II.                                           Heartbreak Weather

      Eli saw her again in class. She was in the back of the classroom, the only open seat next to her. Her head was down, a curtain of blonde hair surrounding her. They had the same math class since freshman year. Eli forced himself to walk down the isle of desks to where she was sitting. "I-Is anyone sitting here?" He stuttered like an idiot.

She lifted her head, revealing the blue eyes again. She smiled. "Nope. You can have it." She replied softly.

Laughing nervously, Eli almost tripped over her bag to sit down. He popped his knuckles under the table. "T-Thanks." He stuttered again and mentally hit himself. Stop being so awkward!

She smiled again but that was it. She rested her chin in the palm of her hand and her eyes scanned the classroom. Eli didn't look away yet. "I'm Eli."

She looked his way, almost shocked that he was talking to her. "I know." Her eyes went wide. "That's sounded creepy. Sorry—"

He chuckled.

"I mean, I know who you are. I'm Odessa."

"I know," he responded, teasing her. He grinned.

Her face softened and she smiled with a laugh. She looked ahead of her again and he looked away, too, smiling to himself.

Thalia Reid loved to cook. It was one of her passions. When she wasn't at work, she was in the kitchen. It was also one of the only things that kept her from slowly losing her mind. Living in the same house that her husband left her in was torturous. She was forced to sleep in the same bed, get ready in the same bathroom, go into the same closet, and walk down the same hallway with pictures of them gone and put away. It was like he never lived there in the first place.

Dinners in the Beaumont-Reid house were always quiet. Odessa rarely talked but Thalia always tried to get a conversation out of her. "How was school today, honey?" She asked her daughter.

"It's was fine." Odessa answered. She lied. School was never fine. It was horrible.

"Did anything new happen today?"

"Not really."

Awkward silence.

"How was work?"

"Oh,  it was great. I even had time to look up some new recipes on the computer!"

"That's great, mom."

Odessa and her mom were close. They were best friends. But damage had been done to both of them. Thalia was still grieving over her ex husband while Odessa was grieving the absence of her father and being branded the school slut. Before everything happened, the mother and daughter always knew how to talk to each other. Now, it was painful to even try.

After dinner, Odessa helped her mom clean the kitchen and she went to her room. That's how it always went. Home from school. Homework. Dinner. Go to her room. It wasn't like she was trying to be a bad daughter. Odessa felt guilty all the time that she didn't know how to communicate with her mom. But she was struggling internally. Nobody understood the thoughts in her head. They grew more and more intense the longer she laid rotting away in her bed because she was so incredibly lonely.

See what you've done to me, dad? See how much you've screwed me up?

"Cyber bullying is no laughing matter.  Sending a cruel message to someone online can be just as hurtful as saying it to their face."

Odessa scoffed our loud. "Says who?"

Teachers have no fucking idea what their students go through. And when they do, they don't care. They only speak up when they're told to. Avoiding conflict is keeps them from a lawsuit. Odessa was sick and tired of hearing them speak on bullying when they had no idea what it was really like.

"I'm not gonna name names,  but the other day a mother called me because her son was crying after some kids online made fun of his facial deformity."

"Oh, you bitch,"  Oliver swore out loud. He listened to Blatt with a sneer on his lips.

Everyone's eyes turned to Eli, who already knew they were looking at him. He self consciously covered the scar on his lip and lowered his head, feeling embarrassed.  "Poor kid. People are assholes," said Hailey with a scoff.

With her chin rested on the palm of her hand, Odessa stared at Eli from across the cafeteria. Their eyes met. Eli looked sad at the unwanted attention he was getting. She understood better than anyone. She smiled his way, softly, and he didn't look away like he always did. He stared back at her for a minute or two before lowering his head back down.

Councilor Blatt continued with her announcement.  "Oh,  and one more thing! While we're all looking forward to the halloween dance, let's make sure our costumes are cultural sensitive—"

Oliver groaned our loud.

"Instead of 'sexy nurse',  maybe try 'gender neutral' hospital employee!"

Grayson sighed and snapped his fingers. "Welp,  there goes you chance,  Hails." 

Hailey flipped him off and the two boys laughed, fist bumping each other. She rolled her eyes at them. "Speaking of the Halloween dance, what's everyone's costumes?" She asked the group, ignoring the way he was poking her side. She swatted his hand away.

"I'm not sure if I want to go,"  said Odessa.

Oliver scoffed. "Nice try,  Dessi. You're definitely going,"

"Why would I want to go to a party with a bunch of people that make fun of me when I can stay home and watch Law and Order?"

"Cause you're not a complete and total loser,"  Hailey answered like it was obvious.

Oliver pointed her way. "Exactly! C'mon, we'll find you a hot costume and you'll strut in their looking the hottest in the room. Fuck all of them."

The blonde only shrugged as they waited for an answer. "I'll think about it." She partially lied. Her mind was already set in staying home in bed watching Law and Order SVU.

When lunch was over, Eli stood from the table and was shocked when he saw the familiar blonde standing in front of him. Demetri and Miguel's jaws dropped. "You know,  people are assholes.  You really can't get away from them.  All you can do is show them that they don't affect you and they'll get bored and move on to someone else." Her voice was soft and kind, her eyes full of innocence. Her hands were locked in front of her like a little kid.

Eli's sad expression softened. "T-Thanks, Odessa." He stuttered like normal, feeling more shy.

She made a move to walk away but she paused and looked at him again. "You don't have to hide your scar. I think it makes you look badass."

He watched her walk out of the cafeteria with her friends. Demetri stood by his side, his jaw still dropped. "Don't tell me you're friends with her now, too?" He said.

Eli didn't respond back. Miguel looked over to see him still frozen in place, staring right where she was standing before. "Eli? Eli?" He waved his hand in front of his face.