Okay then, I promise everyday we'll talk."
"Talk about what?" I stood up as the bell rang and I said,
"I dunno, anything you want." His eyes widened and he hopped up as I said, 'Whoa what are you doing there Jake?"
"I got an idea, let's ask each other one question per day, not matter what it is we have to answer it. Okay Sherry?" His tone was lighter, he was excited. It made me wonder when the last time he socialized with someone his own age.
"Yes, I promise." He smirked and hurried off to the tiny office. Being pulled yet again by someone else's strings. Jake was forced to leave and hid in that office.
While Miss Muller passed out pieces of music I began to doze off, thinking about the position that Jake was in, and how he was handling it. If he hated following someone else's orders, when it restricted him from enjoying himself, or he was completely oblivious to the tip grip that principle has on him. On his freedom. Maybe it was just me looking desperately for someone who is just like me, it's always a possibility. But maybe Jake is trying to look for someone who is just like himself too. That made me think about what Jake does after school, or his mother. I wondered why Ms. Muller moved from Edonia to the United States, or why Miss Muller is a Miss instead of Mrs. Muller.
It then brought me to think about Piers and Helena. How Piers knew he has more than just normal feelings towards her, and how Helena was so clueless about it. Why Piers never told her when he first found out. Was he scared of denial? Or was he scared of taking the next step in the relationship? Of being out of his comfort zone. Is that how I am? Out of my comfort zone, trying to adjust by finding other people who are like me. That is, if there is anyone like me. Well, nobody can regenerate. My mind was brought to the empty white experiment room.
The bell rang and I pushed my critical thinking to the back of my mind, I didn't want to think about that. I fix my skirt when I stand up and I look out of the window, I didn't see Leon's vehicle up front. I guess I'm not in a hurry. Sighing I walk towards the exit when I heard Jake call from behind me,
"Wait, can I walk with you?" I look back to him and his little smile, anxious for an answer. I turned and started walking as I said,
"Is that your question for today? Come on." He ran to catch up and we walked out of the building together. "So let me ask my question, how do you feel about this school? I don't see you talk to anyone, and you always have to hide in that small office in my class." Jake stopped in his tracks, then sat down in the grass beside the parking lot.
"I never had any friends, I stayed with my momma in Edonia. Never was allowed outside, she said it was a bad place. So we moved here and since I was homeschooled back in Edonia momma never enrolled me in this school. The principle said I wasn't capable or enrolling anyway. I… I feel sad all the time. Momma is working so hard…she is always tired, doesn't eat. I work on our apartment to keep it clean, and I make dinner most of the time because she doesn't have any energy. She said she's fine, and still goes to work…but I think she's lying to me. Sherry, promise me you'll keep this to yourself. I wasn't supposed to tell anyone…but how could I keep something so important to myself? She needs help…" I fell onto both of my knees and buried his face into my chest. My eyes were beginning to water and I just shook my head. He was desperately reaching out for someone. He must have been holding all of this in for a long time. "Sh-Sherry…" From his voice I could tell he was about to cry.
"Jake, you can tell me anything you want. I promise I will not say a word to anyone, and if you'll let me I'll stay by you through it all. You're just a kid…you shouldn't be put through something like that." I leaned back and looked at his now reddened face, I held my left pinky out and I whispered, "If you promise to do the same of course!" He looked at my hand as if he was confused, but a smirk crept onto his face and he wrapped his left pinky around mine. "Okay, now whatever we say to each other is kept only to us."
"Sherry, I didn't mean to…I'm sorry. I said a lot more than I meant to let out." I released his hand and I looked up to the sky. A perfect day, bright, cloudless, and there was a slight breeze that picked up my shoulder length hair.
"It's okay, I'm glad you told me. I know how it feels, thinking you can't go to anybody. Thinking you're worthless, thinking that no matter what it will never stop." I looked back down to him, his mouth was wide open and he looked at me in awe. "But it will get better, I promise." He went to speak up but he stopped when Miss Muller walked towards us.
"What are you two doing? Sitting in the grass like that." She chuckled to herself and Jake smiled. Looking at her you couldn't tell she was sick, if she was sick.
"Just having a talk with my new friend." Jake declared. I stood up and helped Jake to his feet. I glanced towards Ms. Muller's direction again and I noticed that she had slight bags under her eyes.
"Oh really? That's great to hear, for the both of you. But what are you still doing her Sherry? Everybody is already gone."
"Oh, I'm waiting for a friend to come pick me up. He said he would be a little later." Jake grinned and grabbed his mother's hand as he said,
"I know! While she's waiting lets show her the park down the road! Please Momma!" I should have objected, since I wasn't allowed to leave the premises unless accompanied by an agent or Leon or Claire. Instead I agreed to his proposal and Miss Muller shook her head and led the way.
We walked down the street and stopped on a small bridge that led to this open park. There was trees aligning the sides, but the park was an open field with lots of colorful flowers. Off to my right there was a swing set, before I could function my legs had already carried me over to them and I jumped onto the swing and swung for what seemed like forever. Jake sat on the swing next to me and we tried to go higher up than the other as Ms. Muller sat there humming a beautiful lullaby.
"I haven't done this in two years!" I basically shouted out to the sky with that one, but Jake replied,
"Really? Wow I don't think I could last two years without going to a park. Why haven't you?" I jumped off and made a perfect landing as I said,
"I wasn't allowed to go outside since-"I cut myself off. I couldn't tell Jake the truth, not all of it at least. "-since I got hurt. My adoptive father is really protective." I felt terrible for lying to him, he had just told me a secret of his, and I wasn't allowed to make the conversation mutual. "I got to go, I'll see you tomorrow Jake. Bye Miss Muller!" I ran up the hill we came from and I hurried to the school. Leon was probably there already anyway. I hoped he wouldn't yell at me.
Quickly I made it to the school just before Leon arrived. Panting I try to control my breathing, I needed to exercise more. His car pulled up and I opened the door and sat down in the passenger seat swiftly. Looking over to Leon I notice marks on his neck and a smile on his face that he couldn't hide.
"Hey Sherry." I giggled and tapped my neck. Leon slowly raised his hand to his neck and he looked into his mirror, looking at the small bruise left on him.
"Enjoy your appointment, Mr. Kennedy?"
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I decided to make this chapter a little longer, I wanted to hint other relationships as well. I absolutely love LeonxAda, so I had to insert it into my fanfic. Starting the JakexSherry fanfic, and throwing some good old PiersxHelena shipping. Hope you enjoyed it, and feel free to review and give suggestions.
