Stella bit her lip and hesitated for a moment. She sighed and said, "Maybe you really do deserve to know. Well....these scars, well they are from my punishments."
Darwin furrowed his brows, "Punishment?"
Stella: "Well yeah. You know, I'm usually punished whenever I do something against the rules. Fighting Derek, for example. Talking rudely to Susan. Whenever I am found bullying you. You know, the usual. Me."
Darwin's face darkened as he said, "All this? You were punished?"
Stella waved her hand, "Oh not all. I get into fights you know. Other than with Derek."
Darwin gritted his teeth, "Tell me honestly Stella. Who did this? Why are there whip marks?"
Stella said in a smal voice, "You already know by now."
"Yeah. But I want to hear from your lips." Darwin's voice was filled with anger.
"Okay fine. Susan punished me. Her punishments usually involve beating me with a whip and then sending me to the attic." Stella sighed. She had never ever shown these marks or told that her step-mom beat her with a whip to anyone before.
"Darwin? Darwin!?!?" Stella was alarmed when Darwin sat like a statue and did not move an inch.
Stella's voice brought him back to reality. He shook his head and busied himself with Stella's wounds. Once done, Darwin closed the box. Stella sat up, pulled on her top, and handed the sweater back to Darwin.
"Keep it. You need to stay warm." Darwin said, pushing the sweater in Stella's hands.
Stella shook her head, "I'll be fine. I'm habitual. You have no idea how close I can bring my knees to my chest for warmth. I almost look like a ball." Stella chuckled.
She had meant to lighten the mood with this, but Darwin's eyes glistened with tears upon hearing this. Stella herself did not know how pitiful she was for trying to cheer Darwin up by saying that.
It was that day that Darwin realised how much Stella actually suffered silently, all the while maintaining her antagonist appearance to the outside world. She suffered so much alone and in silence that it had almost become part of her daily life and if she was not in pain, she felt like she had been blessed. Like she did right now.
"Hey hey hey!! Don't start crying on me now. You know I hate crybabies!!" Stella exclaimed as tears threatened to fall from Darwin's eyes.
Darwin wiped her tears and smiled, "Yeah. I know. You hit me more if I cry."
Stella scratched her head, "I won't from now on. You actually are quite a cool guy."
Darwin chuckled and said, "Thanks. And you too are the coolest bully I've ever met."
In a flash, Stella was on top on Darwin and was aiming a punch at his face. She checked herself at the last minute and climbed down, grinning, "Sorry. Old habits die hard."
Darwin also grinned, "Actually, you know Stella, I'm gonna miss you in school next year."
Stella rolled her eyes, "That's assuming I can pass the exams this year."
Darwin chuckled, "I'll help you study."
Stella was about to say something when she suddenly turned rigid. When asked what was wrong, she said, "I think you should leave."
"Huh? What?" Darwin was surprised. He thought he was getting along with Stella. Why did she want him to leave?