Reckless Charms (New Boy from Juvie)

Fractured Trust

The medical room was quiet, save for the soft hum of the fluorescent lights and the occasional rustling of paper as the school nurse tidied up. Luna sat on one of the examination beds, her posture tense and her hands gripping the edge of the mattress. Cleo stood nearby, her expression a mixture of concern and patience.

Luna's eyes darted around the room, her anxiety palpable. "Cleo, I'm serious. You really shouldn't be around him. You don't know what he's capable of."

Cleo, trying to maintain a calm demeanor, smiled gently. "Luna, I understand your concerns. Kai might have a rough past, but that doesn't mean he's a bad person. Let's not judge him based on his history."

Luna's agitation grew as she shook her head. "You don't get it, Cleo! This isn't just about his past. It's about what could happen. What if he's still dangerous? What if he does something..."

Cleo stepped closer, her voice soothing but firm. "Luna, I get that you're worried. But people change. We can't keep judging someone based on what they've done before. We have to give them a chance to prove who they are now."

Luna's frustration boiled over. Her face flushed with anger as she stood up abruptly, her hands clenching into fists. "You're not listening to me! I don't want you to get hurt because of him! I'm telling you, he's not someone you should be around!"

Cleo's smile faded, replaced by a look of concern. "Luna, calm down. I'm just trying to understand where you're coming from. But shouting won't help—"

"Leave me alone!" Luna screamed, her voice echoing off the walls. "Just leave me alone!"

She began to hit her head lightly with her hands, her frustration and fear manifesting in the physical gesture. The sound of her palms meeting her forehead was a rhythmic, distressing thud that filled the room.

Cleo, taken aback by the outburst, took a step back. "Luna, stop! You're hurting yourself. Let's just talk about this—"

"No!" Luna shouted, her voice breaking. "You don't understand! I can't deal with this right now. Just go! Go away!"

Seeing Luna's state, Cleo realized that any further attempts to calm her would only escalate the situation. With a heavy heart, Cleo backed away, her eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and resolve.

"I'll give you space," Cleo said softly, her voice tinged with regret. "But please, just think about what I said."

As Cleo turned and left the room, she could still hear Luna's distressed cries and the sound of her hitting her head. It was a painful reminder of how deeply Luna's fears ran, and Cleo felt a pang of guilt for not being able to bridge the gap between them.

Once outside, Cleo leaned against the door, her heart heavy with the weight of Luna's turmoil and her own conflicted feelings about Kai. The encounter left her with a new understanding of Luna's fears and a renewed determination to address them—one way or another.

Inside the medical room, Luna stood by the closed door, her anger palpable. Her eyes, usually a bright and expressive blue, were now narrowed into sharp slits of fury. She glared at the door as if it were the source of all her frustration.

"Stupid Cleo," Luna muttered under her breath, her voice dripping with venom. "Always so idealistic. 'He might have a bad record but he isn't bad.' What a load of crap."

Her hands clenched into fists, her knuckles white."Damn it, Cleo!" she spat, her voice low and seething. "What a stupid, naive bitch"