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It was our last day at school that day. People were being sentimental and emotions were all over the building. While most of us were busy taking selfies with everyone and hugging each other, I was roaming around. Roaming around, thinking about all those things I thought I'll miss. Never had I ever imagined I would be sad, leaving high school.

Because I had no friends to take pictures with and the fact that I had forgotten my phone that day didn't help. Thankfully, I wasn't that close to anyone there that it would've made me cry and hug the life out of them.

So I did what was my thing. I found myself staring at those stupid class desks which were in dire need of replacement.

I found myself enjoying the sound of the annoying school bell. The same bell that saved us many times and the same bell that was the cause of our miseries.

I found myself standing in the cafeteria and thinking about all the days I've spent there. Good days and bad days. I was reminded of all those times I was bullied, tortured, teased, thrown, hit and beaten in the same hall. At the same time I was reminded of the good times I've spent with Lia, Carter, Isaac and others.

I found myself touching the books of the library for one last time, inhaling their sent for the last time. I found myself hugging the librarian; Rose. I was thinking of all the days of my life when that library came to my rescue. Of all the days I ate lunch here along with my friends– the books. The same library that never let me feel alone.

I found myself studying my locker for one last time, and realizing how much I've become attached to it. How much I'll miss the locker. How much I'll miss putting up my password in it everyday. How much I'll miss the sight of my boyfriend leaning against it.

I found myself wandering in the restroom thinking of how it helped me escape my bullies' attacks. How, it provided a shelter to me every time someone was after me. How always I used to seek refuge in the restroom.

"Hey, were are you lost, Sparkle?" I heard Carter say, wrapping his arms around me. I twisted my head to place a kiss on his cheek as I smiled at him.

"It's just that today is our last day. And I'm going to miss everything about this school. Like-" suddenly I stopped, hearing an ear-piercing scream of Maddie. I started to chuckle, "-like this."

"I was just wondering how different it would be not coming here anymore. Like everyone of us is going their own way. And it feels bad. I know I've not been close to people here but...." I trailed unable to give words to my thoughts.

"I would say something like, the four years of hell are finally over!" Carter sipped his drink as he said.

"I agree with the hell part. But in these four years we've made some great memories. Good ones and bad one. Which makes it difficult to leave this place..."

"Come on, Sparkle. I don't really wanna say it but if anything, we've dreadfully shitty memories of these four years. I have the memories of doing wrong to innocent people and it makes me guilty whenever it crosses my mind. And you have memories of being bullied, by me, my so called friends and everyone in general. These memories are no where near great, Sparkle."

"I have good memories too Carter. Like you being protective over me, you, saving me from bullies, proving you correct to Mr. Miller, you, kissing me for the first time. Our skipping of school, pulling pranks on Maddie and when we sneaked inside the gymnasium to play basket ball. Also one of the memories is my friendship with Lia. These things are better than great Carter. These are the beautiful memories."

"They are, no doubt." Carter laughed at the mention of the crazy things I've done this year that I never expected to do. "But Sparkle, its depressing. I mean you going to Stanford and me staying here near New York. How will this work?"

Carter finally said what had been going through my mind for long. He finally said it. Carter had been accepted in Yale school of Arts. I had applied in Yale but I couldn't get in. Surprisingly, I got accepted in Stanford.

"I have no idea how this will work Carter but I know that if we try, we can make it work," with a smile I replied to him what I had been telling myself since the day I found out I was not going to be with him in the college.

"We have two months before the college starts and we'll make the most of it. We'll get closer to each other than we already are. So close that no body could separate us. If we're strong enough I have no doubt in the fact that long distance relationship would work for us."

"You know what? You're right! We'll make it work. I love you and I won't let you go, no matter what." Carter said with a twinkling determination in his eyes. "Anyways, are you up for bowling today after school?"

"Lia asked me for it earlier but Mom and Dad want me home. I'm sorry Carter I can't." I shook my head, sadness seeping through me as I replied. Carter looked at me with an annoyed look pasted on his face.

"You sound like they own you, Sparkle!"

"Carter... It's just that we are starting to get close, they are starting to accept me and I want to impress them. I want it to stay that way. So that we start living like normal people." I explained to him as he nodded in understanding.

"I get it. And I'm happy your parents are getting close to you. If it stays that way, you can tell them about us and we won't have to keep our relationship a secret." Carter let out the same thing I was thinking making my lips curve upwards into a smile.

"Exactly!" My voice sounded excited.

Little did I know nothing of that kind was going to happen.

* * * * *

Lately, something had been running through my mind. That why do I seem to wear dresses so much now a days. Mom never spared a chance to turn me into a living barbie doll, just less pretty. While the more classy people of society would call those dresses pretty, I'll have only one word to describe them which most of you know very well by now.

Uncomfortable.

Excessively extra-uncomfortable to an exceedingly extreme level of extreme uncomfortableness.

Comfort means a state of physical ease and freedom from pain. Which was all what I wanted knowing that I had to wear the painful, tortuous dress for longer than a decade. What I was wearing was a light purple long dress that covered my legs but it was again sleeveless.

The dress had stoned details dense on the neck area and going light downwards. As I stared at myself in the mirror, I couldn't help but notice the scars carved on my wrists. My eyes stayed there for a minute remembering my conversation with Lucas that day.

"Sophia, what are these?" He asked again, his tone serious. I gulped pulling both of my hands under the table as fidgeted with my figures. My breathing became shorter and I couldn't make eye contact with him.

"Sophia?" Lucas called, his tone touchingly soft. Hesitant, I looked up to meet his curious but understanding gaze. "Would you like to come for a walk?" He requested, his voice slow as a whisper which was so that Mom and Dad don't hear him.

I looked around unable to deny his request when he pressed, "please?" I nodded my head gesturing him to inform our parents.

"Uh- Mom, Sophia and I would like to have a walk in the garden outside. Do you guys mind?"

"No, hunny, go ahead," Angela answered in such a sweet tone, my mind began to point out how could someone be so sweet. I began doubting her kindness and sweet behaviour which was wrong of me because she was genuine.

With that Lucas and I made our way outside the restaurant. I sighed praying that somehow I could erase everything that happened earlier from Lucas' mind but I was certain that it's something impossible. I hoped that Lucas would just disappear. I mentally cursed myself for not hiding my... creative drawings.

I just wished somehow Lucas would get the hint himself and he won't question about it but his interrogative eyes spoke a total different story. They were searching mine for answers.

"You can trust me with this, Sophia."

"Lucas, I do. I trust you. But it's just a touchy subject. I do not really like talk-" my voice cracked before I could complete my sentence. "You weren't supposed to see them, Lucas."

"I've seen them. And I'm worried. You know, sharing always makes it better," Lucas said walking beside me keeping up with my slow pace.

"Why do you care?" Hearing me, he stiffened beside me. I looked at him with my eyebrows raised. He looked like he was searching for words, to answer me. Which only meant that he didn't care.

"Because-" he gulped, "we're friends, right?" He shifted his expectant gaze from the grass to me and I bobbed my head.

"Lucas, what do you want to know?"

"I want to know how that happened, more importantly that happened?" His eyes pointed towards my naked wrist.

"The reasons are always plenty. Uncountable. I did this. I used to be a weak girl. I used to want myself dead. I used to do this so that I could end my life. I used to do this so that I could get freedom. I used to do this because I hated myself. I used to do this because I failed every fucking time I tried. I used to do this because I was tired. I used to-" I was stopped when Lucas held my hand gently, turning me around to face him.

"But you stopped, right?" I gave him a single nod, breathing out a shaky breath as I tried to keep my emotions at place.

"See, that's what matters. You were weak but you're strong now. These scars are the sign of how strong you are." His words reminded of when Carter scolded me about doing this to myself.

"You won't judge me?" I found myself asking him which he replied with a shake of his head.

"I'm judging you. And I find you very strong. Because you're alive, you've come over the pain and you're happy now. I'm proud of you, Sophia."

"You won't tell this to a person!" I threatened him, blinking my tears back as I pointed my finger at him.

"When have I ever?" He laughed lightly wiggling his eyebrows at me. It was obvious that he was trying to cheer me up.

"Who else knows about this?" Lucas questioned while we started to make our way inside the building.

"Some people. Actually very tittle people. I've no idea If Mom and Ri-Dad know but Carter, Lia, Rebecca and Josh know about it."

"Carter, your boyfriend, right?" I nodded, a smile making it's way up my lips.

"He's one lucky guy, Sophia." Lucas praised with his lips curved upwards.

They were right. My scars made me look stronger and I knew I didn't want to hide them but knowing my mother, if she got to know about them, she wouldn't spare a chance to ship me to Sahara. Smiling at myself I looked up to see a strange lady standing above me.

"Hey?" I let out unable to comprehend why a complete stranger would be standing in my room.

"Hello Ma'am. This is Mel," The tone she used made her look completely professional. Still I was unable to register why she was in my room. I nodded for her to continue.

"I'm your hairstylist for today," she said, her eyes taking in the sight of my hair as she looked like she was calculating something inside her mind.

"Hairstylist what? Where's Rebecca?"

"I'm a professional hairstylist. Miss Victoria needed me here, Ma'am," she disclosed making me sigh. God, what was Mom thinking? First the dress, then a freaking hairstylist.

I knew lashing out on her was very wrong so I tried to calm myself down. "Why can't I let them open the way they are?"

"Because you're special Miss Sophia," she answered looking at me with awestricken eyes.

"You're not talking to a princess, you know? And, please call me Sophia." I presented a smile to her, sensing how fearful she felt. Just as I smiled, she took out a sigh of relief, smiling back.

She began styling my hair as she tied them all on my head. I was not a huge fan of tied hair and hair buns kind of things. She took long to curl the strands of hair that she left on both the sides of my face and those that fell to the front of my face.

"Are you done, yet?" I asked, looking at myself in the mirror as I began admiring the work she did.

"Wait, the flowers are left." She answered, walking towards me with some shiny substances in her hands that I could make out from the reflection of the mirror. After studding my hair with some unwanted flowers she smiled in accomplishment and gestured me to stand up.

I looked at my reflection in the mirror. I could see a little part of my hairdo but even that proved how beautifully done it is. The hairstyle was made so elegantly, I began rethinking about liking hair buns. "Thank you," I couldn't help but whisper.

"You're welcome, love. You know, Sophia, when I came here, I expected you to be a bitchy spoiled brat but I was wrong. You're so much better than your mother. I like you," her cheerful tone made me smile widely.

It made me very edgy, getting all dolled up but having no idea for what I'm being dolled up. Same was the case that day. I entered into my room to see the dress laying on my bed with a note.

"Hey, Mel, would you, maybe, help me.... to hide... them? You know some kind of make up or something?" I turned towards her showing my hands to her. She sucked in a deep breath as her eyes lingered on my wrists for a long period before she snapped out of it.

She nodded, her eyes twinkling. "I got this," she declared, rummaging through my jewelry box and ended up with two bracelets in her hand. "Here, you can wear them and no one will know," her smile was so viral that it attacked me and soon I was smiling widely at her.

"Thank you so much, Mel."

"It's not a problem, Sophia," shrugging her shoulders, she replied and started working with my face. I had instructed her to not apply anything on my cheeks or eyes but yet she did. To say I was pissed would be an understatement but when I saw myself in the mirror I looked decent and that was what I wanted in the end.

"You look lovely!" Mel chirped and I chuckled at her in response going towards my bed where my stiletto heals were placed. I choked on my breath when my eyes took in the length of the heal. I knew this for sure that no matter how much I tried I wouldn't be able to walk in it so I went for my old shoes that were inside my cupboard.

"Mel, where's Mom, Dad, Rebecca and all the others?"

"I have no idea dear. I know for a fact that your Mom must be getting ready," laughing along with me, she opened my room's door for me but what I saw outside made my eyes pop out of their sockets.

"Surprise!"

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