Three agonizing days had crawled by, each one exacerbating Seraphina's growing annoyance. Octavia, the one person she longed to see, had not visited her. It was as if a hollow ache had settled in her heart, longing for his presence.
Initially, Seraphina had anticipated Octavia's daily visits during her suspension. But as the days dragged on, her worry started to overshadow her hope. Had something happened to him? Or was he merely frightened by her reckless actions on the last day they met? These thoughts consumed her, distracting her from the conversation at hand.
"Where is your mind, Seraphina?" Mike's voice pierced through her reverie. Absentmindedly playing with the zipper of her jersey, she snapped back to reality. "Nothing... I mean, nowhere. What were you saying?" she replied, struggling to refocus on Mike's words.
"Oh yeah, I was saying that when Deborah approached me..." Mike's words drifted away as Seraphina's gaze fixated on a boy walking away in his school uniform. It was Octavia, unmistakably. "Yo, what the actual-" Mike began to say, but his voice trailed off as he followed Seraphina's gaze, witnessing her captivation with Octavia's figure.
"Who is he?" Mike asked, curiosity brimming in his voice. "Huh?" Seraphina turned to face Mike, momentarily startled. "Who is the guy you're staring at?"
"Um... No one. Um, I'll be right back," Seraphina mumbled, her voice filled with a sense of urgency. She darted towards Octavia, wrapping her hand around his neck and pulling him closer. "Child," she said, a genuine smile lighting up her face. "Ouch," Octavia winced, his face revealing an array of bruises. "What the fuck happened to you?" Seraphina's wide eyes betrayed her shock. "Nothing, I fell," Octavia replied, a painful smile lingering on his lips.
"You fell? Do you honestly expect me to believe that? I've given bruises to nearly half of the entire school, and you want me to believe yours is from a simple fall? Nice try... Let's try this again. What happened, when did it happen, and who did this to you?" Seraphina's tone turned cold, her face a mask of determination.
"Fiesty, I like it. But I'm not going to tell you. You'll only get into more trouble. You're already suspended; you might even get expelled," Octavia chuckled, shaking his head. Seraphina locked eyes with him, her gaze as icy as a winter storm. "Watch me," she declared, striding away towards Mike. "Potential boyfriend?" Mike asked, a mischievous smile forming on his face. However, his grin quickly vanished as he witnessed the intensity of Seraphina's anger. "What happened?"
"Let's go. I think I need to release some pent-up frustration," Seraphina said, marching away towards her house. Octavia could sense the burning anger radiating from her, but he couldn't help but wonder who would go to such lengths, beating people until they spilled the truth. Weary and upset that his plan to shield Seraphina from his own battles had failed, he trudged home, questioning his own self-perception.
The following day, as Octavia passed through the school gates, a tumultuous crowd caught his attention. Students were shouting, forming a ring as if trying to prevent a fight. A sigh escaped his lips as he recalled a time when he found himself in a similar predicament. Just as he was about to walk away, a familiar voice shouted Seraphina's name. He turned and saw Angelina approaching, panting as if she had been sprinting. "Octavia, you need to stop her before she gets hurt or hurts someone," she pleaded, pulling him into the midst of the crowd.
Confusion etched across his face, Octavia asked, "What are you talking about?" As they reached the center of the commotion, Octavia's eyes locked onto the sight before him. Seraphina was on top of Xavier, relentlessly punching him. Scars marred her face, but Xavier's nose was bleeding.
"Who the fuck do you think you are, hitting Octavia? You think you're so tough? Well, show me how tough you are!" Seraphina's voice rang out amidst the chaos as her fists met Xavier's face. Octavia was momentarily overwhelmed by the warmth of Seraphina's protective nature, realizing just how deeply she cared for him. Yet, he quickly regained his composure and rushed to separate Seraphina from Xavier's grasp. "Let me go!" she screamed, her voice filled with fury. Though strong, Seraphina was no match for Octavia's determined grip.
"Phinny, stop! You're going to get into trouble," Octavia pleaded, his voice laced with concern. Seraphina turned to him, anger smoldering in her eyes. She had light bleeding on her lip and nose. "I told you to tell me who did this to you, and you didn't. Well, I promised to extract the truth," she seethed.
"This isn't the way things are done, Phinny. You can't simply go around beating people up whenever you feel like it," Octavia reasoned.
"But they have the right to hit you and get away with it!" Seraphina retorted.
"We are not like them. Just because someone does it to you doesn't mean you should stoop to their level. Be the bigger person," Octavia implored.
"You're right. I won't do it the same way. I'll be even rougher. I'll show him not to mess with..." Seraphina started, but she stopped herself, the weight of her words lingering in the air.
"Why are you doing this? You said we're not friends or anything. Why are you fighting for me?" Octavia pressed, hoping to finally hear the words he yearned for.
"Because you... You are... You... Ugh, forget it," Seraphina replied, her annoyance evident. "What the actual hell happened here, Seraphina? You again? You're supposed to be on suspension. What—" The principal's words were abruptly cut off by the fury in Seraphina's gaze. "You know what? My office. Now! Everyone else, back to your classes," she commanded, her tone exuding both concern and authority. The teachers remained behind, ensuring that all the students had dispersed.
"Seraphina, I really don't know what you expect me to do, honestly," the principal confessed, her voice tinged with helplessness. Octavia's heart sank, fearing the worst—a possible expulsion. "Have you ever considered expelling me, Nicole?" Seraphina shot back, her voice dripping with sarcasm and anger. Octavia couldn't believe Seraphina's audacity in addressing the principal by her first name.
"Address me with respect, Seraphina. At the very least, I deserve that!" the principal admonished.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Principal... Headmistress... Mother," Seraphina retorted, her tone laden with anger and bitterness.
"Mother?" Octavia interjected, his confusion palpable.
Seraphina's eyes flickered with a mix of pain and anger. "Don't worry about it," she dismissed, her tone laced with bitterness.
"Seraphina, do you not see the damage you're causing? Five days ago, it was Eunice. Today, it's Xavier and Octavia," the principal lamented.
"I'd like to take the crown for hitting Octavia, but I didn't. He's actually the reason why I even hit Xavier. Well, Headmistress, this pitiful thing," Seraphina gestured towards Xavier, "bullied and hit Octopus here, and it happened right under your nose. Nothing was done. So, I took justice into my own hands and did your job for you," she declared defiantly.
"Seraphina, this is not how things are done. Octavia should have reported it to the teachers or me, and you have no right whatsoever to take matters into your own hands," the principal reprimanded. Just as she was about to address Octavia, a teacher knocked on the door and was granted entry. The teacher entered, accompanied by a group of bruised students, including Eunice. "Another fight?" the principal inquired.
"Oh, you guys are late. I was wondering where you all were," Seraphina quipped, smirking mischievously. The principal's concern grew. "What do you mean by that? What does she mean?" she asked, seeking clarification.
"Well, ma'am, Seraphina here hit these students just so they would tell her who hit Octavia," the teacher explained.
"WHAT?!! Seraphina Elara Muller!" the principal exclaimed, her voice filled with shock and alarm. "What? They didn't want to talk, so I hit the answer out of them. So what?" Seraphina retorted, rolling her eyes nonchalantly.
"I need to speak with your father. Mr Evans, take all these students to the clinic to receive the attention they need while I deal with her," the principal instructed, her tone firm. As everyone left, the principal turned her attention back to Seraphina. "What do you want, Seraphina?"
"Don't ask me such questions. You know what I want," Seraphina replied sharply.
"What is it you want? Tell me!" the principal implored.
"To be so fucking far from you, Nicole. Seeing you every day, being in the same building as you, is tormenting. You're the reason my mom isn't with me today. You remind me of that fucking night, every single day! I hate you, I really do. I feel disgusted when I'm in your presence like I'm cheating on my mom... She's not here because of you and Christopher. Don't you understand? Being with you is like being in hell itself. I don't want to be a part of your life in any way. Why don't you get it?" Seraphina screamed, her voice cracking with raw emotion.
"I'm sorry, Seraphina. I've been living with this guilt my entire life. I never meant for it to happen," Nicole confessed, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Well, it happened, and I wish this guilt kills you the way it killed my mom," Seraphina spat, storming out of the office, forcefully slamming the door and shattering the glass pane. Nicole sat there, shattered by the weight of her guilt, realizing the devastating consequences of her actions. All she ever wanted was for her daughter to be a part of her life.