Revelations Galore

I'm calm.

So calm.

My mind is a babbling brook in a serene wilderness.

On fire.

I'm not calm.

"I know I'm new, but it feels like Scarlet deserves some answers." Elise's voice breaks the silence. She's right. Not sure why I can't find words to say it, but I agree. Why is Trish now on team reject? Why is Rouge here? Who the fuck is Pierre? First two are probably the priority.

"'Kay, guess I'll start." follows Trish's voice, her big brown eyes briefly glancing to Rouge, before intermittently switching between me and Elise as she continues. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for Amanda, for all of them. But mostly I'm sorry for all the excuses I made, Amanda and Jenny were like family to me, I convinced myself them picking on you was just a minor blip, like they were good people underneath." You know, action films have taught me that **** feels sweet, but honestly? Just hearing someone apologise after all this time, that scratched a deep itch, or maybe it was because it was Trish. Not that it explains everything. I'm hungry. Crisis or not, I'm having this omelette. I pick up my knife and fork and begin to eat. This either looks cold as ice or dumb as fuck. Probably both. Tastes good though.

Trish seems to be unnerved by my prioritisation of breakfast, but continues on. "A couple of times I recorded what happened, 6 times to be honest, yesterday too." My memory seems to reform like a jigsaw, she was on her phone. That's why she didn't say anything. I remember that. "I don't know, I thought, maybe if I had something concrete I could show them and they'd feel bad, outside perspective maybe? It was stupid. They thought I'd recorded them for posterity."

"So why not stop it?" I ask suddenly, even I'm surprised, though, I suppose it's the most obvious question. Not sure where I got the courage to say that though. Power of the omelette. Omelette makes me strong.

"I should have, you're right." She admits. I was expecting a but. What's the excuse? "The truth is, they know things about me, things that I keep secret for a reason, I couldn't risk angering them, if I took it to the school, they'd rat on me. I was a coward. I'm sorry again." Apology with the self-deprecation doesn't hit the same. "So, after I showed them they asked why I always stayed out of it, said I should have gotten involved, and they threatened to spill anyway. So I took a chance, I took the videos and I sent them to her." Her chestnut eyes turning to Rouge.

Wait, what?

"Bla, bla, bla." Mocks Rouge, her eyes darting to the corner, avoiding all of our gazes. "Dickhead here sent me the clips, but they were useless, unfocused, wobbly, it was like watching a toddler's home videos, no way it'd be admissible proof. So I sent her back for more footage, something I could actually use, and then someone got in the way." She explaines, the familiar **** stare turning to Elise. Okay, that makes more sense. Elise turns to me with surprise on her face, as if worried I'll blame her. Her hair falls so gently against her left cheek, the right side still pinned back, as if I could be mad, that face could calm a charging rhino anyway.

"Sounds like you two decided to come up with a great plan, just decided not to loop me in? And it's Elise's fault it fucked up? Seems like that's on you." I snarl at my sister. Easier her than Trish. Trying not to look at her, could break my guard.

"You're welcome, dear sister, but despite doe-eyes' right hook, the plan worked fine. I just had to cut it down this morning. so the clean clip of them slapping you in the face just got hand delivered to the head of year. Now she's the villain, and you're the victim." Rouge sighs, picking up her bag and standing. "Like I said, you're welcome."

"Why?" Is all I can muster, this isn't like her.

"Firstly, because I said so, secondly, because despite everything, you're my family, and thirdly... Even with Mum's call you would've been the bad guy, you wouldn't have been punished but neither would they... And I wanted them to be... Fourthly, fuck you." Well, one and four make sense, but Rouge never seemed to care about us being blood in the past. Maybe some things are too far even for her?

"What about you?" Asks Elise, eyes deadlocked on Trish. "Seems like you just jumped from a sinking ship." Hard to disagree with her.

"Maybe." Trish admits, her face turning down. Guilt is no look for such a goddess. "But, I gave up the only friends I've ever had to put an end to this, does that count for anything?"

"No." Elise responds bluntly. Harsh, but I suppose she's right, I shouldn't forgive everything because of one good deed. I shouldn't. But I want to. I'm such a doormat. "Tell you what, you want in our good graces, tell us your secret, that way we'll have leverage in case you're lying." We? I like we. Wouldn't Pierre be your we?

"I didn't think Scarlet had a French accent. Didn't you just get here yesterday? Isn't her forgiving me up to her?" Trish retorts. A secret. A secret she doesn't want anyone to know. There's no way it's what I'm hoping is it?

"I want to know." I say quickly, surprising myself again, but there words don't matter, the answer matters, and the question is are you the same as me? Trish bows her head for a moment, clearly thinking it over, until she finally looks back up, determination in her eyes.

"Fine." She states. "I work at Honey's at the weekend. My parents are super traditional, if they found out they'd basically disown me, they're basically looking for an excuse already." Elise turns to me, a look of confusion on her face. Oh no, don't make me explain this to her. It's like explaining porn to Bambi. "It's a lingerie shop... Amongst other adult items... Are you happy now?" Trish clarifies, saving me again.

I'm not gonna lie, I'm underwhelmed, I guess it means more to her, but her parents must be hardcore if she's terrified at the concept of her working somewhere like that reaching them.

Elise's voice starts before mine can even think about it. "Oh, I don't care, I just wanted to see how bad you felt. Must've been bad." Elise scares me on a spiritual level sometimes. "Besides, sex shops? Ha! In Paris there's 4 on every street, what've you got to worry about?" And that's why the fear never sticks. After all that, she's trying to make Trish feel better. Probably. I mean 4 on every street sounds ****. This pulls a smile from Trish's frown, apparently realising the olive branch.

This is nicer.

Now I'm calm.

Omelette was delicious.

The bell interrupts our sole happy moment. The canteen begins to empty as I say goodbye to Trish and follow Elise out the door.

"We'll catch up at lunch, oui?" Elise smiles as she heads to her form room. It's been less than 24 hours, how am I so attached to her? Maybe it's fate. Maybe I'd get attached to anyone with tits and a smile. Maybe it's both. No point worrying about it.

I enter my form room with a different aura, I don't feel like a freak being **** to walk through town. More like a lone rider, saddling up to the saloon, everyone expecting a gunfight. It's not exactly better, but I don't mind it as much. Maybe I should get a duster coat. No. Dumb idea.

I technically only have three subjects at this stage, Science (my mother insisted), PE (For the swimming), and Drama, the one I actually like. I'll learn my timetable one day, but for now, what have I got in store?