A Confession

SERENITY'S POV:

'Dear Diary,

Entry #1 in the Lenos Family's House:

I saw something today. I saw something in John's eyes - other than the deadly glare he gave me. I noticed that when he looked at me, his eyes were pitch back, and I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my right hand that I used to touch him. That's what scared me. Not his impulsiveness - although I admit that it did upset me - but what I saw. My hand still aches tonight, as I write on you, and I don't know what he did. I didn't ask him, of course, and he seems like he doesn't even remember what he did... But I'm afraid of what he is. Is he like me? If he is, I'm worried that he may be part of the most dangerous kind.

Bye,

Yours Truly.'

***

The next day... The first day of school.

JOHN'S POV:

We walk silently along the sidewalk by the road, with Serenity tagging along behind me. My black backpack is slightly heavy and I know that Serenity's blue is very light.

Tall trees line the sidewalk as we make our way to school. Since it's autumn (though it feels like winter) piles of golden leaves cover the ground beside the sidewalk, their scent tickling my nose as they fall one by one from their trees. Cars rush by on the road to the right as we walk at a comfortable pace - we left the house early, so we don't have to rush.

I wonder how long Serenity's going to stay with us? She's just supposed to be fostered here temporarily, so hopefully not long. But why did she appear in our house so suddenly?

I don't dare to look back at her as I walk tall and straight down the path, maintaining my well created image. She has refused to walk beside me this whole time, and I haven't had the courage to take say anything. What's the point in saying sorry anyway? I've learnt the hard way that sorry doesn't change anything, except remind the person of their pain. But... John would say sorry at times like these. It isn't like him to just stay silent. Hell, he wouldn't even make this mistake!

I wish life was like my imagination. If it was, I would be able to wipe the bad memories that Serenity has of me. No, actually all the bad memories of me that are plaguing people's thoughts. No, something better.

I would be able to wipe myself from existence.

I fall out of my thoughts when I hear a pinging sound coming out of my coat's pocket. It's my phone's notification sound. It seem like someone has sent me a text. But who? Is it Ben?

I take out my phone as I continue walking, and check my notifications. I do have a new message indeed. Making sure to look up to see where I'm going from time to time, I open up the messaging app to see that the person who messaged me is not Ben, but none other than Serenity.

I finally decide to look back at her, and when I do, she has her head down and is intently looking at her phone screen.

I direct my gaze back at my phone to find her message. It's a simple and small phrase, but it still confuses me.

'I'm sorry.' She wrote.

What? I mean, it does kind of make sense since she's the one who made me irritated , but... I scared her! That was rude! I probably even hurt her wrist! She should be furious! And anyway, she might think that I'm a weirdo, and it wouldn't be good if she were to tell people at school (not by talking, of course).

But this only highlights the fact that I should be the one saying sorry. But will it change anything?

Will I'm obsessing over the idea, another text comes in from her.

'Sorry I made you mad...' I frown.

I'm not... Mad. Then I realize that my left hand that had been by my side had been clutched tightly into a fist. I instantly open it up, and inspect my palm. Deep nail marks have formed in it's center. OK, well, I guess it DOES seem that way. Has she been watching my reaction this whole time?

But I'm not mad at her, it's me. It's always me. I wish that I could stop myself from getting angry easily, but it just happens on it's own.

'No...' I write, and hesitate before pressing the send button. 'It's me. I'm sorry' Send. 'I've had quite an experience before, so I acted on an impulse.' Send.

'Do you not like being touched?' She asks.

'...Yes.' I answer, and send the message.

'Sorry.' She writes once more.

I stop in my tracks, then I hesitantly turn around to face her. When I do, I see that she is staring back at me, and it seems like she has stopped as well. We're still a few feet a part, and I don't dare to close that distance, for fear that she'll be scared. For a while, we just stare at each other. She's wearing her newly bought school uniform, and she's tightly clutching her skirt.

I finally look away and say in an almost disinterested tone, trying hard to not let my anger seep into my voice "Stop apologizing. You did nothing wrong.". I turn back around and continue walking, and I soon hear her footsteps trailing behind me.

I don't know who that was just now. Was that John, or me?

***

3rd person (sorry for changing the perspective so much :/ ...) :

Lunch time...

"Go, go, go!" A redheaded girl says as she pushes her friend forward.

"But, but..." Her friend interjects, taking a piece of her dark brown hair in her mouth and chewing on it nervously (it was a habit that she couldn't fix).

"No buts, Kimberly!" The redheaded girl named Amy exclaims with authority as she rips Kimberly's hair out of her mouth. "I've been watching you pining for this boy for..." She counts on her fingers. "3 years! I think it's time you take action."

"But he's the most popular guy in school..." Kimberly slumps her shoulders as she clutches the letter that she had written to her chest.

"It always works out in movies..." Amy states as she sighs, straightening her friend's posture. Then she suddenly spots the guy out of the corner of her eye. "Speaking of the devil..." She gives Kimblery a sideways glance, a mischievous glint in her eye. "He's coming this way!" Amy casually walks away to go hide behind a wall while Kimberly is frozen in place.

The popular boy that Kimberly has had a crush on for so long is in close proximity, and her heart felt like it was going to burst out of her chest.

He's walking towards her with his usual pack of friends, and she nervously starts fidgeting.

As John and his friends chatter away, he sneaks a discreet smile at her, and she falls for him all over again.

"U-umm..." Her legs suddenly felt like jelly, her lips were trembling, and she felt like she was going to have a heart attack any second. What a bad combination. She should have caught him when he was alone. "Here!" She goes to shove the letter that she wrote for him into his chest, and runs away to wherever Amy was hidden.

Perplexed, John places the letter in his pocket, aiming to read it later. He doesn't know that what he has just received is a love confession.

A love confession that will soon get him to a lot of trouble.

***

Science class...

SERENITY'S POV:

Hmm. A plant. I have to grow a plant. I guess it's simple enough.

I take the seed that was resting on the table in front of me and place it in the shallow hole inside the flower pot. There. Easy! But should I really plant the seed how that it's winter?

I grab the instruction sheet and see something written in bold red print that gives me pause.

'You have to take seed home and take care of it!'

So, I'll have to carry a whole flower pot home?!

***

After school...

JOHN'S POV:

'I remember that." I say, pointing my chin to the flower pot in Serenity's hands as I open the door that leads outside for her.

It's after school and time to go home. I normally walk home alone or sometimes with some friends, but I have to walk home with her from now on.

She looks at me questioningly.

"I mean" I explain, seeing her confusion. "Last year, we had to take care of a plant for the whole year." I give a fake chuckle. "Mr. Periwinkle is one interesting teacher..." I smile brightly at her.

She just nodds and smiles, seeming a little confused, and I don't know why.

"Hey..." I start as I match my pace with hers, but I hesitate to say what I want to say. Would she be mad if I spoke my mind?

We're now back on the path back home, and it seems like the lead blower guys have cleared out the path of the leaves. "About yesterday..." I'm about to tell her to forget it, but think if something else instead. "Oh! Do you need help carrying your flower pot? I can carry it for you." I hold out my hands, avoiding the subject. Maybe it's better not to talk about and to pretend it never happened.

She shakes her head, a smile on her face.

"You sure?" I ask. She nodds."Ok then."

She's looking at me like she wants to say something - not that she can anyway - but I just decide to shrugg it off when she looks away.

Then I remember something. "Right! Mom said that she wanted me to do the grocery's today." I exclaim, trying not to sound annoyed and slamming my hand to my forehead as if I completley forgot. I know that she has work to do, but couldn't she just do it herself?