✓ | FLARE, warren peace

chapter twenty four

A couple of weeks had passed since the night of Homecoming, and although the effects of the infant experience were still lightly lingering, life gradually returned to a sense of normalcy.

Will Stronghold had managed to return to his pre-Gwen and posse state, although it proved to be a little challenging to win over Cassidy's approval, as she remained firm in her belief that he was still a jerk to his friends.

Step by step, Will was determined to prove his true colors, and the task wasn't as daunting as it seemed. Cassidy, although not genuinely upset, seemed to derive a certain pleasure from his efforts, which the others quickly noticed but chose to silently watch unfold.

The students were enjoying their lunch when Principal Powers unexpectedly approached their table. The last thing they expected to hear was that Gwen requested a private conversation with Cassidy. Layla and Warren, however, were not surprised by the revelation, having already been aware of Gwen's sympathetic inclinations towards Cassidy.

Cassidy quickly stood up, not giving the others a chance to express their concerns. The group turned to Warren, questioning him, but he simply shook his head, indicating that it wasn't his place to explain. Layla, understanding Warren's stance, quickly concurred with his decision.

Cassidy walked towards the detention room, which housed a solitary Gwen who firmly refused to vacate the premises until she could speak with Cassidy.

Lash, Speed, and Penny had all been set free, but they were now grappling with the repercussions of their actions, facing potential expulsion as accessory to the crime.

Gwen, unfortunately, was not granted the same freedom as her former sidekicks. Despite any arguments or attempts to mitigate the situation, this was her second chance, and life didn't offer an infinite supply of them.

"Cassidy," Gwen looked up to greet her as she entered the room, a smile forming on her lips. "I was quite worried you might reject visiting me," she admitted.

Cassidy settled on the desk beside her and responded, "And why on earth would I do that? You've never been unkind to me, you know."

Gwen leaned on her hand and posed a challenge, "Even if I did turn the majority of the school into babies?" She shrugged, "I mean, that's pretty bad, wanting to raise them as evil villains."

Cassidy's expression softened, her voice gentle and understanding as she responded, "I still don't think that's the whole story." She paused, her gaze focused on Gwen. "Maybe it was mainly aimed at the Strongholds," she acknowledged, "and I know I shouldn't say this, but everyone reacts differently to bullying. You were under a lot of pressure with the added weight of being misjudged."

Gwen shared a heartfelt admission with Cassidy, "You're a lot like your parents, you know – minus the whole villain part," she confessed. "They always came in there for me, and they always helped me up... Apologies if that was offensive in any way, comparing you to your parents."

Cassidy smiled warmly, her eyes meeting Gwen's. "To be completely honest, I struggled for so long with constantly being compared to them," she confessed. "I loathed being seen only as their daughter," she added, pausing for a moment. "But after understanding why you chose your path, it helped me see that before they were bad, they were once good," she continued. "I shouldn't overlook that, and my parents are indeed villains, but in my memories, all I can truly remember is greatness. They were good to me, and they really shaped me into who I am today."

Gwen reached out and tenderly gripped Cassidy's hand, her voice filled with remorse. "I'm really sorry," she whispered, her eyes full of sadness. "I wish I could have found a way to prevent them from turning bad."

Cassidy reassuringly squeezed Gwen's hand, shaking her head in disagreement. "It wasn't your responsibility," she emphasized, "you were dealing with your own burdens, and you had no obligation towards their decisions."

Gwen spoke, her voice heavy with regrets, "I've always thought that if I had done what they did for me, then they wouldn't have chosen to turn bad."

Cassidy's voice was filled with genuine gratitude and sincerity as she replied, "I wish they hadn't taken that path, but I want you to know that I'm truly glad that there are still others out there besides me and my grandmother who remember that they were once good people. It seems that almost everyone else has completely forgotten it, so thank you, Gwen."

As the time spent together ticked on, Gwen shared stories about Cassidy's parents when they were in school. She spoke of the times they stood up for her and even of their confrontations with Baron Battle, a revelation Cassidy couldn't wait to share with Warren.

By the end of their time together, Cassidy exited the room with her head held high, feeling both empowered and enlightened by the newfound knowledge about her parents' past that she thought she'd never be privy to.

Though Cassidy found comfort and solace in her conversation with Gwen, she acknowledged that the older female still had to face the consequences of her actions. Gwen had intentionally chosen to utilize the rarity of a second chance to continue down a path of vengeance, and as much as anyone else might have an opinion about it, the ultimate choice was one that Gwen had willingly accepted.

While the anger and bitterness that had once consumed her seemed to have vanished, Gwen had come to terms with her misdeeds and acknowledged the wrongs she had done.