Ash POV

As time passes by. I fidgeted all through Science class on Monday, my almond-shaped eyes not leaving the spot where Sere should have been sitting a couple of desk away from me. My mind asked various of frantic questions I didn't have answers to, the most frequent one being 'why isn't Sere at school today?'

Don't think I hadn't tried getting in touch with her to ask her. I'd sent so many texts messages to her cellphone, tried calling her so many times over the weekend that I actually felt like a stalker. And she didn't reply to one text. Not even one.

She wasn't the type of person to miss school. I let out an apprehensive breath, tapping my hard pencil on the desk as my eyes still gazed at Sere's sitting place. Was she sick? Or had something more sinister happened? Something that had everything to do with her violent tempered cousin?

No. Don't even think that way, Ash.

Shaking my head a little from left to right. I tried to push that thought to the back of my mind and concentrate on the lesson, but I couldn't help coming back to it, and often.

What if Alain had somehow seen me drop Sere off outside her building on Saturday morning? Again, I gave myself a mental kick for letting Sere talk me into that.

I had been going to drop her off a block away, just in case Alain was lurking around, but she had convinced me that it was okay for me to let her out right outside the building because 'there's no way he'll be up at this time'. Stupid idea.

I had already seen firsthand what violent her cousin was. He obviously hated the idea of Sere having male friends, as he had showcased the day I showed up with Sere at the shop. Imagining how he would react if he knew that not only had Sere stayed over at my place, but we had slept together which made me feel queasy, nice, and it had nothing to do with the on-off headache I had.

As soon as Science class was over, I found myself in the one place I rarely ventured- the office of my House Advisor, Mrs. Viola. Nervously, I poked my head around the opened door. She claimed she kept her door wide open on purpose because she thought that all teachers should be accessible to students or something like that. I personally thought that was a crock of bull but hey, whatever helped her sleep at night.

Mrs. Viola was sitting behind her old, rickety desk, looking through each file. I hoped to God that it wasn't my file. She was pursuing in Psychology and had actually asked me to be the topic. I turned her down, but I knew she was just watching me from afar, biding her time.

She looked up as she heard me and her face cracked into a welcoming smile. Well, I'm assuming she meant it to be welcoming, but in reality it was as hair-raising as hell.

"Ash! What a wonderful surprise," she exclaimed enthusiastically, sweeping the files off her desk into a drawer in one movement. She leaned forward, her elbows on her desk as I stood at the door, knowing that this was just going to be another bad idea. A really, really ****** one. "Don't just stand there! Come on in, have a seat!" She pointed at an empty seat in front. Motioning me to sit down.

I should have left right then and there, but I didn't. Maybe I was just misguided, but I felt like I had to know what was going on with Sere, and Mrs. Viola was the right person to tell me. If she was sick, Mrs. Viola would know. It was her job to keep track of things like that. And if anything was wrong with Sere, if her cousin had done something to her, it was almost certainly my fault. And I had to know about it, so that I could take the blame.

So I squared my shoulders, took a deep breath and stepped into Mrs. Viola' office, shutting the door behind me. Screw the 'my door is always open' policy. Whether she liked it or not, it was one-on-one time with me right now.

And I'm pretty sure she liked it, if that smile on her face was anything to go by. No, Mrs. Viola didn't have a crush on me- shudder. What she did have was an urge to be my 'person', someone I could spill my guts to and tell my problems to like sere told me her life at wall's which I felt regret for her.

For over 5 years now, Mrs. Viola had been trying to score a therapy session with me. I intrigued her. When she found out that I'd stopped seeing my therapist, her efforts to delve into my psyche and examine why I was the way I was doubled. I managed to avoid her by walking very fast as possible in the opposite direction when I saw her come my way- it worked every time. But now I was in the dragons den and I hoped it wouldn't all be for nothing.

"So, Ash," Mrs. Viola beamed as I sat down in my seat, steepling her fingers, "What can I do for you this beautiful morning?"

Beautiful? Are you kidding me? It had been raining for two days straight. Still, at least she hadn't asked me what I was doing in her office instead of being in class.

"Um," I started, nervously pulling on my earlobe. "I was just wondering- do you know why Sere Yvonne isn't at school today?"

Immediately, a guarded look flitted onto Mrs. Viola face, piquing my interest. Something was up.

"Why do you want to know, Ash?" She questioned. Slightly narrowing her lined eyebrows making her forehead creased.

"Well, I- I just missed her in Science today and..." My voice trailed off as Mrs. Viola fixed me with her eagle eye. Hell, if she could only stop looking at me like that for a minute I might be able to come up with something convincing to say.

"Serena Yvonne won't be coming in today," Mrs. Viola stated firmly, in a voice that clearly said 'and that's the last I'll say on this matter.' But I was nothing if not hard headed.

"Do you know what's wrong with her?" I pressed, also leaning forward. "Like, is she sick or – or something?" I retorted with worries spitting out from my mouth.

That or something had a deeper meaning, and Mrs. Viola was smart enough to catch it.

"Like I said before, why do you want to know?" Her lips tightened, eyes curiously targeted me. "It's not like you two are friends."

I gave a silent mental groan, resisting the urge to roll my eyes. Was she perhaps the only person in the entire school who missed my PA announcement? Yes indeed.

"Mrs. Viola, at the moment, Sere is practically the only person in the whole school who isn't treating me like a leper," I said with feeling. "So, if anything's wrong with her, if anything happened to her- I think I have the right to know."

"I'm sorry, Ash. I can't tell you anything. Serena herself called in to swear me to secrecy." She gave me a faint smile. "I am however glad that you've started reaching out to people who come from- shall I say- different walks of life."

Whatever the **** that is. It was time for me to make my exit.

Since Mrs. Viola had failed me, I would have to get my Sere-related news elsewhere. As in May and Dawn. I didn't really want to mess with them, coz Calem was still being a dick about the whole Sere thing and I didn't want to put May in the doghouse. But Dawn- she had a big mouth. Keep her talking long enough and she would let something slip. Hell, it was worth a shot, since I had learnt absolutely all from Mrs. Viola.

Standing up to my two feet and slid back my chair making a low squeak noise. I said, "Well, thanks for your time, Mrs. Viola," as gratefully as I could, even though what I really felt like doing was shaking her and yelling 'tell me what's wrong with Sere!'

But I'm glad I didn't. Grounds for expulsion right there.

She looked at me in a stretched distance for a second as I walked away, her green eyes wide and startled. "Oh, but Ash, I wanted to talk to you about something your stepmother told me."

Oh. Crap. My heart nearly jumped out of my chest as I stopped dead, my hand firmly on the doorknob. So close to freedom, then Mrs. Viola had to spring that on me. It had to be about the aneurysm, just had to be. Why, Hope? I remember telling her that I didn't want her telling anyone about my aneurysm. At the time it seemed like she understood, but now this.. Now Mrs. Viola would take it upon her to tell every member of the faculty and they would all treat me like fragile goods.

"Uh," I managed to croak out. My throat was dry and I could barely think, my head was pounding so hard. How could Hope do this to me when I plainly told her not to? Why would she out me to Mrs. Viola?

A huge wide smile on her face, Mrs. Viola said, "I was so happy to hear that you're back in therapy! Congratulations!"

I practically sagged against the door, relief coursing through my whole body. Was she trying to give me a heart attack?

"Oh, uh- yeah. My dad, he kinda made me go back. No biggie." I said. Moving my left hand and scratching behind my nape as I gave out a chuckle with a sweat dripped from my temples.

"But it is a big deal! It shows that you want to get help. So how's it going? Are you doing better?" She questioned twice before I could reply.

I nodded in responce. Mrs. Viola didn't even know what I was in therapy for. Neither did I, actually. All I seemed to do was lie on a couch and avoid questions my therapist asked about Gary, my mom and how I was dealing with the aneurysm. How that was going to help me I had no idea, but it wasn't my money being wasted.

"Yeah," I lied. "My therapist says I'm improving at a rapid rate."

Mrs. Viola ate it all up. I am such an awesome liar. "Fantastic news, Ash! And I'd also like to remind you- my door is always open if you ever need to talk." A meaningful look. "About anything."

Again with the open door. Seriously.

"Sure." I put on my best fake smile around my tanned face. "Thanks, Mrs. Viola. I gotta go, though. Get back to class."

I stepped out of her office with our conversation ended at last before she had even finished saying 'see you later' and stopped outside in the hallway, almost panting, my nerves were shot. And the Sere thing really wasn't helping.

Time to weed out Dawn and see what light she could shed on the situation. One thing was true- something had happened to Sere and judging from Mrs. Viola' tight-lipped refusal to tell me, it was major.

-----

I ran as fast as I could into May and Dawn later on, almost by accident.

It was now lunch time and I was heading reluctantly to the canteen for a solitary meal. Lunch had been a nightmare ever since the PA incident.

People who now didn't want to talk to me had no problem with talking about me, and very loudly too. I had gone from being one of the most popular and liked students at school to being one of the most hated and infamous in a second. Charming.

May and Dawn were huddled together just outside the canteen entrance, whispering so low that I couldn't hear a single word on what they were talking about. I almost walked into them because I wasn't looking where I was going, lost in my own little world resulting me to bump into Dawn by accident.

Dawn's head snapped up. "Watch it, dumba- Oh, hi Ash." The irritated expression on her face soon disappeared as she gave me a small, cautious grin. I smiled back. Just the people I wanted to see.

"Hey, guys. So, um- where's Sere today?" I asked without any shown preamble.

"Sere?" Dawn repeated, smoothing her blue long-hair back nervously. "Oh. Don't worry about her, she's fine."

My eyes narrowed slowly as I folded my arms across my chest, fixing a fidgety Dawn with a steady look. "I didn't say I was worried," I pointed out, making Dawn look even more nervous, if that was possible. "Is anything wrong with her?" I questioned again, getting more worried by the second for Sere.

At this. Dawn's eyes darted wildly to May, who bit her lip but didn't say anything. I stared. What was going on? How could it be so hard to get a straight answer out of people?

Finally Dawn turned at me again, panic shining in her dark blue eyes as she threw me a giant, fake smile. "No, why would anything be wrong?" she asked. "Everything is just peachy!"

I watched her carefully. She was definitely lying- her cheeks had gone red and that was her body language.

May threw her an exasperated look and turned to me. "Ash, we can't talk right now. We have a project to work on," she said, her brown eyes chilly, even though she was obviously trying to hide it. What did I do to her now?

Sensing a save, Dawn eagerly chimed in, "Yeah, a project!"

Sighing wearily, I spread my hands imploringly, begging them to give me a straight answer. "Guys, just tell me. What's going on? Did her cousin do something to her?" I looked at May, who averted her eyes away from my direction. "Is that why you're mad at me, May?"

Unconvincingly, May shook her head while staring at me in a shrewd way that I didn't much care for. "I'm not mad at you," she said blandly.

Sure you're not.

"Look. Whatever's going on, I just want to help. That's all. I'm on your-," I started, moving closer to the girls until someone boomed across the hall.

"Yo, Ketchum."

I took a step back as Calem's voice came from behind me, I groaned silently. May gave me a frightened look. The asshole probably told them not to have anything to do with me but screw that. We went to the same school, had some classes together. There was no way we weren't going to run into each other from time to time. But logic has never been Calem's strong point.

"What the hell, dude? You go ditch us for nothing and now you play around with these girls!" Deliberately, Calem swung his shoulder violently into my back, trying to get me to lose my balance. I didn't and he scowled.

"I'm talking to them. Or is that a crime as well?" I asked. My blood boiling inside me, feeling fed up about everything. Why did everyone in my life have to make things so complicated?

Calem sneered at me. "No, but breathing in the same air with these girls is." He glowered and glared into my own eyes without taking them off.

Then he takes a step forward and bumped his shoulder into mine causing me lose balance a little, luckily i managed to keep in two feet as he walks past and steered himself into the canteen. May and Dawn took their chance to escape, their hair bouncing as I yelled, "Grow up!" after him receiving just a mute as Calem step through the swinging doors, out of my sight.