Connections

Red Rose

Skylar’s POV

I watch as Meghan walks away from me. I just don’t understand why she has to be so stubborn. That guy clearly scares her and she won’t say why. I will have to get to the bottom of this. I don’t want him messing with her anymore.

I sigh and head to my next class. I take my time since I am already late. As soon as I enter Miss Jensen gives me a stern look.

“You’re late,” Miss Jensen says.

“What else is new?” I take my seat in the back and hope class will be over soon.

My next few classes fly by. Being Friday, most classes are work and study days. I haven’t been doing much work in any of them though. I am still irritated about Meghan. She needs to realize I was just trying to help. I don’t understand why she won’t ever accept help.

Especially from me. We used to be so close.

“Alright. I know lunch is next, but let’s not let that distract us from our next lesson,” Mrs. Hale says.

The lesson is boring. Just a couple of trigonometry problems. We review them and then she helps us solve a few. With about twenty minutes left of class, Mrs. Hale lets us use the rest of the class period to start our homework.

I start on my homework. If my Uncle and I are going to be working on the drug this weekend, I need to be focused. I won’t have time to worry about homework. Especially if Meghan is going to be there.

“Hey man,” The guy in front of me says.

“What do you want Parker?”

“I saw your fight with Meghan earlier. Tough break.”

“Whatever. It’s not a big deal,” I lie.

“Jeez, didn’t your mom ever tell you not to yell at a girl?” He asks.

Immediately I freeze. My jaw clenches and my grip on my pencil tightens.

The guy next to Parker punches his arm. “Dude.”

“What? At least his dad should’ve taught him how to treat a girl.”

I stand up and walk to Parker. He looks up at me completely unaware of what he did. All my anger floods into me. I reach and grab his shirt. I pull him out of his seat hard. With the amount of force I use, his chair falls backwards and crashes onto the ground.

“Skylar! Let go of him.” Mrs. Hale yells.

I ignore her as I continue to stare at Parker. “Never mention my parents again! You understand me?”

He nods and I let go of his shirt. I turn and gather up my stuff and walk to the door.

“Skylar!” Mrs. Hale says.

“I know where to go.”

I walk out of the class and head straight for the office.

I don’t understand why people have to say things. Especially when they have no idea what they are talking about. It’s just so irritating. Parker deserved what he got. And you know what, I could’ve hurt him and I didn’t.

I walk into the office and see the secretary.

“Back so soon, I see,” She says to me.

“Yep, can I just go in and get this over with?” I ask.

“Of course, let me call her and tell her you’re coming.”

She picks up the phone. “Yes Principal Clark. Skylar Cross is here… Uh huh… Yes again… Alright, I’ll send him in.” She hangs up the phone.

“She’s ready for you.”

“Great.”

I walk to her office and head inside.

Principal Clark is sitting with her back to me, reading a file. I can only guess that it is mine. I’m here quite often. I look around the room before plopping in the chair in front of her desk. I stare at her blondish white hair for a minute, thinking about what she has planned to say to me.

I clear my throat getting Principal Clark’s attention. She turns around and drops my file on her desk.

“You’ve been here six times since school started,” She says.

“Not too bad. At least compared to last year,” I say.

“We’ve only been at school for six weeks.”

“So you’ve seen me every week.”

“Skylar,” She sighs.

“Look Elena, I’m sure you know why I am here. So how about you just give me my detentions and I can be on my way.”

“I’m afraid that detention isn’t going to be enough this time.”

I look at her for a moment. “What do you mean?”

“You almost assaulted another student. That cannot go unpunished. I’m sorry,” She says.

“But I didn’t even hit him and do you even know what he did?”

“No. Why don’t you explain?”

“Fine. He made comments about my parents not being good parents. Does he not realize that my parents are dead? I think he deserved what happened to him. It’s not like I hurt him,” I explain my anger starting to rise.

“That does not give you the right to pull him out of his seat and throw him to the ground. What if he would’ve hit his head? He could’ve been hurt.”

“So what. He would’ve deserved what he got.”

Principal Clark sighs. I’m not going to apologize for what I did. Parker shouldn’t have said what he did. He needs to start thinking before he says things. It’s obvious to me that he said what he did to make me angry.

I start to stand up to leave.

“Stop.”

“What? Aren’t I suspended or whatever? Shouldn’t I leave the premises?” I ask.

“I was going to allow you to eat lunch and then you need leave.”

“Wow thanks. Lunch will be so great,” I reply sarcastically.

“You need to control your anger better Skylar. It’s going to get you in a lot more trouble than this. I know you are still struggling without your parents but that cannot excuse your behavior forever,” She lectures.

I clench my jaw and look away. “Can I go now?”

“Yes. You can return next Wednesday.”

I reach for the handle and pull it open with a lot of force. The door swings open and slams against the wall next to me. I storm out of the office and head to the cafeteria.

----------

Meghan's POV

“So I was thinking we should talk to the board about getting new uniforms for the team,” Chloe Anne says.

“I like the ones we have,” Camille comments.

“I do too but I feel like they are a bit worn down. I mean we have had them for a while now.”

“Awhile? We have gotten new uniforms every year.”

“That’s not completely true.”

“Yes it is. First we had the blue and black ones. Then we had the blue and pink ones. Now we have blue and white.”

“I still want new ones.”

“Meghan, help me out here.”

I cannot believe Skylar. He is just so irritating. I didn’t ask for his help with Brett. I could’ve handled it myself. Brett is a touchy topic with me, and I wish Skylar would have just dropped it. He doesn’t need to pretend he cares about me.

I look up and see Camille and Chloe Anne staring at me.

Oh crap, were they talking to me?

“What?” I ask.

“Well, we were discussing something and thought you were listening. But it’s clear that you were not,” Camille says.

“Sorry.”

“Is this about your dad or what happened with Brett and Skylar?” Chloe Anne asks.

I furrow my eyebrows as I look at her. “How do you know about that?”

“Oh, everyone knows! And not only that, Skylar completely lost his temper in class. He pulled Parker out of his chair, causing the chair to crash onto the floor. He said something to him and then threw him to--”

Before Camille could finish the Cafeteria doors slam open. Everything goes quiet as we look toward the doors. Skylar is standing there looking like he is about to murder someone. I watch as he looks towards the exit and walks through the cafeteria to reach it.

“I’ll be right back,” I say as I get up.

“Meghan, please don’t—”

I ignore Chloe Anne and hurry after Skylar. He has just walked outside. I push the doors open. Skylar is just ahead of me.

“Skylar wait!” I call to him.

He turns around and faces me. He is holding a cigarette in his mouth. The lighter is in his right hand. “What do you want?”

“I um. I thought you didn’t smoke anymore.”

“Why do you care what I do? You made it clear that we aren’t friends.”

His words shot at me, and I felt my heart crumble a bit. He lights his cigarette and blows smoke at me. He starts to turn away, but I rush up to him and grab his arm.

“Where are you going?”

“Don’t act like you didn’t hear what happened! I’m suspended.”

“I’m sorry Skylar. What happened? Why did you do that to Parker?” I ask.

His eyes narrow a bit as he looks at me. I know I have made a mistake asking him. He takes another puff of his cigarette.

“Doesn’t matter.” He turns to walk away.

I grab his arm again. “Yes, it does.”

“It was a comment about my parents, okay?”

I freeze for a bit as I look at him. “I’m sor--”

“Don’t! I’m fine,” Skylar interrupts me.

“Why can’t you ever talk about this with me? I understand what you went through! I was there too. All this time I’ve tried to be there for you, but you never let me! You didn’t join the team because you were too afraid! You--”

I’m stopped by Skylar pushing me into the wall beside the door. He pins my arms above my head and stares at me. I stare right back into his eyes, smelling the cigarette smoke.

“I don’t want to talk about it. I never have wanted to. As for you and me, we haven’t been friends since we were fourteen. You know nothing about me anymore. Go back to your friends and then to the team later. Because we are nothing!” Skylar yells at me.

He lets my arms drop and turns around. I push my back against the wall for support as he walks out of sight. A tear falls down my cheek.

He is right though. We stopped being friends when we were fourteen.

---------

3 1/2 Years Ago… Meghan’s POV

“Hey birthday girl,” I hear someone say to me.

I turn around and see Skylar behind me. I smile and turn back around. I look at my dad’s letter in my hands. I am finally fourteen. Which means I am finally able to read the letter from my dad. All the answers are in here. I know because I have already read it.

Skylar walks up the stairs to my porch and sits on the porch swing next to me.

“So, Meghan, what are you doing out here?” Skylar asks.

“I needed a break for a minute,” I admit.

“Really? A break from your party?”

“Yeah.”

“You cannot have a break yet. You haven’t even opened my present.”

I turn to look at him and giggle. “I haven’t opened anyone’s present yet.”

“Oh. Well start with mine!” He pulls out a small blue box with a white ribbon on it.

I smile as I take the small box from him. I pull the ribbon off and open the box. Inside is a small red rose necklace.

“Wow, you know you didn’t have to get me anything.”

“Yeah, well. I wanted to get you something you’d like.”

“I love it.” I give him a hug and hand it to him. “Will you put it on me?”

He takes the necklace, and I move my hair. He places the necklace around my neck and clamps it shut. I turn back to him and lift the rose up so I can admire it.

“You really didn’t have to.”

“It was worth the risk to get it for you.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “Skylar.”

“Hmm.”

“Did you steal this?” I ask crossing my arms.

“I might have,” he says laughing.

I smile and look down at the letter next to me.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” Skylar asks me concerned.

“Remember when my dad gave me that letter and told me not to open it until I was fourteen?” I ask him.

“Yeah, I remember.”

“Well, I stayed up until midnight just so I could open it.”

“So that’s what’s wrong, huh?”

“Yeah.”

“If you don’t mind me asking, what’d it say?”

I look away and hold the letter close. This letter changes everything. I’m not sure how Skylar will handle this. He is sensitive about anything to do with his parents. This letter is about not only my dad, but all our parents’ deaths.

“You okay?” Skylar asks, grabbing my hand.

I take a deep breath and blink a few times so that the tears don’t fall.

I turn and face him. “Yeah, I’m just not sure how to say this.”

Skylar squeezes my hand gently. “It’s okay. You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want too.”

“No, I’ll tell you.” I take another deep breath. “This letter explains so much more than I thought it would. I mean listen to this.”

I unfold the letter and start reading it to him.

“Dear Meghan, I wrote this letter hoping to never give it to you. I know that what I’m doing right now is extremely dangerous. You reading this means something bad happened to me,” I pause as my eyes start to water.

Skylar motions for the letter and I hand it to him. He lets me scoot closer to him as he puts his arm around my shoulder.

“Okay. Let me explain to you now, since you are old enough, what I’ve been up to. I never worked late or travelled for the airport. I work for a unique company. As well as Jack and Kyle’s moms, Vince and Chace’s dads, and Skylar’s parents,” Skylar now pauses.

“Do you want me to finish reading?” I ask him.

“Um,” He clears his throat. “No, no I’ll finish it.”

“This company works to maintain the life you all know. We protect and defend. Police Officers cannot go to as extreme measures as we can. Our little group has always taken care of and eliminated threats. My current job is a risky one. I hope you never have to read this. If you do, just know I love you. Love Dad.” Skylar finishes the letter and hands it back to me.

“Wow.” Skylar says.

He stands up and walks to the porch railing. He leans against it and looks forward. I know he is either going to shut down or lash out. I just watch the back of him debating whether I should say something.

I finally decide to get up and stand next to him. He doesn’t look at me.

“There’s actually more,” I say nervously.

“Oh?”

“Yeah, there was another baggy attached to the letter.”

“And what was in it?”

“This.” I hold out a key.

He finally looks at me and takes the key. “A key?”

“Yes. I’m not sure what it’s for though?”

“Was there anything else with it?”

“A phone number. Also, a note that said I have to call the number to find out where the key goes. If I call though, it means I agree to join the new upcoming team to take our parents’ place,” I explain.

“By yourself?” Skylar asks concerned.

“No, of course not! I have to gather up a few people to create this new team. I was thinking me, Jack, Kyle, Chace, Vince, and” I pause and look up at Skylar. “You.”

Skylar laughs. “Are you hearing yourself? You want to call and join a team that got my parents, and your dad killed?”

“They didn’t get them killed. They joined to do something right for this world.”

“Who cares?” Skylar walks past me. Just before he reaches the steps, I grab his arm.

“Why are you being like this?” I ask.

“You can go off and join some stupid group if you want, but I’m not going too.” Skylar walks down the steps.

“What are you so afraid of?”

He stops. Slowly he turns and looks at me. I freeze when he walks right up to me.

“I’m not afraid of anything. But I will not be joining your team. I already lost my parents to this secret company. I’m not risking my own life. I wish you wouldn’t either,” he says.

“I think it’s the right thing to do.”

“Then do it. I’m not going to be around to stop you.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I’m leaving. They finally found a relative for me to live with. I won’t be staying with you anymore. I leave tonight.”

“I don’t want you to go.”

“It’s been decided. Go and join your team. I’ll be gone for a while with my uncle.”

“Skylar.”

“Good-bye Meghan.”

I watch him walk away from me. My heart shatters when I lose sight of him.

“Excuse me miss?”

I hate that he left. I hate him for leaving me.

“Miss?”

A voice calls for me, pulling me back to reality. He is gone again. I sigh and turn around only to become face to face with a school security guard.

“Excuse me, you shouldn’t be out here,” he says to me.

“I’m sorry sir.” I walk by him quickly and head back into the cafeteria.

The cafeteria is bare once I return. I look at the clock and see that it is time for class to start again. Chloe Anne and Camille run up to me.

“You okay?” Camille asks me.

“Fine. Can we go to class now?” I ask.

“Meghan, remember I’m your friend. So, you cannot be mad when I say this.” Chloe Anne says.

“Walk and talk Chloe Anne.” I say.

“Stop letting Skylar suck you into his crap. He is not worth your time or energy. I don’t know why you care so much about him. He is rude and cares about only himself.”

I stop walking and face her.

“You don’t know him like I do,” I say. With that I turn and head to my next class alone.

The rest of my day seemed to go on forever. I couldn’t stop thinking about Skylar. He hopefully went straight home. I’d hate for him to have done something stupid because of me.

“Meghan. Hey, are you coming to practice tonight?” I hear someone ask me.

I move my locker door in a bit to see Camille standing there.

“I think I’m going to have to skip tonight. I’m sorry.” I say.

“Don’t be! Get home and rest. You have had a day.”

“Thanks Camille.”

She nods and turns to leave.