Mina

The day of the ball has arrived and I fidget in the dress mom bought for me. I'm not saying it's bad, but I'm not comfortable.

Mom smiles at me through the mirror, putting the last pin in my hair.

"You look beautiful." She says softly.

I smile. "Thanks."

She takes a deep breath. "You have fun today. And enjoy your high school life. You've been through so much already."

I nod. "I'll try."

Cole waits downstairs, in his polo and tie. It's not a super formal event like prom, so it's just semi-formal.

I walk downstairs and he stares at me like I'm some princess.

"Shut that mouth, Ramsey. You've seen me in a dress a hundred times." I say, rolling my eyes.

He shuts his mouth and nods like  lost puppy. "Y-yeah, it's just-"

Our moms share a laugh and I try to erase the thoughts they're thinking.

We take pictures and he drives me to the school gym.

It's a fundraiser event and it starts at three pm. There's a pumpkin patch and a mini petting zoo, with games all set up outside while the formal party goes on inside.

"Are you ready?" He asks carefully, looking at me.

"To see Jennifer squirm and cringe at the sight of my arm on yours? Probably." I reply with a smile.

We walk through the pumpkin patch, taking pictures, and we play some games. I end up winning a gold fish but since there's still the ball, I'll have to claim it later.

We visit the animals and take more pictures with the goats, rabbits, and sheep.

"I can't wait to go back to the ranch." I say, holding a rabbit in my arms.

"I haven't been there in a while either. We should go back soon. Or rather, take me with you, hon." He says, watching my with an amused smile.

"Yeah. This weekend?" I reply, hugging the poor rabbit before it happily jumps out of my arms.

"Sure." He says, holding out his arm for me.

I take it and we walk to the gym as the outdoor events start to clean up.

The committee has really outdone themselves this year. I guess having all of us contribute for something helped.

We follow the two dancers on stage and enjoy the night as they lead us into different dances.

I ace the ballroom dances while Cole breaks it down with hiphop. He joined the short contest in the middle of the gym and won another prize.

"You're going to have your hands full." I say with a laugh as he carries a new big teddy bear.

He shrugs, placing it beside the other stuff he won. "They're not too full to whisk you away for a dance."

My laugh calms into a smile as he pulls me in for a slow dance.

We step in closer and I dare myself to look up.

He's staring at me, struggling to say something. "Mina, I-"

"Her?"

We turn to look at the owner of the voice. I'm secretly burning her with my eyes for ruining an almost intimate moment.

"You ditched me for her?" Jennifer's voice squeals and people around us turn to look.

They're quiet, unsure of how to react. We all know the rumors. They also know that Cole can turn into a beast when you make fun of me and the track girls can take you down too. They've been helping me this whole time.

"You should dance with someone more civilized and-" She pauses, dramatically thinking of the proper word. "proper."

He raises an eyebrow and people start whispering.

"Proper. Is that the biggest, most insulting word in your vocabulary?" I ask, my hands dropping behind me as I step forward. "That's sad."

She smiles like she anticipated this. "Proper, Mina, means looking, thinking and acting like a woman, a lady, a princess. But you-" She points a finger at me, her mouth in a line but her eyes full of amusement. "You're not a proper woman. You're more like a prostitute. I heard you not only went and did it with your dad but his friends too. Tsk tsk. Definitely not a proper woman. Is it insulting now?"

She crosses her arms as if satisfied, waiting for her applause.

The band has stopped and everyone's listening in. Eavesdroppers. Mind your own business people.

I sigh inwardly and hold a hand out to stop Cole from stepping in front of me as if he could defend me from the sting of her words.

"You've got a lot of guts to give me a title I didn't earn." I say, stepping forward. "And you must be very insecure to compare yourself to me. Maybe the reason why you like picking on my problems is because you're ashamed of yours and don't want the spotlight on you. But tell us, Jennifer, how is your family?"

I have no idea what I said but the thought came to mind as I spoke. Her eyes widen and she huffs. "At leasts I don't have a father who's in jail because of his daughter and a mother who taught me how to be a slut."

If I could burn her with my eyes, she would be more than a melted puddle right now.

She smirks. "I'm guessing you don't know what's happening at home right now do you?"

I try not to let my confusion show but it leaks.

She takes out her phone in one swift motion and shows me a picture.

It's ready to be sent to a group message and I try to swipe her phone.

"Tsk , tsk. No, no, Mina. The world has to know. Like mother, like daughter. Your poor dad." She says, her finger hovering over the send button. "Admit that you like it. Being what you are. And I won't send this."

I'm breathing heavily, my eyes on the picture. How did she get that?

I don't dare look back at Cole who must've seen it too.

"Fine. Whatever you say, Jennifer." I say in a petty brat voice.

She nods and presses the button.

"No!"

"Don't take what I want away from me, Mina. Step aside so I can dance with my prince. As a proper lady, I deserve the best." She says trying to get to Cole.

I have a firm grip on Cole's wrist, my nails almost digging into his skin as a warning, while I block her path. "No."

She raises an eyebrow. "You dare stop me?"

"You're not superior, Jennifer. You're just another cliché brat trying to be the Barbie Sharpay of the school. Well guess what? You're not. Not beautiful, not ideal, not popular, no perfect." I say, my voice getting louder. "And you don't deserve Cole. He's too far out of your reach. I think you're the princess who deserves a frog. The literal kind."

She gapes at me, raises a hand and slaps me.

Some people gasp while others chuckle and the rest stand shocked.

I look back at her with a smirk on my face and she slaps me again.

"Ugh!" She squeals, breathing like one of the ugly stepsisters in the Cinderella movie. "Get me a drink!"

Her friend hands her punch and she takes a sip. "You bit-"

I don't hear her finish as I feel the cool liquid soak my dress and my skin.

I stare at her, turn on my heel and run out.

"Mina!"

I hear a dozen voices calling me but I can't hear them as I run to the house.

Cole

I turn to Jennifer and smash my glass onto the floor, a few centimeters away from where she stands.

She stares at me in shock, a fake expression of confusion on her face. "I'm sorry, Cole."

"You better be." I snarl. "Like I keep saying, between the two of you, I'll always choose Mina. She may not be the typical girl but she's a hundred times better than you."

I leave her shocked expression gaping at me, as I run after Mina, the gang following.

What we find at their house leaves us all in shock. Luke calls 911 while Francis and Victor run to our house to call my dad and Carson. Annika's calling her parents while Cherry calls Charity and my mom.

The other two senior track girls are helping me pull Mina off her mom. We gasp at the sight and I look away.

"I-I shouldn't be here. You two watch them. I'll go tell my mom." I say quietly, rushing out to see the rest running. "No guys allowed up there."

They understand and the girls rush up.

Dad looks at me with a question on his face.

I shake my head. "I'd say I'm scarred forever but if I am, I can't imagine what Mina's been through."

Mina

02/14/17

It's Valentine's Day again, Mina. I don't when you'll see this but I want you to know that I don't know how I could get through life without you.

You may not think of yourself highly, you may think that people don't like you, but hon, you're amazing. You are a bright star that lights up my darkest nights and I don't ever want to see that light dim.

Stay strong, hon. The best is yet to come. I'm always keeping you in my prayers, you know?

Though I only give you cookies on Valentine's day, there's a day I dream to spoil you on this day and every day I can. For now, I'll just be your shoulder to cry on and friend to lean on.

Love, Your best friend

Cole

She sleeps peacefully and I don't like this feeling. Though she's been through a lot, and I've only found out recently how much she's actually been through, I know she's such a light and star. She's amazing.

I once thought of her as a star, always shining. I never wanted her to dim. I was afraid of what would happen. Yet here I am, watching as the life in her hangs at a balance as her mom lies beside her in the same state.

God, why? Why did this happen to her? I know You are still good despite our situations, but I don't understand.

I stare at her, taking her in, her hand in mine.

Her eyes are closed, her lashes down. Her soft tan skin used to glow in the sun for me and it now fades in her paling color.

Her soft pink lips are also losing their color, and her rich black hair lays in soft curls, framing her face. She looks beautiful.

I want to see her smiling, her eyes bright, her arms wrapped around mine as I hold her close.

I give her hand a gentle squeeze and will her to wake up. This is the second time they've been in the hospital in about two months and my family and our friends crowd the hospital emergency room, praying they wake up soon.

I don't want to lose her.

No one knows what happened. And we're all afraid to hear what did.