6 5

Mira opened the doors of the school and everyone stared at her. She paused, finding the attention a little weird. People began whispering while watching her. She rolled her eyes and hiked her bag further up on her arm until a flyer caught her attention. It was a picture of her on top of Dean the day she had to catch her papers.

Oh the Whorrer was the caption.

Amira scoffed and decided that she would ignore the stares everyone was giving her and kept walking down the halls. She glared ahead as they parted for her to walk by.

Why does it have to be Thursday?

"Do you think its true?"

"Probably."

"I can't believe that."

"Think she's like that?"

Mira rolled her eyes at the whispering teenagers of Harbor Point high but was stopped when she saw a familiar pair of different colored eyes. She took a candy cane from her blazer pocket and unwrapped it before placing it in her mouth.

"Liz." The girl jumped but calmed down when she saw who was behind her.

"H-hey."

Elizbeth closed her locker and began walking away. Mira threw an arm over her shoulder and walked to class with her.

"So, how was that talk? Was I right?"

Liz turned and smiled at Mira, a genuine smile. It was then that she noticed Liz had her hair pulled back into a half ponytail, not covering her eyes.

"You were. I went home and was gonna chicken out but my step mom is the most persistent woman ever! She kept demanding I tell her whats wrong so I told her but it was kindof mean how I did it and dad came in and I told them both how I felt and began crying like a baby then they told me they only tried to help because they knew how uncomfortable my eyes made me and that they both loved me and I can embrace who I am without hiding and... thank you."

Liz pulled Mira into a hug, shocking the red haired girl. Both were unaware that Dean was watching the exchange.

Mira pushed Liz away, not liking how it felt to be hugged by people other than Sheila and her dad.

"And Dean."

Mira glared at Laurette but sighed and relaxed her face.

"Okay so do not hug me...ever."

Liz nodded but the smile and excitement didn't leave her face.

"Remember how you said that I'd find friends one day?"

Mira looked at her in confusing before realization dawned on her. Liz saw that and began skipping to class.

"W-wait! I didn't mean me!"

"Too late!"

"Get back here!"

Liz began running and Mira groaned but there was a hint of a smile on her lips as she chased after Liz.

Dean chuckled and made his way to class, planning on talking to Liz after.

Lunch rolled around and Mira decided to eat in the cafeteria instead of the yard. She was at a table tucked away in the corner but everyone still talked about her. Some stared while others made up new rumors.

Just like her first day of school, the memebers of the press gathered at her table and stared at her. This time, however, she expected them to come to her eventually.

"Is it true that you're sleeping with Dean Evans," Virginia asked her. She gave the girl an empty look then turned her attention back on her food.

"I don't know about sleeping with her..."

Everyone looked up to see Dean, himself, with a food tray. Beside him was Liz who looked a bit nervous.

Dean smirked and sat on one side of Mira while Liz sat on the other.

"So you're dating," Dunstin asked. Dean looked down at Mira and smirked.

"Trying to. This ones not making it easy for me, though."

Mira glared harder at Dean.

"Evans!"

"Scott," he said mockingly, earning a tossed piece of bread to the face.

"Okay so Dean Evans is pining for Amira Scott but is getting turned down constantly. That has to be hard for you bro."

It was then that Mira noticed the loli recording and sighed as she stood.

"Look, I'm going to say this clearly for all of you. I don't want a friend, nor a boyfriend, nor anything else for that matter. I just want to be left alone."

Mira left the table, leaving an awkward silence to settle around it.

Dean sighed and looked to Liz who looked heartbroken.

"She didn't mean it. Just gotta let you grow on her a bit is all."

The girl nodded and blinked the tears away, determination settling in her demeanor. Dean had pulled her aside after class and told her what it really took to be her friend. He explained how she would react to certain things, how she'd probably lash out, and how she would eventually grow used to her presence. He told her all this and said that if she were serious then there would be no backing down. Elizbeth wasn't going to be give up before she could even begin. It would be hard but she could tough it out.

Mira was walking down the halls when she heard the most beautiful sound. She followed it until she arrived to the music room and there, in the middle, was a gorgeous girl playing the cello. Her brown, wavy hair was tied back and her eyes were closed but you could see the freckles littered across her face, making her look adorable. There was also a boy there, reading a chemistry book as she played. The song wasn't anything she'd heard before, and she often plays classical music while painting.

Taking a seat, she listened to every note and felt the many emotions pouring out. The pain, hopelessness, the rage, and the frustration.

"She's good," Laurette stated from beside her. Mira ignored her and focused on the song. She closed her eyes and felt herself relaxing until the music suddenly stopped. She opened her eyes to see both students looking at her.

"Sorry, I heard you playing from the halls and had to listen in."

The girl said nothing and looked to the boy who narrowed his eyes at me before they widened in recognition.

"You're the girl that found Mouse in the storage shed."

Mira tilted her head in confusion.

"Mouse? What mouse?"

Elijah Carter looked to the girl on the cello and pointed.

"That is my Mouse. We wanted to thank you properly but couldn't find you, only the rumors that spread about you."

The girl, Kaia Andrews, stood and rushed over to Amira and hugged her tight. This took her by surprise but she snapped out of it and was going to push her away only for Kaia to pull away first.

"Thank you. Eli told me you tried to get me out of the shed."

Mira nodded then stood to her feet.

"No need to thank me. I'm just gonna go-"

"No, wait!"

Kaia grabbed her hand and pushed her in her seat.

"You don't have to leave. Sorry if I made you uncomfortable."

The Irish girl was going to decline but she looked into her eyes and saw pain that she had been very familiar with. When Kai was sure that Amira wouldn't leave, she turned and went back to her seat. Elijah handed her the cello and she blushed before takimg it and getting into position to play again.

Mira arrived home and collapsed on the floor as if it were her bed. Sheila rushed in with concern.

"Amira?" The woman rushed to Mira's side and flipped her to her back to check her for illness or injury.

Whats wrong sweetie? Are you hurt? Are you sick?"

"I'm tired and in dire need of a gyro."

Sheila smacked her in the stomach, making her groan.

"Damn it, Mira. You had me worried!"

Mira sat up on her elbows and grinned.

"Now ya definitely owe me a gyro."

Sheila shook her head and stood to her feet.

"I'll make gyros tomorrow. Tonight is shepherds pie."

Mira rolled back to her front and sat up in her elbows, watching her step mother walk away.

"You are one sexy mother, you know that?"

"And you need to get off that floor you crazy girl!"

Dinner was silent as the two watched the Equalizer in the living room as they are. Afterwards they cleaned up and went their separate ways. It wasn't until she was in her room that Laurette made an appearance.

"Damn it all," she said, "thought you finally let me go."

Amira looked at Laurette and sighed before going to do her homework.

"Piss off tonight, yeah? I have shit to do."

"Can I help?"

Both girl and apparition looked back to see Dean in her window, one leg in and one leg out.

Laurette sat on the desk with a smirk and Mira felt a headache beginning to form.

"I'm capable of handling homework alone, Evans."

The boy entered the room completely and made his way to her other side, as if he knew where Laurette was sitting.

"Well I'm not so maybe you could help me out instead?"

Amira looked at the boy beside her then sighed.

"Whatever, I'm going to warn ya that I'm no soft tutor."

Dean smiled and grabbed a nearby chair before sitting down beside her. Neither was aware of Sheila watching them both with a smile on her face.

Everly looked at the hand print wall and sighed. She wanted answers but Amira was more stubborn than she was when they were younger. She knows something about her sister's suicide and she knows when Amira is lying. Her eyes go blank as if she's numbing herself. Her hand twitches in the slightest way. Laurette pointed it out plenty enough times for Everly to remember. She tried reading over her sister's diaries but came up with no real explanation for why she would do what she did.

"Everly dear," her mother called from behind the door, " Sheila has invited us over for dinner tomorrow! Jerry is returning and planning on surprising Amira for her birthday."

Everly went and opened the door to see her mother in an apron and flour on her face. She smirked and leaned on the door as she spoke.

"Mom, you don't have to bake for them. You're just going to use them an guinea pigs for whatever you're concocting."

The older woman narrowed her eyes playfully before noticing something was wrong. She frowned and touched her daughter's cheek.

"Everything okay, hun? You look upset."

Everly sighed and stood upright.

"I.... It's nothing really. Amira coming back made me ask questions about Laurette and..."

Margie pulled her daughter into the room and the two sat on the king sized bed.

"I didn't want to tell you this because I thought it would be okay but Amira told me that what drove Laurette to kill herself was that she was friends with us out of boredom."

The older woman looked away in shock but there was no hiding the grief that swam in her eyes. Margie Addams was the psychologist of Harbor Point while her husband was the town doctor. After Laurette passed the two wanted to help Amira and Everly but was told that it was best to keep away from her for a while.

"I don't think that's what happened though. She has this thing she does when she lies. I think Amira knows something and is covering it up."

Margie looked at her daughter with sadness and curiosity.

"Knows something like what?"

Everly stood and began pacing the floors.

"That's what I've been trying to figure out but I can't come up with anything! Its all so frustrating!"

The older Addams woman took her daughter's hand and gave it a squeeze.

"Have you ever stopped to think that Amira was blaming herself? Not because she was friends with Laurie out of boredom but because she couldn't help her friend before it was too late."

Everly thought about it and it did make more sense. Mira was always hiding her feelings so people wouldn't worry about her. But now she feels she only gained another piece to the puzzle.

The next day, Amira felt something poking her face. She pushed it away with a groan.

"Get the hell out of here Evans, ya bloody weirdo."

After another moment she felt it again and heard a tiny squeak that didn't sound human. She jumped up and saw the most beautiful baby raven staring at her.

"Sheila told me you liked animals," Dean said from beside her, startling her, "she also told me that you might castrate me because you hate gifts on you birthday but I decided to do so anyways. He's a rescue bird from my backyard."

Amira got out of bed with the bird on her shoulder and walked up to Dean. He closed his eyes and prepared for her to hit him, which she did. She gave him a weak punch to the arm and glared at him.

"Who told you that I was a pet person, Evans?"

He opened his eyes and looked at her. He saw right through her angry facade and smiled. She was happy with the gift.

"I just had a feeling is all. He can't fly too high because of his wing but he can still fly."

Amira groaned and glared at the door.

"She should've kept 'er mouth shut."

The bird squeaked again, earning the most breathtaking smile from Amira. Her words drowned as Dean was only able to watch her. As he studied her closely, he noticed the freckles that littered her face. Her usual piercing eyes were replaced with a softness he'd never seen before. She pet the bird with her finger and he just watched her. She looked at him and smiled when the bird climbed to the top of her head.

"Whatdaya think, Evans? Do I look like a pirate?"

Dean chuckled and shook his head.

"I've never heard of a pirate with a raven. Let alone one on their head." She stuck out her tongue at him and he chuckled.

"Sheila has breakfast for you downstairs. And Liz is downstairs helping her."

Mira pouted slightly in confusion but he didn't miss the sparkle in her eyes.

"Why the hell is she here," she grumbled and walked passed him.

Amira gobbled down her breakfast like it was her last. Dean and Liz watched her in awe while Sheila just ate her breakfast, used to the Scott's monstrous eating habits. She warned the two before hand of how Amira and her father ate but neither could properly prepare themselves for what they witnessed. She eat three waffles, one slice of french toast, five sausage links, three sausage patties, a giant omelette, and various fruits.

After a few moments, she passed Amira a giant glass of orange juice and the girl grabbed it before gulping it down in record time. When she was finished she slammed the glass down, startling Liz and Dean. She groaned in bliss and leaned back in her chair rubbing her stomach.

"Sweet mama that was good."

The raven cawed and walked to Amira's chair. She reached down and picked him up.

"I see that you and the bird get along," Sheila stated with a smile, "don't know how I feel about him at the table, though."

"Why wouldn't we get along? Bran here is as black as my soul."

Sheila looked up in confusion then pondered her thoughts out loud.

"I thought she didn't really like Bran that much," she mumbled, making Amira sit up.

"I didn't not like him but he just isn't my favorite Stark is all. Maybe if they gave us more for his story but since they didn't then its like.... I don't know!"

The three blinked at the red head girl at the head of the table who realized what she just did and blushed, taking everyone by surprise.

"I'm just gonna go on and ready meself fer school."

She gathered her dishes and rushed off to the kitchen then rushed passed them to go to her room, the bird remaining on her shoulders the entire time. Everyone looked around at each other for answers as to what just transpired.

Dean watched Amira drawing someone instead of taking notes during class. The teacher's monotone voice drowned out for the two as they focused on the drawing. From what he could tell, it was a girl he'd never seen before. She only drew the head, hair, and eyes so far and the detailing was next to perfect. Right now she was drawing the rest of the features with careful precision. Neither realized the teacher had called out to them until he slammed his hand on their table.

"Since you both are so familiar with the lesson that you want to do other things, answer question five."

Amira looked at his hand, which covered her drawing, then up at him.

"If I can answer the question properly," she began, "we get three free passes to leave the room when we feel it necessary."

Everyone buzzed in whispers now while the teacher just smirked and crossed his arms across his chest.

"Very well then."

Amira stood to her feet and made her way to the board. The question was probably one of the hardest ones in the book she stared at it intensely before she began writing. It was a long, intricate math problem but one look at the shock on the teachers face and he knew that Amira was getting it right. She was half way finished and to the part that Dean himself could actually finish. She paused then looked back at him then tossed him the marker.

"Finish it up, Evans. I'm ready to blow this class."

Dean looked at her as if she lost her mind then saw the teacher's expression change back to his cocky self. When it came to math or chemistry Dean could only get, at best, a D+ which was just enough to pass. Amira tutored him on the subject last night, however, so he felt slight confidence that he could finish it out.

He slowly went up to the board and began writing, making sure to be careful of his signs like Mira warning him. He recalled her tutoring and applied it accordingly as he reflected on each word.

No ya damned moron! Its a negative. Negative!

Good, now if you could just learn yer sign rules then you wouldn't have much of a problem.

Damnit all Evans, my brain will get a hernia at this rate! A positive times a negative will be a bloody negative!

Dean could still feel the thumps on his forehead but now he understood the problem and finished it accordingly. He looked back to see Amira smirking at the teacher while the man cleared his throat and came to the board.

"Well done, kids. Next time just pay attention."

Dean went to his seat only to see his things had been put inside his bookbag. Mira left the room and he followed soon after.

The rest of the day was pretty uneventful. Amira made sure that no one announced her birthday but, somehow, there was a gift in her locker. She wanted to believe it was from Everly but the way things were, it was highly unlikely. She waited until she could be alone in the courtyard before she opened it but she wasn't ready for what she found. It was her Butter Cup Powerpuff Girls keychain that she lost a few weeks before Laurette passed away.

"I think I'm still Blossom, even if I'm dead."

Mira couldn't take her eyes from her keychain, not able to even remove it from the box due to the shock. She was so taken aback by the gift that she hadn't realized Everly was watching her.

It was a genuine gift but she also wanted to test her mother's theory. If Amira had been telling the truth about why her sister killed herself then this present will mean nothing to her. She watched at Amira finally took it from the box but was stunned when she saw the tears fall from her face.

"Damn it, Evy. You can't just let things be."

The pain in her voice was heard clearly but Everly couldn't move to comfort her. Her mother had been right about Mira and guilt made itself present. She watched as Amira tried to pull herself together and wiped the tears away.

"Oh shut up, will ya? I won't throw the thing away."

Confusion overrode her guilt now as Everly looked around to see who the girl was talking to. When she saw no one she continued to watch her friend more closely.

Was Amira talking to herself?

"Laurette, I won't put it on my key ring but I'll keep it in the box of your crap."

Everly shook her head in surprise and her curiosity began to take form.

She has a box of things that belonged to my sister?  Is she talking to my sister?

Everly scoffed at her second thought when she saw the glowing Bluetooth earpiece in her ear. But this only created the question of who she was talking to.