“Once I rose above the noise and confusion

Just to get a glimpse beyond this illusion

I was soaring ever higher

But I flew too high”

-Kerry Livgrem

Keri walked down the Hall next to Olivia. She caught her walking next to her out of her peripheral vision. She had texted her a couple of times over the last two weeks, mostly in a group chat that Ali had set up. She knew enough about her to know that she was safe, and could probably be trusted, but she didn’t know her well enough to bring her fully in. There was something about her though, an unshakable peace in her that Keri envied and longed to have. No matter what was going on around her, it seemed like she didn’t get sidetracked or freaked out, but just kept moving forward, as if she knew where she was going and how to get there. “I could use that right now” She thought as they got to the stairwell. “A penny for your thoughts?” said Olivia as Keri opened the door and found her looking at her. Keri opened her mouth to answer but closed it quickly, still not sure if she could trust her. “Sorry Keri, that was probably really pushy, I just felt like, well, I could help.” Keri shook her head and smiled. “Do you read minds too?” Keri said. Olivia shook her head. “Definitely not that, God just lays things in my heart sometimes. I’ve learned the hard way not to ignore it.” Keri’s mouth dropped again but again she quickly shut it. “He talks to you?” Olivia nodded. “A few times in my life, I’ve heard that still small voice that the Bible talks about in 1st Kings, where the Prophet Elijah heard God speak to him in a still small voice. Mostly though it is by laying things on my heart. I totally understand if you don’t want to share with me, I mean you hardly know me, but I am an open ear if you feel like you do need someone to talk to.” She said with a warm smile as she walked through the doors and started up the steps. Keri shook her head and walked through the door. She couldn’t believe she was putting her trust in Oliva so easily. All her reflexes that had been trained by the game screamed at her not to, but she had been ignoring their counsel a lot lately. “So, well, I’m really nervous about going to Mr Dulles’s room right now.” Olivia moved closer. “Why, is he a mean teacher?” She said with concern. Keri shook her head. “No, not mean, tough, but not mean. He was in the Marines like my…anyway, it isn’t Mr Dullus, but it’s what was said when we were with the other’s. You and I are in the A section of Eight grade and A section meets in Mr Dulles’s room for home room. It's who will be in his room this year that is worrying me. Have you heard anything about Alison Trendale yet?”

Olivia thought for a moment and then nodded. “She is Queen of the Eighth grade, Captain of the Cheer squad, and she’s basically willing to betray anyone to get what she wants.” “That’s a good start.” Said Keri raising her eyebrow. “Ali filled me in a little, she’s been really nervous about today too, about bumping into Alison. Is that what’s eating at you too?” Keri sighed and nodded. “It’s part of it. The other part is this conflict raging inside my head. The emotional side of my brain says I should hate her for going back on her promise to me and making that video, but then the rational side of my brain kicks in and I look at it from a “If I were in her shoes” point of view and, having been a Queen myself, I can’t hate her for what she did.

I know Mandy forced her into a corner last spring, and I really believe deep down those times she came to visit me in the hospital, she really, honestly wanted to see how I was doing, to be my friend, and so I really don’t know what I will do when I see her.” She said as they got to the top of the stairwell. They could both see and hear the throng of students on the other side of the door making their way to their homerooms. Olivia reached for the door, but before she opened it, she turned and looked at Keri. “I know we don’t know each other that well Keri, but, I want you to know that I’ll have your back today, you won’t have to face Alison, or anyone in section A alone.” Keri smiled and gave Olivia a hug. “Thanks. You don’t know how helpful just hearing that is.” Olivia hugged her back and then went and opened the door.

Noise erupted from the other side as she opened the door. They quickly found an opening and merged with the throng of kids moving both ways down the hall. As they neared the bathrooms two kids in front of them turned around with masks on their faces. The mask was of an elongated face with a thin black mustache and dark eyes that slant down and a smile that was menacing. They each had what looked like a ketchup bottle in their hands but it seemed to be filled with a green substance.

“You shouldn’t have come back here, cue-tip”. Said the one who sounded like a girl. The girl then squeezed her ketchup bottle so the contents went all over Keri. It was green and smelled like rotten eggs. Keri instinctively put her hands over her face which kept it from going into her nose and mouth. “Get out of here chrome dome or you’ll get this every day.” Said the other kid, who sounded like a boy. She tensed and tried to turn sideways to avoid as much as she could. She heard the squirting noise but didn’t feel anything hit her. She did feel arms around her and someone holding her tight. “Get out of here!” She heard Olivia shout from right in front of her. “Keri, are you okay?” She heard Olivia whisper to her.

Before she could answer she began to hear laughter erupting from around her. She lowered her hand and saw all the kids around them laughing and holding their phones up and pointing them at her. Some kids were putting their fingers in their mouths and making the throw up noises. She didn’t know what was going on for a moment. All these faces who last year had stared at her with awe and envy when she was Queen, were now staring at her with glee at her shame and disdain. It was this moment, in the hall, when the hole in who she was really opened up. She wasn’t Queen anymore, and she had no answer anymore for the question of who am I?

She couldn’t stop the tears from spilling out. She had prepared herself for days for taunts and ambushes, but the reality of what was coming was more than she had ever imagined. She started to cry, lost herself in it. All the pain and hurt from when she was six came flooding back. “Not again, no…not again.” She cried. She felt Olivia’s grip on her change and she was now standing next to her and leading her to the left. Suddenly as quickly as the clamor had come, it was silenced. She felt Olivia wrap her arms around her and whisper to her. “Oh, Keri, I’m sorry this happened. Shhh. It will be okay Keri, I’m here with you, you're not alone.” She squeezed Olivia tighter and kept crying. She didn’t know how long she stayed like that, but eventually she stopped reliving what happened nine years ago, and came back to the now. She looked up and saw Olivia looking back at her with eyes full of sympathy. “Oh no, Oh wow, Olivia I am so sorry I….”. “You owe Ali another dollar.” She said seriously, but Keri could see laughter in her eyes. Keri looked confused for a moment and then started to laugh. Right then she knew she could trust Olivia, that they could be friends. Keri saw the green mess staining Olivia’s side and she knew that it had been her that had taken the second blast of that goo for her. “You did not have to step in front of me like that, they got your new uniform all messed up.” “Yes I did, Keri. Someone took a hit for me one time and I want to be just like him.” Keri looked down at her shirt and almost started crying again. It was stained with the green goo and the smell of it was starting to turn her stomach. Then she remembered that she had a purse. She looked up at Olivia. “I can’t do anything about the stain, but some of this should help tone down the smell.” She said as she pulled out a bottle of her favorite perfume. After a few minutes of careful application. She looked at Olivia and smiled. “Thank you for being here Olivia, I’m not sure I would have made it through that alone.” Olivia smiled. “I don’t think it's a mere chance that we are in the same section, Keri. God sees you Keri, He saved your life through a Miracle and he gave you a friend in a time of need.” Keri opened her mouth to let loose all the “Why…” questions that spring into her mind when she hears about how God sees her and loves her. “Why did He let my Dad die? Why did I have Cancer? Why did He let that video go out?” But instead she closed it. Olivia had been such a good friend to her just now and she didn’t want to assail her with her wall of questions as gratitude. “I'm so very grateful that you were here Olivia, thank you for helping me.” Olivia looked like she was about to say more but then stopped and nodded. “I got your back Keri”. Keri smiled and then looked at herself in the Mirror. “Wow, this is not going to be easy to fix”. Her makeup had begun to run in places and her shirt had a big green streak on it. Olivia stood next to her and looked in the mirror. “Well, our green stripe is kinda in the same place and same direction so, maybe we could pass it off as a fashion statement.” Keri glanced over at her and saw the seriousness on her face and she just started laughing. Olivia laughed a little but looked confused. “I’m sorry Olivia, I’m not laughing at you, I just don’t understand how you are able to find a bright side to everything?” She shrugged and smiled. “Just sharing the comfort that I’ve been comforted with.” “Where have I heard that before?” Her photographic memory kicked in and brought up. 2 Corinthians 1:4. “The Bible is actually a part of how she lives her life.” Deep in her heart an ache began to form. It was so subtle she didn’t consciously know it, except for a feeling that she was missing something. Olivia took another look at their images in the mirror then turned to her. “Ready to go, sista of the green goo.” She said putting a funny game face on. Keri couldn’t help but laugh again. Olivia smiled, grabbed Keri’s hand and walked to the door.

She opened the door to the girls bathroom and stepped out into the hall and looked both ways. “It’s safe," she said over her shoulder and moved out into the hall. Keri stepped out and breathed a sigh of relief. The hall was empty and so Keri led her quickly down to the last door on the left. She could hear Mr Dulles giving the morning announcements. She waited till he was done and then took a deep breath and opened the door. All eyes turned toward them. There were a good number of snickers and a few outright laughs. Then Keri saw her, on the far left by the wall, third seat back from the front, chestnut hair pulled into a ponytail. Alison Trendale looked at her as Alice Baker leaned forward and whispered in Alison’s ear and laughed. Keri took note of the new sweaters they were both wearing and how cute they looked. A bit of envy and jealousy stirred in her at what could have been. Alison had a smile on her lips, but Keri could see that it wasn’t touching her eyes. Alison locked eyes with her and Keri could see enough conflict floating there where she couldn’t allow herself to hate her. She knew that conflict well. Having to do what you had to to accomplish your goals, but hating the loneliness that it brought.

A loud slam broke the connection. She knew what that noise meant, unfortunately Olivia didn’t. She jumped and screamed. Keri reached out and grabbed her hand which made her stop and get read in the cheeks. Mr Dulles was standing behind his desk, his hand clutching the steel shell casing that he used as a paper weight, and as a gavel. “That will be enough of that!” He said in such a metered calm voice, that also brokered no arguments, that every mouth shut and smile ran away. He turned to look at them. She saw his eyes scan them in a split second and she also saw understanding appear. “Ms Bellows, Ms Parker, your hall pass was received. Please take your seats. He said, indicating two open seats in the front. Keri nodded and moved over to the first seat and Olivia followed. Keri sat down, but before Olivia could, Mr Dulles spoke. “Ms Parker,”. Olivia froze and looked at him. “Ye…yes Mr Dulles.” “Class we have a new student this year, This is Olivia Parker. I know that you all will make her feel very welcome.” The stresses put on the words “Know” and “Very” could not be overlooked or misunderstood. Everyone said “Hi Olivia.” Their voices ranged from sincere to half-hearted, but everyone did say it. Keri smiled at her when she said it. This seemed to unfreeze Olivia who decided it was time to blush furiously. “Welcome Ms Parker. Please take your seat.” “Thank you Mr Dulles, everyone.” She then sat down next to Keri. He nodded and then looked at the class.

“One more announcement class. Sister Justina retired from her position as dean of students after the last school year ended. Father Clement from the Pittsburgh archdiocese will be taking over this role beginning next week. In the interim Myself and Mr Butrows, the P.E. Teacher will be filling in for that position until Father Clement arrives. I cannot stress this enough, you will not enjoy the consequences if we determine that you are in any way being out of line. Is that understood?” “Yes Mr Dulles.” Came the reply of forty voices in unison, some with more sincerity then others. Twenty minutes later the bell rang to move to the first period. Everyone got up and moved through the room to funnel through the door to the hallway. Keri and Olivia waited for everyone to pass, Keri saw some rolled eyes as they passed, especially from Alice Baker. Alison merely glanced at her and Keri let her look soften when she did, which made Alison do a double take with her eyes and seemed to make her unsettled. “I guess she wanted me to hate her, so it would make it easier on her to do what she needs me to do to me. Well, at least I found one chink in her armor.” Once everyone had passed Keri and Olivia got up to leave the room. As they passed Mr Dulles’s desk he held up his hand. “Just one moment Ms Bellows and Ms Parker.” He said as he came around to the front of his desk and leaned against it as they stopped to look at him. “Yes, Mr Dulles.” Said Keri trepidisly. “Ms Bellows, am I to believe that that green stain on your shirt is some form of new fashion statement?” Keri’s face reddened and she said in a soft voice. “No sir, it isn’t.” “Ms Parker, is the green stain on your shirt also not a fashion statement?” Olivia’s cheeks reddened also as she nodded her head. “Yes sir.” He nodded. Seeing Keri’s obvious distress he looked at Olivia. “How did those stains come to be attached to you both Ms Parker?” Olivia looked up nervously and then to Keri, who had her head bowed. She looked back to Mr Dulles, who just looked at her with a calm cool stare. Which to Olivia was far more unnerving than if he had had angry eyes. “We…we were walking down to your room Mr Dulles, when right when we got to the bathrooms two kids in front of us turned around with masks on their faces and what looked like Ketchup bottles filled with a green liquid. they called Keri vile names and told her to not come back. Keri got upset, rightly so, and so I helped her get into the bathroom.” Mr Dulles nodded his head. “Ms Parker, did they fire their weapons at the same time or one at a time?” “One at a time sir.” He looked at her with a very piercing gaze. “Ms Parker, did you step in front of Ms Bellows when the second weapon fired?” Olivia hesitated and in the space of her hesitation, Keri looked up at Mr Dulles and nodded her head in affirmation. Without looking at Keri he seemed to see the motion. “Ms Parker, you have the heart of a Marine. Taking a hit for a fellow soldier and not leaving them behind. I am very proud of you Ms Parker.” Olivia turned a deep red and started wringing her hands and swayed from side to side. “Thank you Mr Dulles.”

He nodded and turned to Keri. She was looking at him with a big question in her face. “Yes, Ms Bellows, what is your question?” Keri took a breath and let it out. “Mr Dulles, were…were you a Marine?” She said the last part in a whisper. “Yes. 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines.” Keri sucked in her breath and her eyes went wide. “That is correct Ms Bellows, Captain Langford was my commanding officer.” A tear rolled down Keri’s cheek. “You…you knew my father?” Olivia got a really confused look on her face but held back her question. “Yes, I knew your father Keri. He saved my life on at least two occasions and he saved my brother Bart that day that he was taken from us.” She smiled but then it faded a little.

“Did…did he ever mention me?” Mr Dulles laughed, a rare event with him. “We couldn’t get him to stop sometimes. He was so proud of you and. Trudi and told us everything that you did. He loved you both very much. I owe your father a debt that I’m not sure I can ever repay, but I am going to do everything I can to try to help you. I told him I would keep an eye out for you and Trudi if anything ever happened to him. I thought I would get a chance to repay him when you both started coming to St Pious, but up until this year it seemed that you were doing okay. What happened to bring this all about?” Keri wiped at her eyes. “I flew too high sir. I thought I could win the game, be the best at it, even after I got sick, but I got too close to the sun and fell.” “That Kansas song was always his favorite.” Keri nodded her head. “I wish he were here Mr Dulles. I thought I could make it through this year, but after what just happened, what might keep happening, I’m not so sure I can go on.”

Tears started coming and she placed her hand over her mouth. Olivia moved over and put her arm around her shoulder. Mr Dulles moved forward and gently lifted Keri’s chin. “Keri, mention of that song made me remember a story he told me when he was considering resigning his commission. What did you tell your dad when you were five and in the hospital and he was considering retiring from the corps to stay closer to home and take care of you?” She looked at him through her tears and the memory exploded in her mind. She was five and her dad was sitting next to her hospital bed. Her hair had all fallen out and he was telling her that he was going to leave the Marines so he could be with her. All she could see in her five year old mind was her daddy in his uniform fighting off all the monsters that were ruining her body, her five year old mind equated him leaving being a soldier with him giving up the fight. She shook her little head and said “No Daddy, if you Carry On, I’ll Keri on.” She remembered the shocked look on his face when she said that. He smiled, gave her a hug and kissed her on the head. “I’ll carry on if you do my princess.” He said. That moment stayed with her and helped her fight when it got really hard to carry on with the treatments.

“I told him if he carried on, Inwould Keri On. I spelled out my name for my part and he laughed and told me he would Carry On.” When she said it, something began to bother her about that memory , but she couldn’t process it right now. “That is correct Keri, and so this year may be hard, but you have one friend to get you through, are there anymore?” She nodded. “Who?” “My sister Trudi, Jim Kurtz, Jaius McFarland, Olivia and Alianna Oaksen.” He nodded. “You have a strong squad there Marine. I’ve already seen how they have your back.” He looked to Olivia, who nodded vigorously. “There is nothing more powerful than a squad who has your back. It is also helpful to have a mission. Find something that you can pour yourself into Keri, especially something that can help others. It will help.” She took a breath and nodded. She had smiled slightly when he called her “Marine”. Her dad used to do that. “Thank you Mr Dulles. I’ll remember to lean on them and find something to pour myself into.” He nodded and took out his pad of hall passes and began writing. He gave them each two passes. “Now this first pass I want you both to take down to the school store and request two shirts of the appropriate size, with no charge to you. The second one is for your next class teacher letting them know you were taking care of something for me.” They both had shocked expressions on their faces and Olivia redded up some also. “Oh Wow, thank you so much Mr Dulles.” She said. “Thank you Mr Dulles.” Said Keri right after her. “You're both welcome.” He wrote another slip out for Keri and handed it to her folded. “Hand that to Father Max, who runs the school store. I have something special reserved for students whose parents have served in the military. He’ll give you one for Trudi also.” She took it reverently, and cradled it almost as if it was something sacred. “Thank you Mr Dulles.” She said softly. He nodded. “Now you both listen here. If you need anything, or have any more trouble you let me know. I’m gonna keep my eyes peeled for these masks, and believe me, whoever this is will not be in the mood to keep doing it if I get ahold of them.” Keri did smile as a sense of security settled over her. She had a hero to fight for her again. “Now move out, you’ll need to hurry if you are to be able to get all that done and to your next class before it is over. “Yes sir.” They both said at the same time and turned and hurried out of the room.

They hurried down the hall and stopped just past the school administrative offices. Where there was a small room that had been turned into a store selling school uniforms, sweaters, accessories, school supplies, etc. Father Max was an old frail priest who walked slowly among the racks and shelves straightening and pricing things. Keri opened the door and they both went in. Father Max looked towards the door as there came a beeping noise that announced the doors opening. His eyes light up when he saw Keri. “Ah, Ms Bellows. I am so very glad that you are still with us. I know many who were praying for you to recover.” Keri blushed and nodded. “Thank you Father Max.” He walked slowly over to them. “And who is this Ms Bellows? I do not believe. I have met this student.” Keri smiled at Olivia. “This is my friend Olivia, Father Max. Mr Dulles gave us these passes for you, we, uh, had a slight problem with our uniform shirts.” She said looking down at the large

Green stain. “I would say that you did Ms. Bellows, my goodness, not sure that those stains will come out. Let me see what you have for me?” Keri and Olivia each handed him the slip of paper. He opened them and nodded. Keri then took the other slip out of her purse and handed it to him. He opened it and his eyes got wide but then he merely nodded his head. “Yes, yes, I can fill these orders. Give me just a moment and I will go in the back and get what is needed.” Said the old priest as he moved slowly to a door set in the wall behind the counter. Once he was far enough away Olivia looked at Keri. “Wow Keri, that was so supper nice of Mr Dulles. That is so crazy that he knew your dad too. I’m…I’m sorry to hear about your Dad, Keri. Are you doing okay right now?” Keri nodded her head. “Thank you Olivia, I’m okay right now, hearing all that from Mr Dulles really helped.” Olivia nodded. “Do you know what you might dive into that could help others?” Keri took a deep breath, let it out and thought for a moment. “I’m not sure. I was always so busy with my social life and Cheer and Ballet and Gymnastics that I never thought much about it. Amy Reeder and I would volunteer to tutor kids at the elementary school to fill our community service hours, but I never thought much of it beyond fulfilling the requirement, I’m not sure.” Olivia thought for a moment and Keri could see her lips moving slightly. Then after a few moments she looked at her. “Well, you did just go through a serious sickness that affects tens of thousands of kids a year. Maybe there is someway you can help other kids that have cancer or other terminal illnesses?” Keri’s eyes lit up immediately. “Oh, wow, Olivia that is such a good Idea. Your right, I mean I survived, maybe I can share my story and it will bring them some hope, and I know just how to do it.” “How?” “I have a bunch of recording equipment at home That I used to make tic-toc videos, but, I bet I can use the same equipment for making a podcast. One where I can encourage kids who are sick to stay strong…stay strong and…” she paused for a moment, and then her eyes lit up again and she looked at Olivia. The same words had just popped into Olivia’s head and so they both said it at the same time. “…and carry on.” They both laughed with excitement and hugged. When they pulled away Keri smiled again. “I just thought of a name for it also, for the Podcast. I’m going to call it Keri On.” “That is a great name for it, Keri, I..I can write a musical intro for it if that would help? ” Keri looked shocked. “Wow, Olivia, you write music?” She blushed a little but nodded her head. “For a while now. Mostly just songs to play on my Piano.” “Wow, yes, totally, that would be an amazing help to me.” “Okay, I’ll start working on a few different intros tonight and have them ready for Wednesday.” Just then the door behind the counter opened and Father Max came out carrying four packages. The top two were white and the bottom two were dark Maroon.

“Here you are young Misses. Two school shirts and two sweaters that honor parents of our students that are fallen Marines.” He said as he came over and handed one white shirt to Olivia, and the rest to Keri. Keri held the sweater up to look at it. It was a deep maroon and on the top right was the symbol for the United States Marine corps. “Thank you Father Max. We better get going before we miss class.” Said Keri as she waved at the aged priest. Olivia waved also. “Yes, thank you Father Max.” She then followed Keri out the door. They ducked into the nearby bathroom and changed their shirts and Keri put on the new sweater. She turned back and forth in the mirror, admiring it. It was very stylish and also respectful. She saw Olivia looking at it in the mirror and so she turned and looked at her. “Does it look okay?” She said. “Oh yes Keri, it’s looks very nice and it just kinda putts of this sense of, well, a sense of saying you need to respect this. Oh, I didn’t know if that came out right.” “Oh my goodness she’s right. The military is held in very high regard round here. It will make anyone think twice before doing what they did today again to Me and Trudi. Mr Dulles wasn’t just giving us something to remember our dad by, he is trying to protect us.” “Oh, I’m so sorry Keri, that wasn’t respectful, I really don’t know how to speak sometimes…”. Olivia stopped as Keri turned around and gave her a hug. “You were very respectfu,l Olivia and have been such a good friend to me today. I’m very grateful that your with me.” She pulled away and smiled. “I was tearing up because what you said helped me to see that Mr Dulles gave Trudi and I these to remember our dad but also to help protect us at school. Anyone trying to shoot us with goo again is going to have to think twice when they see this sweater. It’s one thing to disrespect me, but it’s another matter entirely to disrespect the Military around these parts.” Olivia’s eyes got wide. “Oh wow, that was a really special Idea.” Keri nodded. “Yep.” She looked at her phone and her eyes got wide. “Yikes, class is half over, we better get to Mrs Jenkins English class.” Olivia looked at her phone and her eyes got wide and she nodded and headed toward the door and held the door open for Keri. Mrs Jenkins was a bit miffed when they entered the class halfway through, but her mood softened when she saw their passes. “Very well, girls, please take your seats, and a warm welcome to St Pious to you Ms Parker.” Olivia turned, her cheeks a bit red, but she smiled and said. “Thank you Mrs Jenkins.” She then turned and took the seat next to Keri. Keri noticed Alison squinting to analyze her new sweater and also the shirts that no longer had a green stain. Alice leaned forward and whispered in Alison’s ear. Alison shrugged slightly and shook her head slightly and then Alice sat back.

As they left the room, Mrs Jenkins looked at Keri. “Keri.” Keri stopped and so did Olivia. “I’m very glad to see you are still here with us. I was praying for you through the summer.” Keri smiled. “Thank you Mrs Jenkins, it’s good to still be here.” She nodded and then went back to her papers.

The morning went on in similar ways. There were no more attacks that morning and Keri began to relax somewhat.

When the lunch bell rang they went downstairs to the cafeteria. Keri almost headed to the table she used to be Queen of, but Olivia saved her from embarrassment, by tugging on her sweater and pointing off to the left to where Alianna and the others had already found an empty table to sit at. She looked at Olivia and said “Thank you.” Which confused her. “For what?” Keri smiled. “For helping me not to step on any landmines.” She still seemed confused but merely smiled and said. “I got your back Keri.” Keri smiled and looked at a table closest to the back wall on the left. Seated there was Anne, Jaius, Alianna, two empty seats, then Trudi, and then Jim. She waved and headed over to the table. Everyone waved and smiled as they came over. Trudi had saved a seat next to her and there was another empty seat next to that one and Alianna.. “Hey you two, how was your morning?” Keri looked at Olivia who smiled slightly, but also bore the weight of the morning on it, Keri’s did too. Alianna, always with the eye for body language, was the first to stop smiling. “What happened?” Keri sighed and looked down. “I got ambushed. We were trying to make our way down to Mr Dulles’s room and two kids in front of us put in these masks and turned around, told me I needed to get out of here or I would get worse for everyday and then one of them quieted this nasty smelling green goo onto me. The other one tried the same thing, but Olivia here jumped in front of me.” She said and looked at Olivia with a smile. Alianna smiled at her but it fade quickly as she turned back to Keri. “Oh Keri, I’m so sorry, could you tell who it was?” Keri shook her head. “I couldn’t tell because of the masks and how quickly it happened.” Jaius looked at her. “What did the masks look like.” He said with a tone that betrayed that he already knew what she was going to say. But it was Jim who described them. “We got ambushed too.” He said indicating Trudi. “We didn’t get any goo though, just threats and they took a selfie. Jaius shook his head . “It was V”. He said matter of factly. They all looked at him in confusion. “A character from a movie. V for Vendetta. The character was setting about to topple the British government and he wore a mask just like that. It represents revenge and anarchy, or opposition to an established order. I’m concerned that there was more than one ambush and that they were coordinated.”

Worry seemed to hit all of their faces in one way or another. Jim was the first one to break the mood, as he always did. “Well, you won’t be getting any more green goo sprayed on you with that sweater on. Ain’t no one I know around her going to deface that symbol.” Keri smiled and all their attention was turned to the Marine logo on the sweater. “Mr Dulles sent Olivia and I to the school store to get new shirts and he also had Father Max bring this sweater out. He got one for you to Trudi.” She said and handed her sister the other sweater. Trudi took it reverently and gently took it out of the package and held it up infront of her. When she brought it down to put it on there were tears on her cheek. Keri reached over and hugged her shoulders. She put her hand on Keri’s arm and they put their heads together.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

They all went and got their food, when they got back and sat down. Alianna noticed movement out of the corner of her eye and saw that Mandy Ferlon and Megan Trendale were walking toward the hallway that led to the art room in a single file line. She noticed the new fancy sweaters that they wore. She looked back at the A table and saw Alison standing there alone. The rest of the A table were at a different table than normal. She sat down and looked over at Keri. “Keri, what’s going on over at the Table? Everyone but Alison is sitting at another table and Mandy, Megan just headed out of the calf.” Keri’s eyebrow raised and she then turned to look at the A table. She studied the scene for a moment and then turned back and looked at Jim and Trudi. “HQ visit?” She said. They looked at eachother and nodded. “That’s the only thing I can think of.” Jim said. Keri turned to Alianna and the others. “Can’t say for a hundred percent sure, but it looks like the Queen of the High school table is coming down for a visit. It means a major shift in the rules of the game. This could be good for us, or worse for us.”

After a few minutes, Mandy reappeared at the entrance to the Cafeteria with a very tall, blond haired girl who wore a bandanna on her head. Everyone in the caff stood from their seats. Keri shook her head and sighed but then looked at everyone. “We should go along, whatever changes they make, if we show disrespect or the High School Queen it could go a lot worse for us.” She began to stand. Everyone else looked around the table saw the others nodding their heads and everyone else stood too. By the time they were looking back toward the entrance to the caff the full procession had entered. Jim’s sister Julie stood next to Megan and a tall boy stood next to Tiffany. Keri’s jaw dropped, Trudi’s eyes went wide and Jim’s eyebrow shot up. Then something completely unexpected happened. Jenifer, the Highschool Queen and Julie, Jim’s sister left the procession and began walking over to their table. Jennifer smiled and made a downward motion with her hands and mouthed the words, “Please Sit.” Keri caught it and began to sit and motioned the others to do so. Jennifer then went right up to Keri and hugged her. Keri recovered from the shock quickly and returned the hug. “I am so thankful to God that you are alive, Keri. We were all praying so hard for you.” Keri was shocked that they were even thinking of her, let alone praying for her. “Thank you Queen Jennifer.” She said softly. “Just Jennifer, Keri.”

Julie went over to Jim and gave him a hug. Then she moved over to Alianna. Alianna smiled, remembering seeing Julie at her new church but not getting to say hi. She knelt down and hugged Alianna. “Oh, Alianna, I’m so glad you and Jaius came back to us. I was praying so hard that God would bring you both home.” Alianna hugged her back and smiled. “Thank you Julie for praying for us, God answered those prayers in so many ways, for both of us.” She said looking over at Jaius. Julie smiled and nodded to him. He smiled. “Thank you so much for praying.” He said. Julie then looked at Anne. “And who is this?” Jaius Smiled. “This is my Sister Anne.” Julie smiled and gave Anne a hug too. “We prayed for your family so much Anne. It’s good to meet you and welcome to St Pious.” Anne smiled sheepishly. “Thank you Julie, and thank you for praying.

Jenifer looked at Keri and Olivia. “I heard what happened to you both today and I offer you my deepest apology. As High School Queen what happens in this school is ultimately my responsibility. This horrible game has claimed too many casualties over the years and I aim to remove it from this school if it is the last thing I do. I’m going to share the changes that I plan to implement this year and Julie is planning to continue and expound upon next year.” Julie has stood up and moved next to Jennifer. “That’s right. If I have any say in it, next year will be the last year for this awful system. Also, I want you all to know that you will all have a place at my table next year if you want it.” Their eyes all got wide and tears trickled down Keri and Trudi’s face. “I think I’ve kept Queen Alison waiting long enough, but one more thing before we go. There is a Bible study here in the chapel at 7:15 am if any of you get here that early you are more than welcome to come. Julie, Susan, Terry and I are more than willing to give a ride to anyone who wants to come too.” “I’d be interested.” Said Jaius. Alianna looked at him and smiled. “I’m in too.” She said. Olivia chimed in. “Me three she said. Jennifer smiled and nodded. “Julie will coordinate all the pickups. Can’t wait to see you all there.” She bowed her head slightly to them all and then moved around the table to Alianna and gave her a hug too. “Thank God your back sister. The Spirit definitely rests on you and Jaius.” She said as she pulled away from her and placed her hand on Jaius’s shoulder. “Very grateful to have you back as well brother.” She smiled at him and then continued walking back towards the procession that had been interrupted by her departure to their table. Julie leaned into whisper to Alianna as she passed her. “Would you want to get together at the Perking Meter for coffee and to talk this Saturday? I can pick you up. Here’s my contact info.” She pulled out her iPhone and tapped it to Alianna’s and her phone registered that it now had a contact for Julie Kurtz. “Wow, thank you Julie that is so kind. I’ll check with my parents and let you know.” Julie smiled and nodded and then moved back to stand next to Megan and take her arm. Keri was watching Alison the whole time. She caught some of the wordless exchanges between Alison and her court and marveled at what Jennifer had just done for them. The whole cafateria had seen her and her Heir come right over to their table and embrace them like they were old friends. She had just put a huge shield up between them and those who wanted to squirt green goo on them.

They all sat back and watched the rest of the pageantry. The two courts sat. Then they all bowed their heads and Keri could hear the tall bout saying something that sounded like a prayer. Keri’s mouth dropped open a bit. She looked back at the others. Jim had his eyebrow raised, Trudi had her mouth open a bit, Anne looked just plain confused. Jaius, Alianna and Olivia though had smiles on their faces and then she watched as they all three bowed their heads and looked like they were praying along. Keri smiled and sat back. She slid her arm through Truidi’s and laid her head on her shoulder. Trudi laid her head on hers. She felt safe and she had no Idea why. Especially after what had happened this morning, she thought she would be a wreck all day. But right now there was a peace that she could not understand where it was coming from.

Soon, Jennifer pushed her chair back and stood. Alison stood with her and they linked arms and walked away from the table followed but their courts. Keri felt a deep respect for Alison at that moment. She couldn’t like her for everything she did, but she had to respect her. She just pulled off a welcoming of the High School Queen, a welcome fraught with landmines, with all the poise and cool expected of a Queen. “I don’t think I could have pulled that off, and I know Mandy couldn’t have.” She thought to herself.

Soon the bell for next class was ringing and so they all got up from their chairs. They threw their trash away and headed for the doors nearest the A table because they were the quickest way upstairs. As she was walking through the door she heard Alianna exclaim from behind her. “Oh no!” Keri turned to see her slapping her forehead. Jaius looked at her. “You okay?” She nodded, turning a bit red. “I left my new phone at the table. I’m still not used to having one and so I keep forgetting it. I’ll meet you all up stairs.” “I’ll wait for you.” Said Jaius. She smiled and touched his arm, but shook her head. “I’ll be okay Jaius, just gonna run back quick and get it. Please go on, I don’t want anyone to get in trouble.” He hesitated a moment and something passed between them as if they had learned to communicate without speaking. He eventually nodded and smiled. “Okay, but if you take too long, I’m coming to check on you.” He said with a smile but Keri could hear the seriousness in his voice. Keri’s heart ached a little. She knew they weren’t dating, but it would be hard to tell by how much concern and care they showed for eachother.

Contrary to popular opinion, Keri had never been in a relationship, she hadn’t really ever had a crush. Everyone thought that her and Jim had been a thing because she made him her Prince, but she chose Jim because he was her best friend and it didn’t go farther than that. She had never had enough bandwidth for a relationship, or even thinking of one because she had to place all her focus on being the best, being Queen, protecting Trudi. Now, though all those mantles were off her shoulders and the memory from this morning's attack fresh in her mind, her heart longed for a hero. A knight in armor like the one from Ali’s book to be concerned for her, to care for her and protect her. She was thankful for her friends, especially Olivia, but she couldn’t ignore that part of her heart that she was just noticing wasn’t filled.

They all moved up the stairs as Ali waved and went back through the doors to the caff. They were passing the middle stairwell when Anne stopped. “Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry everyone. I’m so embarrassed.” Everyone stopped and turned to look at her. “What’s wrong?” Jaius said with some concern. “When I was walking past the art room on my way to join you at the table, I ran into Mrs Shafer. She said she had gotten permission from all of our study hall teachers for us to come to the Art room. I forgot to give everyone their passes. So sorry about that. Oh, and Ali isn’t with us and I don’t know if I’ll see her till school is over.” Jaius smiled. “It’s okay, Anne, I’ll give her hers. Thanks so much for remembering. We have study hall after this period.” Olivia got a big smile. “So do we!” She said excitedly. Keri looked at Olivia’s phone and smiled. “So cool.” She said. Trudi smiled at her and Jim gave them a thumbs up. Anne looked at her schedule and beamed. “Me too!” She said excitedly. “Sweat!” Said Jaius. She looked at her Schedule. “Where is the religion room? Father Clement.” Jaius pointed down the hall toward the Gym. “It’s the last door on the left before the Gym.” Keri looked at Anne’s phone. “Mr Dulles said Father Clement wouldn’t be here till next week. I wonder who is teaching for him?” “It just says TBA on it?” Said Anne. Keri Smiled. “To Be Announced. It’s probably going to be Father Max, he is a little hard of hearing but he is nice.” Anne smiled at her. “Thanks Keri.” Keri smiled back. “Okay if we walk you to class?” Keri said glancing at Olivia, who caught it and after a moment nodded and smiled at Anne. “Sure, Keri, thanks.” She said. Keri smiled and took her hand and Olivia took the other and she looked back over he shoulder. “We’ll see you down in the Art room after this period.” Anne looked back when Keri did and she stopped. “You okay.” She shouted back to Jaius. His eyes were locked on the doors to the stairwell they had come up from lunch on. “Yep, just gonna go check on her.” “Jaius you’ll be late for class.” Anne said. He looked at her. “I got to go check on her. We got ambushed by Steve Pennington this morning and she had some weird note tapped to the inside of her locker. I’ll be okay, but got to make sure she is, it doesn’t take this long to get a phone.” “ You need backup?” Asked Jim. Jaius grinned, but shook his head. “I’m good, But thanks. I’ll text you 911 if I need backup.” Jim nodded. “We’ll cover for you with Sister Bernadette.” Jaius gave him a two fingered salute and dashed off towards the far stairway.

Keri laid her hand on Anne’s shoulder and Anne looked at her. “He’ll be okay Anne. Come on, let’s get you to class.” She said smiling. Anne, still looking concerned, looked over her shoulder one more time. Jim and Trudi were walking toward them heading to their class and Jaius had already gone down the stairs. Anne sighed and turned and walked with Keri and Olivia. Jim and Trudi stopped at a room and waved at them. They all waved back as the two of them went into the room.

Soon Keri, Anne and Olivia were in front of the door to the religion class. They could hear Father Max’s aged voice from the other side of the door taking roll. “Yikes, he’s at the L’s, got to go. Thanks Keri, thanks Olivia. I’ll see you soon.” She waved as she opened the door. They waved and continued across the hall to their classroom, Grammer with Sister Patrice.

Next period found them all converging on the Art room. Mrs Shafer welcomed them and then said she needed to take care of a few things and she would be back in a little while. Keri and Olivia said that they would watch over things. Anne, Jim and Trudi all arrived about a few minutes after Mrs Shafer left. Jaius and Alianna arrived a few moments after them. They both looked troubled. Jaius led her over to one of the tables and sat down with her. They all gathered around. “You okay?” Keri asked as Alinann looked up, and Keri could see the red in her eyes, the concern on her face. “I…” suddenly their cell phones all buzzed. Keri pulled hers out and saw a tik-tok notification for her Keri_On account. She opened it and immediately wished she hadn’t. There was the video from last spring of her throwing up in the hospital and the edited, condemning, voice over, but then it merged into the scene from this morning and the green goo being squirted on her and Olivia. The video made it look like the vomit from the first video was spilling in both of them in the second. The caption read “Keri_On’s vomit never stops.” Again her defenses crumbled and she was that little girl again weeping without any way to defend herself. Unlike back then, now, suddenly a bunch of arms embraced her. They closed around her like a protective shell. The tears subsided and she opened her eyes and saw her friends staring at her, heads all together, with concerned looks in their faces. “I…I’m okay. Thank you all so much. I…I wouldn't be able to keep going this year if you weren’t here.” “We will help you carry on through this Keri.” Said Olivia. Keri smiled at her. Amazed at how a friend can just appear from the most unlikely places. Which then made her look at Ali who she definitely never saw a friendship with. Alianna smiled at her. “Yep, we love you Keri, we will do everything we can to help you get through this.” Keri smiled. “Thanks. I didn’t want to sideline what was going on before this happened. Ali, what happened to you?” Alianna looked down, then at Jaius as he was about to answer. She shook her head at him. He looked at her like he was about to argue, but after a few moments sighed and shut his mouths. “It’s okay, really Keri, I’ll stop by your place tonight around 7:30 and tell you what happened. Would that be okay?” Keri looked as concerned and confused as everyone, but she nodded. “Yep just give a knock on the glass door below the deck.” She said with a small smile. Alianna returned a similar smile and then they all started talking about their day. A few minutes later more notifications hit about Jim and Trudi. After ten minutes, and much encouragement all around ,Alianna pulled out her books and started to do her homework, so did Jaius. “I got a busy night.” She said. “Need to get a head start on this work.” “Me too.” Said Jaius. Keri smiled and shook her head. She had done her assignments in class. Her photographic memory had allowed her to complete the assignments pretty quickly.

She stood up and walked slowly around the room looking at each picture. She knelt down and looked deeply at the one in the corner, at Ali’s picture. She studied the destruction the lamp’s falling caused in this unsuspecting country. A tear leaked out of her eye as she thought about the destruction she had caused to Ali’s life. “Hey.” She smiled despite her desire to self loathe. “Hey.” She said simply. His familiar presence gave her a brief moment of peace. “You okay?” She glanced sideways at him and saw that grin that he always used to disarm people. She smiled, a little. “Yeah. Just looking at this painting that Ali did. That lamp, its so very beautiful and its light must have been equally beautiful, but yet it was thrown down. Someone wrecked it. Ali had that beautiful light in her too, before she came here, and I threw it down, I wrecked it, and by doing that I wrecked you too Jim.” She turned to look at him. “I’m so sorr…” She began but stopped as he turned his head away from the painting towards her and in the same motion raised his left hand. In it was Ali’s Sorry jar. Then that infuriating, pattenet grin split his lips. She looked at the jar, and a few tears made it become blurry. “Darn you Jim Kurtz, I was about to really let myself go into some major groveling and self loathing, yet every time I do one of you is there with that stupid jar and it makes me want to laugh and not cry. Ali’s going to be able to go to Harvard by the end of this year with what I’m gonna wind up putting in that jar.” She said all that with half laughter half crying in her voice, but zero anger. “We aren't gonna let you do that Keri. Ali gave me the jar just in case you had come over here to get down on yourself. Why do you think you wrecked me?” He said with that raised eyebrow of his. Her smile faded and she looked at him with guilt and sadness starting to creep across her face. “I know you like Ali Jim.” She said as she leaned closer and whispered to him. “I…I lied to you about her, if I hadn’t you wouldn’t have blown up at her that day she ran away. Maybe they wouldn’t have disappeared and maybe you two could have been together. I remember you telling me about her after the movie that day, Jim, I’ve never heard you talk about any girl like you did about Emily, and I remember being really happy for you and excited to meet the girl that caught your heart. I messed it all up Jim, I’m so…” She stopped, looked at the Jar and pulled a dollar from her purse and placed it in the jar. “...Sorry.” She said unable to keep the smile back. He laid his hand on her shoulder and she looked into his eyes. “Keri, it is okay. I’m the one that blew my cool and didn’t wait to see what was really going on, like Jules had taught me. I messed it up with Ali.” Keri looked down, shaking her head in disagreement, but then looked back at him. “Do you still like her?” She said softly. His grin faded and he looked down. “Yeah.” Was all he said. She placed her hand on his shoulder. “Just keep showing her who you really are Jim, the you that is below all that programming for the game. The guy who shaved his head when we were six because I had lost all my hair and you didn’t want me to feel alone, and in 4th grade, when we went to the museum and you got in trouble with Mr Sellers because I got lost and you left the group and came and found me.” He smiled, and then laughed.

“Yeah, I remember, I found you sitting near a display of 18th century fashion.” She looked at him defensively. “What? It was a very beautiful dress, I was trying to memorize every stitch so I could make a dress based off of it.” He laughed. “Yeah, I remember. Did you ever make it?” “I had started it for last year's winter formal, but I didn’t get it done in time. Maybe this year, not that I’ll have anyone to go with.” She said with a bit of sadness. “I’ll be your Huckleberry.” He said with a grin. She laughed in spite of her sorrow. “Good one Jim, Tombstone was always one of your favorites, it won’t get you any points anymore though , we are officially out of the game.” He smiled and shook his head. “I know, it’s still a good line.” She smiled and nodded. “Yep, it is.” He looked at her and she saw the years of friendship staring back at her. “Make the dress Keri, I’ll be there at your door that night.” Real tears leaked out of her eyes and she looked at him with just pure gratitude on her face. “Thanks Jim.”

They went back to looking at the picture. A few minutes later, or so it seemed, the bell rang for the last period and Mrs Shafer came back in. Everything began packing up her stuff.

“I’m sorry I was gone so long, children. I’ll make sure to be here next time.” “It’s okay Mrs Shafer, we were all okay.” Said Alianna with a smile. They all filed out of the room and parted ways to the different stairwells. Anne followed Keri and Olivia as her class was near theirs. They waved at the others and then went to their last class.

They all waited outside the school, near the side of the Gym. Keri’s mom had rented a large van for the next few weeks to pick them up, and drive them all home. She met them there and they all talked about light things on the way home.

Once they dropped everybody off they went home. Mr Bellows greeted them at the doors. They both hugged him, Keri holding on for a bit longer than Trudi. He held her and she felt a safety she hadn’t felt in a long time. “Is everything okay Keri?” Said Mr Bellows. She hugged him a bit tighter, but nodded her head. “Yep dad, just adjusting to being back to school.” He paused as if he was going to push further into her day, but then just held her until she was ready to let go.

She pulled away and smiled at him. “How was your day Dad? He smiled when she said those words to him. “It was good Keri, and even better now that we are all home together.” She smiled when he said that. “It really is good Dad. I’m going to get a shower before dinner.” He smiled and nodded his head. “Your mom made a roast which should be ready soon.” She smiled again and squeezed his arm.

She went upstairs and sat down at her vanity. She steeled herself and then began to remove her Wig. Once it was off she placed it on its stand and then looked at herself in the mirror. A tear escaped her eyes and she opened them and saw her bald head staring back at her. She was about to turn away and head to the bathroom, when something caught her eye. She leaned in closer to the mirror and looked closely at her head. After a few seconds of looking she almost cried out. There on the middle of her head dark strands of hair were beginning to pop through her scalp. She squealed, something she hasn’t done for a long time. Her door opened and Trudi came in. “You okay?” She looked at her sister with a huge smile. “Tru, come and look, my hair has started to grow back.”. she bennt her head down and Trudi walked over and looked closely. “No way! That's awesome!”. She then threw her arms around her and then released her after a few moments. “I can't wait to tell Mom and….Dad.”. She said, still trying to get used to using the new word. “It’s new for me too.” Said Trudi and she pulled away and looked at her. As Keri looked up into her sister’s eyes tears started to fall and she looked away shoulders shaking. Trudi knelt down and turned Keri’s face back to her. “What is it?” Keri looked at her and tried to turn away again but Trudi held on gently, yet firmly. “You’ve been holding this one back since you came home from the hospital. I’ve watched you hold back many tears over the years, I knew you were holding on to some. What is causing these? You know you always feel better once you get to talk about it.” Keri looked deep into Trudi’s eyes. People always thought Keri was the smart one, they overlooked Trudi because of how she looked, but Keri knew how wrong they were. Trudi had a perception and intelligence that no one really noticed except for her. Keri had relied heavily on her insight and instincts last year when she was Queen. Trudi had been her edge against Amy in the contest to be named Heir, it’s how Keri had beaten her out for the spot. Kelsey Komanskie had been the Queen before Keri, hand picked by Jim’s sister Julie to be Queen after her. Amy worked her way deep into Kelsey’s confidences, but Trudi had ferreted out Kelsey’s weakness, the chink in her Armor and Keri had exploited it. At the last moment, Kelsey picked Keri, when everyone else had anticipated Amy. Trudi had been the one who really made Keri Queen. And now that sharp mind, that everyone didn’t think Trudi possessed, had ferreted out the hurt she had tried to keep hidden. “I…”. She tried to look away again, but Trudi held fast. “I…can’t protect you anymore Tru. I failed, I failed you, and I failed Da…”. She squeezed her eyes shut. Her mouth froze in place. “It’s okay to say it Keri, he loves you.” It was such a simple statement, and probably should not have elicited any benefit, but it was what her heart needed to hear in that moment. There was an intuitiveness inside her Sister that, at times, had her staring at Trudi in awe. “…Daddy, I failed him and you. They can hurt you again and I…I can’t stop them anymore.” She looked at her, wanting her to let her go, pleading with her to let her go, so she could run away and hide this horrible truth again. Trudi would not let her go, she even pulled her face closer till their eyes were just inches apart. “Keri Elizabeth Bellows, you open that door to your heart right now and let these words sink into it as deep as they will go. You didn’t fail me or our Daddy. You saved me Keri and you honored your word to him. He would be so proud of you and all that you gave up to fulfill your promise to him. I love you and so did he, and you are most certainly not a failure, and now we have actual friends, not lackys. Olivia put herself between you and that goo as if it had been a bullet, and I even believe she would have done it if it had been a bullet. You are my sister and I love you, and so do Ali, Jaius, Jim, Olivia, Anne and many others. You are your father’s daughter and I am so proud to be called your sister.” Keri stared at her. “How does she do that!” She wanted to hide in that pain, the pain that she had let herself believe she had failed. That she was a failure and deserved all the harassment and tortures that she knew were coming this year, but Trudi wouldn’t let her run away, wouldn’t let her hide inside her pain, but she drew her out almost effortlessly. Keri began to laugh, the tears came with the laughter, but she couldn’t hold it back. The laughter washed away her self loathing like it was being carried away by a river. It was so healing. Trudi just looked at her. “You are so infuriating .” Said Keri once she could get enough breath to talk. “I had a whole year of wallowing and groveling planned out, but then you come in with your freaky perception and blow it all out of the water. What do you have to say for yourself?” She said, trying to sound stern but failing miserably as mirth filled her. “I love you.” Came Trudi’s simple reply. Keri tilted her head to the left with eyes softened by emotion and a love filled smile. “I love you too Trudi, and thank you. Thank you for drawing me out of that pain.” She said as she hugged her sister and Trudi hugged her back. “That’s what sisters are for and I’m going to keep doing this to you for the rest of our lives.” She said with a grin. “You better.” Keri said with a smile. Trudi nodded and got up. “Now, I have to go to Jaius’s. He invited me over to help them write this play for the contest at school.” She said this a bit nervously. Keri got up and hugged her sister. “You will be fine with them, they like you for who you are and you aren’t going to say the wrong thing or make them not like you.” Trudi hugged her back. “I thought I was the perceptive one.” “I learned from the best.” Said Keri with a smile. “Do you want to come with?” Trudi said. Keri shook her head. I got a lot to work through, going to do some dancing.

She took a shower and then went down to dinner without her wig on. Her parents didn’t shy away, but were both so excited when she showed them that her hair was growing back, way sooner then the Dr’s had told them it would. After dinner she read a little. About seven she went into her room and dug deep into her closet to find her dance equipment. She put on her leotard and laced up her pointe shoes and went back to the kitchen where her mom was. “I’m heading to the basement to warm up the old pointe shoes if anyone needs me.” Her mom looked up from the batter she was making and smiled at her and nodded. “It’s good to see you wanting to do it again.” Keri smiled and shook her head. “The desire never left, it just fell down the list of priorities.” She smiled and then lifted up on her toes and pirouetted out of the room into the hall. She then stuck her head back in and smiled. Her moms laughed and smiled back at her and waved.

She went downstairs into one of the rooms in their large finished basement. Her stepdad had made this room just for her to practice her dancing in. She had loved Ballet ever since that first lesson when she was four. She loved it more than gymnastics or cheerleading, because Ballet was very quiet. There was no loud pounding of feet or yelling of cheers, just the music and forms. She stretched, more so then usual because it had been more than a year since she had done this. It didn’t take long for her body to remember the stretches and then the forms and moves. At one point in the routine she moved into a pirouette and and as she spun she saw someone standing in the doorway to the room. All she caught as her eyes wizzed by the person was blond hair. “Ali.” She thought. Then embarrassment flooded through her. She had not put her wig back on and thought she must look the most horrible sight, a bald ballet dancer, the image made her shudder. “Oh my gosh Ali, I’m sorry, I..I lost track of time. I look terrible, you shouldn’t have to see me like this, how embarrassing….” She had turned away from her and covered her head with her hands. Before she could go on apologizing more Alianna was standing in front of her. She looked deep in her eyes and was holding up her Sorry jar to her. Keri had been about to cry but at the sight of the jar she laughed instead. “You’ll be able to afford Harvard by the end of the year.” Alianna smiled and shook her head. “Keri Bellows, you should never have to feel embarrassed around me, Sanguis Soribus remember? I’ll never be ashamed to be seen with you, or to see you….” Then she stopped and looked more closely at her head. A fear began to open in Keri’s heart as she thought there might be something that Ali had found to be embarrassed with her about. “Oh Keri! Your hair, it’s beginning to grow back, oh that is so cool.” She said excitedly and hugged her. Keri wrapped her arms around her and let the unfounded fear ebb away. “Thank you Ali. Thank you so much for not giving up on me.” She pulled away. “I’ll never give up on you Keri.” She said with complete sincerity in her voice. Keri smiled and then nodded her head to the door to the main room. “Enough about me, this time is about you. What happened after lunch today? You seems out of sorts when you got to the art room. How can I help?”

Alianna seemed to shrink into herself a little as Keri changed the topic. Keri switched from the one being encouraged to encourager seamlessly and took Alianna gently by the arm and led her through the door to a large sectional couch and sat her down and then sat down next to her. “Thanks Keri, I’m sorry I’m late, I, I got held up.” She took a deep breath and let it out and turned to look at Keri. Keri could see hurt, fear, pain, sorrow moving across her friends face. She reached out and took Alianna’s hand. She smiled slightly and placed her other hand over Keri’s. “Thanks.” She took another breath and began. “I…I, when I went back to get my phone today, after lunch, I found it at the table and I was looking at it to see if anyone had texted me and so I wasn’t looking when I got to the entrance to the hallway and I ran into someone.” She looked like she was going to continue, but nothing came out. “Who was it?” As she asked, things were already clicking in Keri’s head as to who it might have been, and so the answer didn’t shock her. “It was Alison, Keri. I ran right into her and so wasn’t prepared at all for meeting her. She looked just as stunned as me. I had thought for so long that such a meeting would cause all the anger and hatred I had for her to return, but instead all I felt for her was worry, sadness, concern, and…”. She took another deep breath. “And love.” Tears began to leak down her cheeks. “Love Keri! Love for someone who had hurt me so badly. Then I

ran into her again and instead of continuing over here, I….stopped and talked with her. I wanted to talk to you because you’re my closest girlfriend and also out of everyone, you know Ali the best besides me. I need some help processing all this.” She said in open tears. Keri reached out and pulled her in and let her cry and talk as she needed to. Ali unloaded onto Keri more than just the meetings with Alison that night , and a deeper bond was formed as they both shared some of their deepest fears and hurts with each other.

After Ali left, Keri went back to dancing some more. She had had a lot dumped on her and needed to work it out. Guilt had riddled her as Ali had talked. It was her fault that her and Alison’s friendship got ruined. She had said as much, but Ali kept reminding her that there must have already been a weakness there if Alison had been willing to take Keri’s offer last year. After she felt that she had worked it out she went up and got ready for bed. Before bed she set to work setting up an account and everything else that was needed to start a podcast. “Carry on Keri, Keri On everyone.” She pretended to be speaking into her phone. “Not the greatest intro, but it’s workable.” She said to Liquorish who sat next to her on the bed. She set her phone on the wireless charger next to her bed and turned out the light and pulled Liquorish in next to her and relished in the peace of that moment.