Chapter six: Forbidden pt. 2

Prompt: #11 33%

Universe: Highschool AU

Rating: T

x

"WHAAAAT?!"

The entire student body covered their ears as a piercing shriek exploded throughout the entire school. The shriek came from none other than Dawn Berlitz, local glam girl and drama queen. Well, drama queen whenever she felt like it, anyway.

"Thirty-three percent? Are you frickin' kidding me Cyn–I mean Miss Platinum? What the hell did I do to deserve this?" Dawn shouted, slamming her hands on the teacher's desk. She immediately recoiled at the cold glare she received from the teacher, who stood up and leaned forward, long blond hair swishing behind her.

"Miss Berlitz, I do not care if your mother has connections, if you are considered 'popular', if you know the principal personally— detention, after school the second the bell rings, understand?" Ms. Platinum almost yelled, scaring the class to silence and quieting any lingering murmurs.

"UGH! I cannot believe this!" Dawn screamed, throwing her test into a nearby recycle bin and exiting the classroom, slamming the door heavily behind her. Yes, drama queen whenever she wanted to be.

The blond-haired teacher let out a heavy sigh, plopping onto her swivel chair. "May? Could you go check on Dawn for me? I'll write you a note..."

The aforementioned brunette nodded her head as she retrieved the paper from her teacher and exited the room, looking for her best friend.

Dull grey eyes surveyed the students, who all gave worried looks as they knew Dawn's temper tantrum was damn near legendary in terms of potent power. Standing up again, Ms. Platinum moved to the chalkboard and wrote down numbers with dashes between them.

"Okay, class, I want you to read pages fifty-six to sixty-five, then answer the questions on pages sixty-six and sixty-seven for homework. Yes, Hilda, there will be a quiz. And yes, Nate, you have to read all the pages I told you to read."

The class groaned in unison and Ms. Platinum had to smile. She sat down once more and awaited the final bell.

On the other side of the school, on a stone bench overlooking the community garden, sat a blue-haired freshman in tears. In one hand was her cellphone, in the other, a piece of paper.

We have to talk.

She angrily tore the paper to shreds, throwing them into the bin beside her. Unlocking her cellphone, Dawn wiped her eyes and tried to focus on the message in front of her.

We can't see each other anymore.

'Are you okay? :(' -May

Smiling sadly, Dawn typed her response.

'Yeah. Just thinking. No need to worry! :D' -Dawn

People are getting suspicious.

Dawn sat still and observed the birds pecking at the soil, picking out the worms for their young ones. A gentle breeze swept by and Dawn clenched her fists as she remembered the secret picnic she and Cynthia had here once, on a weekend.

I hear rumours from the teachers, saying I'm a pedophile and that I should be fired.

Her phone buzzed, signalling a message, and Dawn swiped her thumb across her phone's screen to read it. Her eyes widened and she immediately locked her phone, refusing to answer it.

'I'm worried about you. Come back to the class, please.' -Cynthia

Mainly, I hear rumours about you, saying how you should be sent somewhere else or expelled for your behaviour.

Dawn stood upon hearing the bell ring and reluctantly marched back to the faculty building. Making her way to the classroom, she bumped into May, who gasped and hugged her tightly.

"I was so worried about you! Where did you run off to? Are you feeling better now?" May spoke quickly, eyes flickering for any sign of injury.

Dawn laughed her friend's concern off, waving her hand around. "I'm fine! I was just upset at the test score, that's all. I'll see you later, 'kay?"

May fidgeted but nodded once, smiling brightly. "Okay! I'll call Leaf and we'll have a girls' day out at the mall," May exclaimed excitedly, jumping up and down and dashing off.

Dawn smiled at her friend's exuberance, then sighed and trudged forward to her History classroom, hand on the metal doorknob.

I don't want you to suffer because of this... we need to cool things down between us.

Drawing a shuddering breath, Dawn clenched her fist and twisted the knob, pushing the door open. She entered but refused to look at her lover, instead sitting down at the front of the class, head down and hands folded on her lap.

Cynthia eyed the freshman worriedly, noticing the tear stains on her cheeks. She stood up slowly and shut the door, locking it from the inside with her key. She pulled the blind on the door's window and did the same to the curtains for the glass windows on the side of the room. With a sigh, she pulled up a chair from one of the corners and sat down next to the blue-haired girl. She used her thumbs to wipe away the fresh set of tears and pulled the girl's chin up. Dawn kept her eyes closed and mouth set in a frown, terribly upset.

"Dawn... this isn't about getting a thirty-three on the test, is it?" Cynthia whispered, cupping the girl's cheek.

Dawn shook her head and choked back a sob, leaning forward and wrapping her arms around the older woman's neck.

"How could they... how could you!" Dawn started, sobbing uncontrollably, "what we have, Cynthia... this is special. It's beautiful and it's love and you want us to 'cool down'? How could you! How could you..." Dawn trailed off, beating her fists against the woman's chest.

Cynthia kept her arms wrapped around Dawn and sighed, closing her eyes. She was so young and full of passion... it would be hard to explain. Cynthia waited a few minutes to gather her words.

"That's just it, Dawn. It is special and beautiful... why would we want others to spoil it for us? What we have is so delicate and fragile... if others caught wind of the truth and allowed their hate and prejudice to cloud their vision, our bond would break. Not because we would feel differently, but because we would have so much social pressure.

"Our relationship is what some would call a 'double whammy': first, it's a lesbian relationship and then it's a relationship with an age gap.. of about seven to eight years, I'd say? Both are practically frowned upon in society, the age gap more so than the first one, so really, in your terms, we're screwed over if it's made public. You understand now?"

After a few seconds, Dawn nodded. She pulled back and wiped her tears away. "Yeah, I get it. You want us to wait until I graduate, right?" At Cynthia's nod, Dawn smiled sadly. Then she giggled a bit, causing the older woman to arch an eyebrow in confusion.

"You said 'screwed over'. I never thought I'd hear you say that in a hundred years!" Dawn laughed slightly, making Cynthia chuckle as well.

"What can I say? You've influenced me a lot these last few months..." Cynthia playfully explained, poking Dawn in the ribs.

They remained silent, staring into each other's eyes. "So... this is it, huh?" Dawn quietly asked, breaking the silence.

Cynthia leaned forward, pressing their foreheads together and sighing. "Until graduation."

"...can I at least get a goodbye kiss?" Dawn murmured into her love's ear, eyes hooded and heart hammering in her chest.

Cynthia smirked and leaned back, withdrawing completely. Dawn gaped at her, completely flabbergasted.

"Not until we talk about your test, young lady," Cynthia smugly declared, crossing her arms.

"What?! B-b-but..."

"You do realize you're in detention, right?"

"...yes, Ms. Platinum."