DAISY

On Tuesday, the last day of school for the year; I had submitted my biological sciences project to professor Dan and I've gotten more messes of homework on chemistry and calculus for the holidays. Which left me wondering why the professors could be exceedingly demanding.

Through the break before my last class, I decided to spend my time in the classroom with my books and a bottle of water since I've been thoroughly zero with socializing and meeting new people.

Maybe it has everything to do with the lack of self-assurance.

Back in Asia, I've always stayed away from people, accepting shadow as my immunity, believing a little movement could be as knowledgable as the horn of a vehicle, imagining I could be recognized ubiquitously as the daughter of the murderer, as said by some papers that followed us along to our new home.

Right now, in class, with a pen between my fingers, quite deceitful focused eyes on the textbook, and my brain far away from America, until then something quite unexpected happened.

My uncertainty punches me in the chest, I almost jump out of the chair and take flight but it's too late.
Madison Thaddeus sighted me among the little left in the scanty classroom.

She began approaching in a rainbow outfit that suited California's mid-December weather.

Is not me to fight at all, I've always taken the flight choices. I didn't have to face things when they got really bad. But my mom's health situation and finding Kay in the last days of summer eight years after believing I will never get my friend back. I think a little fight has become one of my things.

So I tell myself, I can do it, I can withstand this.

"Hey! Daisy Esteban. Right?" She asked at first before going on with a longer explanation. "I know it's you, I just choose to ask, I don't want you thinking I'm stalking you, because it's creepy but I don't. I just happen to know you from what had happened. Oh and I don't mean I didn't know you before because we had classes together, the start of the semester and we even sat next to each other."

She sounded nervous, she even looks nervous.

Sitting here having a Thaddeus towering me. Legally I became nervous, my foot rigidly stuck to the floor underneath it.

At least she and I have that in common so I nodded in acknowledgment: "Yes I remember."

"You do?" For a moment her eyes were rosy.

My fingers tugged back the locks of hair slightly covering my vision while I make effort to not look as pale as the last time we talked.
"Yes. I'm sorry I was in haste at the time, we didn't get a proper introduction."

Her eyes shifted to determination as if she just put the pieces of a puzzle together.
"You were running from him at the time weren't you?"

To be honest, she's right, I was. I've been running for different purposes which were all intertwined at the end. Thaddeus. I had feared that name for half of my life.

"It doesn't have to..."

Her eyes flashed to the space beside me, she didn't wait for my permission, she plopped into the seat: "You can tell me, Daisy. I am his sister-stepsister." She chastised quietly with closed eyes and pause. Somehow I get the feeling the correction wasn't only for me but also for herself.

When her eyes open, they meet mine and she continues: "But I am all he has closest to family here. I can't live with myself knowing you are in the same school as Caden and I, and I haven't confronted you after what happened."

"Is no big deal," I mumbled. Suddenly having a vivid reoccurring mental image from that afternoon at west bay, the stillness of the empty locker room, the unmercifulness in those angered hazel eyes. His hand straddling me and repeatedly slamming my head against the concrete wall. The durability he carried without breaking a sweat as he had promised while watching me struggle for my life. His terrifying words.

All combined into a single question in my head. What would have happened if Kay hadn't shown up earlier? Or at all?

Her hand over mine snapped me out of the horrid thoughts and I blink as she speaks.

Has she been speaking while I was out of the present?

"It is. You were assaulted, attacked by a man. Part of me wants to say I know how it feels but truly, I can't compare myself to you. So honestly, I don't know how it feels like. It pains me you have to go through it, maybe if I knew about the history your family and mine shares earlier, things won't have gotten this far." She exhaled out loudly as if tired or disappointed.

"Is not your fault."

"Is not yours either." She retorts. "Caden has a record of been rude and mocking but not in my life did I thought he could be physically aggressive." She breathes again and lean back into the chair, her hand leaving mine, but her weary eyes made holes on me. "I am so sorry for what he did. He has no right and I know he should be thrown into the cell for what he did. But you're so humane for forgiving and dropping the charges. I don't know how to thank you for giving him another chance. I fear what that record could have done to his future. Damn, I feel so selfish right now." She frowns and looked away.

I am struggling to discuss this topic, I'm already having painful flashbacks from the event, it's begin to suffocate me, I couldn't help tapping my thigh under the table.

"I didn't forgive him," I said flatly.

"I understand. I understand..."

Now it was me watching her, she swallows and kept her eyes to the distance, I watch the way her throat moves, her expression unreadable. I am not an expert but I could tell she has her own problem on some different plate.

"Maybe someday I might, but right now is too early. I Uhm-I still have a concussion you know. The pain's here." I half-smile even though the words were less for her satisfaction.

I understand, he is her brother, stepbrother as she has been very particular about it. I might not have any siblings but I can imagine wanting the best for someone you care for. I do for Riley, I do for Kay.

"The memories remain when through the aching." Madison smiled back.

"Yes, that."

"Told you I understand." Her smile widens, a brow rose.

I could only smile and relax, at least she understood me.

Her eyes narrow at me like awareness had flare through before her head jerk back, and her eyes close tightly.
"God, I should've known he wasn't hitting on you the other day, I should have known he was after vengeance."

I chuckle.
"You thought he was hitting on me?"

"Do you blame me?" Her eyes broaden, exaggeratedly quizzical. "Caden's a lothario." She beckoned to the group of girls left in the classroom.

"I heard about that." I laugh and then suddenly close my mouth with my hand when I remember I am not talking to just some regular girl who has a crush on him. "I am sorry, I shouldn't say that to you. He is your family." I stammered, blushing.

"But is no lie. Chill, I don't care, call him an ass or worst, he fitted every single curse on this planet."

Gape, my eyes widen from the shock over her comment toward her stepbrother but some brassy voice hindered my response, I cringe.

"Hello girls, I'm Rachel Collins, popular girl in the class I'm sure you already know." She brushes off with her manicured nails.

Wait! That specific line sounds familiar.
It's like that's how she goes introducing herself.

Oh no! Please don't tell me she went on cramming and reiterating the same line to everyone she meets. If so, she could be more miserable than the former me from weeks ago. You know when all I have was the wrong side of Kay. Hatred, and different emotion that opposes 'kindness and affection'

"I am having a party tomorrow at my place, maybe you two could come with your plus one. Kaiser Chandler for instance." She grins broadly at me, I wonder if it hurts. And then her smoky eyes drift to Madison. "And you, bringing a family to a party is a symbol of earnest love." She says the last part like a yoga coach.

I and Madison made eye contact before the miserable Iggy Azalea wannabe.

"That's why my flight back home for the holidays is tomorrow. Gotta share abundance earnest love around the fam." Madison smirked at the suddenly disgruntled girl in front of us.

"Keep telling yourself that lie." Rachel rolled her eyes and when Madison shoots her an 'Excuse me?' glare, she scrunches her face and wave "Bye uninspiring creatures."

Gape, I mutter: "That's weird." watching Rachel walk back to her group of friends.

"That's spoiled brats for you. And at the end, I am sure she's all bark and no bite." Madison whispered.

I have to admit, Madison is fun and very different from her brother. I remember her defending me against him in an active lecture room, the day he started up putting the pieces together of my identity.

"Is that Kaiser Candler, the son of the state governor, advancing?" Her eyes widen toward the front door and I followed her gaze where I find the reason for the sudden giggles and gushes in the background.