@Flightless_Soul

Natalia's sincere concern for her friend did not away after seeing Harley's smile and especially after hearing her shaky voice, on the contrary, she worried even more.

"Ahhh...it was her mom", thought the petite girl to herself. Maybe the cowgirl missed her home and her family...still, the blue-eyed girl could not shake away the feeling that there was something more that was upsetting her friend.

"Thank you", said the blonde-haired girl gently removing the camera from Harley's hands and putting it back in her locker.

Closing the narrow compartment in front of her, Natalia turned around to face the cowgirl. "Harley...I don't think you are really okay". Her tone was kind and soft. "But I will patiently wait until you feel comfortable enough to talk about it." She leaned over and gave her friend a warm hug.

She unwrapped her arms and mentioned. "Come on! Let's go to the Chemistry Lab!" A sweet smile appeared on her visage.

---

Sitting on the floor next to Helena, Amelia paused for a moment before saying, "Yeah...I also hate when people take my stuff without asking." She had clearly heard the word "stash" coming out of Helena's mouth but decided to simply ignore it.

She looked at the red-haired girl sitting beside her. "Regarding...Maddy..." A loving expression showed on her face. "She is my best friend."

@Luna Amore

Boy, did she ever need that hug from Natalia.

No, Harley wasn't comfortable yet to talk about it, and she may never be. Jack, he was more than her big brother. He was her best friend. The two were inseperable as children, even as they grew into their teens, always racing each other on their horses or staying up late playing videogames and watching movies. He was there to protect her whenever bullies picked on her at school or to tell a stupid joke to make her laugh.

Just like her mom, she wished he didn't go into the Marines, but it's what he loved, and she couldn't deny him that. But still...she was afraid something like this would happen to him.

With a sigh, she smiled, her voice a frail whisper.

"Thanks...Natalia." Even if things were grim for her, at least Nat would be there to cheer her up.

She followed her friend into the chemistry lab and sat beside her.

Come on, Harley. Cowgirl up. Jack wouldn't want you ballin' your eyes out here. This is supposed to be a special day for you! I mean, you just met the sweetest girl ever, and your photography teacher's such a cool guy! You should be happy today, girl! So c'mon! Be happy!

---

"Pft! Yeah. Your best friend..." Helena spoke bitterly in reply. Like Madison would ever have a best friend when she was too busy fucking anyone and anything within a square mile of her, including Helena's own best friend. Fuck it though, who needed friends if they were gonna stab you in the back one day? Not Helena. Sure, she had her group she liked to party with and get high, but that was it. Nothing more.

"That's some friend you got, Amelia, leaving you all alone for a piece of ass, but fuck it. What do I know? I'm just a lonely stoner who prefers to be alone. Admittedly though...I do feel sorry for you. I guess you were crying your eyes out because of her, right?"

@Flightless_Soul

Walking into the chemistry lab, Natalia was surprised to see that the room was half empty. A lab that could easily hold twenty students had only eight students inside of it. Two of them being Natalia and Harley.

"Where are the rest of the students?", asked the petite girl to herself as she walked towards one of the workstations in the lab. Placing her white handbag on the table, she quietly sat down and waited for the teacher to come into the room.

"Only eight students and the teacher is not here yet...", the petite girl pondered with concern. However, Natalia's worry did not last long.

"Good morning, students!". A tall and slender woman entered the room, closing and locking the door behind her. "I am Ms. Kaori Maeda and I will be your Chemistry teacher during this school year".

---

Amelia listened to Helena's words with attention. She could perceive a trace of resentment in the red-haired girl's voice.

Looking at the row of lockers in front of her, the black-haired girl took a deep breath before expressing, "Madison was not always as she is now..." She was about to say something more about the pink-haired girl but she refrained from doing so.

"About Jason..." Her tone of voice became less nostalgic and more thankful. "He makes Maddy happy...so I am glad he is in her life. "

Turning her gaze to the girl sitting next to her, she continued with a low voice, "I was crying...you are right. I did something that made Maddy upset." She pointed to herself. "But it was my fault! Mmm... Maddy had all the reason for getting mad at me."

It was weird, the green-eyed girl knew that if Madison were to see her talking with Helena she would break up their friendship at that very moment. But, she could not bring herself to stop talking to the skater girl. In fact, she was glad that she got the chance to talk to her.

Returning her gaze to the lockers, Amelia asked unsurely and timidly. "Mmmm...mmm...I know you said that you are loner...mmm...mmm...but isn't Jason your friend?"

@Luna Amore

It wasn't much the fact that there was less than eight people in the class, but that they all looked so smart compared to the cowgirl, like a bunch of real scientists in their white coats, and here she was in her usual getup.

Harley looked around anxiously, letting out a small whistle. "Dang. Sure looks like a ghost town in here. Guess not alot of people like this science stuff. Guess cause its either too hard for them or they think science is for nerds." Suddenly, her face went red as a cherry, realizing her faux pa. "Aww crap! I did not just say that out loud!" Quickly she ducked her head down covering her face with her hat. Maybe no one caught it...maybe.

As soon as the teacher walked in, Harley slowly moved her hat down from her face. She was quite surprised. Wow! She looks like a movie star! Here I was thinkin' we were gonna get some ugly, Einstein lookin' dude!

She looked over to Natalia with a sheepish grin, whispering, "So...you know alot about this science stuff, right? Do the teachers always look like runway models?"

---

m.youtube.com/watch?v=EJU4XI5HMak

"Friend... yeah...once... I don't really care much about him anymore. Besides, he's too wrapped up in Madison, so why give a fuck?"

Helena could feel it...welling within her heart and swirling about like a big black tornado. She clenched her fists, shaking in a cold, almost deafening silence, as if the entire world around her was fading out of earshot, including Amelia.



Jason and I...we were thick as thieves when we were kids. We did everything together, playing cops and robbers, building a fort in my backyard... I never had a more true friend than him... He was...hell...he was like my brother...



Then everything changed when he met her...her...that fucking succubus! Suddenly, he quit hanging out with me. He didn't call or text me anymore. He was too busy with her...hmph...too busy fucking her, he and his fucking basketball bros! He never had time anymore for Helena! She wasn't part of the popular crowd!



And then mom died... Where was he, huh? Where was he when I fucking needed him? Why wasn't he there...when I was standing beside my mom's casket...literally falling to pieces? He didn't care that I was alone now...that I lost everything... No, he had her that day!



I...fucking...hate him! More than I hate her! He could have saved me, dammit! He could have been there the moment my life went to total shit, but no! He let me fucking drown in a sea of my own misery! If I could, I would grab him by his fucking throat and choke the life out of him! How could he fucking do this to me?! He left me, dammit! He fucking left me!
Fuck him! FUCK EVERYONE!

FUCK EVERYONE!

The scream echoed in her mind...and the tears began to flow. She wiped them away on the sleeve of her jacket and staggered to her feet grabbing her board.

"Hey...I think I'm gonna go home..." She said to Amelia; her tone was hoarse and quiet. "I'm...not feeling too good, but hey um...thanks for chatting with me I guess. If you ever wanna, ya know, hang, hit me up some time. I won't tell your friend, trust me." Giving a small salute, she hopped on her board and skated away.

@Flightless_Soul

Natalia chuckled after hearing Harley's reason for the room being so empty. One of the reasons why the petite girl liked Harley was the brown-haired girl's frankness.

Not able to contain the laughter anymore upon hearing the cowgirl comparing Ms. Maeda to a runway model, the blonde-haired girl giggled softly. Stopping her laugh, Natalia explained under her breath. "She is very pretty but she is also very smart. From what I read in her resume, she has a Ph.D. in Chemistry and Chemistry Biology from Harvard University. Moreover, she was the student with the highest ranking among her graduating class!"

As Ms. Maeda was about to walk away from the door, an almost inaudible raspy voice was heard. "Ms. Maeda, please let me in". Through the classroom door window, a black-haired boy wearing glasses and a scarf around his neck could be seen. "I was in the infirmary taking some medicine to help me with my cold."



Not turning back to look at the poor student, the teacher continued walking towards her desk. In a firm and serious voice, the instructor expressed. "I am sorry, Mr. Williams but you know the rules of my classroom. Five minutes early is on time. On time is late. Late is unacceptable." Stopping halfway, the black-haired woman looked up at the clock above the whiteboard. It was 9:0 a.m. "And you sir, you are late."

At this elite High School electives courses lasted forty-five minutes, whereas required courses lasted ninety minutes. The first period was always an elective course and it started at 8:00 a.m. which meant students had fifteen minutes between the first and second period.

Knowing that Ms. Maeda would not allow him into the room, Samuel Williams turned around and began walking away from the chemistry lab.

---

Amelia listened with sincere interest to Helena's reply. Even though the red-haired girl had said she did not care about Jason anymore, the green-eyed girl thought otherwise. Maybe she was wrong, but judging by Helena's reaction, Amelia had the feeling that the skater girl cared about the basketball boy waaaay more than she wanted to admit.

As the black-haired girl watched Helena skating away, she said with a kind expression on her visage. "Take care! I enjoyed talking to you as well."

Sauntering towards her locker, Amelia realized how wrong she had been about Helena. From what Madison had told her and from what little she had seen of the skater girl's behavior at school, she had always thought of Helena as a crazy stoner who dislike everyone and who only cared about making money selling drugs. Talking to Helena was shown Amelia that there was more to red-haired girl than what met the eye.

"I hope I can talk to her again soon...", wished the glasses-wearing girl to herself.

@Luna Amore

Harley frowned slightly. This teacher might be pretty looking, and downright smart as a whip from what Natalia told her, but even if the boy was "late", it was just mean to lock him out. Even the many times Harley was late to classes at Celina ISD, the teachers didn't lock her out of the room or give her the cold shoulder. Plus it wasn't like the boy was being late on purpose. He had a cold for Christ's sake!

Harley wasn't gonna let it stand. She couldn't believe what she was doing, but it seemed the right thing to do. "Uhh...Ma'am?" She mumbled raising her hand. "I...I know it probably ain't my place to speak, but don't y'all reckon y'all should let that boy in here? I mean,
I know he was late and all, but it ain't his fault he's got the sniffles. Shouldn't you be just a teensy bit considerate of your students? I mean not all of us are perfect little peaches." She ended with a nervous grin, pretty much expecting this woman to give her one hell of a tongue lashing.

Aaaand I'm probably gonna get my ass whuped for this! So much for keepin' a clean record.

---

Dead leaves crunched and cracked under the wheels of Helena's board as she skated down the sidewalk to her home, a quaint little housing project in the lower district of the city. It was a fairly decent neighborhood with the occasional break-in or civil dispute. Not a demilitarized zone like where most of her skater friends hung out. Sometimes you'd see a cop car blazing by with lights and sirens, but they were mostly going to where the real shit was.

Skating up to her home, she noticed the blonde woman walking out the front door after giving her dad a kiss on the cheek.



"Hi Helena. How was school today?" The woman gave her a bright smile.

"Fine, Shawna. Just fine..." Helena answered with an indifferent look towards her then up to her dad on the steps.



Her dad's smile turned sour towards her as he sighed and went in the house. Helena rolled her eyes, watching the door shut before climbing the steps and slinging the door open.

Home sweet Hell... She thought to herself trudging into her house. Her dad was already at the kitchen table, one hand grasping a shot of Jack D. while the other had his face buried in it. He looked up at Helena leaning in the doorway, scowling at her.

"What are you doing here?" He asked with a harsh, low tone to his voice. "You're supposed to be at school."

"I'm sick. What?" Helena answered bluntly ambling over to the fridge and grabbing a soda. Her father sighed throwing back his shot and slamming his glass on the table.

He stood up, grumbling, "I'm getting really tired of your attitude, Helena. For the sixth week in a row, you've skipped school.
Your principal called and said your grades were slipping. He's considering expelling you."

"Really? Great." Helena returned bitterly. She drunk down the last of her soda, crushing the can in her hand and turning to her dad with a glare. "By the way, what the fuck is she doing here, huh?"

Her dad sighed gruffly, "Didn't I tell you? Shawna's moving in to help us while I look for a job. I told her she didn't have to, but-"

"She's what?!" Helena nearly spit soda everywhere, choking down her last swallow with a coughing fit. "Oh that's real fuckin' sweet of you, daddy! Fuck the rich lawyer then mooch off of her!" She got up in her dad's face snarling. "Mom must be real fucking happy you've already replaced her when she's only been in the ground for two fucking months!"

"We are NOT mooching off of her, alright?!" Her dad yelled red in the face. "And she is not replacing your mother!
And furthermore, you will respect her and you will respect me! Understand?"

"Respect you?!" Helena fired back seething with anger. "I'll start respecting you when you get off your lazy fucking ass and stop getting drunk all fucking day long!" She turned to walk away upstairs to her room

Her dad stormed after her, his raucous voice pretty much rattling the walls,
"Well it can't be any fucking worse than what you're doing up there in your bedroom! I know you're up there smoking pot! I oughta call the cops on you, bringing drugs into my house!"

"Then fucking do it, bitch!" Helena whirled around snapping at him. "Maybe they'll gun me down in the fucking street so you don't have to bother with me anymore! You know what, fuck you!" She whirled back around stomping up the steps.

"Helena!"

She slammed the door in his face and locked it. Her father, he was about to kick the door right off its hinges, but instead he sighed deeply and went back downstairs, falling into the living room couch with his head in his hands. With tired, bloodshot eyes, he lifted his face to the picture above the tv, the picture of his late wife and Helena's mother, a beautiful woman with flowing red hair...who was taken from him far too soon.



As he looked at her picture, tears welled in his eyes. He buried his face in his hands, sobbing.

"What happened to her, Juliette? What happened...to our little girl?"

Beside the photo of Juliette, there was one of Helena. She had to have been around six or seven years old.

---

m.youtube.com/watch?v=L6i38RH-FJI

In her room, Helena fell into her bed after putting on some music. She reached under and pulled out a plastic ashtray with a few rolled up joints in it. Taking one, she clenched it between her lips and lit it, taking a slow drag and exhaling a thick, white cloud of smoke into the cold, dead air of her room.

Already, the drug took its effect on her. She was feeling pretty mellow despite yelling at her dad a few minutes ago. She continued to smoke and stared aimlessly up at her bedroom ceiling plastered with posters punk bands, horror movies, and a few crude drawings of hers, a dull, almost lifeless expression on her face...as she tuned in and dropped out.

@Flightless_Soul

Kaori Maeda shifted her gaze from the clock on the wall to the student who had spoken without her permission. Her expression was a calm yet serious one.

Even though Kaori was an extremely strict teacher and demanded just the very best from her students, she was also a very dedicated and devoted educator. Before teaching the first class of the new school year, Ms. Maeda always tried to gather and learn as much information as she could about her new students. She wished for every student in her class to excel in Chemistry and she wanted to assist them to the best of her capabilities.

"You must be Ms. Harley Witfield." She paused for a moment before continuing. "You just transferred from Celina ISD in Texas."

Ms. Maeda briefly looked at the door. Returning her eyes to her students, particularly to Harley she explained with a stern yet kind voice. "You probably didn't notice from where you are sitting but on my way here, I saw Mr. Williams before he went to the infirmary and I could easily notice that he was running a fever. That meant that his cold was not getting better but that was getting worse."

The attractive educator took a deep breath and turned her head slightly to the right. "Mr. Williams needs to go home and rest, so he can properly recover from his cold and to avoid transmitting the infection to other students."

Kaori began walking to Harley and Natalia's workstation. "Now, Ms. Witfield...according to your opinion...which one is more considerate...allowing a sick student who can barely walk because of a high fever into my classroom and at the same time putting the health of my other students at risk..."

Stopping next to the cowgirl, she ended her question. "Or allowing the sick student to go home and rest?"

With an air of someone who knew that it would happen for sure, the instructor proceeded. "Because Ms. Witfield, I can assure you that Nurse Allie already called Mr. Williams' parents to ask them to take him back home...and one more thing..."

Her tone became more profound and severe. "I don't expect my students to be perfect little peaches...Perfection Does Not Exist...but I do ask from every one of my students to give their very best in my class."

Meanwhile outside of the Chemistry Lab, Samuel Williams literally stumbled upon a familiar face.

"Amelia...", said the black-haired voice with a faint voice as he walked unsteadily towards his cousin.

Immediately after seeing the boy almost falling to the ground, the green-eyed girl rushed to rescue the fragile boy.

@Luna Amore

Maybe next time she decided to speak out against a teacher, she'll make sure to choose her words more carefully....that or have Natalia duct tape her big mouth shut before Harley decided to make a complete fool of herself.

With every word of Miss Maede thrown back at her, Harley sunk lower and lower into her chair as pale as a ghost and drenched in sweat like she had just run a marathon. Oh man, she must have definitely looked like an idiot in front of everyone, even the cute blonde beside her.

Quivering in absolute embarassment and dumbfoundness at the end of her tongue lashing, the cowgirl uttered quietly a solitary, "Uuuhmm....y-yes ma'am. Sorry 'bout that." and averted her eyes down at the desk.

Harley Jane Whitfield, you officially have gone from class hero to class zero! Ugh! What the hell was I thinkin' goin' toe to toe with Miss Braniac here?! She's downright scary too! Kinda like if Walter White and O-ren Ishii had a baby!

---

Not long after, Mr. Felton has returned to school and was walking down the hall to his classroom. Thankfully, the checkup at the doctor's office had gone well, and everything was okay with his wife and their son soon to be born. The movers were almost done moving their furniture from Seattle all the way to New York aa well. Thankfully nothing was broken either. He was strolling down the hall blissfully, humming a tune by The Strokes, when he noticed the sickly looking boy and his sister in the hallway. Odd, seeing how everyone should be in class. With a concerned and considerate smile, he approached them. "Sam, Amelia. What are you two doing out of class? Is everything okay?" The kid looked like he was burning up and should've been home in bed.

---

m.youtube.com/watch?v=K_PQ4fRQ5Kc

She must've passed out or something, as she tended to do after a good high. Helena awoke still lying on her bed, still dressed in her clothes from the day before, the same ratty T-shirt and leather jacket. The joint she had smoked was still clenched between her fingers but no longer burned, neither did her room snell like cheap marijuana. In fact, it smelled like...bacon? And...pancakes?

Dad? Fuck...lazy ass can barely cook ramen, and I doubt step-bitch would cook him a nice, wholesome breakfast. So who was cooking downstairs? And also... who was playing music downstairs? Helena got up out of her bed, listening closely.

Fleetwood Mac? This...this was mom's favorite song? How fucking high am I?

And then...she heard the woman singing along...

No, it couldn't have been real, she thought. She had to have still been baked out of her mind. Throwing her beanie over her messy red hair, she slowly crept into the hall and tiptoed downstairs. Something was definitely fucked up with her she assumed, but upon reaching the kitchen...





There she was...standing at the stove cooking breakfast, wearing that tacky floral apron of hers.

Mom...?

Helena's heart felt like it stopped and the world paused with it. Her mouth hung agape, barely uttering a word. She could feel the warmth of tears in her eyes, but quickly ahe wiped them away, snapping out of her trance.

No... It's not real, Helena. It's just a dream...

"Honey? Is that you?" Her mother turned around, holding in her hand a sizzling pan of bacon. The smell, it was so intoxicating to Helena. She couldn't remember when was the last time her mom ever cooked for her and her dad. She smiled warmly to Helena, like a ray of pure sunshine. "Oh, there you are sleepyhead! Come on, your breakfast is getting cold."

Helena hesitated for a moment, then slowly she made her way into the kitchen, sitting down at the small table. She looked around while her mother continued cooking breakfast and singing to herself.

What the fuck is going on? There's like...no alcohol anywhere! And the kitchen's the cleanest I've ever seen! It's like dad never even touched the bottle!

"Hey...mom?" Helena stammered. "Where's dad?"

"Hmm?" Her mother replied slipping a few pieces of bacon onto a plate of warm, fluffy butter pecan pancakes. "Oh! He had to leave out on a call early this morning. Something about a fire over on Henderson Street. I hope everything's okay."

Helena went white. Dad still has his job at the fire station? Fuck...it is a dream...

Her lips contorted downward into a frown, her eyes dull and heavy. She sighed, lowering her head to the table as her mother walked over with her breakfast.

"Your favorite." She said with a grin setting the plate down gently in front of Helena. Then her mother sat across from her, pouring herself a cup of tea. "Remember when you were little and you always helped me make breakfast for daddy in the morning? You always wanted to make the pancakes, but you could never get the shape right."

"Y-yeah..." Helena replied in a sad whisper. "Damn things always kept sticking to the pan... You had to help me scrape 'em off..."

"Helena?" Her mother frowned. "Sweetie, what's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost."

A ghost... Yeah, she did. Helena looked up at her mother, meeting those soft blue eyes with her dark brown on the verge of tears.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=sf6mkYz4mx0

"You...you are a ghost..." Said Helena. "You're not real... It's just a dream...
I'll wake up, and...everything will still be the same...
You'll be dead, and...I'll be alone...Just like always..." She shoved the plate aside, burying her face into the table. Tears streamed down her face, soaking into the wood.

Her mother stood and walked over to her, sadness in her eyes as she saw her daughter falling to pieces before her. She pulled Helena up from the table and wrapped her in a hug. Helena's face was now buried in her shoulder as her baby girl wept.

"Helena..." Her voice was sweet and quiet. "You will never be alone, honey. Even though I'm gone, I'm still watching over you always. I wish I could be here for you now, because I know how much it hurts."

"I hate it, mom!" Helena's voice was muffled somewhat by her mother's shoulder. "I hate it so fucking much! I wish you were here! My life...it's just... I wish I wouldn't wake up! I wish I would just stay here with you! Where everything isn't so fucked up!"

"But sweetie," Her mother said lifting Helena's head up. "I'm sorry, but you can't.
Believe it or not, there are people out there who still need you. Your father for instance. Don't be mad at him. I know he's...not who he used to be, but you have to realize he's hurting just like you, and though you may fight like cats and dogs now, he still loves you, Helena."

"Yeah...I guess." Helena sniffled.

Her mother smiled. "Oh, and what about that little girl you were talking with in the hallway at school?"

"Amelia?" Said Helena. "What about her?"

"Don't you think she could use a friend?" Her mother asked sincerely

"Y-yeah, but..." Helena muttered. "She's already got one, and she's a total bitch."

"Well, why don't you be her friend too?" Her mother suggested with a soft grin. "She could use a friend like you."

"Pft! Yeah, whatever." Helena let out a small snicker. "A druggie with anger issues.
Perfect friend material."

"But you're more than that, Helena." Her mother replied. "I know deep down, somewhere beneath all the...well...scary clothes and music..." She paused for a brief chuckle. "There's still that sweet little girl who would be anyone's friend. I know the real you, Helena. The real you...that never went away."

"Mom..." Helena slipped from her mother's arms. Slowly her mother began to fade from her vision along with the kitchen and everything else.

She awoke hours later still in her messy bed, her stereo still on full blast, and a lit joint still smouldering between her fingers...and her room smelling of dirty laundry and cheap dope.

It was back to reality for Helena, unfortunately.

The "real" me... What the hell does she mean?

@Flightless_Soul

After hearing Harley's apology, Ms. Maeda returned to the front of the room. She looked at the teenagers before her with a serious yet kind expression on her face.

"It is not wrong to express your observations..." Looking at Harley, she continued. "Like Ms. Witfield did a moment ago". Kaori turned around and wrote two words in capital letters on the whiteboard...EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE.

"However, before you share them with the rest of the world, be sure that you verify your observations...rather than going by theory or pure logic."

She sat on her desk and crossed her legs in a very lady-like way. "Chemistry is a natural science. It deals with the description, prediction, and understanding of natural phenomena. But all this is based on empirical evidence, evidence that is verified by accurate observation or experimentation."

Kaori gave a small and gentle jump and returned to a standing position. She looked at her students and explained. "Ms. Witfield and I both observe the same phenomenon, Mr. Williams looking sick. Both of us expressed our observations." Placing her gaze on the petite girl sitting next to Harley, the teacher asked. "Ms. Saint Claire...which observation do you think was based on empirical evidence...Ms. Witfield or mine?"

"I am sorry Harley", said Natalia in a very low voice before responding to her instructor's question. "Yours, Ms. Maeda." The blond girl paused for a moment before continuing in a clear and secure voice.

"Before coming into the classroom you saw Mr. Williams in the hall and noticed he was sick. His flushing face showed you that he was running a fever and him going to the infirmary before coming to class showed you he was not feeling any better, in fact, he was feeling worse, which meant his fever was high. His tone of voice and way of speaking when he was standing outside the lab also denoted he was not feeling well at all."

She stopped as she analyzed and gathered her thoughts. "You were very sure Nurse Allie already called Mr. Williams' parents...so that meant you also talked to the school nurse before coming to class and asked her how was Mr. Williams and it was then the nurse confirmed your observations. Mr. Williams was very sick and he needed to go home and rest. Your observations were confirmed and verified."

With an apologetic look, the blue-eyed girl turned her gaze towards her friend. "Harley's observations were based on pure logic and were not verified."

"Excellent answer, Ms. Saint Claire", said the black-haired woman in a stern tone. "Now please take out your books and open them on page six."

hr

"Hello, Mr. *Felton", said Amelia using all of her strength to prevent the unconscious boy from falling to the ground. "A little help here with my cousin will be greatly appreciated."

@Luna Amore

m.youtube.com/watch?v=luM6oeCM7Yw

Though yes, it did amaze her how smart Natalia was, it just rubbed salt in Harley's already open wound of embarassment to be thrown under the bus like that. Nevertheless, she let it go, despite her damaged pride at the moment, and sighed. Man, did this class ever go south for her after she opened her big mouth.

As instructed, she took out her textbook and opened it to page six. All the while, she was wondering what other trouble she might get into with Miss Maeda. Hopefully none if Harley made sure to just keep her opinions to herself. Looking at Natalia, she gave the blonde a bummed expression, muttering quietly, "Really girl? Did ya have to make me look like more of an ass?"

---

Oh duh! They were cousins, he thought, not brother and sister. Showed how much he paid attention to his new students. Hurrying over, Mr. Felton helped her carry Samuel to his feet. His brow furrowed as he could literally feel the boy's heat like a furnace emanating off him. "Good lord, Sam! You should be in bed by now! I don't know how you made it through school with this high a fever. Amelia, has he been to the nurse's office yet? Has anyone called his parents?" He hated to grill Amelia with so many questions, but poor Sam had no business being here this ill.

---

Her dad was already passed out on the living room couch when Helena finally decided to go downstairs and return to school. Not that she cared about her grades or anything, but it was...somewhat better for her to get away before she and her dad got in another fight. He was sprawled out, a half empty bottle of whiskey clutched in his hand, the tv remote in the other. Helena grimaced at the pitiful bastard, not saying a word as she turned and left the house.

As she skated down the sidewalk, she began to think about her dream she had a few moments ago. Her mom...what did she mean by the "real her"? If you would ask Helena, she would tell you she's always been this way, a loner who wouldn't take shit from anyone, but....perhaps it was just another stoner dream. She was about a few blocks now from the school. That's when her phone buzzed in her pocket. She stopped her board skidding to a halt and read the text.

The text...from her boss.

<<From Darren at: 10:45 AM EST>>
"Yo bitch! I ain't fucking around here! I want my fucking money TODAY!"

Helena sighed gruffly, typing a reply and shoving her phone into her pocket.

<<Sent to Darren at: 10:46 AM EST>>
"Chill brah! You'll get your money after school! Okay?"

She hopped on her board and started off again, but once more her phone buzzed.

"Ugh! Fuck man!" Helena grumbled, once again reading Darren's text.

<<From Darren at: 10:46 AM EST>>
"I want it NOW bitch! I'll be in the parking lot. You better have all of it!"

Darren's at Eastwood?! Helena shuddered a little gazing at her phone with apprehension. What the fuck is he doing there?! He's gotta be tripping balls, Helena! Dude better not make a scene or we're both fucked!

Her hand shook as she slipped her phone back in her pocket, pausing a moment to take a deep breath and compose herself.

If Darren was willing to go to her school to get his money, then he was dead serious.

@Flightless_Soul

As Natalia opened her textbook on the page indicated by Ms. Maeda, she heard Harley's question. Turning her head towards the cowgirl, the blond-haired girl said in a low and sincere voice. "More of an ..." A genuinely concerned expression began to appear on her visage.

"I said I was sorry before answering Ms. Maeda's question...I thought you heard me. She asked me a question and I answered." The petite girl paused for a moment before continuing with her reply. "I did my best to only focus on Ms. Maeda's observations...and I tried mentioning you as little as possible."

Natalia could not believe Harley would think that she answered the question with the intention of embarrassing her more. Letting out a deep sigh, the blue-eyed girl proceeded. "I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings, I did not do it on purpose. However, I won't apologize for expressing my thoughts with honesty and without any ill intention."

The blonde-haired girl turned her gaze from Harley and placed it on her bag on the table. Pulling out her pencil case and a notebook, she got ready to take some notes about what the Chemistry teacher was explaining.

---

"Thank you Mr. Felton", said Amelia as the teacher helped her support the weight of Samuel's body. "I don't know Mr. Felton", explained the braided-haired girl with a worried look on her face. "I came across him just a minute before you came."

@Luna Amore

"Well I mean I wasn't expectin' an apology." Harley replied under her breath, merely keeping her eyes on her book so as not to draw any more attention to herself. "But...well...you did kinda scar my backside a little. It's alright though, Nat. You were just being honest.
I ain't gonna get mad over petty shit like that. Oh and uh... Sorry if I'm bein' a bit moody right now. I'll uh...I'll tell you after class." There was a slight hesitation to her voice, as though she wasn't willing to tell Nat anything, but if she didn't, it was just going to bug her all day.

Looking down at her book and reading along, she sighed to herself, a dull frown etched across her lips. Something was definitely bothering her and she knew it.

Aww c'mon! First I get the call about Jack and now I think I done pissed off my camera buddy! This day cannot get any worse, can it?

---

Mr. Felton looked worried. "Maybe we should take him back to the nurse and let him rest. I'll call his parents again and see if they're coming to pick him up."

---

As soon as she skated into the parking lot, she noticed first off his crappy car. Darren was leaning against the driver side door smoking a cigarette, as always that crazy, pissed off look on his grizzled, sunken face. His eyes were bloodshot with dark circles underneath, rough, almost leathery skin pocked with several gross looking sores, some covered on his arms by sleeves of tattoos, and he was wearing clothes that looked like they haven't been washed in years. Helena knew he was already hitting the hard shit again, the bad shit.

Slowly, and cautiously she approached, hoping the bastard wouldn't notice her, but too late as he flicked his cig away and turned to face her.



"Well if it ain't Pipi Fucking Longstockings! What the hell took you so long?" His voice was harsh and raspy as he hacked a cough and spat out a glob of bile. That alone almost made Helena puke, coupled with his ratlike eyes glaring at her.

Grimacing, she returned quietly, "I was on my way when you texted me, man. Cut me some slack!"

"Tch! Whatever... Just give me my fucking money." Darren scoffed then held out his hand with an expectant look.

Helena, at first she hesitated, slowly reaching into her pocket and pulling out a wad of hundred dollar bills, unwilling to just set them in Darren's greasy palm.

Great... How the fuck am I gonna get out of this city when this dickhead is bleeding me dry?

"Today bitch!" Darren snarled.

"W-wait!" Helena drew her hand back. "What about my cut? You said I could keep at least half of what I got paid."

Darren's eyes narrowed at her like two sharp slits, like the eyes of a viper coiling back to strike. He spat at her, "Cut schmut, slut! Now gimme that fucking money, NOW!" Forcefully he wrenched the money out of Helena's hand.

Helena stumbled backwards, yelling, "Okay! Fine! Take it you fucking asshole!" She glared at him and turned to walk away, but as she did, she paused momentarily.

Darren laughed, rather menacingly as he sauntered up to her from behind. Carefully, Helena turned around, her face ripe with worry.

"What? What's so funny?"

"You. Stupid. Bitch." Darren snickered holding up the five hundred dollars Helena owed him. "This it? This is all you got?" She didn't like that look in his eyes.

Backing up slowly, she stammered a nervous response, "W-whoa! Wait a minute, Darren! You said I owed you five hundred! There it is"

"WRONG BITCH!" Suddenly Darren grabbed her, slamming her against the side of his car. Helena heard a click...and there it was sticking in her face...mere inches from her eye.



With one hand, Darren held her by her scrawny neck, his other holding the knife too damn close to her as he barked, seething with rage, "Interest! It grows over time! You owed me five hundo eight weeks ago! Now you owe me a grand! So where's the rest bitch?! Huh?!
You holding out on me?!"

"A grand?! That's bullshit!" Helena managed to spat despite her windpipe being crushed. "I...I only owed you five!"

"You've got till fucking Thursday, bitch! THURSDAY to get my other five, or I'll gut you like a fucking deer! You feel me?!"

Finally he let her go. Helena fell to her knees on the pavement, gasping for air. She looked up Darren with eyes burning as he slipped his knofe and the cash, all the money she had, into his pocket and got in his car and drove away kicking up a cloud of smog that stung her face.

Fuck...this...place! She thought...

@Flightless_Soul

Natalia listened carefully to the cowgirl sitting next to her. With a black pen in her hand, she began writing something on one of the pages of her "Hello Kitty" notebook.




"Dear Harley,

I am truly sorry for hurting your feelings by answering Ms. Maeda's question. And yes, maybe I could have done less with the explanation. I guess, I left the nerd in me take control of the situation and I let her run free so she could analyze every detail of the question.

I consider you my friend and I will never hurt a friend on purpose. It deeply hurt me that you would think I would embarrass you or I would scar your back on purpose. You said you were not going to get mad over what happened but judging by your voice you definitely got hurt and for that, I am truly sorry. Could you please forgive this nerdy friend of yours?

P.S. Being moody is okay, we are teenagers after all. ^^ And...if what you are going to tell me is related to the call you got earlier, please don't feel obligated to tell me anything....as I told you...I will patiently wait until you are ready to tell me."

The blonde-haired girl ripped off the page from her notebook and folded it in half. She waited until Ms. Maeda turned her back to write something on the whiteboard and quickly placed the paper on Harley's notebook.

As Ms. Maeda continued explaining about the Steps of the Scientific Method, the petite girl fixed her gaze on the whiteboard and resumed taking notes on her notebook.

Suddenly, the bell rang. The second period was over, however, the class was not. This was a required course, which meant there were another forty-five minutes before the students could go to their next class.

---

"Great idea, Mr. Felton", said Amelia. "Let's take him to the infirmary so he can rest."

Her look turning into a dispirited one. "Although...I don't think Sam's parents can be contacted. My uncle is in England on a business trip and my aunt is on a cruise to the Bahamas with her friends..." As a bit of hope appeared on the green-eyed girl's visage, she uttered softly. "Maybe...she will come..."

A few seconds had passed since Amelia's words when a kind-looking woman came rushing through the school entrance. Pushing the doors, the woman ran into the hall.

"Sam...oh dear....I was right, you should not have come to school at all!"

@Luna Amore

m.youtube.com/watch?v=-LKbYhEwUoE

Finally, the bell rang. Just a few more minutes and Harley could get out of this classroom. Closing her notebook and her textbook, she sat quietly with a slightly glum expression hanging on her face, waiting for Miss Maeda to dismiss the class. Meanwhile, she couldn't fight it as much as she tried. The pain of knowing her brother's life was hanging in the balance, it ravaged her inside. She tried not to let it show, tried not to let it bother her or the blonde beside her. She felt bad for being disappointed at her friend, and for an incredibly petty reason too.

---

"Oh, hello there." Mr. Felton was a little taken back by the woman's sudden appearance, yet he put on a sincere smile. This must have been the person Amelia had mentioned earlier. Letting Sam down carefully, he approached the woman and presented his hand, "I'm Louis Felton, the photography teacher. You must be here for Samuel. I heard his parents were out of the country and I was just about to contact them after we brought Sam back to the infirmary."

At that moment, Felton noticed behind the woman a red haired student trudging through the hallway...pale as a ghost and with a troubled look. Helena was her name, a bright student she was in his class, but she never attended much, if any. "Ah, Miss Helena!" Hs tried to flag her down. "I'm glad you decided to join us for once. I haven't seen you in class lately. Is everything okay?"

Helena looked at the teacher then to the kid Amelia was attempting to hold up. Jeez, kid looked like he was smoked. "Yeah. Everything's cool, Lou. Just uh...dealing with some issues." Helena's voice was quiet and kind of shaky.

Mr. Felton frowned. "Well, Helena, I would love for you to talk to me about these um...issues, but right now might not be the best time. Do you mind helping Amelia carry Samuel to the infirmary?"

Helena thought about it for a moment then shrugged, slipping her arm under Sam's and helping him stand. Sure Mr. Felton. I think I'll just carry Patient Zero to the infirmary instead. Oh no, I wasn't threatened at all by my junkie boss!

@Flightless_Soul

Chemistry class was finally over. Looking attentively at the whiteboard before her, Natalia finished copying the assignment for tomorrow.
She closed her notebook and her textbook and put them in her handbag.

"Something must be really upsetting her...", thought the petite blonde to herself as she gave a worried glance at the girl sitting next to her. "I hope she is still not mad at me..." After giving her the letter, the cowgirl had not said anything to her and had solely focused on Ms. Maeda and her class.

Ending her class on the dot, Ms. Maeda looked at her students and reminded them of the assignment for tomorrow. "And one more thing", added the teacher. Her expression was softer than at the beginning of the class. "Please do not forget your white coats. We are going to do some experiments tomorrow!!".

The petite girl got up from her seat and with a sweet expression on her face she uttered. "So what class you have next, Harley?"

---

Gently shaking Mr. Felton's hand, the woman introduced herself. "I am Grace Lewis", said the woman with a caring smile on her visage. "I am Sammy's nanny."

"No. You are not his nanny...", interrupted Ameilia with a sweet voice. "You are more than that." Letting Helene carry her cousin alone for a moment, the green-eyed girl ran towards the old woman. "You are his nanna..." She hugged Grace lovingly. "Our dear nanna."

The gray-haired woman planted a kiss on Amelia's head. "It is great to see you, too my dear Amelia".

@Luna Amore

"H-huh?" The sweet voice of her friend seemed to have pulled her from whatever daze she was in. Harley, she could barely remember anything else before. There was something about an assignment and...lab coats? "Oh! Hang on! Lemme see!" She replied with a genuine smile of her own. Reaching into her back pocket, she pulled out her slightly crumpled schedule and smoothed it out on the table, skimming over it shortly. "Hmm, let's see here...Hey! Looks like I got a free period next!
Y'all got anything?" Harley turned to Natalia sporting a grin.

Phew! Good! I dunno if I can take any more classes right now! It'll be good just to take a break, get my mind clear. Hopefully, Nat's got free period too so we can hang out. Umm...that is...if she ain't mad at me still. I mean, I don't reckon she is, but...

---

"Miss Lewis." Mr. Felton grinned shaking her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm glad you have arrived on such short notice. I was worried nobody would be coming for poor Samuel here."

It warmed his heart too to see how close Sam and Amelia were to this woman. It made him think of perhaps how he wanted to be to his new son. Admittedly, even for a man set for life, being a father was a tough responsibility, and he had hoped in this city, his son didn't end up on the wrong side of the tracks...like his brother.

Adjusting his specs, the man smiled giving a nod. "Well now, I'm glad to see the situation is under control." But suddenly, his phone rang in his pocket. "If you'll excuse me, I need to take this. Again, Miss Lewis, thank you for taking care of Samuel. Goodbye now." He smiled again turning around and pulling his phone from the pocket of his blazer...but when he saw the contact name, he frowned and sighed bitterly.

No...not him, dammit.

Call From:
Darren Felton

Meanwhile, Helena struggled a bit holding Samuel up. Kid looked like hammered shit to her and felt like he stood in front of an industrial heater all day long. Hearing that that Grace chick was their nanny kinda surprised her. A nanny? Jeez, these kids must be loaded as fuck. Well I mean they have to be to be attending this fancy ass school.

She'll admit too...it bothered her to see how loving the woman was.

Turning away from the sight of Amelia hugging the woman, she grimaced, even listening to how saccharine her words were to the little nerd. Gag! Talk about a cuteness overload! I'd rather listen to my dad or Darry yelling at me over this shit...then again...

"Hey kid." Helena looked down at Samuel. "You feeling okay? You're not gonna turn into a zombie or start puking blood, are you?" Dryly Helena quipped. To be fair, she was a little concerned, especially when the kid pretty much looked like the walking dead.

@Flightless_Soul

Pulling out of her bag a pink-leather Hello Kitty schedule book, Natalia placed the planner on the table.



She opened the schedule book and pulled out a piece of paper. "I have a free period as well", said the blonde girl with excitement. "I am free until 11:00 a.m."

---

Before saying goodbye to the teacher, Grace sincerely thanked the man for taking care of Samuel. "Thank you very much for taking care of my Sammy, Mr. Felton", said the woman as the instructor turned around and walked away.

Observing that Helena was struggling to hold Samuel in her arms, Amelia rushed to the skater girl's side. She placed both of her arms underneath the sick boy. "Thank you for helping me carry my cousin!", expressed the green-eyed girl with sincere gratitude.

The gray-haired woman looked at the red-haired girl and asked. "My dear girl, could you be so kind as to help Amelia move Samuel to the car waiting outside for us?"

---

Getting up from the gymnastics mat in the room, Jason walked towards a nearby table where he had left his clothes on.



"Do you really have to go?", asked Madison with a little girl's voice still laying on the mat. She was partly covered by a bath towel.

Pulling up his shorts, the brown-haired boy replied. "Yes, babe." He put his t-shirt on and continued. "Coach is going to kill me if I keep skipping more classes...especially if I skip P.E....he is the teacher in that class after all."

Kneeling down, Jason leaned forward and gave the pink-haired girl a passionate kiss. "Meet you after basketball practice, okay?" He stood up and finally put his letter jacket on.

Looking at the captain boy with the eyes of a predator who had not finished eating her prey, the young temptress removed the towel from her body and revealed the alluring bare figure underneath.

"Aren't you forgetting something?", the green-eyed girl asked in a sultry tone as she handed the towel to her boyfriend.

As Jason got closer to take the piece of cloth, Madison pulled the tower towards her, making the captain boy get on his knees. She clasped the brown-eyed boy's head and French kissed him.

Taking the towel in his hand, the tall boy gently removed himself from her girlfriend's grasp. "Baby...stopping turning me on or I will never make it to class."

He put the towel inside his backpack and got on his feet. "I love you, Madison", declared the brown-haired boy tossing his bag over his shoulder.

"Don't forget that is jacuzzi night at my place tonight", reminded the pink-haired girl to her boyfriend as he turned around and walked away.

"I would not miss it for the world", assured her Jason as he closed the door behind him.

Looking at the ceiling, Madison thought to herself. "I guess I should start moving and focus on school a bit, too...I mean...my homework won't do itself..."

With a smirk on her face, she began to dress. Once the pink-haired girl had finished dressing, she grabbed her cell phone from her Gucci leather backpack.



"Today is Monday so...", Madison said and she dialed a phone number. At the first ring, the call was answered.

"Hi there~ We have free period now, right?". The green-eyed girl paused before continuing. "Let's meet there in five minutes".

She hung up and put the cell phone back in her bag. Turning off the light before leaving, the pink-haired girl opened the door and sauntered to her next destination.

@Luna Amore

Seeing yet another Hello Kitty related article of Natalia, the cowgirl chuckled, "Golly girl! You sure like Hello Kitty!" Her smile lit up brighter though upon hearing her friend had free period too. "Awesome sauce! Hey, you think they might let us leave the school for a bit? I kinda wanna see the city!" It would be good too for Harley to get out for a bit, plus she's always heard so much about New York she wanted to explore.

---

"Uh...sure. No probs." Helena gave a quiet reply to Sam's nanny, still fazed a bit by the sweet woman. Could have just been her negative reaction. While hepling Amelia carry Sam to the car, she decided to make a little small talk, just to get her mind off...well, everything at the moment. Darren's voice was still screaming in her ears. If she didn't get him that money by Thursday, she'd probably be found dead in a trashbag by the Hudson River.

"So..." She started rather awkward. "That's your nanny, huh? She sounds nice.
I guesd you guys like having her around. Must be great having someone like that to take care of you."

Yeah...someone who ain't stinking fucking drunk all the time or busy fucking his rich lawyer girlfriend... She frowned slightly. The day her dad stepped up to be a real parent was the day the ground cracked open and all of New York fell into the pits of Hell, not that she cared much for religion...or for the drunk ass bum he was.

As they got to the car, she noticed Mr. Felton standing beside his, talking on his phone. It was weird. Louis was such a chill dude, but seeing how red his face was, hearing how aggitated his voice sounded, Helena had to wonder who he was talking to.

His wife? No, from what little Helena knew, he and Sarah had a happy marriage. So who was it? She tried to listen in a little without being seen, but she only caught the tail end of Felton's heated argument.

"I'm warning you, little brother. If you come around my family causing trouble, I will call the police. Yes, they will arrest you, and then maybe you'll learn your lesson and get cleaned up. I have to go now. Tell mom I said hi."

He hung up the phone, heaving a weary sigh.

His...brother? And from the sound of things, this guy must be a total asshat. I wonder who he is. The skater girl had her hunches.

---

"Fucking Louie!" Darren snarled throwing his phone down into the floor of his beat up car. He slammed his fist into the steering wheel. "Fuck him!
Asshole always thought he was too good for his fam! Fuck you, big bro!" Seething, he grabbed his meth pipe out of the dash, lighting it up and taking a few puffs. It helped to calm him down...but not that much. Shortly after, he reached down and picked up his phone. He skimmed through the contacts for a moment until he found the number he wanted.

"Hey, Hel. You remember that money you owed me? I think I got a way you can pay it back. Gimme a call when you get this message."

He hung up, a malevolent grin upon his face as he took another hit off the pipe.

@Flightless_Soul

"We can leave the school...", said Natalia denoting a bit of concern in her voice. "However, I don't think we can return to school on time for the next period."

She paused for a brief moment. "I know!", exclaimed the blonde-haired girl, her expression showing that one of her bright ideas was about to be shared.

"What if we go to Central Park after school and take our cameras with us. Central Park would be a great place to complete Mr. Felton's assignment."

The petite girl began unbuttoning her white coat. "I can ask Hector to take us there after school."

Taking off the coat, she continued. "In the meantime, we can go to the library and do our Chemistry assignment."

She put the pink agenda back inside her bag. "But before we go to the library, can you please accompany me to my locker?"

As the petite girl waited for her friend's answer, she placed the folded coat on her free arm as her white handbag hung from the other.

---

"She is actually Sam's nanny", explained Amelia. "She has been taking care of him since he was a little baby."

The glasses-wearing girl paused for a moment, relieved that the car was just a few more steps from where they were.

"Nanny Grace started to take care of me after my parents got divorced and my dad and I moved to my uncle's house."

Grace looked at the two girls bringing the sick boy to the car. "Thank you so very much for helping Amelia to carry Sammy!", uttered the gray-haired woman with an expression of kindness on her visage as she opened the door of the car.



Immediately after opening the car's door, a tall and elegant man stepped out of the sedan.



"Sebastian", expressed Grace. "Would you be so kind as to carry Sammy into the car?"

---

Opening the door of the cleaning-supplies room, Madison entered the room. "Ohhhh...you are already here", said the pink-haired girl with a mischievous expression on her face as she looked at the person standing in the corner.

@Luna Amore

Harley was smiling from ear to ear. It sounded like her good day was back on track again. She was practically bouncing up and down with joy on the inside, ready to hit Central Park already. She could only imagine all the amazing shots she and her camera buddy could take together. However, she bit her lip nervously when Natalia asked her to accompany her to her locker. "Yeah! Sure thing, friendo!" Harley gave a cheerful answer, despite being anxious about what Nat possibly wanted.

Bah! Maybe she just needs help with somethin', Harley!
At least she ain't mad at you, and you get to hang out with her!

But hang on a minute though. Who was Hector?

---

Whoa! Dude! Yep, they were definitely loaded. Helena was lucky she didn't drop Sam to the pavement when she saw the luxury vehicle, a motherfucking chariot fit for a king. Fuck yeah they got serious bank! That car could pay off all our fucking bills AND get me out of this rathole! Mesmerized by the sheer beauty and prestige of it all, she barely heard the woman thanking her for helping Amelia carry Samuel.

"H-huh? Oh!" Shaking her head vigorously, she gave a sincere reply, "Yeah. No problem, miss. Is he gonna be alright?"

I'm sure with the money they got, that kid could get any doctor in the world... Must be nice having all that cash...