20 Chapter 20 (1/2)

”No two people are the same, Emma” Emma's mother, Jasmine says to Emma. ”Don't let bad people stop you from being a good person. In the end, we can only look back on what we've done, and not what had been given to us”.

”But mom...” Emma says, ”why do people do bad things?”.

”Somethings can not be easily explained” Jasmine says. ”No one really has the answer to what is good or what is bad. It's up to you on how you view the world, and you're special, honey. There will be a time where the world itself feels like it's weighing down on your shoulders. It's up to you to decide if that's a blessing or a curse”.

”What makes me so special?” Emma asks.

”It's all about how you see it” Jasmine says.

”Mom?” Emma asks. ”Mom!? MOM!”. Suddenly, Emma's head shoots up from the bed, nearly hitting Wyatt in the chin. ”Oh...” Emma says, sorrow in her voice, ”it was just another dream”.

”Er-... you okay?” Wyatt asks as he slowly wakes up.

”Y-Yeah... I'm fine” Emma says.

”Bad dream?” Wyatt asks.

”It's... well” Emma says, ”no, not really. Just... memories, I guess”.

Wyatt thinks to himself, worried about Emma. ”Does remembering things make you worried or sad then?” Wyatt asks.

Emma sighs and says ”I guess... sometimes it does? Depends on the memories... you know?”.

”Yeah...” Wyatt says, ”I think I get it”. Wyatt throws his arms around Emma and says ”Just remember, if you ever need to talk, I'll be here for you”.

”Yeah” Emma says, ”t-thanks!”.

The two of them head to class together, and the morning classes pass by quickly for them. Suddenly, when lunch period began, Emily pulled Wyatt to the side. ”I need to ask about something” Emily says.

”I actually wanted to ask about something as well” Wyatt says.

”Really?” Emily asks. ”Well, I'll go first then. Has Emma been acting... strange... to you?”.

”I... was actually going to ask about the same thing” Wyatt says. ”I was hoping one of you could tell me if you knew if there was something bothering her lately. Do you know anything about that?”.

Emily pauses as she thinks about the conversation she had with Emma last night. ”N-no... no I don't” Emily says. ”I guess... if she hasn't said anything... then I guess everything is fine?”.

”Fine?” Wyatt asks. ”That's kinda weird, considering how she wanted to help you even though you refused to-”.

”Anyways” Emily interrupts, ”I'm just making sure there wasn't something going on between you two. I guess as her friend you could say I'm just worried about her?”.

Wyatt pauses for a moment, then says ”Well... uh... should we see if the others know about anything?”.

”N-no!” Emily says. ”I-I mean, like... I've asked around already. I guess there's just something at home that's been bothering her lately”.

”At home?” Wyatt says to himself.

”Well, anyways” Emily says, ”that's all I wanted to know”.

”Wyatt?” Emma asks as she comes back down the stairs towards the roof, ”are you coming?”.

”Oh, yeah. I'll be right there!” Wyatt says. ”Something is definitely bothering Emma” Wyatt says to himself. ”I'm not sure what it is, but Emily is acting weird too... what is going on?”.

As everyone gathers in their usual spot, Aeris and Emily began talking to each other privately. ”So Wyatt really has no idea?” Emily asks.

”Mhmm” Aeris says, ”but don't try going out of your way to make it obvious that you want to help. You never know when someone might start picking up on suspicious behavior. If anyone needs to tell Wyatt, it has to be Emma. She'd be heart broken otherwise”.

”I know, I know” Emily assures. ”I've already talked to her about that. She sees herself as a liar, and would probably feel betrayed if we went out of our way to tell Wyatt. But I can't shake the feeling that it'd be better if we just... tell Wyatt sooner, rather than later”.

”And if that backfires?” Aeris asks.

”I don't know...” Emily says.

”So...” Jessica says, looking around at the oddly silent group of Rejects. ”Tomorrow's Friday... anyone wanna do anything fun this weekend?”.

”That's it!” Wyatt thinks to himself. ”If I can find something fun to do, it might help Emma cheer up and not focus on whatever might be bothering her!”. Wyatt then turns to Emma and asks ”You want to try hanging out with a few friends this weekend?”.

”O-oh... yeah, sure” Emma says. ”Do you have anything in mind, Jessica?”.

”No, not really...” Jessica says. ”I was kinda hoping we could start making suggestions on something fun to do... You guys are oddly quiet today, what's up?”.

”I've never really liked talking though” Jackson says.

”And yet, you take every chance you get to be a smart ass...” Aeris says.

”Better to be a smart ass than a dumb ass” Jackson says.

”I've got... other things” Emily says.

”What about you, Aeris?” Jessica asks.

”Well, how about another-” Aeris begins to say.

”Don't suggest another group date thing” Jackson interrupts. ”Besides, Jessica is still a loner, so we'll just be making her feel less comfortable. So no, I do not plan on doing anything this weekend”.

”Well... maybe I was overthinking things. You guys are your normal selves” Jessica says. After a short second, Jessica comes to the realization and says ”Wait! I'm NOT a loner!”.

”Took you that long to catch on?” Jackson asks. ”Wow, maybe you're the one not being their normal self. You've gotta speed up your thinking if you don't want to be insulted all the time”.

The rest of the day passes like any other. However, the next morning, Refus showed up a little early to class. As soon as he gets in, he walks up to Emma and says ”Emma, the principal and I would like to talk for a couple minutes”.

”I-is there something wrong?” Emma asks.

”No, don't worry” Refus says. ”Principal Schafold just wants to ask about a few things”.

The two of them, Refus and Emma, walk out of the class together. Upon leaving, rumors immediately started spreading. ”Do you think she's in trouble?” One of the students ask.

”Her?” Another student replies. ”I don't see why. Even for a Reject, she's entirely too quiet. I don't see what she might've done”.

”Maybe laibah still hold onto grudges against humans after all” a different student says.

”They're spreading rumors again...” Wyatt says in irritation. ”I thought we were done with this”.

”Looks like we won't be done until we find a way to change people's minds about laibah” Jackson says. Jackson then stands up and says ”Can you guys chill? I doubt those laibah even have the luxury of hating humans anymore. Don't you think it's about time you guys stop spreading rumors like that? I get you guys are paranoid, but geez, ease off the trigger a little. This is like... a whole new low, even for you guys. I thought you guys were used to laibah by now, seeing as to how our homeroom teacher is one. Like, seriously, when is the last time a laibah has ever picked on you?”.

The class fell silent for a while. Jackson felt a little triumphant for a second, until ”Do we have laibah classmates?” A student asks. ”That sounds like a thing a laibah would say”.

”Is that guy a laibah?” Another student comments. ”No wonder he's one of The Rejects”.

”Are all of The Rejects laibah?” A different student says. ”I guess that would make sense, but then why does Principal Schafold want to talk to one of them?”.

”Maybe the Principal doesn't” a student says, ”and maybe the teacher is just playing favorites!”.

Jackson sits down, both angry and disappointed at the class's reaction. ”Looks like that backfired” Aeris says. ”Now we've got this to deal with”.

”I'm sure they'll shut up eventually” Jessica says.

”Why are you so relaxed about this?” Jackson asks.

”Because” Jessica says. ”Try as they might, they're not gonna do anything to my friends as long as I'm here”.

”A-are you sure you're prepared for something like that?” Aeris asks. ”You know most humans- I mean... people. You know most people can act rather... violent towards laibah and laibah supporters, right?”.

”What are they gonna do? Insult me?” Jessica says with a laugh.