So I was up for suspension- which was no surprise but considering the circumstances, it was a bloody good reason. If this were 6 months ago, I would've been devastated; my only concern being my permanant record.

They were pulling up my file since my school was so old fashioned that they barely relied on technology. I watched as the searched through file cabinets, searching for my parents information and i looked down at my right hand. Observing my knuckles which were bruised from socking Zachary in the face. I should've kneed him in the balls but I was so focused on ruining his face, I didn't have time to think about that.

"Just look in the computer." The secretary finally said to one of the head administrators. "I've removed most of the seniors from the computer system."

"Now why would you do that?" The secretary scolded, finally they both stood to their feet and moved back into a room with a computer. I sank in my seat for a moment and then quickly realized; Zachary's information was probably in here as well.

I stood up and quickly ran to the cabinet, my heart racing as my fingers dragged across the folders.

My eyes flickered across each name and I anxiously searched through them all. Finally my hands clasped Zachary's and I opened it.

Most of his folder was empty which was odd...he should have all of his background here. His record. The only thing I did find was a small piece of paper which looked like it had been ripped out of a journal. I grabbed it and then put in my pocket, closed the cabinet and scurried back to my seat.

Zachary was planning something and this wasn't sudden, something told me in the back of my head. he had all of this planned for a long long time. But all for what? What was his goal?

His motive?

He spoke to me the obvious, he spoke to me in riddles. he even stated he was hiding something but it wasn't going to be easy. It never was that easy, there was always a catch or a price to pay.

And I was determined to figure it out.

After a half a hour of waiting, I watched as the secretary returned with my parents, but to my surprise. They didn't look infuriated. "Baby are you okay?" My mother asks, her eyes filled with worry. "I heard what you did and I saw his face too. You have a killer right hook Marley." My dad praised, brushing my hair back with his hand and I smiled.

"Mr. and Mrs. Winter please have a seat." The secretary said allowing them to sit on either side of me, my mother holding my hand and my father rubbing my back.

"Marley has been given a 2-3 day suspension-" My dad interrupted her.

"Two to three day? Well which one is it? Why is that boy not getting into any trouble?" My dad asks, he's clearly already agitated.

"Mr. Winter please. The boy Zachary claimed he didn't lay a hand on Marley and Marley can attest to that. Marley attacked him first." The secretary explains and my mother glances at me.

"He raped Aryiana, of course I was going to beat his face in. Then he had the nerve to lie about it and spread rumors. By suspending me, you're allowing for this bullshit to continue!" I shout.

"Marley- language." My mother warned. "She's speaking her mind. And besides, why would Marley claim such a thing? Rape. That boy deserved what he got." My dad says.

I could see the sympathy in her eyes and I could tell she agreed whole heartitly but her job refrained her from saying anything. "We are obliged to investigate all accusations and since we technically have no proof- we can't act."

"Proof?" I paused and laughed. "You need proof that a man raped a woman. Go look at Aryiana's arm. She has anxiety attacks walking down the hallway. She can barely look at the bastard for God's sake. What more proof do you need? I know you heard the rumors but no one has heard the story and everyone in this school including teachers can't bare to discover that they're perfect little school has psychos in it. If you guys won't act immediately on it then I will. Just bring his face here so I can throw it into a glass window." I growl.

The secretary looks at me, almost in fear for a moment and then back at my parents.

"We can't just go by your word. We have to investigate." She reminds.

"This isn't a murder, you can't go find evidence. Go talk to Aryiana. She'll tell you everything and if you still can't take her word for it. Then I've lost all faith in humanity." I whisper and rise to my feet, before anyone can say anything or stop me, I walk out.

Pushing past staff and into the lobby where I see Zachary sitting with an ice pack on his eye and a tissue over his nose to stop the blood.

"I'm not done with you." I growl and he smirks briefly. "And I'm far from done with you." He retorts and I walk out the door.

It takes all of my willpower to not run back and finish what I started but I kept walking.

Sometimes success moved in silence.

My parents sat in the front seat of the car, still just sitting in the school parking lot.

"We believe you Marley." My mom whispers, but these words don't faze me. I wanted justice for Aryiana. I wanted to take Zachary down and I would stop at nothing to see to it.

"So don't expect a punishment." She adds.

"Yeah, actually expect a reward. This is a parents dream." My dad says with a smile.

"Hearing their daughter kicked a boys ass?" I ask and they both laugh. "No. Seeing you stand up for what you know is right. Even if others dont see it, you know it. You're a strong young woman Marley." My father praises and I can't help but grin wildly.

"Thanks." I whisper. Knowing my family could see the good in what I was trying to do, meant more than words could explain, but I couldn't say anything. I just smiled to myself.

Before returning home, I requested that my mother stop by a store so I could purchase something. A flower that I intended to give to Violet.

On the way to the hospital, I contemplated if I should bring Sage and Aryiana but considering they were still in school, I decided it would be a trip for one.

Violet had been extremely weak lately and finally began sleeping, so she wasn't awake for any of our visits.

To my surprise, she was when I walked into her room, she was sitting up and writing on a piece of paper, then looked up and smiled when she saw me.

"Hi Marley," She says with a sweet smile and my heart clenches. It still hurt seeing you like this.

"Hey warrior." I whisper and hold her gift behind my back. "How are you feeling?" I ask and she shrugs. "I don't feel anymore. Maybe it's the medicine. I don't know." She replies back softly and I bite the corner of my lip.

"I brought something for you. It might cheer you up, I offer and she tilts her head to the side. I take the pot that has soil and a growing flower in it and hand it to her.

"It's a narrow-leafed Campion flower. It grows the slowest, but one of the most beautiful. All flowers recieve rain, that rain in your life...that's the bad....but all flowers need sunshine. Find your sunshine Vi." I whisper and she gazes down at the growing bud.

Her eyes slowly filling with tears as she looks back up at me. "I'm no flower..."

"Violet, the great thing about flowers is that, they don't look at the other flowers growing next to them. They come in all shapes, sizes and colors. All beautiful in their own special way. All rare. You're a flower Violet. You're beautiful." She shakes her head as if she's agreeing and the tears slip down her cheeks and she places the flower pot next to her, her hands shaking.

"What if I wither away?" Is her next question and I smile weakly.

"You always come back. Even when you lose yourself."

My meeting with Violet was brief but needed, it prepared myself for calling this number that was in my pocket. It prepared me to expose him, but what if Zachary was already 10 steps ahead of me, what if his parents thought I was crazy and thought it was a lie?

But only calling would tell. I sat on my bed with my home phone, just in case they would try to call back.

It took all of strength to finally press the buttons and call the number, my heart racing and I finally heard the click.

Someone answered. "Hello, is this the guardian of Zachary?" I ask.

"Yes." I hear a male voice and I frown...this was all too wrong.

"Wait....Ian? Is that you?" I breathe into the phone.

"Marley?"

~*~*~*~**~*~*~

To the left if you're on a computer, you'll see the flower Marley gave Violet.

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