Who Says

Selena Gomez

Chapter 7

…

No one ever told her she was beautiful. Unless they wanted something from her. But the look in Katie's eyes, she had never seen that emotion before. And it scared the living hell out her. What possessed her to buy that scarf for her? What possessed her to place it around her neck and touch her hair. She remembered how the soft strands felt in fingers. The athlete's pale skin illuminating the fuchsia tint. Sitting outside on the steps again, she left Katie in her room to rest. It was one thing to not have parents like her, but to have parents and they exclude you was worse.

Smelling the pine scent of the air, she never thought that she would appreciate this place like she did now. She figured during this stay, she would be a badass and find loopholes to break the rules. To gain attention. But now, she didn't want it. Being in her group really helped her. And they learned from each other. Placing her hands in her hair, she looked surprised to see Ellie walk toward her.

"Sup El." The rebel addressed the woman.

"You have company Bianca….." The woman stated.

"Who…I don't have family." The teen shrugged as she followed the red head to the cabin office. Who would want to see her? She was an unofficial orphan. And as her legs moved, she wondered should she tell Ellie about Katie. Sure the red head was stronger, but what if she found something to cut again. A part of her wanted to keep a close eye on her, but it wasn't her sole responsibility to do so.

Walking in the office, she saw her probation officer stand from her seat.

"Bianca….." The older woman smiled as she hugged the teen. At least someone cared for her after all. Even if the woman was here on business, she made sure the girl was well taken care of.

"Barbara." Bianca cried as the woman looked down at the girl. She had thought she forgot how to cry…but this place reminded her. The girl who wanted to turn her life around. And who was successfully doing so.

"It's ok dear…..you are fine." The three of them sat down as the girl noticed the women's worried expression.

"What's wrong." The rebel waited. The anticipation was honestly getting to her. The woman was never this quiet.

"What If I told you…." Barbara tucked her black hair behind her ear. Grabbing the teen's hand, she looked in her eyes. "…..I found your mother…" The officer let the sentence out in the air.

"Then I would tell you to keep her hidden. I have put the fact in my head that I will never see her again….and I will not have her come here…..and then have my hopes dashed." She couldn't believe what she was hearing now. She knew this wasn't a sick joke, but why now?

"I understand you Binx, but I know you want some retribution. You have to show her that you have won if nothing else." The woman proclaimed.

"Barbara is right." Ellie remembered the conversations with her own mother. "This has nothing to do with her…..but everything to do with you."

"Why is everyone here acting as if I don't have the right to do so. This is my choice. I have had everything taken away from me by force…..my body…my self respect…..I don't want this to be either…Barb…for once I don't feel like dying. I actually feel that if I close my eyes, I will be missed." The girl exclaimed as Ellie smiled at the girl.

"Please…just think about it…I will be coming back to Parent Day…..right now just take care of yourself." She hugged the girl as she walked her to her car.

"Are they treating you good here?"

"Yeah…for once. I have a friend….actually more than 1….2 girls."

"Then that is everything I ever wanted. This job is so hard. And I try to keep you girls out of jail. Some listen and some don't….I'm glad you listened." The two hugged as she got in the car.

Watching her drive away, she realized that this may be a good sign for her.

…

Mike sat at the picnic tables. It was almost time for dinner. Another round of washing dishes. But at least it was with Marisol. Though the two could be bitter towards each other, they never took offense to each other. It was like their ritual. And it seemed as if she was the only person beside Jordan who liked him for him. They no longer assumed things about one another. They asked.

"Ready for another shift of dish duty?" Her dimples showed as he refused to look at her. The paper in his hand. The damned words again.

"Still afraid to read it…." Mare saw the boy shake his head steadily. This wasn't the strong boy she had known. He never allowed anyone to see him vulnerable. He could risk his neck in fights…petty thefts….but what had happened at home.

"Mike…"She rested her hand on his shoulder as he shook. He didn't want to feel this flustered. And Jordan was always there to help him with this frustration. But now he was by himself. With no one to really trust…

"Mike the dummy." The boy bald his fist as he heard his sixth grade class tease him with the teacher out the room. His day was living hell at this place. Seeing their faces patronize him. Ridicule him. He wouldn't take it anymore.

"Shut-up." He said as they continued to laugh at him. His breathing sped up. And his nails dug into his skin.

"Bet you can't spell it." One child said. "You're so dumb that you are going to fluck anyway." The class laughed as Mike grabbed a textbook throwing it at the boy. Wiping the smirk off his face. Seeing the shock in his eyes that he stood up to him.

"Now say something." The young black boy said as he sat back down at his seat. His complexion turning red as he felt himself being hit on his head by the other. Looking up he saw the boy smirk as he got out of his seat. Pushing him on the floor…..hard.

and their was finally silence in the room. And everyone was scared. But that didn't stop the other from charging the young black boy as they fell to the ground.

"fight….fight….fight…." The class said in unison as the two boys rolled on the floor.

"Mike…Daniel….."The teacher walked in as the class became silent. "Office…now…." She said with authority.

"Mare…if I ask you to do something…would you please do it…no questions asked." He pleaded as she saw his need for help.

"Sure….." She nodded. Usually she would have said it depended on the reward, but the boy was serious.

"Could you please read this letter aloud?" He handed her the paper as she began.

"Mike despite what your father says, I am still proud of you. I still call you my son because you went there.. You are still the same son I love because I know that deep down you want to change. And unlike your father, I know you haven't turned into Jordan." She watched the boy sit still. "but I hear he has gotten more reckless…and if I could I would have sent him there with you…but you are my child and I want you to know your main focus is to learn more about yourself. I love you….mom." she held her tears back.

"Sounds like her." His deep voice rang in her ears as she handed him back the letter.

"Mike….what…why did you make me…do that?" It didn't dawn on her yet as Mike didn't want to say it himself.

"Come on Mare…..you're a smart girl. Figure it out for yourself." He refused to look at her.

"You can't read? How….did you….?"

"I can read…it's just that the letters are scrambled or something. My mind can't sort it out." He refused to look in her gorgeous eyes.

"Mike you just told something really important. The least you can do is look at me."

"I can't….because I know the prissy model is going to sneer and snicker…and turn up her nose down at me…."

"I'm not…." She touched his shoulder. "we are over this phase of accusing things …don't go back because of this."

"How can I not? I'm dumb…"

"you are not dumb….and I don't want to hear you say that….because it will prove how stupid you are." She said as he looked in her face.

"Told you." He began to stand as she grabbed his arm.

"No…listen….you are like our fearless leader or something. Adam refers to you as the red power ranger…because you are. You stand strong…and you motivate us…if you can't see that about yourself then you are stupid." She exclaimed as he shook his head.

"Please don't tell anyone."

"You know I won't…." And then Mike saw the brightest smile on her face…"I could teach you….." she looked in his eyes as he shook his head.

"No…" he wanted to minimize his time with her. He missed her when she was gone.

"Well doesn't matter. Because I am helping you anyway." She grabbed his hand as he looked in her eyes. Beautiful…stunning…gorgeous…those words couldn't describe the girl in front of him.

…..

Luke heard his stomach growl loudly as he put down his magazine. He couldn't believe he made it this far without technology. But he did. And his body was in the routine of doing so. Hearing his stomach once again, he couldn't wait to eat. Grabbing some bread from the miniature fridge, he grabbed a plastic knife.

"Now where is the peanut butter?" He looked around seeing Adam on the bed…asleep. Shaking his head at the boy, he began to search drawers. Of course Adam would probably have it. He loved to hog everything.

Opening the drawer, he found the object of his affection. The peanut butter. But beside it, he was stunned. The tampons in the drawer.

Tampons.

What the hell?

What were they for? Looking at the boy sleep, he wanted to wake him up and ask…but then again, it wasn't his place to have searched his things. Wait. When did Luke become considerate towards others? Sliding the drawer closed, he continued to make his sandwich. But he was still curious about his roommate.

And how would he react to the boy now?

…..

Bianca sat behind her cabin. Hopefully, no one would distrurb her. She didn't know how she felt about her mother anymore. She had to stop lying to herself. She hated the woman. She hated her so much till she tried her best to erase her memories of her. The woman who ignored all the signs of her daughter;s abuse. The woman who thought the man who was raping her was tucking her in at night. Wiping her eyes, she still felt him touch her. Play with her. Letting out a gasp, she settled her heart beat.

What would it be like to see her again? What would it be like to hit her. Slap her. Push her. Would it make her troubles disappear? She knew it wouldn't but now she couldn't stop her mind from wandering.

Picking up a piece of grass in her hand, she realized that she was always an orphan. Even when her mother was around. And that she herself was only existing…and not living.

She didn't know what it was like to live anymore. All she knew how to do was run. And run fast. And now. That was what she wanted to do. Run away from her mother finding her again. Run away from Katie…yet, she wanted to run towards Katie again.

….

Katie saw their eyes on her. She knew they knew. And she knew they were trying to make her feel better, but she didn't want to hear it. Biting her lip, she held the dull knife in her hand. Her thumb on the dull blade. And she could hear nothing. Nor see anything. It was like she was that little girl trapped within herself again.

Bianca noticed the girl's trance as she sat at the end of the table. And she couldn't fight the urge to want to move over to her.

"Just let her breathe for now." Mike told the rebel as she nodded. This was turning into the oddest slash most unnerving day ever for the three of them.

Adam looked at his plate filled with meatloaf. If you could call it that. No flavor at all. Adding salt. It made a little bit more edible. But he noticed Katie didn't eat anything…but other things were happening. Like Luke avoiding him at any costs. What happened? And apparently Mike knew too because he was more cautious as well. Did they find one of his Dragon Ball Z mangas?

Then it clicked in his mind.

Their expressions were like the boys at his school.

He knew that look of accusation.

O no….what if they found out about him.? It would just be like school again. Where he would have to burn to hide the pain. No, no….

"Can you pass the ketchup?" He watched the boy give him the condiment. But he had to face the music. He couldn't run from this? And this was a part of his life now. He had to face it head on. At least here, the boys would be penalized if they hurt him.

"What's going on?" the two boys stared at each other as the girls were watching their friend.

"Nothing." Luke jumped a little as he ate his bread. So much for being mature in the situation.

"Tell me….you two have been edgy around me since I woke up." He waited for an explanation. This was the moment he was waiting on.

"Why do you have tampons in your drawer?" Luke asked as the question made the three girls look at them. No one could ignore the question if they heard.

Adam's face began to redden as his fingers began to fidget. His judgment day was here. What would he say? There was nothing he could think of. And their eyes demanded an answer quickly.

"O my gosh Luke." Mare intervened. They didn't have the right to put him on a trial. And then something came into her mind. "That's it?" The black beauty looked at the curious boy as she rolled her eyes. Everyone wondered how she was so calm.

"Yeah Mare…because it is normal for guys to have tampons in their drawers." Luke said as Adam watched the two converse.

"Maybe he suffers from nosebleeds." The model stated.

"Yeah….that's it…I suffer from nosebleeds." The boy began to lie. He didn't want to. But their expression showed him they weren't ready for to handle this. Knowing Luke, he would probably treat him like a leper. "I should have told you guys. When I get super stressed, it just happens." He shrugged as the others nodded.

"You shouldn't apologize…I….should." Luke sounded unlike himself. He was wrong.

"Did hell just freeze over or something?" Bianca and the whole table laughed.

"Don't push it." Luke bit back. "But I could have talked to you one on one rather than stray away like that."

"Common mistake….just ask next time." He folded his lips as he ate. Sure everything was back to normal until…

Katie forced herself to eat as she saw Adam look at her. She wished he wasn't there when she found out about her mother. At least she could pretend around them that she was fine. But what was the true definition of fine. Her mother was marrying a man who she never met. She wasn't important enough to meet him. And if he wasn't mentioned to her, so she probably wasn't mentioned to him. Eating her salad, she felt Bianca touch her leg.

"Everything will be alright." She looked up seeing Bianca sit by her. She didn't need to move. A faint smile grazed her lips at the girl.

"No it won't Bianca…no it won't." Katie felt the knife being gripped from her hand.

"You don't need this." The rebel protected the girl.

"I also don't need a babysitter either. I'm not going to cut alright…..just because I'm upset doesn't mean I am going to self destruct." The whole table noticed her statement. Her eyes beginning to water.

"We aren't saying that you are….we just want to look out for you." Mare backed the other up. Listening to her breakdown.

"Well frankly….you both have enough problems to handle….the pill popping anorexic…..and the thrown away slut." Her voice began to raise as she left the table. Ignoring the other teens' faces as she left. Biting her lip again, she was once more a display. Why couldn't she control her emotions. Why did they always explode on the ones they cared about the most?

Wait….did she care about the rebel?

"She didn't mean that." Adam stated as he grabbed Bianca's hand. As many therapy sessions as they had been too, they could be counselor's themselves. And every revelation explained each other's behaviors.

"it's still the truth though." Mare finished eating as Bianca held herself again. So this was the price to pay when you had a friend.

….

Mike looked as the girl diligently washed plates. Her nerves were obviously frazzled. He hoped it wouldn't send her over the brink. Waiting for her to speak, he continued his task. He wondered if this was how Jordan felt without him. He felt as if the other piece of his heart was missing. He wouldn't admit it to his other roommates. He didn't want to seem soft. But Jordan was truly his brother.

Marisol checked the plate to make sure it was spotless. This was the time where she would run to the bathroom. When she didn't get a callback or if she and her parents got into another argument, this was what she did. But she couldn't this time. She knew Katie was hurting. And it made her appreciate her parents more. They wanted her happy and healthy. Biting her lip, she knew Mike was waiting on her to talk. And she didn't know what to say.

"Isn't this the time where you are supposed to say something smart ass and I put you in check.? She washed the utensils. Just to think what Katie would have done to herself if Bianca hadn't taken it away. Not saying she would have cut again. But at least the opportunity was taken away from the athlete.

"nah…." The black boy shrugged as he looked at the dishwashing liquid. Not being able to decipher…

"We can start your lesson now." Mare tried to get her mind off her friend and her friend. Looking at him, his expression showed his curiosity.

On the streets, nothing came for free. Every thing had its price. This wasn't different. People don't give handouts. This girl just probably wanted to feel good about herself. But he wouldn't be taken advantage of like that. He wouldn't let some gorgeous girl get through his defenses. He didn't want to hear her condescend to him.

"Why do you want to help me anyway?" He asked as she looked at the boy.

"Because you helped me." She bit her lip. Touching his arm as he flinched.

"Sorry." She blushed as she forgot to wash her hands. No. he couldn't fall for her touch.

"People aren't usually this nice. What's in it for you?" He inquired harshly as her mouth dropped.

"Mike what's wrong… ….I thought you trusted me." She puts the plates in the rack.

"I trust no one. Just forget about it…..I don't need help." He finished as he left her behind.

What the hell was that?

….

Katie paced around the room. She didn't mean those words. She was an overachieving athletic cutter who wanted to be loved and cared for. Why wasn't she sneakier? Why did Bianca have to take the knife from her? A paper cut wasn't deep enough. And right now, she needed to release herself. Laying on the bed, she heard the door open.

Bianca.

The hardened girl who had so much patience with herself and with others. She didn't have the right to feel this pain with a girl who was pimped and forgotten.

"I….."The red head began as the rebel nodded.

"I know….." The brunette sat on the bed beside her.

"I just feel so powerless. I cant control my emotions, my words…right now…I keep saying that my mom will send me an invitation. But I know that isn't true. And no one can say anything to change my mind. Every time, I feel good about myself I'm pushed off a cliff."

"Did you really mean what you said? About me being beautiful?" Bianca asked randomly.

"Yeah…." She blushed as Bianca moved the girl's chin with her finger. Bianca had to see her beautiful eyes.

"Katie…you are beautiful too. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Don't let you mom take away your light. You have honestly been my rock since I came. Even when we go back and forth…We are so different….I'm the bad girl…and you are the good girl. And I honestly wake up just so I can see you. Hear your words of wisdom. I know it may not seem like it was coming the person you want it too….but I do care for you." Bianca noticed their hands touching. Lacing together. Her soft touch that she had to get away from.

"….me and Mare both care for you." Bianca got out of the bed quickly as Katie bit her lip. The words she just said couldn't be taken back and the blush on her cheek could not be overlooked. Ignoring the awkwardness of the situation, she returned to her bed. "So get some sleep because Ellie is going to put us through hell tomorrow." Bianca tried to stop her beating heart.

What just happened?

Why didn't she want the badass to leave her side? Why did this girl make her feel at home. They barely knew each other. Yet…..when she was near, she didn't want to be away from her.

"Umm…no wait." Katie saw the girl change clothes. Bianca's gorgeous body glowing….everything about her was glowing.

"What?" Bianca tried to not look at her as she put her pajamas on. The blush on her face was permanent. And her mistake would be known if it already wasn't.

"Please….sleep with me." Katie bit her lip as she moved the covers back. she didn't want to be alone. No matter if her actions showed otherwise.

"I don't know…I may have another nightmare." The rebel tried to remove herself from the situation. But the need in Katie's eyes only made her sigh.

"…..Ok." Bianca finally gave in as she joined the girl. How was she going to survive this night? She thought she had her emotions under control. But she didn't. Right now. It was as clear as day. She had feelings for the cutter who wanted nothing more than love.