A/N: Hello guys! I'm sorry I couldn't make it, to upload this chapter on Saturday morning! But here it is now! I want to thank you for your reviews guys, it seems you are intrigued to know what happens next, so here you'll find it out! Yes, bad things are happening, right? But with time it'll get better, I have all the story already planned but I won't tell you, it's better if you find it out! Thank you a lot for reading this story and I hope you're enjoying this as it seems when I read your reviews and that makes me happy! Hope not to disappoint you and hope you can keep reading this! Again, thank you for your words, it's amazing the way they encourage me to keep doing this, something that started as a kind of game because I was bored some random day! Thank you for your support, really. Now I'll let you read this chapter, I hope you can enjoy this!
TEENAGE DREAM
Chapter 10
A new clue
"Sorry. Do I know you?"
That was what Freckles asked, looking at me certainly bewildered. I wasn't expecting her to be there, not after what happened to her and how her father acted so overprotective. This was like an eventual and unpredictable encounter and I was glad to see her again because I thought I wouldn't be able to see her as often as before because of her father.
"Oh, let me introduce myself. I'm that quirky and weird guy who likes to fool around with his music." I laughed, sitting next to her on the bench.
It was funny the way she answered me when I asked her what she was doing there this late. But then I thought it may not be funny. Chances were, whether she pretended not to know me to make a parody of her father's threat with not seeing me again, or because W threatened her and she was suspecting that someone was following her like the last time. Hopefully it was the first supposition. But something absurdly rare happened.
"I don't know you, leave." Freckles said with trembling voice and getting away from me, still sitting on the bench.
She seemed to be actually perturbed and edgy because of...fear? She was looking at me really frightened and she placed her hand inside her satchel bag. Why was she looking at me that way? She was really good at acting, no wonder why she was Teddy's favorite. Yes, she surely received a threat from W. So I got closer to her to whisper something only she could hear.
"Do you suspect that W is here?" I whispered in her ear and she pushed me abruptly, standing up.
I looked up at her, confused by her reaction. Why would she do something like that? She was really rough and rude. And she was both scared and furious. What the hell was wrong with her? Now she was like defending herself with a pen, grabbing it firmly and looking at me with suspicion. Really?
"What are you doing, Freckles?" I asked cautiously, standing up slowly.
"Why do you call me Freckles? Who are you?" She asked edgily, still grabbing that pen firmly. I started walking towards her very slowly. "No, no! Stay there, do not come near me!" She yelled scared.
Okay, damn. I was starting to worry. I couldn't get why she was treating me that way and she didn't seem to be acting. It really seemed that she was scared and she was asking me all of those things for real. Why? Maybe W threatened her like me, in a way she was thinking she couldn't do anything but stay away from me.
"Has W threatened you? That is so, isn't it?" I asked kinda worried, walking slowly towards her.
"I told you to stay there! Do not move!" She yelled furiously and I raised my eyebrows in surprise, rising up my hands.
"Alright...I'll stay here..." I said now puzzled and disquiet. "What did W tell you now?"
"Who the hell is W? What are you talking about and why do you act as if you knew me?" She asked rudely, frowning.
"What?" I asked befuddled and I felt how my body started trembling.
Yes, I was scared because I didn't know why she was acting like that. She seemed to be telling the truth, she seemed to have no idea who W was and who I was. This wasn't possible; I only wanted to know what W has told her now. But she didn't answer, she was there expectant to hear my answer and still threatening me with the stupid pen.
"I do know you. We are friends, Freckles." I answered trying to sound quiet.
"You're confusing me with someone else. I've never seen you in my life. I don't know who you are." She said again with trembling voice and afraid.
"I'm not confusing you with someone else. What's going on, Freckles? I don't like this, this isn't funny, you know?" I said concerned.
"Of course this isn't funny. A stranger is stalking me and you think I find it funny? No, I said stay there!" She yelled when I tried to walk towards her again. Shit, this wasn't funny at all. "So, if you say we're friends...Then tell me what my favorite color is."
"Seriously?" I asked in disbelief and I giggled nervously. She couldn't be asking me this, but she didn't laugh and she was looking at me with suspicion. "Your favorite color is blue, your favorite food is lasagna, you love any kind of chocolate, and you're really good at Spanish." I answered looking into her eyes while was frowning and seemed to be more frightened.
"You guessed it by chance." She said with trembling voice and grabbing the pen even more firmly.
"You think that telling the things that make you feel sad it's pointless because you think those things are stupid little things and people don't care about it because there are worse things; when you're sad, you tend to blow off steam with your pillow; you have low self-esteem and you think you aren't pretty, even if it's not like that; you're a lovely person who always cares about others but you feel as if no one cares about you; you've been through rough situations in your life and people are used to call you nerd because you're smarter than them. You have a family who isn't always there for you, you have troubles with them and you feel alone." I said almost in a whisper and smiling both sadly and kindly while she was looking at me troubled. "When you laugh your cheeks blush and your laughter is catchy, when you're happy your eyes are brighter, when you're sad you look down and you try to be strong and hide it, when you're nervous you play with your fingers, when you're tired you're clumsier than normal and it's adorable. When you are at home you like to wear a beret and you look like a French girl but you don't like to be seen in public like this. And you're here because this is our place. I do know you, Freckles."
"How do you know all of those things? Those are private things! Who are you?" She exclaimed completely scared, trembling.
"We're friends, good friends. You told me those things and I saw you enough to find which your involuntary movements are." I responded while she was still looking at me bewildered. I walked towards her. She didn't say anything because she was puzzled. "I'm Darren, Freckles."
"I don't know you. I've never seen you before. I don't know who you are." She said kinda distressed. She definitely wasn't acting, so I felt more distressed than her.
"If I didn't know you, then I wouldn't know who Bobby is." I said even if I still didn't know who this guy was, but I knew that guy was someone important to her and someone that maybe only few people knew. And it was like that, she seemed really scared.
"How do you know about Bobby? No one knows about Bobby. Get out of here, you're creeping me out, get out of here! I don't know you! You're stalking me!" She yelled in shock.
"Hey, hey! Calm down, Freckles! I'm not trying to hurt you, I'm your friend." I said placing a hand on her shoulder to reassure her.
"Do not touch me!" She yelled in anger, pushing me and stepping back. "And do not call me Freckles, you stalker!"
"I'm sorry." I said anguished.
Whatever was happening to her it wasn't good and it was making me feel really bad and worried. She seemed to have lost memory. Holy shit. That was it; that was what happened to her, surely because of her sickness. This couldn't be happening. She really didn't seem to know me and she didn't seem to remember anything about us. I was now completely afflicted.
"You don't remember why you were in hospital, do you?" I asked looking at her distressed.
"How do you know about it?" She asked scared.
"I told you already. Do you remember where you were before you were in hospital?"
"Yes, of course. But it isn't any of your business." She replied defensively.
"Actually it is, because you were with me. Do you remember that?"
"No, no! You're lying; you're trying to confuse me. I don't know you, I've never seen you, and I've never talked to you. Get out of here!" She exclaimed troubled.
"You were sick and I took you to the hospital. You've lost your memory, Freckles. Please, try to remember. We were together, at my house. Remember, please!" I begged anguished.
"Stop it!"
"Do you at least remember who W is? Please tell me yes."
"I don't know what you're talking about. Get out!" She yelled nervously and I walked towards her. "Do not move or I'm gonna hurt you!"
"With that pen?" I asked looking at the pen she was holding firmly. "The only you're gonna get is to scratch my face with that pen."
"I'll call the police!" She threatened in fear.
"Freckles... Please." I said imploring, looking into her eyes.
"Do not move. Stay there! And I don't want to see you again, you stalker! I swear if I see you again, I'll call the police!" She threatened, stepping back.
"I won't leave you alone, not with all the things that are happening and you don't remember. I won't let anybody hurt you."
"What? No one is trying to hurt me! Do not move!" She said starting to walk away.
"Where are you going?"
"It's none of your business!" She yelled still walking away but still checking if I was following her.
"Are you crazy? Are you going somewhere else alone this late? It's dangerous!" I exclaimed worried and I started walking behind her.
"Do not follow me! I want you away from me!" She yelled but I reached her and I took her by the arm to stop her.
Slap. She slapped me and hard. At first I looked down, but then I looked into her eyes very anguished, with teary eyes. She frowned and then she ran away, disappearing in the dark. She has lost her memory, but maybe not completely or maybe yes; maybe it was temporary or maybe not. I had no idea but this was worrying me, but mostly I was feeling bad, really bad. She couldn't remember me and our friendship and she made it clear that she didn't want to see me; and she was Freckles, she was my friend and I was still feeling weird whenever I was around her. I just couldn't picture being away from her, it'd feel wrong, I knew it. I realized I needed her more than I thought, as I'd have never imagined. Sadly, I always realize this when I lose it, I couldn't lose her. I needed her because she was... Freckles and no more laps. But how could I be with her if she was thinking I was a stalker? She didn't remember anything about me and it was breaking me. And she didn't remember W either and this was dangerous, because she would be alone again and W would destroy her now more than ever. I knew W was going to take advantage of this, because it was the perfect opportunity for W. I couldn't let this happen, no way; no one was going to hurt Freckles and now, more than ever, I was willing to protect her whatever it takes, I needed to be strong for her and for me, because she was important to me, very important. I only needed to find the way to do this, because this was going to be like starting over again. I didn't know where to start and I needed help, I couldn't do this alone, I needed Jen.
To Jen: Jen, there's a big trouble. A really bad one and it involves Freckles. I need to see you, I'm not joking.
That was the only I could think of in that moment, because my mind was spinning, I was really disturbed. Few seconds after my phone buzzed. It was impossible Jen could answer so fast because she was surely already sleeping.
"So, this is interesting. I win, Criss. The bitch doesn't even know who you are and I'm ready to attack her. Lovely night, isn't it? -W-"
So W listened to me and Freckles talking. So W was there. I looked around kinda terrified but I couldn't see anyone. It was all dark and silent. But there was someone, I knew it.
"What do you want, asshole?" I yelled in anger, looking around. "Get out of there, wherever you are. I know you're here! Don't be a coward! Come on, face me! Face me, coward!"
No one answered and I was scared, but I was also really mad. I was sick of this and this bully was getting on my nerves. I wasn't sure if I wanted to face W because I didn't know if I was ready; but in that moment, I really wanted to give W what he or she deserved. My phone buzzed again.
"Not yet, Criss. Patience is a virtue, keep it. -W-"
W was watching me, W was there listening to me and I just couldn't find that bully. I looked everywhere, even in the most remote and unusual places. But I found not even a clue.
"You're a coward! That's what you are!" I yelled even angrier. "Yeah, it's easy to send threatening text messages, but it's hard to face me face to face, isn't it? You fucking coward! You're pathetic!"
"Watch your words, Criss. You do not want to be rude or you could end up seriously injured. -W-"
"That's pathetic! I'm not afraid of you, you idiot!" I yelled with a bitter laugh. I was scared the shit outta me, but I needed to seem firm and rude. W couldn't play with me this way.
"Do you know what's funny? You're yelling at me trying to sound like a badass, but all you get is to be lousy, Criss. And you're forgetting about something... -W-"
"Yes, I'm forgetting that you're just a damn weak person, you jerk." I yelled again superbly.
"No precisely. Bad your attitude in letting that bitch walk alone in the dark. No one knows what could happen to her now. Thanks for making this so easy for me; you're a generous guy after all, Criss. -W-"
"Freckles." I thought terrified.
She was in danger and I couldn't be there idly. No, I couldn't. I needed to find her before it was too late.
That guy really scared you. You couldn't understand why he knew a lot of you, even the most private things like who Bobby was. No one knew that, but he seemed to know it, he mentioned it and you could swear you've never seen him before, even if when he touched your arm you felt something weird. You felt as if you've felt that soft and firm hand before, it made you feel a feeling you've ever felt but you couldn't remember when. But how was it possible if you didn't even know any guy called Darren? Why was he telling you that you were friends? This was really odd and murky and you were sure this guy was stalking you.
"I won't leave you alone, not with all the things that are happening and you don't remember. I won't let anybody hurt you."
You remembered what he said. It seemed that this guy cared about you and you didn't understand why. Maybe this was a trick to make you fall into his trap. And now you were alone walking in the dark, even more scared. What if the guy was following you? You could barely see and your senses began to increase, mostly your sense of hearing. You could hear absolutely everything; odd sounds which were making you feel highly disturbed. You heard steps following you and you looked around frightened. You couldn't see anyone near you, but your body started trembling because you were sure your heard steps. Or maybe it was all a figment of your imagination because you were afraid of the dark. But you heard steps again, getting closer, very slowly and silently.
"Who's there?" You yelled with trembling voice, grabbing firmly the pen.
You knew it was a stupid object of self-defense, but it was all you had and you felt more secure with it. No one answered and you didn't hear more steps. You looked around and the only thing you could see was the empty street with trees, which crowns were swaying because of the breeze, producing a scary sound. You started walking faster, to arrive home as soon as possible. But then you heard more steps and your phone buzzed, making you startle and jump in fear.
"This is like a horror movie, isn't it? Bitches shouldn't walk alone in a dark, empty street. I have you in my sights. -W-"
What was that? You looked around really aghast, trying to see who was there watching and following you. W. The guy mentioned W but he didn't explain you who this W was. Whatever it was, it wasn't funny. And this W thing or person surely knew you because this person knew your phone number, what was making this even more terrifying. This wasn't a nice prank, if it was a prank. You wished you could be with someone now, but then you remembered you had no one to be with, because Peter and Alexandra were always studying and they didn't like to walk unlike you. You still weren't sure why you were friends with them because they never liked to do something with you outside school. Your phone buzzed again.
"Scared, big ass? You should. I'm going to destroy you, now that you're alone and helpless. Finally, I win. -W-"
Okay, this was really scary and you couldn't see where this person was, but that person was seeing you. You started walking faster, almost running. You needed to get home where you could be safe. Steps started running while you were running too. That person was really near but you couldn't see where; if anything, you didn't want to see it, you only wanted to get away from there. You were almost blinded; you were running and running without seeing anything around you, until you stumbled across someone, which made you fall on the floor. You covered your body with your arms and closed your eyes because you knew you probably stumbled across the person who was texting you those scary things. You didn't want to see who it was and you wished that none of this was happening. You knew this person was going to hurt you. You felt how the person kneeled next to you and your body was trembling like hell and your heart beating really fast in fear. You had no way out, you were expecting some kind of harsh action from this person, but, instead, the person placed the hands on your shoulders.
"I'm so sorry. Are you okay?" You heard a voice asking concerned but smoothly.
You recognized the voice: it was the voice of the same guy with whom you were talking minutes before. You opened your eyes to check this and it was indeed him. You started screaming in fear because this person obviously wanted to hurt you. You screamed with all your might to get some kind of help as the boy looked at you nervous and disrupted.
"Hey, no, no! Chill out, don't scream!" The boy said still disrupted and not knowing what to do, but you kept screaming.
"Leave me, leave me!" You screamed in fear, trying to move away but you hit against the floor very hard and your body was aching.
"Freckles, don't scream! They're watching us, we need to be quiet." The boy whispered also in fear, looking around.
"No, get out of here! You want to hurt me, leave me!" You screamed with trembling voice and teary eyes. Obviously the guy didn't want you to scream because he didn't want anyone to save you.
"I don't want to hurt you, Freckles. I'm trying to protect you because they want you alone to attack you. You must believe me, please." The boy replied, looking at you distressed.
"No, I won't fall into your trap!" You shouted scared while your heart was beating even faster.
"What can I do to make you trust me? Because I'll do whatever it takes." The boy asked desperate, still looking deeply into your eyes.
"Just leave me! Leave me alone!"
"No, I won't do it. If I leave you alone, they're gonna hurt you and I won't allow it. Once I promised I wouldn't let nothing and nobody hurt you and I'm keeping my word. I care about you way too much to let this happen and stay idly. Once I did it and I won't do it again." The boy said anguished and apparently guilty. Somehow you felt more relaxed, but you were still thinking he was the one who wanted to hurt you. "I promised to stand by you, whatever it'll come to happen and that's what I'm gonna do, even if you don't remember me."
"Why do you want to hurt me? What have I done? Why are you sending me those text messages? Why are you following me?" You asked really disturbed, shaking.
"Have you received texts messages from W?" The boy asked and now he seemed to be worried. You only nodded.
The boy looked down and you took advantage to kick him on his stomach. The boy, of course, wrapped his arms around his stomach in pain and you took advantage to stand up and start running away from him. You ran really fast until you felt how harsh hands took you by your arms harshly and pushed you against a dark corner. Those weren't the same hands than the firm and soft ones from the curly boy. A flashback popped into your mind: Huge and rough arms holding you, arms were throttling you, wicked laughs. You remembered it but it seemed to be an imaginary and bad thing. You couldn't see because the person who cornered you covered your eyes and now the person started punching you in the stomach. It was painful. You heard shouts from the curly boy but you couldn't answer because of the pain.
"Freckles! Freckles, where are you? Please, come back! Freckles!" The boy was yelling desperate.
The person who was punching you injected something in your arm and you felt how a liquid began to run through your veins. Then you started feeling tired, really tired. Now the person uncovered your eyes but you were seeing everything blurry, you could barely hear and you could barely keep your eyes open. But you focused your sight on the person who punched you. It was a guy and you recognized him, but you weren't sure if it was that person or not, because it was blurry and because it was impossible. You knew him, you knew that person. It was Peter, your friend.
"Why, Peter?" You asked with the little breath that remained to you.
"Why? Because you ruined my life and I'm vindictive. You have no idea how many people want to destroy you, bitch." Peter answered in a whisper, in a really malicious way.
A tear streamed down your face before you couldn't see anything at all. Your own friend betrayed you and you didn't know why. You couldn't see anything, but you could still hear and feel things, you didn't know for how long. You didn't know what he injected to you, but you were very tired. You felt how those harsh hands picked you up and left you on the ground, some branches were scraping your face. You heard steps coming closer, you heard voices yelling, and you heard their dispute.
"Freckles? What the fuck have you done to her, you asshole?" You heard the voice of the curly guy yelling.
"Stay the fuck out, Criss! This is none of your business!" You heard Peter yelling.
"Guess what? It is my business because she is my friend and I won't let an asshole like you hurt her! Get out of here before I punch you!"
"How adorable! The stupid guy is in love with the girl with big ass." Peter mocked in a wicked way.
"How funny! W happens to be a retarded. I was expecting something better than you." The curly haired boy said, arrogantly and defiant.
"You're so screwed, Criss. Do you really think I'm W? Do you really think we're that stupid?" Peter laughed bitterly and archly. "You should give up, you're gonna lose the game anyway. Give up now before is too late, Criss."
"Give up my ass, you dickhead!"
"Tell me, Criss... Does she know that you're playing with her feelings? Does she know that you're flirting with her while you're trying to fuck another girl? Does she know the kind of shit person you are? Does she know that you think she's a geek and a loser?" Peter asked malignantly.
Then you heard more shouts but you couldn't hear it clearly. You heard how they started fighting, you heard punches and painful and angry yells. You heard more wicked words, you heard more punches and finally you heard steps running away. Then you felt how someone kneeled next to you and how that someone placed his hands on your cheeks. Those were the firm and soft hands, the curly haired guy.
"Can you hear me? Freckles?" You heard a distant voice. You couldn't answer and now you could barely hear. "Answer me! What the hell has he done to you? Freckles, please, stay with me, open your eyes."
You just couldn't. Everything was dark and now you couldn't either feel or hear anything. Your body relaxed and the weariness beat you. But after a while, you heard more voices which had no sense and coherence.
"I told you I want you away from my daughter!"
"And I told you I won't do it!"
"I demand an explanation! Why have you drugged her? I'ma get you locked up in jail."
"I haven't done it! If I had done it, then I'd never have called you. And I won't explain you a damn shit if you don't explain me first what's going on with her! Why doesn't she remember anything at all?"
"That's not the way to talk to an adult, so watch your manners. You're exceeding the limit, Criss."
"I don't care! I need to know! I need to know why she's like that! Listen, you don't like me and you made it clear, but I deserve to know. She's important to me, please, tell me, sir. I beg you."
"Doctors said it's temporary. And the fact I'm telling you this doesn't change anything, kid. You won't be around my daughter again. Since my daughter is with you, she only gets in trouble; you're an abomination to our family."
"I'm trying to protect her; someone is trying to hurt her, sir."
"That's ridiculous. Go home, kid. And stay away."
"I won't."
"Yes, you will. If you really care about her, you'll stay away from her. Make us a favor; if she doesn't remember you it might be because you're not important to her, so stay away, kid."
Then you couldn't hear anything again. It was your father the one who was talking to the curly haired guy. So maybe the curly haired guy wasn't lying. Maybe he was your friend, but your father wanted him away from you. If your father wanted him away from you, it could only mean that the guy wasn't a good influence on you. You couldn't think anything else and the only you could do was to hallucinate. What was happening to you?
"Hi, Dar." Jen greeted when I encountered her in the entrance of school.
"Hi, Jenny." I greeted dreary, looking down and entering the school.
"How are you? Any better?" Jen asked following me.
"What do you think?" I asked ironically, still looking down and serious.
Things didn't get better since the last time I saw Freckles, about six weeks ago. Yes, actually I saw her several times in school, but she was always ignoring me. She looked completely different from the Freckles I knew, this person wasn't her. It was like the time she returned to school after the fight we had with Brian and Jim, but it was worse. At least that time she was acting strong but now she was acting like those material and superficial girls. She was being the kind of girl she always hated, this was against her thoughts and I couldn't get why she was being like that. Now she was used to talk to the cheerleaders, even if she preferred to be alone most of the time. I was losing her and it was making me feel sad and grumpy all the time. I couldn't get why this was happening. And I still needed her.
"Listen, Dar. Her father told you that her memory loss is temporary. Soon she's gonna remember and she's gonna be the same adorable girl we both love. Just be patient, Dar." Jen said reassuringly but it irritated me.
"To be patient, Jen? It has been like two months and she's getting worse! I'm tired of being patient and I'm tired of pretending I'm fine when I'm anything but. It breaks my heart when she ignores me while I need her, Jen. It gets on my nerves the fact I can't do anything to protect her from W, and I'm worried all the time. If something bad comes to happen to her, I wouldn't forgive myself. But again, I can't do anything. So do not ask me to be patient while I notice how everything is fading away." I said annoyed and desperate.
"Well, you won't win anything if you keep complaining and treating your friends this way." Jen said looking down and serious.
"I'm sorry, Jenny. I didn't mean it. I just don't know what to do." I apologized when I realized the way I treated her. After all, Jen was not to blame.
"I know, Dar. But think about this, at least now we have a clue about W. We know that her old friend Peter has something to do, so we won't let him get close to her and I don't think he'd have the guts to do so after you gave him what he had coming. We're not so lost like before, Dar." Jen said trying to be positive.
"Yeah, I guess." I replied despondent.
"Come on, Dar. We need to find this out. For Freckles. We know that Peter, Brian and Jim are involved. We know Brian is involved because she punched him and she made him look like a fool so he wanted to revenge. Now we have to find out why Peter and Jim are involved to try to find out the logic of W. Maybe Jim is only involved because he's friends with Brian." Jen said again trying to sound positive and encouraging me.
"Yes, Jenny. You're right. We'll find this out, even if Freckles doesn't recover her memory, I'll do it for her." I said trying to smile.
Truth was I wanted to do this for her, but I couldn't help being sad by the thought of Freckles not recovering her memory. I needed her back in my life. Since she was away, I could barely smile and laugh. It was as though a piece was missing me and I couldn't be happy without that missing piece. I wondered why she had that effect on me, because I was happy when I wasn't friends with her; but she changed me at some point and now nothing was the same.
"So, let's change the subject. How things are going between you and Mandy?" Jen asked with a smile on her face and I just huffed.
"Same as always." I huffed in frustration and annoyance. "Outside school everything is fantastic, we talk a lot, we kiss and all, we're like a couple. But she still thinks that in school we have to pretend not knowing each other because it's so soon. I honestly don't know what she wants. I think she's ashamed to be seen in public with me."
"Don't think that, Dar. Maybe she's scared. Let's not forget that she was dating Jim and Jim is an aggressive person, maybe Mandy is scared of the fact Jim could hit you if he finds out you're dating her." Jen said shrugging and I looked at her frowning.
"Why do you defend her if you don't even like her?" I asked curious.
"Yes, I still don't like her. But you love her and I want to see you happy; so as long as you're happy, I'm gonna be happy." Jen said smiling. Well, I had a really good friend. "Anyway, have you talked to her about this that bothers you?"
"No, of course not. What would I tell her? 'Hey Mandy, are you ashamed of me? Why don't you want at least to hold my hand in school if you kiss me hungrily and you want to get into my pants when we are outside school?' It's stupid, Jen." I said laughing bitterly.
"Well, not exactly with those words. But you should talk to her; she needs to start respecting you too. She isn't the only important person here; it's time for her to learn it." Jen said making it obvious that she didn't like her and I giggled because of this. "It's not funny, Darren."
"I find it interesting the way you can't stand her, Jenny. She's a good person once you get to know her better, outside school of course." I said smiling.
"Whatever you say, Darren. She's dating you not me." Jen said rolling her eyes and then she looked at me. "I still don't like her."
"I know, I know." I laughed softly. "Well, Jenny, see you later. I have to go to Spanish class. Wish me luck with Freckles."
Six weeks have passed since you had that awful encounter with this Darren guy and Peter. Your father didn't want to explain you so much about this; he told you it was better to forget it. The only thing he told you it was that one of the guys injected you a strong sedative, so that was why you were feeling tired. He also told you neither to see nor to talk to the boy called Darren, because he was dangerous or something like that. You were going to do what your father was telling you because you were sure he wanted the best for you, but deep down you knew that Darren has saved you from Peter; if it wasn't for him, you didn't want to imagine what Peter could have done to you. You still wanted to figure out why your father and Darren were saying that you used to be friends, you couldn't remember that and it was making you feel very frustrated. The first day you returned to school after the incident, it was really hard. Darren, who happened to go to your school, tried to talk to you and so did a girl who was with him, who also seemed to know you; of course, you tried to ignore them. But there were other people with whom you never talked before, who started talking to you now: a few cheerleader girls. That was pretty weird because you weren't popular to talk to them, but it made you feel good; because at least now you weren't alone since your old friends, Peter and surely also Alexandra, betrayed you, therefore you didn't have any friends. Talking to those cheerleaders helped you to avoid that Darren guy who was all the time bugging you. With time, the cheerleaders started transforming your appearance. Now you looked almost like them, only without the beauty of them. But they gave you a few tips to dress better, how to put make-up on and how to make your long hair look good. Now you were feeling at least a little bit prettier. You knew this wasn't the real you, but only this way you could have a few friends and not to be a lonely girl, one of your biggest fears. Summing up, you turned into a superficial girl.
That day, the same as always happened, you entered the school, you saw Darren talking to the girl who was always with him, and you tried to sneak between them without being seen, even if you noticed that he was in the same Spanish class than you. Hopefully this time he wouldn't try to talk to you. You wanted to arrive early so you could choose your seat away from where he was used to sit, but on your way a cheerleader stopped you to show you stupid things you didn't care but you had to pretend to be excited for it. So you weren't late; you were super late and you almost had to go running to your class. When you entered, the whole class turned to look at you.
"Estoy decepcionado de usted, señorita." The grumpy Mr. Rhodes said severely. Of course you understood all he said; no matter into what kind of person you turned now, you were still good at Spanish and you liked it.
"Lo siento mucho, Mr. Rhodes. No volverá a suceder." You spoke in Spanish, very fluent, apologizing.
"Muy bien. Por favor, siéntese." Mr. Rhodes said, telling you to sit.
You looked around to find an empty seat, and you huffed and rolled your eyes when you noticed that the only empty seat was next to this Darren guy, in the last row. Moody, you walked to that seat and you sat in silence. You glanced at Darren and you saw how he smiled faintly at you and then he turned his gaze to Mr. Rhodes, without uttering a word. Well, that was good. You tried to focus on the class, but you couldn't because this attitude of this Darren guy was weird. Not that you didn't like it, but you were getting used at him bugging you and now he was different.
"So what is the answer?" Mr. Rhodes asked and you looked at him to find he was asking that to you.
Oh, what was he asking? Flashback. You were in your first Spanish class and you weren't paying attention because you were admiring and looking at a beautiful boy sitting next to you, a boy you always liked in secret but who never noticed you; you were haunted by his eyes and Mr. Rhodes was asking you something and you had no idea what he was asking. That boy, you tried to find out who that boy was but you couldn't remember.
"Mr. Rhodes, if you excuse me, the answer is false. What the sentence actually says is that most of the populace is engaged in business and the international exchange of industrial products, particularly products of high technology." Darren answered self-confident and you looked at him amazed.
"Excellent, Mr. Criss." Mr. Rhodes said impressed. Apparently Darren wasn't a guy who was participatory in this class. "Now if you dare, say the sentence in Spanish."
"Yes, sure. It would be: La mayoría de la población se dedica a los negocios y al intercambio internacional de productos industrializados, en particular productos de tecnología alta." Criss answered and you looked at him fixedly. His pronunciation was almost perfect, but he failed at the end.
"He got it wrong." You finally said arrogantly. "He failed at the end. It's not: de tecnología alta. He confused the order of the words. The correct way would be: de alta tecnología."
You noticed how Darren was now looking at you, raising his eyebrows and smiling kind of amused. You acted presumptuously and you avoided his gaze. You thought that you've won this, but this guy was stubborn.
"The significance is the same." He said, not looking at the teacher but looking at you fixedly, so you looked at him kinda annoyed.
"It could sound as if it was the same, but it isn't. If you're in Spanish III class you should know the exact order of the words. Your answer is wrong." You said arrogantly again, looking at him defiant. The whole class was in silence, looking at you two.
"I personally think that it actually doesn't matter the exact order of the words. The important thing about Spanish is the significance of words, because Spanish has a lot of dialects depending on the country where you are. So my answer is right. After all, everybody understood me, right?" He said smiling amused and trying to win this, but you wouldn't let this happen.
"So yeah! Let's all of us talk like cavemen. It's the same than English. For instance, if I say: products of technology high; you'll understand me, but you know it doesn't sound right because the order of words is wrong. The same happens with Spanish. Your argument isn't valid. You were wrong, admit it." You said smugly, looking into his eyes and he was still smiling. It was irritating.
"I won't admit it because I know I'm right and I already told you my reasons. It's not my fault that you're so attached to traditional formulas instead of expanding your view considering we live in a world of cultural diversity and, therefore, with dialectical diversity." He answered smiling amused and he seemed to be really entertained.
"Excuse me? Are you calling me uneducated and illiterate?" You asked getting furious.
"I didn't say such a thing. That was your own interpretation and conclusion; and if you thought so it could have been for a reason, don't you think?" He said smiling even more amused. That stupid boy.
"Let me tell you something..." You started saying looking at him furiously and severely.
"Alright, guys! Although it was an interesting exchange of opinions and I appreciate the freedom of speech in my class; this was enough. Let's continue with the class." Mr. Rhodes interrupted you. "So if I say that..."
Mr. Rhodes kept talking trying to change the subject but you weren't paying attention because you were still looking at Darren in anger. You couldn't believe he made you look like a fool; you, one of the best students in this class. Darren was still looking at you amused and entertained and it was making you feel even more irked. Then Darren looked at Mr. Rhodes again and that attitude made you feel rabid. The fact of him ignoring you and your madness made you feel terrible. And then you realized it, maybe that was the way you were making him feel whenever you ignored him; but you didn't care. Now you decided to pay attention and minutes later, when you looked at your desk, there was a note.
"You look amazing when you're passionately defending your point of view of things. If this makes you feel better; if it hadn't been because of Mr. Rhodes, you'd have won me. We should do this more often. Darren."
You read the note in disgust and then you looked at Darren, who was paying attention to Mr. Rhodes. You waited for him to look at you, but he didn't turn his gaze to you. So you decided to answer the note.
"You should stop bugging me and you should get on your own business. I'd appreciate if you stay away from me."
You wrote it furious and then you tried to give the note to him but you just didn't know how. You were waiting for Mr. Rhodes to get distracted but it seemed impossible, so minutes later you saw Darren's hand extending to you. You put the note on his hand and you looked away. Not long later, the note was again on your desk.
"If you want so... Meanwhile I'll be contented to have got a response from you. Lunch together?"
You read the note raising your eyebrow in disbelief. What part of 'Stay away from me' hasn't he understood?
"In your dreams."
"I'm all the time dreaming. So lunch together, outside school. I know about a place where we can go."
"It's not gonna happen."
"Oh, too late. You answered 'In your dreams' and considering I'm a big dreamer, this time I win. You should be careful with your responses. We'll meet in the entrance at 1pm."
"Wait if you want. I won't go."
"Too bad. I had in mind to order lasagna for two."
"You'll have to share it with Garfield."
"Have you found Garfield? I want to meet him! Maybe we could eat lasagna all together, not a bad idea. I'm excited."
"Idiot."
"Beautiful. Your words, not you."
"Idiot squared."
"Beautiful squared. Your words and you."
"This conversation is over."
"Do you copy me? Do you copy me? Over and out!"
"What are you?"
"Adorkable."
"Adorkable? Would you mind to elaborate?"
"Adorable + Dork = Adorkable. Is that clear? ;)"
"Bye."
"See you at lunch, Freckles."
That was the last note he sent you and you didn't reply it. You should be feeling mad at him, but to be honest, you liked this conversation with him. It just seemed to be so natural. You shouldn't be feeling cheerful after this, this wasn't right. You needed to keep in mind what your father told you; you couldn't be near him. Of course, you wouldn't meet him for lunch, no way. Or, why not? Maybe this lunch could help you to recover your memory. No, it was a bad idea. You spent most of the class having a conversation with your own mind until the class finished. When you were about to stand up and leave, a guy walked to you. It was a tall and handsome man, a football player.
"Hi." The guy greeted you with a nice smile. You noticed how Darren, next to you, looked abruptly at you two.
"Hello." You answered politely, smiling back at him.
"I was wondering if you'd like to have lunch with me. To be honest, I couldn't stop looking at you today. Your smartness amazes me and I'd like to talk to you to get to know you more." The guy said smiling kindly and sensually.
"Umm..." You said a bit uncomfortable and you were sensing how Darren couldn't stop staring at you.
"If you don't want it's alright, I understand." The guy said still smiling.
"Well, why not?" You grinned while shrugging. You couldn't believe that a handsome guy was asking you to lunch.
"Is that a yes?" The guy asked smiling brightly and you nodded while shrugging. "That's amazing!" The boy exclaimed excited. "By the way, I'm Brian."
"Nice to meet you, Brian." You smiled kindly. "See you at lunch, then."
That was the last thing you said before you stood up. That was good, not only because a handsome guy asked you to lunch, but also because you wouldn't have lunch with Darren and then you would do exactly what your father told you to do. When you were leaving the classroom, you glanced at Darren. He was looking at you with eyes wide open, in disbelief and... Terrified? Why would he be looking at you that way?
Everything was going fine with Freckles this time in Spanish class. The debate we had was amazing and I really missed seeing her so passionate like this, defending what she thought was right. She looked really cute being like that and I couldn't stop smiling for it. This was the only idea that occurred to me to get her attention and to get to talk to her as I wanted since long ago. And it worked. But the most amazing thing was when we started talking through notes. At first she was rude as I was expecting, but then I noticed she still had the same sense of humor, mostly when she mentioned Garfield. I totally loved it and it made me feel really happy. I wanted to have lunch with her, and it had to be outside school so we could be quiet. I thought that by having lunch with her I could help her to remember, what I wanted the most. I didn't care what her father told me the day of the incident. Yes, he made me feel like shit when he said that if she didn't remember me it was because I wasn't important to her. Maybe he was right, or maybe not; I wouldn't know it if I didn't try to talk to her to find it out. So, not even what her father told me was going to keep me away from her. And it took me six weeks to find out the way to finally talk to her. Six damn weeks, but I got it. Yes, I still didn't know if she would meet me at the entrance to have lunch together, but I needed to have hopes. When the class finished, I was about to talk to her to remind her that she had to have lunch with me, but something stopped me. Something that scared me.
"Hi." Brian greeted Freckles with a false smile.
"Hello." She answered.
"I was wondering if you'd like to have lunch with me. To be honest, I couldn't stop looking at you today. Your smartness amazes me and I'd like to talk to you to get to know you more." Brian said flirting with her.
What the hell was all that? Freckles didn't seem to recognize him and Brian already knew that she has lost her memory, so that was why he was talking to her, pretending to be interested in her in a romantic way. This couldn't be happening. I couldn't stop looking at them both intently and terrified. I was there without knowing what to do or say, I was just very disturbed. If Brian knew that Freckles lost her memory, if he knew she was ignoring me all this time, and if he was flirting with her now; it only could mean that W has changed the plans. The simple fact of thinking about it scared the crap out of me. Brian was trying to be her friend now that Freckles forgot all he has done to her. That way it would be easier for W to attack, considering that W knew that Freckles didn't trust me anymore. I was so fucked up, man. Freckles wouldn't believe me if I told her that Brian was an asshole who harassed her, who hit her and who made her feel like crap. This wasn't happening. If I was scared at this point, I got even more scared when I heard Freckles' response to the invitation.
"Well, why not?" She smiled with that cute smile.
No, Freckles! Why? No, no, no. You shouldn't have said yes. No. She accepted and Brian pretended to be really excited. Maybe he was indeed excited, but only because his plan went as he expected. I looked at Freckles leaving the classroom and I couldn't say anything, I just looked at her in shock, kinda sad and for sure terrified. When Freckles wasn't there anymore, I looked abruptly at Brian. Now I was furious, really furious. I stood up and I walked towards him determined. He turned his gaze to me and he smiled archly.
"Listen to me, you asshole..." I started saying in a rage. "Stay away from her. I know your intentions, I'm not stupid. If you dare to hurt her, you're gonna suffer. So better if you stay away from her."
"Do you think I'm scared of a faggot like you, Criss?" Brian laughed archly.
"You should, cause I won't let you put your hands on her and I'll do whatever it takes not to let you do this." I said coldly and firmly.
"You gotta be kidding me, Criss. Have you fallen for that nerd girl? I thought you had a better sense of taste on women." Brian scoffed at me.
"Don't call her like that, you douchebag." I said ratty, getting closer to him. "Stay away from her, Clerk."
"I don't feel like doing that. I think it's time for you and your stupid friend Jennifer to stay the fuck out of the scene. Admit it, Criss, you've lost this. She doesn't even remember who you are and she doesn't want to be around you, an annoying faggot." Brian laughed at me just for spite.
"Yeah, she doesn't remember me but it doesn't change a damn shit. You're not gonna get her and I'm gonna make sure of it."
"Good luck with that. The bitch doesn't believe a shit of what you say. Someone told me the way she slapped you, the way she was trying to run away from you. What does make you think that she's not going to do it now? Only because you've been exchanging stupid notes during the class? You're pathetic, Criss."
"I'm not afraid of you, Clerk. What are you? Only a stupid boy following the rules of an idiot who isn't even brave enough to say the real name, so uses a pseudonym. Yeah, W. Pathetic, isn't it? And you're just a friggin jerk who can't see that W is using you like a puppet. I feel pity for you, Clerk." I said with all my despicable way to talk.
"You still can't understand how things actually are, can you? I see fear in your eyes, Criss. I noticed how terrified as a baby you were when I was talking to that bitch. You should practice how to hide your weaknesses, Criss. You're an easy guy to destroy. And you have no idea how many people are involved in this. So here's a little advice for you: Get on your own business and you won't be in this anymore. You're still on time."
"It turns out that she is my business now, Clerk. And here's a little advice for you: I never let people mess on my business." I said smiling bitterly.
"Oh, Criss! A boy in love is so vulnerable; you shouldn't let it happen."
"There's a thing you're not getting, Clerk. And it's that you don't have any good feeling for someone, so you'd never understand the power of it. Do not underestimate love and do not confuse love with weakness, because you're gonna end up fucked up."
"You're a fucking twee faggot."
"Is that all you have to say? How sad, man. Let me ask you something, Clerk. What do you get with all of this? Don't you have something better to do with your miserable existence?" I asked arrogantly. Geez, I hated to be like this, but he needed to understand that he couldn't mess with Freckles.
"You're confusing the roles. Your existence is the miserable, being in love with a big ass girl who doesn't even know your name. How sad is that?" He replied even more arrogantly.
"Why her? Why are you messing with her and not with someone else? Is that because she's better than you all so you feel in danger? Is that because she's braver than you, a guy who tries to pretend to be rude but actually is a crybaby? Why her, Clerk?" I knew that was the perfect question to make him talk, to make him tell me at least one of the reasons why W was doing this. I knew it because I saw fierceness in his eyes, because I hurt his pride.
"I'll tell you why, Criss. Because she's messing with things she shouldn't, so she needs to learn that she can't mess with us."
"Is that so?" I laughed sarcastically. "Is that because she punched your face and she made you look in public as the coward and stupid guy you are? Doing this to her because of those reasons, is only proving how helpless you are on her presence; is only proving that you're afraid of her because you know that if you don't stop her, she would be able to beat you all. This is only proving who the strong one is, the only one who's able to stand up and defend what is right by good ways unlike you who think that violence rules everything. Let me tell you something, violence is practiced only by weak people. That's it all, you're weak and you're afraid of her. So you won't stop messing with her, because you're afraid. You're afraid of a girl younger than you, because you know how smart and brave she is, unlike you."
"No, you're not getting this, Criss." He said but I knew he was kinda nervous now. I shot the target.
"No, you're the one who isn't getting this. They're using you like crap. They don't care if something bad comes to happen to you as long as they get to be closer to their goal. You think you're rude and strong, but truth is you're a miserable and a manipulated stupid boy. I feel pity for you. Pity." I said smiling almost maliciously.
And then I felt how his fit crashed on my nose. It was painful but it was nothing compared to the fact that I found out his weak spot. Now I knew he was also thinking that W was manipulating him and he wasn't feeling good with that. This could be the way from where I could start destroying W, on my very own way, not applying violence to get it. So he could hit me all the times he wanted, but it wasn't going to change my sudden good mood for having discovered something new.
"Yeah, go ahead and hit me again. It's only proving how weak you feel now." I said defiant. "Stay away from her and stop making your own life miserable, Clerk. Open your eyes!"
"I won't stay away from her. Do you know what I'm gonna do with her? I'm gonna make her fall for me, I'm gonna fuck her fiercely and then I'm gonna throw her to the crap where she belongs. I'm gonna destroy her and I'm gonna enjoy how you suffer for it because you can't do anything, because she abominates you, because you mean nothing to her now, because you're an idiot who's in love with her while she only wants to see you dead. You won't be able to do anything because I'm gonna manipulate her, because she doesn't trust you. And I'm gonna make you see how I fuck her wildly until her bearded clam bleeds and until she begs me yelling to stop; then I'm gonna make you see how I force her to give me a blowjob until she chokes with my cock on her throat, and finally I'm gonna make you see how I spill my cum on her face. And after all of this, I'm gonna make you see how I pull that bitch into the crap. I'll give you an entertaining show, Criss; feel honored for that." Brian said repulsively.
My whole body was trembling in anger and I really wanted to punch his face as hard as he deserved. But I didn't do it because I wasn't going to lower to his level. He was only saying all of that because he was scared, because he had nothing else to say. But hearing him talking that way about Freckles maddened me.
"How sad does it feel that you won't be able to fuck her like that as you'd want, Criss?" Brian laughed archly and I was getting even more furious, but I needed to control myself. "Do not mess between her and me. If I find out that you attempt to screw this, your mommy and your Jenny are gonna pass away, Criss. Do not forget that we know all about them. Make the right decision, Criss."
That was the last thing he said before he turned around and left the classroom. My whole body was still trembling in anger but now also in fear. Now that he was gone I let myself be weak as I really was. I found his weak spot, but he also knew which my weak spot was and it was my mom and Jen. I didn't know how I was going to make it, but everything was so hard and everything was so fucked up. My mom was still disappointed in me and she couldn't know what was happening, so there was no way I could convince her to be more careful without her suspecting something; Jen wouldn't stop helping me and Freckles, so they would hurt her; and it was impossible even to talk to Freckles now, so I couldn't protect her because she wouldn't let me be near her because she was still thinking I was a stalker. How the fuck was I going to make it? I needed to be faster than W, but it was impossible because I didn't even know what that person actually wanted and I had no idea what the plan of this person was. I'd never be able to be faster than this person because first I needed to get more information about W. I only wanted everything to be good, only that. While I was deep in thought, my phone buzzed.
"Interesting how your whole life can be destroyed in a matter of minutes, Criss. You don't want to get out of this? Get ready to see how all the people you love suffer because of your fault. And congratulations! I'm impressed, you were about to find out my plan; but I won't make it easy for you. -W-"