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Hello to everyone who is still reading this story considering I haven't updated in forever. However, I've got some news to share... THIS WILL BE THE LAST CHAPTER. Jk lol. But it will be the last chapter, not of the story, but of the age range (if that's the right word) anyways, from here on out I will be writing these but when they're around 15-16. But don't worry, it'll all make sense because you'll have more than enough flashbacks. Hopefully you're not mad, but I intended on taking an age leap like this from the beginning.

Previously on The Silent Victim

I closed my notebook then looked over in confusion when I noticed Mikayla sitting next to me. "We're partners remember?" she simply said before winking at me. She quickly sent a smile my way before focusing her attention to the front of the class, and in that moment I knew. I knew that as long as I had her, I would be okay.

Chapter 8

Forgiveness

Brady's Point Of View (POV)

"So because my dad wouldn't take us to the carnival the week before, we ended up going that day and getting caught in a blizzard. Which probably wouldn't be funny unless you knew what his hair looked like back then, it looked so silly all white."

The smile on her face never faded once the past hour we - well she - talked. If anything it only grew bigger. She was still talking but all I could think about was how pretty she was, and how badly I wanted to tell her, but then I'd realize she likes Boz and she's my only friend; so why would I risk it?

"Do you think we're ready to present?" She asked me with a nervous smile; maybe she didn't like getting up in front of the class. I'd offer to do all the presenting but well...yeah. I nodded my head and tried to look reassuring, but I don't think I did a very good job if the look on her face indicates anything.

"Well then," She began. "We have around 5 minutes left so what do you want to do?" She questions while rolling her pencil back and forth on the table. I turn the paper I had in front of me over and draw a Tic Tac Toe table before sliding the paper towards her.

"Good idea! Although I always lose." She frowned. Maybe I can make her feel better. I put an X in the top left corner and she put an O in the middle. I put another X in the top right corner and she put an O between the X's to block my win. I decided to put the X in the bottom left corner and she put an O next to it making it 3 for her.

"Finally!" She shouted; which drew some attention to us. "Whoops. Sorry guys!" She whispered then covered her mouth to muffle her laughing. Did I make her feel better? Mikayla turned to me and smiled one of her beautiful smiles; I guess I did.

The teacher clapped her hands together loudly. "Alright class! That's it for today, presentations are first thing tomorrow, good luck!" She finished just as the bell rang, and everyone got up to go home.

I started packing my things up as Mikayla did the same, we left the classroom together and walked to her locker. "Can I walk you home Brady?" Mikayla asked me hesitantly. I was about to nod but someone roughly pushed me into the locker; I don't think Mikayla saw who it was, but I caught a glimpse of ginger hair so I shook my head sadly.

"Oh. Ok. Maybe some other time?" Mikayla asked; her voice sounding hopeful. I nodded quickly before leaving the school and starting the long journey home.

Mikayla's Point of View (POV)

After school Boomer, Boz, and I all walked home together, only this time it was silent because Boz was angry about something and neither Boomer or I wanted to make him more angry. We reached the castle in about 10 minutes and I instantly ran into my dad's welcoming arms.

"How was school baby girl?" He asked while pinching my nose. I shoved his hand away playfully.

"Stop dad." I laughed. "It was awesome actually, I think Brady should be my new best friend. You remember Brady right? Anyways, he's really nice and funny and he never talks so I get to be the one talking all the time! Isn't that just the best!" I exclaimed while hugging my dad once more.

He looked at me sadly, put me down, and looked around quickly before whispering, "Mikayla. We've talked about this. Boz spoke to me recently and told me how you spend all your time with this strange boy now instead of him and his brother. It ends now." He commanded.

"But dad! Brady's the nicest person ever and I'm his only friend! Do you know how rude that is? I'll be his friend forever!" I screamed that last part loud enough that a few people turned our way. I don't know why he doesn't want me to be Brady's friend, Brady never did anything wrong.

"Mikayla. Do you love me and your mother?" His tone turned very serious as he lowered his voice. "Of course daddy. More than anything in the entire world." I replied softly.

"I've known the king and queen for a long time sweetie." He began. "And when your mother and I had nothing; not a place to sleep or food to eat, they offered us a home. Then when they discovered that your mother was having a girl, they asked us a favour; for you to marry their first born. I said yes because I wanted to make sure you grew up with everything you could ever want. Also, these people helped us at our darkest hour, and I had no other way to repay them. There are days I wish I had said no, so that when you're old enough you could choose, but then I look at you and Boz and I tell myself that you'll be happy. Because I know he loves you Mikayla." He finished sadly.

He never told me the whole story, just that I would have to marry Boz one day. Not having anywhere to sleep or anything to eat sounds really sad so I guess it kind of makes sense in a way, and I would do anything for my mom and dad to keep them happy. I just don't understand why I can't be friends with Brady, I'll still marry Boz when I'm old enough even if I don't want too.

"Then daddy, why can't I be friends with Brady?" I asked slowly. "Please baby girl, just trust me, I don't want this family to end up with nothing, and that's exactly what that strange boy wants; for you to have nothing. He doesn't want to be your friend, he wants to ruin everything for you. His parents Mikayla, they're the reason your mother and I had nothing," He lied. "They stole it all from us, and he's trying to do the same."

"You're happy with the life you have, correct?" He looked at me expectantly. Of course I am, so I nodded. "Then do as I say so that boy can't ruin everything and we can continue to have a happy life." He smiled when I nodded, then kissed my forehead gently before walking away.

Well, I am happy with my life, and I really don't want to make my dad or mom sad. Also, my dad's always right, so if he says that Brady's just tricking me so he can ruin my family I won't let him. I'm not going to let him ruin my life the way his parents ruined my dads life. I'll make sure my family will be happy forever.

What didn't cross her mind that day was that while she continued to be happy, someone somewhere not too far away, would continue falling apart after losing the last bit of happiness they held.

No POV, Just Third Person I Guess

The nightmares were minimal that night for one Brady Parker; when they did appear his mind would drift to Mikayla, which made everything else bearable. He got up with a small smile on his face that morning which remained as he prepared for school. It only disappeared when he walked by a photo of his parents on his way out.

He couldn't help but smile when he spotted Mikayla by her locker when he entered the school. She looked at him briefly so he waved shyly at her but she just turned away and began walking to class. Must've not seen me. Brady thought. The bell rang shortly after so he jogged to class and took his usual seat at the back.

Didn't Mikayla enter the classroom when I was in the hall, Brady wondered briefly before the teacher wrote the word presentations on the board. "Now class, because of a something that needs repairing in the other 3rd grade class, they will be joining us today and watching you present. So make room please." She finished as more students started entering the class. Brady moved his chair over so there was room for more people before frowning, he thought Mikayla would've been here by now.

He surveyed the classroom a few times before spotting her sitting next to Boz. 'Oh' he thought as he stared down at the desk. He kept his head down as the teacher drew names from a bag and people began presenting. After a few presentations he heard his name and Mikayla's being called. He took his paper and walked to the front of the class nervously.

"So for this group Mikayla will first read hers, than she'll read Brady's since his... throat is feeling sore today." Brady gave the teacher a grateful look before passing the paper over to Mikayla and giving her a small smile. She didn't glance at him once and he frowned again. I knew I'd mess up. After class I'll apologize and maybe she'll still want to be my friend, he concluded.

Mikayla cleared her throat before glancing at her paper briefly. "I learned pretty much nothing about this guy because he doesn't talk. His favourite colour is like blue or something and his favourite food is like broccoli, which by the way ew." Everyone laughed and Brady felt his face warm up. "He likes to read and blah blah blah. What I really learned is that this guy is a rude person who just wants to trick people so he can ruin their families. Hes a horrible person that doesn't even talk, so basically, he's a freak! And I don't ever want him to talk to me or my friends again because I don't want to get his freak germs."

At this point the entire class began laughing and chanting 'FREAK' over and over until Brady ran out of the classroom, followed by the teacher sending Mikayla to the office. Mikayla followed Brady to the front doors of the school.

"My dad told me everything. I can't believe I wanted to be your friend. Seriously just stay away from me Brady. No one likes you anyways so just leave my family alone freak." She stated coldly while Brady started to panic on the inside. 'She knows. Of course she hates me, who wouldn't after learning about what happened that day,' he thought sadly while watching Mikayla turn the corner leaving him and his thoughts alone.

After letting his feet take him home he went upstairs and sat at his desk for a minute before pulling his notebook out of his bag. He briefly remembered that Mikayla still had his paper and realized she would get really mad when she read that he thought she was the prettiest girl in the world.

Stupid, stupid, stupid. She's right. No one likes me, because I'm a freak and a horrible person. I know she's mad at me and I dont deserve to be her friend but if I stay away from her like she said, maybe one day she might want to be my friend again, he wondered though he strongly doubted it. He grabbed a pencil and opened his book to a new page.

Forgiveness

It should've been clear,
no one could love me dear
my hearts already been broken,
and my feelings, they shall forever remain unspoken
Love always comes at a cost,
I know without you, I'll be lost
you walked out that door
now every time I see you,
my heart breaks the littlest more
But darling no matter what you do,
It seems I'll always forgive you

Hi again. Sadly this chapter sucks because I initially wrote a better one that needed editing and such which I saved for another day. And when I go to open my files they're all gone. *Gasp* Ikr, so it sucked and I was like w/e and just tried my best. Remember to review, and if you don't agree with what's I wrote above, I'm so terribly sorry, but it's easier for me.