Chapter 13: Asking For Help.

Parakara was outside eating lunch with Bobert and Arias. Bobert was eating mini chicken sandwiches, with maple candy. Arias was eating a grilled cheese sandwich, with a chocolate drink. Parakara was eating a ham sandwich with carrot and celery sticks. Arias noticed how nervous Parakara seemed, and decided to ask; "Hey Parakara, what is wrong? Are you feeling sick?"

Parakara quickly looked up. "I'm not, why ask?"

"Well your feathers look kind of frazzled." Arias pointed out. Parakara looked at her wings and smoothed them out.

"It's just stuff don't worry." She reassured her.

"Well if you say so..." Arias replied, unconvinced.

"So...you met Parakara in math class?" Bobert asked.

"I did, we got along pretty well. She's really nice." Arias said, grinning.

"She like to draw. She has these dark and cute comics." Parakara added.

"Do you want to see them?" Arias asked.

"Maybe some other time." Bobert said nervously. Arias raised an eyebrow.

"What's wrong Bobert?" Arias asked.

"Nothing, I just don't want to intrude in her personal life." Bobert said nervously.

"They're just comic book drawings." Arias assured him.

"I know, but it still feels like prying." He lied.

"Bobert, relax, Arias wouldn't mind." Parakara said. Arias was quiet and took a bite of her sandwich. She had a feeling that Bobert didn't like her. She frowned sadly, but she decided to push those thoughts aside for later. She'll just talk to Parakara in Mr. Spinner's class about her feelings. Parakara tries to break the awkward silence. "By the way, I found a new poem."
Arias perked up slightly. She was always interested in poetry.

"Really?" She asked.

"Yup! It's called: "Love Is Like Sunlight" Love, like sunlight, brings warmth into our lives. It provides comfort, security, and a sense of well-being. Just as sunlight can brighten a cold day, love can bring warmth to our hearts and souls."

"It wouldn't bring comfort to mine. I'm a gloomba. I'm sensitive to sun." Arias said. Parakara gave her a sympathetic smile.

"It was a nice poem Kara." Bobert said.

"I'm happy that you liked it." Parakara said. The rest of lunch went by quietly. During swimming class Parakara was surprised that Toaderiel was sitting next to her and not Katrina. Toaderiel gave her a smile.

"Hi Parakara." The toad said.

"Hi Toaderiel." Parakara said, smiling.

"How are you doing today?" She inquired.

Parakara smiled shyly and said, "I'm fine, thanks. Not going to sit with Katrina today?"

"No, and I don't think I ever will."

"Good."

"So where do you sit now during lunch?"

"Well I used to sit with Katrina and her friends, but now I eat in Mr. Spinner's class. He's nice. I wonder why he went to the nurse's office." Toaderiel said.

"Maybe he's ill."

"He seemed fine when I had him for class."

"Hmm...maybe he fell and hit his head or something."

Coach Yoshea then blew on the whistle. It was time to swim. The girls get into the water. They swam for a little bit talking, joking and laughing. Parakara then felt a ball hit the back of her head. She turned to see Katrina and her friends laughing. Coach Yoshea blew on the whistle and shook her scaly finger the girls who threw the ball.

"Just ignore them Kara." Toaderiel said.

"I know." Parakara said. The toad and the paratroopa began to race each other in the pool. They laughed and played; they hit each other with pool noodles, and they played catch. The girls had fun swimming and playing together. When class was over the students when to the locker room to change. Parakara put on her uniform after she showered and dried off. At theater class Parakara sat next to Arias. The gloomba was drawing again. Her fingers danced across the page. Parakara looked over her shoulder and saw that she was drawing A paratroopa and a gloomba.

"Is that supposed to be us?" Parakara questioned. Arias nodded smiling.

"That is really good Ari." Parakara complimented. Arias blushed lightly.

"Thanks...Kara?" She asked.

"I..."

"GET UP! THERE'S A HUGE FIRE!" Mr. Spinner yelled as he came in the classroom. The students screamed as they quickly got up. The teacher laughed and clapped. "Kidding! I'm kidding! Just wanted to get your blood pumping, which I did! Don't you feel the power of adrenaline rushing through you?" The students looked relieved while some of them looked confused. Parakara and Arias sat down feeling jittery. Their hearts still racing. Bobert felt relieved that there wasn't a fire. But still felt on edge, unsure what the teacher will do next.

"As you know the school play is coming up soon and the principal wants everyone on stage at 8 pm sharp. We all need to learn lines and memorize lines by tonight. Now please go to your seats and read the lines in your script." Mr. Spinner instructed. Parakara opens up her script, she was playing a villainess, and starts reading the lines. Arias looked at her script, she was playing the heroine. Bobert read his script his role was a pirate.

"Ever wonder why you got the hero and I got the villain?" Parakara said quietly to Arias. Arias nodded.

"To tell you the truth, I wanted to be the witch. Being a princess isn't fun. When I was little, I was a witch for nearly every Halloween. I was a vampire princess one time but that's different from being an ordinary princess. I was also a mummy queen. What about you?"

"I was like most girls. I was a princess nearly every year. I didn't wear the scary stuff until later. One time I was scared to go in a haunted house and my mom kept convincing me to go." Parakara said.

"I hate haunted house attractions. I heard stories about people dying in those." Arias said.

"Me too."

Mr. Spinner walked up from behind the two girls. "I'm going to guess you know your lines?" The two girls jumped in surprise.

"Yes sir." They answered.

"Alright. You guys start."

The two girls started acting and reading their lines. Mr. Spinner nods.

"Good. I still want to see less talking though." The teacher walked away.

"He's such a jerk when it comes to school plays..." Arias commented, glaring at where he left.

"Well, sometimes, teachers can be good guys and bad guys at the same time." Parakara remarked. The bell rang signaling that classes were over. Arias and Parakara put their scripts away and stood up. Parakara was about to leave until a ball barely missed her and hit a wall. Parakara turned around and faced Mr. Spinner. "What was that for?" She asked the teacher.

"We need to talk." Mr. Spinner said.

"And "Parakara, I need to talk to you," couldn't work?"

"It could. But I like doing things out of the ordinary. Now let's talk."

Parakara takes a chair and sits by the teacher's desk. Mr. Spinner sits down. The teacher smelled like a mix of mint and some sort of cheap off brand cologne. Up close Parakara could really see the colorful designs on his vibrant green suit.

"Did you ever talk to the counselor about your problem?" Mr. Spinner questioned.

"What problem?" Parakara asked.

"Don't play coy." He says sternly.

"I haven't talked to the counselor about it at all." Parakara responded.

"Not even once?"

"Why would I need to? I told you it wasn't a problem, sir."

"Okay Parakara. If it wasn't a problem, why would you ask me about reporting something bad?"

"Oh that."

"Yeah. That." Mr. Spinner says. He crosses his arms and leans forward on his desk. "You seem troubled." Parakara was quiet.

"I am troubled." She finally says.

"What's causing these troubling thoughts? You can confide in me, you know that right?" Mr. Spinner asked.

"I suppose there is one thing, but it's nothing serious."

"Then I suggest you tell me what it is. Are there any problems you're dealing with at school? Family?" Mr. Spinner suggested.

"There is something wrong with Arias." Parakara says, looking directly in his red eyes.

Mr. Spinner looks at her surprised and asked, "What about Arias?"

"Arias. Arias is...she's being abused. One time she told me that her mom's boyfriends touches her." Parakara said. There is a pause.

"She said that to you?" Mr. Spinner finally said.

"Yes...she told me not to tell...she's afraid. Afraid of what will happen to her." Parakara replied sadly.

"I see." Mr. Spinner replies. There is another silence. Parakara looks nervously at the floor. Parakara said quietly. "Why didn't you tell me this earlier?" He asks.

"I didn't want to lose her. She means so much to me...she's one of the few friends I made in this school..." Parakara grabbed a few tissues from a box on his desk and wiped her face.

"Do you like Arias?"

Parakara looks at the teacher. He stares at her intensely with curiosity. His red eyes are burning holes into her blue ones. Parakara gulps. "...I love her." She says quietly to Mr. Spinner.

"If I may, I will speak with her."

"Really?" Parakara asked.

"Of course. But if she doesn't want to see me I will respect her wishes."

"Will she get mad at me?" Parakara asked.

"She probably will." The teacher said. Parakara cried more. Mr. Spinner stood up from his desk and went toward Parakara.

"Shh...it's ok." Mr. Spinner said putting his hand on her back and rubbing it. Parakara leaned against his chest and sobbed softly. "I've been there before Parakara. She might get angry with you. You may not be friends for a while. But sooner or later she's going to realize that you did it because you cared about her, and maybe you'll have a chance to be friends again. Plus who knows? Maybe she won't get mad at you. " He said reassuringly.

"But what if she never wants to see me again?" Parakara sniffled.

"Don't think like that. Let's not worry about anything yet, alright? You're doing the right thing Parakara. You're looking out for Arias. That's the kind heart of a friend." Mr. Spinner tells her. Parakara gets another tissue and blew her nose. Mr. Spinner hugs her tightly. Parakara wrapped her small arms around him pulling him closer, tears pouring down her cheeks as sobs rack through her tiny frame. The two stand like that for awhile. Finally pulling away from the hug. Mr. Spinner smiles at her kindly and pats her head.

"What's going to happen to her?" Parakara asked.

"I'll see if I can speak with her. If not, I'll take it to the school counselor, and there might be an investigation. Your friend is safe and sound now. Nothing will hurt her. Okay?" He reassures. Parakara nods in response. "How about you go home and rest? I'll have the principal excuse your absences."

"...okay." Parakara says, wiping the remaining tears from her face. "Thank you for listening to me, sir." She said softly.

"Of course. Now go and relax. You'll feel better tomorrow. We'll talk about this tomorrow after class."

"Sir? Why were you in the nurse's office?"

"She did lab work on me. She wanted to study me because not much is known about spinias." Mr. Spinner explained.

"Really? That's strange." Parakara said.

"Well we're a strange species. Want me to walk you out?"

"I'd like that." Parakara smiled softly at him.

Once they reached her locker Parakara opened it up and took out her book bag that she had brought along. She picked up her school books and began taking them out. While she was packing the books the note that was left for her fell out. If she went home now she won't get to know who left her this note. Perhaps it was better if she didn't know. She shoved the note into her book bag.

"Ready?" Mr. Spinner asked. "Parakara nodded. As they got out of the school, Parakara gave Mr. Spinner one final hug before flying home. At home Parakara flew up to her room, placed her backpack down, and laid on the bed crying. Sugar jumped on the bed and started licking her cheeks. Parakara giggled slightly and rubbed the chain chomp. After calming down, she got off the bed and pulled out her phone. She typed the message to her best friend: "I'm sorry, Arias. I had to. Please don't hate me."