Dragon's Wings

Chapter 5

Never have I been happier for it to be Saturday. Waking up that morning, I almost convinced myself the whole conversation last night was a dream.
Who wouldn't? Mom was out, so for that day I lived off cookies and cream icecream -- my favorite -- and netflix. With all this new information, question after question piles up in my head. If Dad had only been trying to protect us, why would he get drunk and beat us? Fear is an abnormal name and can easily be found despite the last name being changed, so why did she only change our last names? It would be too much of a coincidence if this organization found a family of two by the name of Fear and Marie. Just what this organization needs to find, so why haven't they made contact? Or maybe they have and I don't know about it. I haven't exhibited any show of the abilities my father discovered, so maybe they are just lying in wait for something to show. No, that can't be the case. Wouldn't it just be easier to take a DNA sample somehow and find out that way?

This is makimg me even more confused and angry, so I leave my unanswered questions, jab my spoon into the tub of icecream, and play the next episode of Criminal Minds. Sunday was also spent like this, me trying to escape reality, or rather, it would be me trying to get a sense of what reality is. The weekend, as always, was too short. I walk to school that morning particularly perturbed and still in denial of what Mom told me. Despsite my show of annoyance that Monday morning, and again when he met up at noon, Shaun chatted with me merrily. He either hadn't noticed and dubbed my attitude as normal or he doesn't care. I study him skeptically, still thinking over the conversation with Mom. She seemed genuinely worried that Shaun would get hurt with me despite her trying to hide the fact.

"I can see you staring, my love," Shaun teases. 

"Yeah, I'm trying to figure out why you're especially bothersome today," I respond turning my head away from him to look forward. He only laughs at this remark.

"Hi Fear!" Hiroko's voice sings happily as she approaches me, followed by her two clowns. Why must I attract all the idiots of the school? Especially on a day where I just want to get schoolwork done and deal with no people. "We haven't talked in forever! Why didn't you call me yesterday?"

Call her? Seriously? The only phone numbers I have are Mom's and the school's. One can only stare at a fake person blankly, and this is what I do. She stands there smiling like an idiot, waiting expectantly for me to respond. Is this how she wants to get Shaun? By pretending to be my friend? The mere thought is laughable.

"Oh look Shaun, that wall seems a bit abnormal," I completely ignore her while shaun and I are suddenly past her studying the wall intently. It has only two fliers advertising for clubs.

"Yes, yes, this particular wall seems a shade off from the rest," he nods, playing along and his hand holding his chin thoughtfully.

"Don't ignore me you nobo- I mean, come on Fear, "she laughs hollowly behind us, "don't be so mean to me. We were supposed to go shopping!"

"Do you hear that?" I ask turning to Shaun, "It seems someone left a window open. There's a small breeze in here."

"Yeah, weird," he shrugs and we continue walking down the hall toward my locker. Our sarcasm is on point! I shiver as Hiroko's silent eyes are glaring me down so I turn to glance back only to be met with her fist colliding with my face. Hanging my head low, I inhale sharply and hold my cheek. She just boxed me in the face. She legit boxed me in the face!

Shaun steps in front of me, puffed up. "Okay, look here you..."

"Shaun!" I shout over him and shut him up. There is no need for him to get all protective. He turns around to face me and disbelief is clearly written on his face. "She only punched me," I look up with a fierce glare at Hiroko and fix my posture. Then, I simply turn away and start walking toward my locker, history book in hand.