Chole's POV:

       I sense Kid Zebra needs my help. I start to rub the comb in my hair. Suddenly, I see a bee before my eyes. It is special because this one talks. "Hi, Sorry, my queen!  I am here to assist you and my name is Bebee."

    "Good because the zebra hero needs my help."

    "Just say, Buzz on!" The bee says. I do so and find myself surrounded by yellow light then my clothes change. Wow, I look like a queen bee I thought. That is it, my hero's name, Queen Bee.

     I help Kid Zebra in battle.  Why does she seem familiar?  How?

    I shake my head. No way can she be her. I attack the villains and ensure the new kid hero isn't taken out by them. Soon, she catches the akumas with her grabber, an extended arm, and puts them into sealed jars.  Whoa, I thought that was impressive. 

       I wonder how  Ladybug and Chat Noir would react if they saw Kid Zebra and me in action. I sigh. What about Nathaniel? Is he still safe?  I better check on him soon.

     I did a quick fist bump with Kid Zebra. Then, I went to hide. I must keep my identity a secret at all costs.

     *Author's note: In this story, she never revealed her identity as a hero to her mother to try to impress her.  Her mother is dead in this story. She died when Chole was 17.

     I transform back. Now to find Sarah and check on Nathaniel.

   I see Sarah in the hall and wave at her. The two of us check in on Nathaniel. He is undamaged from the akumas thank goodness. 

     I hug Sarah. I feel pain in my left arm because it still has healed from the last time Jeff  hurt me before his arrest and the breakup. Yes, I broke all ties with him once he was arrested. 

       "Miss Chole, your arm," I hear Sarah say. I can see the sympathy she has. "Here let me help," She says. She kisses my arm and the wound heals. I look at her in amazement. How did she do it? I thought.

     I smile. The two of us go and sit beside Nathaniel's bed. Sarah is eating some crackers and has a soda. I don't mind. She is only eleven. She might as well take her time growing up.

      I  did not tell her, but I called the orphanage before I took her back to room 432 to visit with him. It was so I could find out more about her.  Most of the workers seemed okay, but two were rude. Those claimed that I was trying to rip their income from them. I ask what they meant and felt my face boil. I hung up. I better report them to the police soon I thought. I can't let them take her back. I will fight them and adopt her. 

      While Sarah eats, I kiss Nathaniel's cheek. "I would not have minded one on the lips," He says. I blush. He is probably teasing me because there is no way he loves me. How could he?  Jeff promises for years he does, but look at how he treated me. I am too battered, bruised, scared, and ruined for him.  

"How is the little bee?" Nathaniel asks. I look at him and scowl. Who is this little bee?

    Sarah walks over to him, "I am just fine, Mr. Nathaniel, but I could use a mom, dad, and grandpa," She says.  

   I stand there stunned. Nathaniel calls Sarah, a little bee. I smiled in relief. Then, I blush at Sarah's response to him. Good day, does she ship me with Nathaniel? 

     I turn my face away from them feeling embarrassed. 

      I overhear Nathaniel saying, "I would not if  you were my daughter.  I  also will not take you from Chole. She loves you."

    "Then, why don't you marry her?" Sarah asks.

    I did not stay to hear what he said. I couldn't.  It was too much to take in.

      I sobbed in the hallway.  Where had I gone wrong?  I sniffed.

   "Chole's Flashback..."

   "Hi, cutie," I turn to see a hot boy talking to me.

   I was a counselor at camp and he was a counselor for the boys.

   "Hi," I say. 

  "So, what is your name?" He asks.

  "Chole and what is yours?" I ask.

  "Jeff."  He says and winks at me. I blush.

        The other girls roll their eyes at him.

    Jeff and I hit it off. We sat together for snacks while our chargers were at arts and crafts. He asked for my phone number, I gave it to him. He smirked. I could tell he was pleased.

   The rest of camp, he flirted with me and I flirted back. We kissed. I fell hard for him.

Later, after camp, he saw me walking in the park. He hugged me. I hugged him.

  He gave me a bracelet, and I wore it. He asked me out and like a foolish schoolgirl, I said yes. I was twenty-two then.  I had no idea, he would turn out to be anything than what I thought.

 Three years later, I had caught him cheating on me many times. I threatened to leave him. He would always beg forgiveness, give me gifts, and flowers, and kiss me. I stayed. Then, the abuse started. One night he came home drunk and attacked me. I never told anyone about it. I covered the places with makeup.  He also raped me. 

   I never told a soul about how he slapped, scratched, hit, kicked, and sexually assaulted me while we were together. I also never told anyone that he used a knife to cut shapes into my skin. 

      I always forgave him and he always stayed the monster he had become. Then, again perhaps he always was the monster and I never saw it before it was almost too late.

    "End of Flashback..."

 I let the tears continue to fall. I shook my head. Nathaniel does not love me. He mustn't...I am nothing but someone else's used goods, I thought.  I did not know how wrong I was then.

    I had no idea that my best friend who I had known longer than the monster, Jeff, loved me. I also had no idea, he kept it from me because he did not think I could handle it.

   I know Jeff is in prison now, but for how long?  Sure, I pressed charges the day he tried to murder Sarah, Nathaniel, and me.  Would it be enough?

    I looked at my right wrist which no longer held the bracelet. The flesh there was still broken, bruised, and starting to scar.  My right leg had a bruise on it too. I had gotten a bee tattoo on my right thigh to cover it up. As for my left wrist, it ached constantly and I had almost lost the use of it altogether.  The only part that was healed was the spot on my left elbow where Sarah had touched it.

    I notice that she carries a teddy bear with her. I never asked where she got it. I felt it was not a place to question her. The little girl reminds me so much of myself from all she went through. The other orphans used to bully her, call her names, and tell her "No one wants to adopt you," and that was not the worse of it.  My dear Sarah, I have to help her I thought.

  I can't let them ruin her like Jeff did to me. I must protect her at all costs like a queen bee does her hive, and a momma cub does her bear.  I brush away some of the tears.

   I hear footsteps behind me. I don't bother to look up.

    I feel her hand grab mine. "Miss Chole, I am here. Don't be sad. I here." Sarah says on cue as if she knew I needed her.

     Then, she says, "Bonnie, missed you too." "Bonnie?" I ask. "Yes, she is the teddy bear my mom gave me before she died," Sarah says. I hear her start to cry.

     I pull her in for a hug. Sarah gives me one. "Thanks, Miss Chole."

   "you are welcome, Sarah, " I say.

     I  sit on a chair now. Sarah is in the one next to me holding her Teddy, Bonnie on her lap.

     I smile when Sarah lays her head on my lap and falls asleep. It is almost like we are mother and daughter. Perhaps one day we will be, I thought. I kiss her forehead. "Shh," I say to soothe her because I see her feet kick at the chair out of fear. She must be having a bad dream.

    I began to sing a song my mother used to sing to me before she left. 

   "My little darling angel,

weep no more,

weep no more,

for momma's home-

home to stay.

Home to stay, 

never more to go away.

 Weep no more my precious darling daughter,

I love you!"

I finish the song and see that Sarah is resting peacefully now. The mean nightmare is long gone or forgotten.

  "You sing beautifully," I hear some say. I  see Nathaniel standing there.

  "How long have you been there?" I ask.

   He is wearing a hospital gown, socks, and funny-looking shoes. He is hooked up to a monitor and some fluids.  Yet, he stands there.

   "Long enough to see you sing to help Sarah," Nathaniel says.

  "My mother used to sing it to get me to fall asleep," I whisper as a tear falls.

        Nathaniel catches the tear. It turns into a rose. "How?" "Sorry, a good magician never tells how he does his tricks,"  He says.

      "Thank you." I smile weakly.  

   "A lady should not be as troubled as you. I'm sorry what he put you through." Nathaniel says. 

  I can tell he means it. I see his eyes glisten. Whoa, since when did his eyes sparkle like that?  Why have I never noticed before? I thought.

     "After you left, I came looking for you. You know something?" Nathaniel responds.

     "What?" I ask.

   "I always had a soft spot for you. I will do all it takes to prove it." He says, lowering his voice, so as not to wake Sarah from her nap.

       I see the hope in his eyes. I say nothing. What is there to say? I am not that girl.  

       Nathaniel curls a loose piece of my hair in his hands. "Chole," He whispers. I look away.

          I can feel his stare. I can't look back. I am afraid to see his disappointment. 

         "Why did not tell me?" He asks.  "Tell you what?" I ask without looking in his direction.

         "That, he raped you. I know Chole, I know all about it." Nathaniel says. I can tell as he speaks that his voice cracks. "How could you let him do that to you, and still stay with him?"

          "He threatened to harm my father, and everyone else close to me. I felt I had to stay," I reply.  Nathaniel sobs. "Chole, I only know because when he tried to kill me and I struggled to get the knife from him, he laughed as he stabbed my leg. He also bragged about how he treated you. That &^*%&^&!  was proud as if you were a trophy." Nathaniel tells me. "But you are not a trophy on a shelf, or a prize to be won, you are a lady. A lady that means everything to me." Nathaniel says. He continues to play with my hair. He sobs more. 

            "I should have been there sooner for you. Oh, Chole, I am sorry."  He continues to weep and he kisses my other hand.

        I feel my hand drop and he starts to walk away. "Chole, I love you." He whispers.

       I remain seated there as he returns to room 432. I was at a loss for words, He called me his everything. He knows more than I thought and he says he loves me.  I am sorry I thought.

        I blush as I recall how his hand felt against his lips. I look at the palm of my right hand- the one where there is a scar in the shape of a hawk. It is gone. How?

         I grew sleepy and fell asleep. 

   The story continues in Chapter 14

   Until then,

bye-bye,

little owlets!

Summer out!