10 9

Liz remained on the look out for her friends while Azana held her hand and drank her hot chocolate. She wanted to distract herself from the kiss with the tall girl beside her and the sudden claim she made of them being a couple.

When she saw Dean carrying Amira over his shoulder she went to wave them down but Azana held fast to her hand, forcing her to only use one.

"Guys, over here!"

The group made there way over to her and she met them half way. Dean placed Amira next to him and held her close.

"Who's this," Amira asked. Liz was going to speak but Azana stepped forwards with a smile.

"I'm Azana, I sit in front of you in chemestry."

Amira stared at the tall girl in thought then snapped her fingers.

"Thats right. You're the weirdo that knows how to dissolve human flesh."

Azana nodded in excitement and Dean laughed.

"You remember people weirdly and have the nerve to call them the weirdos?"

"Weirdo's know weirdos best."

"I'm also Elizbeth's girlfriend since just a few minutes ago."

Amira suddenly choked on her own breath. Dean blinked several times while Kaia and Marcella peeked around Amira and Dean, gawking. Liz blushed and went to go behind Azana but Azana pulled her into her arms to embrace her from behind. Amira managed to stop coughing and looked to Liz.

"The hell?"

After convincing Azana to let them talk, Liz pulled Amira aside and explained everything that happened, sparing no details.

"So after you two kissed accidentally, she just up and declared you to be her girlfriend?"

Liz nodded and kept her eyes on the ground.

"And you're....okay with it?"

Liz turned beet red and nodded. Amira sighed and turned to glare towards Azana.

"Well I'm gonna go have a little chat with her then."

Amira began walking towards the others while Liz protesting, trying to stop her. Once over to them, Amira turned Azana to face her.

"So you're dating Liz, right?"

Azana nodded excitedly and Amira hardened her stance and crossed her arms.

"You honesly think that I'm gonna let you just claim to be the girlfriend of my best friend and let you pull her into the sunset?"

"Amira-"

The Irish girl held her hand up to stop Liz from speaking. Azana looked to Liz then back to Amira.

"I know its sudden but I feel a connection with her. I don't want to be like those people in the shows and ignore the feeling until its either too late or some other cliche bullcrap."

"But you don't even know her."

Azana smiled and looked to Liz.

"That's one of the beauties of life, right? Discovering things one day at a time."

This had shook Amira a little and she softened her stance before relaxing completely. She turned to Liz with an impressed look on her face.

"I like 'er. Keep 'er on a leash though."

Liz nodded and Mira went to go rent her skates, leaving the two alone. Azana pulled out a pair of skates and held them up to Liz.

"I asked Dean your shoe size. Try them on to make sure they fit though."

Elizbeth nodded and smiled as she took the shoes.

Everly watched everyone on the ice while the book in her bag made her hands hot as she held her bag close to her. She was so focused on when and where to read the book that she hadn't realized Amira went to sit beside her.

"Now why is miss Lady Three just sitting around while the rest of us losers are having fun?"

Everly scoffed and narrowed her eyes at Amira.

"Like I would hang out with you all."

Mira rolled her eyes then turned to face her fully.

"You literally put on your skates then sat here. Just bring your arse to the ice and let go."

Everly humphed and turned her head away from her old friend. Amira sighed and grabbed Everly's hand.

"Look, I'm sorry for lyin' to ya that day. Me and Laurette never fought."

Everly turned to Amira abruptly, letting Mira know that she caught the girl's attention. She kept looking straight ahead, knowing that if she looked at her right then that she'd just freeze up and leave things at that.

"I can't tell you much but I can tell you this: I lied because she wanted me to. I'll tell you one day but not any time soon-"

"Don't you think that its unfair of you to do that?"

Mira looked Everly in the eyes and spoke.

"It is. Its very unfair to you and I know that but she made me promise not to tell you all, especially you."

This infuriated Everly and she ripped her hand away from Mira.

"Especially me? What the fuck is that supposed to mean, Amira? Laurette was my fucking sister!"

Amira remained calm and relaxed, knowing already that she'd react this way.

"Yeah, she is your sister. Which is why she told me not to tell you. Hell she wasn't even gonna tell me. I had to find out meself."

This did nothing to ease her anger but it was now redirected.

What did her sister not want her to know?

"Look, Evvy," Amira began as she stood, "the way I see it, you won't be gettin answers from me until I lose my mind completely."

Everly glared and went to speak again but Amira beat her too it.

"We, also, can never be like we were before. Too much has happened in the gap of time. We have two different lives now. You're hanging around a couple of cliche grenades while I'm with the misfits that have mommy issues."

Everly scoffed but only to hide her laughter. Her anger had dissipated the longer Amira spoke and was being replaced by sadness and unease.

"So, this is going to be a day just for us. Lets use it as the last day of our childhood. I regret the way I left things with you so we are goin to go over to that ice rink and pretend to be kids like we were before."

Mira held her hand out to Everly and she stared at it then looked Amira in the eyes. She could see the sadness swimming in her green orbs and felt a bit of pain. She took Mira's hand and gave her a stern look.

"You're right," she began, "we will never be the same after that day."

Amira nodded once and turned but Everly stayed rooted to her spot, regaining her attention.

"That doesn't mean that we can't still try to keep what's left."

Amira froze in her place and looked to Everly who was now smiling. She blinked before shaking her head in confusion.

"You... You want to be friends with me? After what I put you through?"

Everly shrugged at her and began walking.

"You promised her, right? Whatever the big secret is, I realize its been hurting you and only you alone. I realize now that Laurette, once again, put you in the middle. I'll wait for you to tell me everything but it will be soon."

Everly let go of her hand and made her way to the ice. Mira smiled and followed after her.

After an hour or so, Amira sat on the bench and watched her friends. Kaia was trying to chase Dean, who had thrown a snowball at her. Everly and Azana were teaching Liz and Marcella how to skate. She then remembered the last time she'd gone skating with Laurette and Everly. They were twelve and the ice broke under Everly. Laurette wasted no time jumping in to save her but the two ended up in the hospital because of hypothermia. Even then, they argued for her attention and she still wouldn't choose between them.

"You chose me."

Mira didn't look to Laurette but she snorted and leaned forwards.

"And how did you come up with that theory?"

The apparition slid closer to her and leaned back.

"You made me the form of your subconscious, you kept all of my secrets away from Everly when I asked you to. You literally picked a fight with her before you moved so that you could keep those secrets-"

"Alright, I get it already!"

Amira glanced at her then back to the rink.

"I'm going to tell you, though, Letty. I know you think it will kill her but she's always been stronger than me mentally. I mean, look at me. Here I am talking to a ghost because I can't properly handle the past.

I never really grieved you leaving us, never looked back on our best memories up until now. I have mental break downs when I think back on the day I found you in that fucking room. I know Evvy can handle it better than I ever had."

Laurette stood and turned to face her.

"Well, why hesitate if you're so confident?"

Amira looked to the apparition and conveyed her thoughts without speaking. The ghostly girl gave her a sad smile and stood directly above her.

"She won't hate me, Reed. No one will."

Mira scoffed and sat back in her seat.

"How do you know that?"

Laurette said nothing and, instead, skated on the ice with the others. Amira watched her as she laughed and skated with everyone else and, for a brief second, she saw the others playing around with her. She engraved the memory into her head so that she could sketch it later.

Sheila watched her husband to be growing more agitated by the other woman but remained his silent support.

"Ya came all this way just to see Amira? Ya had ample opportunities to see 'er yet ya come now that things have begun shiftin'  in 'er favor."

"I've tried to visit you both on multiple occasions but the neighbors told me-"

"Tha' neighbors ain't tell ya shit to dirt and you know this. If you'd had came so often like ya said then they would have told you we left the first time you popped up."

Cordelia inhaled and looked around the room.

"I see you've...redecorated."

Jerry was about to reply when Sheila jumped into the conversation.

"That's all me. Well, I grabbed his opinions but I think we both can agree that he doesn't have eyes for home decor."

The woman hmmed in response then looked around until her eyes landed on a picture.

"Amira is a really smart young lady now," Sheila continued with a smile, "She's always kept A's."

"Well she is my daughter."

Jerry went to defend Sheila but one hand squeeze from her made him back down. He saw the glint in her eyes and knew that his ex-wife had hit a nerve.

"I'd like to think its because of a drive outside of her DNA. Honestly she never brought you up in a single conversation we've had in the past. I thought it was because you'd died or something, if I'm honest. Shame, really. You seem to have a very... straightforward personality."

Cordelia glared at the woman while Sheila gave her a wink as she sipped her drink.

Jerry chuckled, making Cordelia straighten her back and stand.

"Well, I am going to see myself out. I only dropped by to speak with Amira but I understand that she's not well so-"

"Oh, Amira is fine," Sheila said as she slowly stood, "in fact, she's great. She's been doing so well over the years with us."

The woman was silent once again as she stuck her nose in the air and marched out of the room. She opened the door and saw Amira with her keys out to open the door.

"Amira..."

Jerry and Sheila had followed Cordelia out but Jerry stopped Sheila when he saw his daughter's eyes. They held so much rage inside of them but also the same amount of sadness to accompany it.

"Miry dear, I was just leaving."

Amira nodded and huffed, her breath seen in the crisp cold air.

"I've had a chance to calm meself to talk with you but I can't seem to find the words whenever I look at you. It's as if you trigger the worst part of me and I can't stop it."

"Sweet heart-"

"Until I was twelve, I've held you in the highest esteem. You were the most beautiful woman to me. You were the smartest, and the bravest, and the most loving and kind person. I wanted to be just like you when I grew older but after what you did..."

Amira began crying now, Cordelia along with her.

"After the day you left, I realized how monstrous people could be. I no longer believed in the monsters under my bed or the ones in the darkest part of my closet. Those monsters were just there to hide the real one. The one that would tuck me in at night. The one that braided my hair in the meadow outside of town. The same person that I loved so much was the real monster and I will never forgive you; even if that little girl did."

"Miry, please just-"

Amira ran inside the house and slammed the door. She let out a long, ragged breath and ignored her mothers calls, not realizing Jerry and Sheila were behind her until they wrapped their arms around her.

"I am so proud of you, sweet girl," her father said to her.

"We are very proud," Sheila began, "I know it hurts now but-"

"As far as I'm concerned, she's just the one that popped me out of her you know what," Amira interrupted. She turned to face Sheila fully and grew nervous.

"Sheila, you've been there for me in ways that neither my dad or my mother could. These past few years have been filled with so many memories that they drown out the others. Just wanted you to know that."

Sheila blinked rapidly at the words as tears sprang to her eyes.

Amira sighed and made her way up stairs while Jerry and Sheila watched her, smiling.

Azana looked around the halls for Liz but couldn't find her fluffy head anywhere in the sea of people. She jumped to try and find her but bumped into someone by accident.

"I'm so- oh. Its you."

Gina scoffed and folded her arms as the students began to look on.

"Yeah, it's me so watch where you're going next time you tomboy."

Azana giggled and smiled down at the girl and her friends.

"I'm sorry, being as small as you are I'm surprised I hadn't stepped on you. I've never seen a pale yet tanned Smurf before."

"You bitch!"

Jena stepped forwards to slap Azana but her had had been caught by a smaller one.

"Thats not very nice, now is it."

The girls looked back at Amira and Gina growled. She went to punch Amira but Amira dodged it, while holding Jena's arm. Jena went to kick her but she dodged and made her kick Gina."

The students hooted and chanted as Amira continued to only dodge the girl's attacks. After a few more times, Amira spun Jena and made her bump into Gina, causing both girls to fall.

"Thats gonna leave a mark now isn't it?"

She looked to Azana and grabbed her by the hand.

"Your girlfriend sent me over."

Azana looked at her in confusion then followed Amira's gaze. Liz stood near the corner with a worried look on her face. Amira pulled Azana ahead of her then pushed her towards Elizbeth.

"Out of the way, folks," she called out, "lovers coming through!"

When over to Liz, Amira left the two alone in the hall, not wanting to witness the love fest about to happen.

Lunch was rowdy once again but Amira saw that she had gotten used to it. The newspaper club wanted an update on her relationship with Dean but, instead, got an update about Liz and Azana. Dean was joking around with Victor and Elijah was being cute with Kaia. Marcy chuckled and poked Amira's cheeks, gaining her attention.

"Its funny how much you've changed in the span of a few month," she began, "I used to watch you when you first arrived. I wanted to see if you'd be like every other person at this shit hole school. Would you be a Gina? Would be be a Marcus? Would you be like the others and just watch and not help? I was suprised when you fell into none of those places yet you kept everyone out."

Amira remained silent, not knowing what to say.

"Then I watched Dean get close to you. Before you came he was...hurt badly by someone close to him. He shut himself out from everyone except Elijah, Vic, Kaia, and me. When I saw him trying to get to know you I was relieved.

I guess what I'm trying to say is thanks for being here. Thanks for changing things around, even if the way you went about it was unorthodox."

Amira snorted a chuckle but picked at her food, still lose for words.

Marcella sighed then stood, gainjng everyone's attention. She looked at each and everyone at the table before her eyes settled on the newspaper club.

"Dean and Amira kissed last night at the ice rink!"

Amira choked on her food, Dean blinked several times, and everyone around them looked to Marcy as if she'd lost her mind.

Amira was about to kill her but the girl ran off, laughing evily. She was going to chase her but the newspaper club members caught her and the interrogation began.

Jerry watched his fianceé bussle around the kitchen in amusement. She hadn't stopped smiling since Amira called her mom and it not only made him happy, it amused him to no end. She busied herself with their wedding arrangements when she woke up and now she was making dinner.

"What are you staring at," she asked while making some type of sauce. He said nothing but made his way to her in order to embrace her from behind.

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

Sheila paused then laughed, leaning into his hold on her.

"Your daughter said the same thing."

Jerry turned her around and pulled her close. He leaned down and placed his forehead on hers.

"Our daughter, remember?"

The southern woman was lost for words but gave a smile. Her heart swelled with joy at hearing those words from him.

Sheila turned away from him when tears gathered in her eyes.

"I need to finish this for Amira," she began as she tried to pull herself together, "I promised her Gyros but never got around to it so shoo."

Jerry scoffed and leaned on the counter.

"I want tacos."

Sheila glared at her fiancé, making him hold up his hands in mock surrender before slowly walking out of the kitchen.

The light shone down on Amira as the newspaper club members surrounded her with voice recorders, a camera, and paper and pen.

Reg stepped forward with a serious expression then sat in the seat directly in front of her.

"Amira Scott, you are now in the room of the newspaper club. Dunstin is going to get Dean in here and we will begin the interview then."

Amira looked around and scoffed. She sat back in her seat and folded her arms.

"You mean interrogation?"

Reg shrugged at her statement like question.

"However you want to view it."

The door opened and Dunstin walked in with Dean followimg right behind him. He sat in the chair beside her and made himself comfortable. Virginia clicked her pen and hit record on her recorder, Dunstin began taking pictures while Megan held the camera.

Reg smiled at the two and looked them each in the eyes.

"Lets begin shall we?"