Ed did not meet Skylar's eyes. He banged his hand on the wall, as he remembered how disgusting he had been. He had just hurt the girl he loved as he had been too afraid to voice his feelings. His heart felt heavy as he saw Skylar walk past him hiccuping and dragging her sleeve across her face. She had not noticed him, as he had been hiding behind an overgrown bush. He knew that he could not keep his thoughts to himself anymore. But not wanting to admit anything so soon, he thought to give it sometime as that would ease things up between them a bit.

Darla stood waiting the next morning, for Skylar, by the lane that divided them. She waved energetically, as Skylar turned the corner walking moodily.

"Hi Sky," she said cheerfully as Skylar looked up, surprised who knew her name. Just then, her eyes fell on Darla and she suddenly felt herself lighten up.

"Hey Dar." She greeted her in return and took two long steps to stand beside her. "Wow," she said as her eyes grew big in surprise. "You are an early bird." she laughed, as Darla too joined her.

"Yeah, I am. Since I was young, I have not been able to wait on the bed for too long." she explained as they fell into steps beside each other. Skylar nodded.

"For me, I would die to live on the bed." she said dramatically, placing her hand over her heart, as though an actor from the Victorian era was expressing his love for a prince, where he was acting as a female peasant. Darla laughed, pressing her hand to her mouth. She was trying to stifle her loud laughter, but it broke out too loudly, as Skylar too joined her.

"Jeez girls, you have to be talking slowly the next time." Reese said as she halted the bicycle right in front of them, by the bridge.

"Hey Ree," Darla greeted, as Skylar slapped Reese on the head, as her method of greeting.

"Hello lady. Good morning," Reese said, smiling towards Darla. "And from where did you find this animal?" she asked, rubbing the back of her head, where Skylar's bony fingers had slapped hard. Darla giggled.

"You two are never tiring." she added as Skylar smiled proudly.

"And that," said Reese, as she pointed her index finger in front of her, as though she was stating a very important matter. "Is why we are best friends." she finished, closing her eyes in a very dramatic manner. Darla giggled again.

Soon, the three friends reached the entrance to the school and Reese left them to park her bicycle. Darla turned towards Skylar.

"Are you an only child?" she asked sweetly as Skylar felt her eyes start to burn behind her eyelids. But not wanting to represent a human hosepipe early in the morning, she gulped down the emotions which were starting to numb her cheeks and she nodded.

"Yeah, yeah I am." she finished smiling sweetly as Darla too smiled at her. "What about you?" Skylar asked, wanting to change the matter and not wanting to dwell about her life anymore, afraid that one question would lead to the other, making her doubt her decisions.

"I have a younger brother." Darla said as she looked down at her feet. "He is five." she said as Skylar smiled.

"Oh, he must be so cute. Being younger and all." she added as Darla nodded.

"Yeah, he is." she said as her eyes darkened. "But he could be a real pain in the -" she stopped, remembering where she was. But Skylar, who perfectly understood what she was about to say, fell into fits of giggles with her.

"What are you ladies giggling about without me?" Reese asked as soon as she joined her.

"Siblings." Darla said as Reese rolled her eyes.

"I have an elder sister." she said. "But she doesn't even turn to check whether I am alive or not." she said as Darla's face fell.

"Just ignore her." Skylar told Darla as she turned from one to the other. "She might have eaten a cake without sharing it with Ree." she explained as Darla nodded understandingly, biting back the smile that formed on her lips, but quickly composed her face to express a very sad expression, as Reese turned to look at her, with a dangerous look clouding her eyes.

"That's, that's a very rude thing to do." Darla added soon, as Reese nodded threateningly.

Soon they reached the school building and Darla stopped to admire the graffiti on the wall.

"Even yesterday, I was mesmerized by this piece of art," she said as her eyes roamed over the painting.

Reese turned quickly towards Skylar as she looked uncomfortably at the painting. Once again, her eyes fell on the girl who was running with fire on her feet. Reese watched closely, as she noticed Skylar's eyes not so much as moved away from it. Shaking her head thinking that she will never be able to help Skylar from whatever that was happening to her, if she was not yet ready to share it with her, she turned towards Darla.

"If you hear the story behind it, you will love it even more." she said as Darla looked eagerly at her.

"Then, I want to listen to it right now." she said stopping where she was. Reese shook her head.

"No," she said as Darla squinted her eyebrows in worry. "We should go to the class room first." she added as Darla looked up again at her.

"Will you tell the story about it once we go to the class room?" she asked as Skylar noticed the eagerness in her eyes. Reese nodded.

"Yes Dar. We will," she smiled promisingly, when Darla beamed and skipped towards the class. "She is an interesting girl," Reese added to Skylar as she too nodded her approval.

"Yeah, even I thought the same." she said thoughtfully as her mind moved away from the painting and she remembered how fragile Darla had looked on the day she had been kidnapped.

"I wonder what's her story," Reese said thoughtfully as Skylar turned towards her, her eyebrows raised.

"Don't tell me that Jake didn't tell that to you." she said as Reese shook her head no.

"That's the funny thing. He did not even utter a single word about her for me, except for the introduction." she said thoughtfully as Skylar turned her head to the front, pulling her school bag closer to her body.

"Hmm... that's surprising." Skylar said as Reese nodded.

"Yeah, it is." she said. "I wonder if it is something dangerous." Reese said as Skylar turned towards her, surprised. She wondered to think how she would react if she came to know how dangerous Skylar's story was. A chill wind went down her spine and she shuddered.

"Or something sad." Skylar added, bringing her thoughts towards Darla, and wondering what was dangerous to others, could be something sadder for the person. It was all a matter of perspectives.

"Hm... or sad." Reese added turning her head to stare at the girl who was running before her, her hair swishing to the right and left as Darla skipped eagerly.

"Tell me." Darla demanded as soon as Reese and Skylar neared their usual seats and when Reese had not even so much as placed her bag down. She slowly turned towards Darla.

"Give me a second girl," she laughed. "I climbed three floors." she added as though that would explain the reason behind her panting. She touched the stitch on the side of her waist and gulped down the water in one go.

"So," Reese said, turning towards Darla after she had caught a breath. Darla turned towards her and listened intently. Skylar too joined them, as she did not have anything better to do.

"Wait, wait." Darla asked, putting her hands in front of herself, stopping Reese from moving on. Reese closed the mouth as she had started to tell the story.

*

"Does it have a happy ending?" Darla asked as Skylar leaned back on her chair, relaxing her arm on Darla's chair, as she tried to stop her laughter. Looking at how eager Darla was to listen to the story, it was surprising for her to assume that Reese would be able to finish the story before the day ends.

"No questions in between." Reese said dangerously sweetly, as Darla shook her head, agreeing to the deal. Reese sat straight and composed herself to start the story again.

"So," she started again, and turned to look at both Skylar and Darla to check whether they were listening. "Do you know Dar," she started to ask, when Darla shook her head 'no' even before she had finished the question.

"There were ghosts in this school." Reese said, closing her eyes dangerously and bringing her head closer to Darla's as she too leaned in, not wanting to miss anything. Skylar glanced at Reese and shrugged her shoulders knowing the concept that Reese was using. She started to type fast on her phone, when she felt a sudden pain by her knee and turned to look at Reese. She was looking evilly at her and beckoned her to join their circle of horror stories. Rolling her eyes, knowing that this would not end soon, Skylar put her head near to theirs, pushing her hair behind her ears.

"So," Reese started again. "The history states that this property, where we are sitting right now, was an old cemetery." She paused for dramatic effect to be built when Darla started to bite her nails.

"So, there was this old lady, whom, you know," Reese glanced quickly towards Skylar and winked at her, which went unnoticed by Darla, who was literally living inside the story.

"Yeah, this lady was like the security in this cemetery. But she did not have enough money to feed her children. So, one day, a stranger, who was riding on a horseback," Reese paused, checking to see whether the effect she was creating to have was actually happening.

"This man saw the lady and gave her a bundle of money." she said as Darla shook her head okay. "But," Reese said, pointing her index finger in front of her. "There was one problem." she said and turned to look at Darla.

"What was it?" she asked, glancing at Skylar to check why she was not looking interested.

"That man asked for the cemetery in return." Reese said, closing her eyes and nodding as though she had been that woman, who was given a bundle of money. Darla gasped, and her hand slapped on her opened mouth.

"Yes, he did." Reese added, and nodded sadly. Skylar rolled her eyes.

"And then," Reese beckoned Darla to come closer. "He built the school over the cemetery. He broke down the tombs and you know," she moved her hands up and down to help her with the things she had not put into words. Darla's eyes were perfect saucers. Skylar rubbed her forehead, shaking her head to the sides.

"And then after his death," Reese turned towards Darla as Skylar put her hands forward.

"You know what Ree," she raised her hands, turning towards her. "That's enough." she said, smiling at Darla as Reese giggled.

"Dar," Skylar turned towards her kindly, as she wondered what was going on and why did Skylar stop Reese from continuing the story. "Reree was just pulling your leg." Skylar added, pointing her head towards Reese as Darla looked confused at her. Reese smiled proudly.

"I can't believe you brought that," she laughed as Darla's face gave an expression which was almost similar to pain after learning about betrayal of trust. Skylar shook her head, trying to grab Darla's attention.

"What really happened was, and the reason behind all the graffiti on the wall is," Skylar turned towards Darla, as she gave her attention to her. "When the students started breaking rules and doing wrong at the school and the teachers could not find a way to put a stop into it," Skylar paused to take a breath. "One of our past principal's started this method of new detention. And that," she glared at Reese. "Was to draw whatever the student liked on the wall." Darla nodded taking in this new information. "So, that day forth, not only students who were in detention, anyone who were interested in artwork took their own time drawing on it." Skylar finished as Darla smiled.

"That is an actually nice story," Darla smiled as Skylar nodded.

"And," Skylar started again as she remembered the most important part regarding the school's history. "All the artwork behind it has a significant story that is personal to the artist." she finished as Darla smiled.

"Wow, what a nice thing to do." she said thinking through what Skylar had said. "But I also have to really appreciate your level of creativity, Reree." she laughed as Reese pushed her chest to the front, proud of herself.

The three girls stood up and turned to the front of the class as their teacher entered. The day went on smoothly as they tried to concentrate on their studies, while forgetting the discomfort they were facing with the severity of the lessons.

"Hey dad," Skylar greeted her father as she entered her home. But as soon as she entered through the door, she stopped dead on the doorstep.

"DAD!" she screeched as she noticed the changes that were not there in the morning. "What are you doing?" she asked as her lips formed a very thin line.

Henry smiled sheepishly at Skylar, as she reached the bottom of the ladder on which he was on the sixth step. "Hi darling." he greeted her, as Skylar gave him a death glare.

"Don't you hi darling me dad. Get down, RIGHT NOW!" she bellowed as Henry shook his head.

"I am alright darling. I just thought of redoing the living room," he explained as he sat on the step of a ladder.

"I don't care about that dad. Just get down, right now." Skylar repeated as Henry shrugged his shoulders and got down the ladder.

Skylar tied her hands across her chest. "What if you lose your footing and slip, falling down, dad?" she asked softly as she put her arms around his neck. Henry patted her lightly on her shoulder.

"Nothing of the sort will happen, Sky. To be honest," he said as she released him, and he looked at her scratching his eyebrows. "You worry a bit too much." he added with a scowl on his face. Skylar bit back the laughter that fought to escape through her lips.

"And I learnt it from you." she smirked as Henry looked at her, and he smiled.

"Guilty." he said, putting his hands up, as though he was caught in the act. "Anyway," he added, placing the hammer on his belt. "Freshen up yourself. I have prepared your favorite." he winked as Skylar's face lit up and she ran up the stairs, taking three at a time. "And don't break your neck." Henry added loudly, as she thundered through the stairs.

"To be honest, you worry too much dad." Skylar repeated his own words to him, as Henry laughed, his stomach rumbling. Ever since his retirement, he had been living off the savings he had for them, and sometimes, he does a bit of carpentry to earn some cash. Even though Skylar knows that he does carpentering, she had not been able to say no to him, as it had been his hobby and being a retired teacher, she knew that there was not much that he could do now. Remembering his past, and laughing at himself as he also remembered that Skylar had not changed much through the years, Henry dried his hands and stared at the counter in the kitchen wondering whether he needed anything more to prepare, to delight his little daughter.

Skylar emptied her pockets and stared at the balled up piece of paper. Her eyebrows furrowed as she tried to remember what it was and with a flash of lightning through her brain, she remembered the note that Reese had given her the day before during the English literature class. She balled it up some more, and flushed it down the toilet as she remembered the words that were scribbled across it.

Is he one of them too?

*

Skylar pulled the towel down her face as she stared at her reflection through the mirror. She was wearing a long sleeved t-shirt and Skylar squinted her eyebrows and she pulled the strands of her short hair to the side. She stared at the mirror, touching the side of her neck. Skylar raked her brain and tried to remember how there was a new mark in her neck. She remembered having a nightmare the previous night too, but she could not remember any specific details about it. But for Skylar, for whom these marks and gashes were not something new, she shrugged her shoulders, patting her hair around her neck, so that her father would not notice any changes. Scanning around her room for one last time, Skylar closed the door behind her and skipped down the stairs.

"Wow dad, this is the best," she mumbled with food in her mouth.

"Don't talk while there is food in your mouth, Sky." Henry added softly, as he looked at his daughter, trying to dwell on the goodness of the food. Skylar saluted, to let him know that she understood him, and Henry smiled at his plate. He did not want to even imagine how his life would have been, if it was not for his loving daughter. After losing his wife, he had thought to spend all of his living breaths loving Skylar, and through the years, they had attached themselves too much for each other that it was as though they were living on each other for oxygen.

Time passed slowly as the evenings started to fill with rain. Darla had been the third node in the circle of their friendship, and for both Skylar and Reese, it was as though with the arrival of Darla, their circle had been completed.

"So Sky," Reese asked as they walked back home from school. That day, Darla had not come to school as she had had a very bad cold and a high fever. Skylar turned towards Reese. "You never told me how you met Dar." she asked, turning towards Skylar.

Skylar let out a slow breath as she remembered that day. The image of the two men burning right in front of her eyes was etched in her mind as though it was happening right in front of her. Sensing that Reese's eyes were on her, Skylar shrugged.

"Oh," she started wondering how much honest she would have to be this time. "She was having a trouble and I sort of helped her out of it." Skylar said in a small voice as Reese turned towards her.

"A trouble?" she repeated as her face fell into investigation mode. Skylar nodded. "How much trouble was she in?" she asked, furrowing her eyebrows and catching Skylar's eyes.

"Erm," Skylar paused. "Two men," she paused again, as Reese's eyes grew large.

"What?" she asked restlessly, as worse things ran up through her mind.

"Don't worry Reese. Nothing of that sort happened. She was being kidnapped by two men and I helped her. That was all." she finished patting Reese's shoulder.

"But how?" Reese asked as Skylar stopped. Not knowing that Skylar had stopped, Reese walked up a few more paces. "How did you help her, Sky? Why was she kidnapped?" she asked, turning towards her left, and was surprised to see Skylar missing from her side.

Afraid that something similar had happened to Skylar, and that she too was kidnapped from right under her nose, Reese turned behind her trying to look to her left and right, when she stopped as her eyes fell on Skylar who was standing a few paces behind her, looking transfixed at a spot in front of her. Afraid of what her expression might imply, and worried whether someone else had actually come in front of them, like in that one situation in the past, Reese quickly went towards Skylar and called her name. But she was still gazing unblinkingly. Reese touched her elbow gently and shook her.

"Sky," she called when finally she turned towards her. She was as though she had fallen through a daze. "Are you alright?" Reese asked as Skylar's eyes found the same spot again. Reese turned to look at what she was seeing, and was surprised to see Ed standing in front of them. He too was looking at Skylar transfixed. Remembering that there was some unfinished business between the two of them, Reese turned on her heel and left her alone. Reese knew that it was the best time for the two of them to sort out all the issues as she knew that, if she were to remain with her, they would not talk and as both of their friend, it was too much of a burden for Reese to see two of her best friends not meeting each other's eyes. As Reese left her behind, Skylar wanted to ask her to remain with her, but she could not find words to say so. Ed's eyes darted towards Reese as she walked past him. He understood that she had let them talk alone.

Scratching behind his ear, Ed crossed the lane and came towards Skylar. She shut her mouth, forgetting that she had looked transfixed open mouthed at him.

"Er, hi Skylar," Ed greeted her nervously, fear evident in his voice.

Skylar shook her head and was pulled back to reality. She pushed her hair behind her ear and smiled at him. She noticed that he had called her by her name.

"Hi Eddie," she greeted as she was used to, and as though there had not been a large wall between the two of them.

"Listen," Ed started conjuring up some courage. He knew that if he dangled for too long, the moment would be broken like the last time. So, he took a deep breath and looked at Skylar right into her eyes. He had been avoiding her for so long. But he could not do it anymore.

"Sky," Ed said softly as he put his arm forward and neared it towards Skylar's asking for permission wordlessly. Skylar nodded, granting her approval for the question he had not mouthed. "Sky," Ed said again as he touched her soft hand. Her left hand fitted perfectly in his right, as he marveled at the softness of her skin.

"Your skin is so soft," he said, not being able to contain it within him anymore, and Skylar laughed loudly. That really eased things up between them as Ed too joined her laughter. Skylar felt the monster who had been hungry for food, all those days back, was starting to stir inside her again. She felt the burn through her stomach as she felt an odd feeling brush up her cheeks, as Ed held her hand and tightened his grasp. She actually felt good as he held her hand, and even started to like the feeling.

"Anyway," Ed said, looking at Skylar's hand in his. "I am really sorry, Sky." he pleaded as Skylar looked at him surprised. "I am the biggest idiot in the world." he added as Skylar shook her head no.

"Eddie, what are you talking about?" she asked as Ed looked straight into her eyes.

"I really am stupid, Sky. That day, before we were interrupted by Reree, I was going to confess my feelings for you. But I was afraid. I was afraid thinking what if I scare you off. So I was not able to bring myself to say it to you. So, I dawdled and dawdled until we were finally interrupted. Even before that, I knew I had to say these things for you, but I was afraid that you would hate me. Since that day, after Reree had interrupted us, I was too ashamed to even look at you. I was afraid that you will not like to see me or, or, or you will push me away when I try to come back to talk to you. So, I maintained my distance from you. I did not even come in front of you, except for the other day and that day, when I saw you crying," he paused trying to push back the emotions that were building up inside him. Skylar also felt her eyes burn behind her lids. Ed took a deep breath and started again. "I felt like my world ended that day. So, ever since then, I have tried to meet you and talk to you, but being the coward that I am, I could not do it. And finally, today I knew it was now or never. That's why I came here, Sky." he paused as he stared at her blue orbs.

Skylar melted in his beautiful brown eyes. "I really like you, Sky." Ed said finally as Skylar felt as though thousand sparks were lighting up in her skin. She did not stop the tears that flowed down her cheeks. Ed wiped his tears with his sleeve.

But, at that moment when Ed stared right through her, Skylar felt as though her whole world was shattering below her feet. No, she could not do this. She could not do this for Ed. She was not the beautiful girl that she looked from the outside. She was scarred forever. She had questions about her past, for even she doesn't know the answers for. If she said yes for him, it would be as though she was stabbing him on his back. And what if, she tried to push down the thought, but it came right up. And what if he started to hate her, after learning about her past? And her truth? She did not want to risk everything for her feelings.

So, after receiving a final decision, Skylar opened her mouth. Ed was waiting for her reply.

"Eddie," Skylar started softly. "I am not the girl that you think that I am. There are many things in my past, and I have not even shared half of those things, at least with Reree. And I don't even know who I am." she stopped and looked down as she was not able to continue anymore. Tears of sadness flowed down her cheeks.

Ed held her chin and lifted her face up slowly. "To be honest Sky, I don't really care about any of those things." he said as Skylar looked surprised at him.

"But I have a horrible past, Eddie. And even I am a horrible person," she added but Ed shook his head no.

"Sky," he started as Skylar started to debate again.

"You are not a horrible person, Sky. I know that. You are one of the kindest souls that I have ever met. And whatever that had happened in your past, or whatever secrets you have, I don't care. I will stick through them with you. If you think that you being with me is risky, I would go through that if I will be able to stay close to you. And even if you don't know who you are," he smiled as a small smile crept up Skylar's face. "Let me help you find yourself." he finished and Skylar looked up at him.

He was right. She could not dwell on her past anymore. She had to move on. Even if that meant trouble for her. She was ready to risk it.

"So Sky," Ed paused and looked straight at Skylar. "I have already confessed that I like you. What about you now?" he asked and Skylar looked up. She blushed as he saw his lips form a very handsome smile.

Skylar looked at her feet shyly. Slowly, she loosened her hand from his grasp as he turned worriedly at her.

"Eddie," Skylar said and she put her arms around his neck as Ed's face lit up. "Yes, I too like you and I am ready to risk it, just for you." she finished as Ed's hands snaked around her waist and Skylar hid her face on his chest as he tightened the grip around her, wondering how perfect would that be, if that moment lasted forever. Their heartbeats beating together.