Something was wrong. The final bell rang, Mr. Miller called the class to order, but Carter wasn't there. Link swiveled around in his seat and pointed to Carter's empty spot. Donovan shook his head. Carter wasn't the type to hide away from a conflict. From the little he'd known her she was more likely to get in someone's face or pretend she didn't care at all. If this was true, where was she?

Donovan knew he shouldn't care, shouldn't even be spending time thinking about it. But as the class rolled on and eventually ended and no Carter, he couldn't get his mind off of her absence. It annoyed him. After all, what she'd done to Link whether she was in class or not shouldn't matter to him.

"Why isn't she here?" Link asked as Donovan joined him at the doorway.

It seemed Carter's absence held Link's attention as much as it had for Donovan.

"I don't know," Donovan murmured, scanning the hallways for Carter.

He didn't find her.

A niggling apprehension tugged at Donovan as they entered history class and he still didn't see any sign of Carter. Link found distraction in talking to Maddy, but Donovan had none. Frustrated that this girl claimed any of his thoughts, he roughly dragged his hand through his hair.

Donovan watched the doorway, taking in the flow of students but again, Carter didn't show. When the bell rang, his apprehension had grown almost impossible to ignore. Mr. Philips took up his lesson, but Donovan found it hard to focus on what he was saying.

Halfway through the lesson, the door opened and Philips paused in the middle of his sentence. Carter stepped inside. Donovan had been right, something was wrong. Her face was haggard and there were dark circles under her eyes. Besides that, she looked like someone had emptied her of all emotions. He'd seen that looked before on shell shocked Marines coming to his mother. What had happened?

"Carter," Philips said, "I'm glad you could make it. Please take your seat so I can continue."

Carter made no reply, which reaffirmed that something wasn't right. With a blank look, she slid into her seat. Though Link watched her, puzzled and Donovan looked over at her, but she never felt either of their attention. It was a harsh contrast to the day before and how much she'd wanted to talk to them. Today it was as if she wasn't aware of him at all.

Mr. Philips continued his lesson. Like the day before, Donovan found himself irritatingly aware of Carter. Throughout the class, she showed no sign of hearing a word. There was a worn-out slump in her shoulders that rattled Donovan. This wasn't a girl who was easily defeated.

When the bell rang, Carter picked up her bag and left. Link sidled up to Donovan, his brow creased.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

Donovan met Link's gaze. "Do you care?"

Link paused and Donovan could see him remembering the exchange he'd had with Carter. It didn't matter how beaten Carter looked, Donovan would ignore it if Link wanted to.

After a moment's hesitation, Link nodded.

At the door, Maddy gave some mention of needing to talk to a teacher and walked off. Link didn't seem to register her statement. Together, the pair cut through the packed hallway, trailing Carter, going to find answers.

They didn't have to go far. Carter stood before a group of boys, all of them wearing taunting looks while they laughed. But Carter didn't react which unnerved Donovan even more. He'd seen her verbally take down students simply because she was nearby. Something was really really wrong.

Donovan pushed forward and heard Lucas clearly above the din.

"What?" he said. "Did you discover your daddy doesn't love you and left you?"

In the blink of an eye, Carter straightened her spine, her muscles coiling like a snake ready to attack. On instinct, Donovan darted forward and caught her fist, a loud smacking filling the air as his palm took the full force of the blow.

Sparks of pain skittered down his arm. The strength of the punch would have surely broken some part of Lucas's face. A small part of him felt awed by her strength, while the rest of him fought furiously to keep his mind focused.

"Don't do it," he said.

Holding her fist, he stared at her, trying to bring her back to herself. But there lay the problem, she wasn't herself. The controlled, impassive, mocking veneer she always wore lay shredded on the floor. Left behind was a girl ripped raw. Her eyes didn't burn with anger but hurt and fear.

Wrenching her fist free of his grasp, she leveled Lucas with passionless eyes. But Donovan could still see the pain and it cut through his anger towards her.

Lucas smirked as if he had somehow won. Then his attention shifted to Donovan.

"You should keep a shorter leash on your b-"

A new anger tore through Donovan stealing away his sense of logic. Spinning around, he decked Lucas in the jaw, wanting to destroy the insult. The loud crack turned heads. Lucas blacked out for a second and crashed into a set of lockers. How dare this punk kid abuse a girl who was already broken. Didn't he see it? Even if he did, he didn't care.

Lucas raised his head and Donovan snapped back into himself as the reality of what he had done registered. He'd lost control. Reigning in his emotions, he stared down at Lucas with an emotionless gaze.

"Say one word about this and the principal will be wondering why they discovered a bong in your locker, understand?" he asked.

Lucas nodded, wincing at the pain. Still hearing the end of the insult in his mind, Donovan couldn't help rubbing it in.

"You should be careful where you walk next time, running into doors can leave nasty bruises."

Lucas scowled. When Donovan faced Carter, he found she was glaring, irritation radiating off of her.

"And why did you get to punch him and not me?" she asked.

Donovan took her upper arm and led her away from the group of guys, Link following. This was not the place to talk and he was going to get answers.

"Because you couldn't afford another infraction on your school record," he said.

She didn't fight his hold as she studied him, puzzled. Then clarity dawned on her and her expression turned annoyed.

"Right. You read my school file."

Donovan didn't answer and he didn't need to. Only wished her file had given him more. He'd finished high school at sixteen, there was very little he didn't understand yet Carter was one thing he couldn't make sense of.

Donovan pushed through the library doors and guided Carter to the furthest corner. It was only then that he released her. Link stopped a few feet back, his arms crossed, a mixture of concern and the last of his frustration towards her.

"What's going on?" Donovan asked.

The girl in front of them transformed into someone completely different than they had seen an hour ago. Leaning against the wall, she crossed her ankles, stuffed her hands into her pockets, and shrugged.

To Donovan, it was like watching a prisoner step into their cell and close themselves in. A sad image but a true one. The isolation Carter built was one of her own creation. He only wondered if it was worth the effort of trying to talk to her through the bars.

"Whatever do you mean?" she asked, casually. "I usually get into fights to wake myself up."

"No, you normally belittle them," Donovan said. "Making some comment about the size of their IQ."

"What can I say actions speak louder than words."

Link took a step forward, standing beside Donovan, his own emotions propelling him to speak.

"Please don't try to play tough, Carter" he said. "The reason I'm even standing here is because you look like hell and almost got into a fight."

When Carter met Link's gaze, her whole body slumped. The facade she had created like a wall, shattered and she dropped her head. A weary sigh escaped her lips. This was the girl he'd seen in the hallway. No walls around her, nothing but the ugly truth.

"My father was shot last night," she said, quietly.

It didn't matter what she'd done, Donovan felt a tsunami of concern for her. Link looked like he'd been punched. Of course, if Carter's father had been shot, it was because he'd taken a bullet for Link's father.

"Jeez Carter, is he okay? What happened?" Link asked, all his frustration gone, pushed away by his worry.

"He's fine," Carter said, looking up, though the gesture seemed to take all her energy.

Donovan watched her, wanting to break from his cold persona to let her know that he felt for her, understood what the fear of losing someone was like. Tired, Carter sank to the ground. She rested her head against the hall, staring up at them. In her eyes, Donovan saw the deep pain that came with knowing the one she loved might not come home one day.

"He was hit in the shoulder," she said. "It went through and he's recovering. I spent the night by his bed in a chair. That's why I look this awful."

She studied her hands.

"For a second I thought I had lost him. For a second I was so alone," she whispered.

The vulnerability in her voice cut through Donovan. Against knowing what she'd said to Link, he wanted to forget it all and comfort her. Let her know that she wasn't alone. But he made no move towards her and gave no indication of his emotions. He would not let his feelings control him, no matter how strong they may be.

Besides, this was Link's step to take. She'd hurt him, not Donovan. For this Donovan would follow Link's lead.

Eventually, she looked up.

"Look Link," she started but paused. "I don't know how to do apologies. If you haven't figured it out yet, I don't know how to do friendship either."

Link crossed his arms, his hurt still plain to see.

"I am sorry for what I did," she said. "For pushing you into telling me and all because I wanted to be right. I didn't mean to hurt you and I'm sorry that I did."

Link studied the ground for a long while but Donovan studied Carter, seeing the fear that Link might still reject her, leaving her alone. Eventually, Link relaxed and let out a breath.

"You don't have anything to fear," Carter said. "No one will ever know who you are from me."

She stared at Link and he dropped his arms, giving her a small smile. Returning it, she held out a hand.

"Friends?" she asked.

Link settled onto the floor and accepted her hand.

"Friends."

Donovan felt overwhelmed by relief. The secret was safe, Link's whole life would have to be flipped upside down. Donovan settled his back against a bookshelf, his hands sliding into his pockets. The disaster was over. And if Link could offer Carter forgiveness for what she'd done, then Donovan would have to as well.

"Look...Carter," Link started. He swallowed hard. "I'm sorry about what I said. You aren't like others and I shouldn't have said that. I'm sorry."

Carter nodded. "Forgiven."

A beat of silence passed between them then Link shifted.

"How did you know?" Link asked.

The question had been rattling around Donovan's brain. Though he could guess at what some of the indicators were, he was still curious which thing had sparked the recognition. Carter sank back against the wall. Though it was subtle, Donovan noticed how she released her own relieved breath.

For a girl who could take on four guys and stay completely unfazed, it had been this, the apology, the chance of rejection that scared her. Donovan felt like he might never piece her out.

"It was when I tackled you," Carter said. "I finally saw the freckles in your eyes, same as your father's. With your glasses on, they aren't as noticeable. Once I saw that it all clicked. You have the same nose, mouth, and chin."

Carter shrugged. Donovan shook his head. Normally arrogant but she downplayed one of the biggest secrets for Link.

"Then everything else fell into place. Your dislike of Mason. Your startled reaction when I referred to Donovan as your bodyguard, since that is actually what he is. Avoiding my gaze when I talked about Senator Keller having an illegitimate daughter. All of it."

"You figured that all out because you saw freckles in my eyes?" Link asked.

Carter nodded. Donovan stared at her, amazed by her intellect.

"Your face is narrower than your father's, so that's why I didn't see it right away," she said.

Not able to stop himself, Donovan laughed. For the first time in a long time, he felt the barrier around him crack. Someone knew the truth. That someone was Carter, a girl who was unpredictable and Donovan didn't know if that made him relieved or worried.

Shocked, Carter looked over at him.

"That explains it," he said. "After that first lunch with you, I was convinced you would figure it out sooner. My estimation of you was wrong."

Carter didn't respond, staring at Donovan, eyebrows raised in astonishment.

"And the statue is human," she said.

Donovan smiled. It felt weird to wear the expression so freely after having to control himself. Carter laughed. The sound always surprised him. It was light and warm like it came from her heart.

"Of course," she said. "The moody persona."

Donovan gave a single nod. At least her quick mind made complicated explanations unnecessary.

"It was the thing we found worked the best," he said. "The hard exterior keeps others at bay and draws attention away from Link."

She looked between them, her eyes softening as if she were seeing them. Maybe she was in a way. A puzzle might be discernible with some pieces missing but it made the most sense when complete.

Giving the surrounding library a furtive glance, she leaned forward, lowering her voice.

"How long have you been his bodyguard?" she asked.

"Six years," Donovan said. "Since Douglas took the title of President."

She nodded and looked at Link.

"Did you always know?" she asked.

A faint frown appeared between Link's eyebrows, voicing his thoughts. Donovan remembered their first meeting, barely a month after he had found out about his father. Only twelve, he had been hurt and angry.

"No," Link said, some of his anger still living inside him. "I was told when Douglas was in the running for President." He nodded to Donovan. "For security reasons, I was then given a bodyguard. Only a small few know about it."

"And you and Mason..."

Link rubbed the back of his neck, scowling.

"I don't think he was ever officially told but I've seen my dad enough times and Mason has seen me with him, that I think he suspects."

"It must be terrible having to go to school with him," Carter said. Her voice was quiet and full of sympathy, showing the affection she felt for Link.

The tone told Donovan everything and his last bit of apprehension melted away. Despite how pushy she'd been with Link, she cared. Donovan knew it might take time for him to completely trust her but he knew at least for now he didn't have to worry.

Link dropped his gaze and seemed to contemplate the floor.

"Yeah, it's not the best."

Carter slapped Link on the arm and smiled, trying to bring Link out of his dark thoughts.

"Well," she said. "Let's go to lunch and if we're lucky he'll choke on his chicken."

Link raised his head and grinned.

"Lunch sounds good," Donovan said.

Carter smirked. He almost shook his head at her, soft one moment, taunting the next.

"Don't want to keep your fan club waiting, I see," she teased.

Donovan scowled and did shake his head at that, wishing for all the world he could be left in peace.

"Those girls are nauseating," he said.

He stood. Then wanting to show her that he didn't hate her, he reached out his hand to her. Without hesitating, she took it and he easily pulled her to her feet. It was surprising to find how light she was when he was always so aware of the power and strength she held. Link pushed himself up. Carter looked at him then smiled back at Donovan. There was a quiet acceptance of their friendship in that look.

"Don't worry," she said. "I'll sit with you and keep them at bay with my charm."

Charm? This girl was as charming as a baseball bat to the face.

"You must have a different definition of charm than I am currently aware of. Your charm is more on the level of insulting."

Carter shrugged. "Fine, charm, insults they amount to the same thing in my book. They are both used for a specific purpose."

She had a point, if anyone started to get too eager around him he could almost put them in the line of fire with Carter.

"Fair enough," Donovan said.

She turned to Link, and Donovan let a piece of his smile slip out, before hiding it away.

"How did yesterday go with Maddy?" Carter asked.

Link rubbed the back of his neck, staring down at the floor.

"It's a work in progress," he said.

"Need help?" she asked.

Link looked at her, relief flooding his face.

"You mind?"

She laughed. "Not at all. What are friends for?"

When Link smiled, Carter echoed the look.

**********************************************************************

Umm...Aliens! Guns! Spaceships!

(Okay, I couldn't come up with anything)

Alright, you asked for it and so I added it. Jeez I love you so much it's really stupid.

I'm curious what you thought of it because I felt like there wasn't a ton that changed but hey I still hope you enjoyed it at least a little.

⭐️💬🚶🏼‍♀️🚶🏼‍♀️ (You know the drill)