[Center][h1][i][color=00eddd]Ariel Grey[/color][/i][/h1]
[Img]https://media.giphy.com/media/9Tw9hRN2W1Du8/giphy.gif[/img][hr][color=00eddd][i]"And No, I'm not okay, but nothings broke. 
Maybe God will let me die when my dreams go up in smoke."


[Color=red]Trigger warning for brief mentions of child abuse. Reader discretion is advised.[/color]
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[Indent]As if homecoming wasn't bad enough, the hours leading up to the morning after were. 

Ariel was greeted with the sight of her father sitting on the porch steps, the sleeves of his dress shirt rolled up to his elbows. Trillian met his daughters gaze, nearly stopping Ariel in her tracks, but still, she walked forward, stopping a few feet from him. 

"Serafina," he began, his voice stern. "Can you explain why I got a call from the Salvadors telling me you had broken their sons nose?" 

[Color=00eddd]"I - because -."[/color] Lost for words, her throat dry, Ariel could think of nothing to say. Her father walking over to put his hand on her shoulder helped nothing. He leaned his face over, burying his face in the top of her head as he took a deep breath. 

"My sweet, sweet girl. Why is it you've only ever caused your father trouble, eh? Come on, let's go inside." When she refused to move, he gave her a gentle push - or what could only be considered gentle for Trillian Grey. Turning to lock the door behind him, instant panic rose up inside of Ariel. "Why'd you hit that boy," he asked, walking over to stop in front of her. 

[Color=00eddd]"Dad - it - I... It's really hard to explain."[/color] 

Her explanation had helped nothing. 

"You're a proper lady, Serafina. I raised you to be a [i]proper lady.[/i] Ladies do not fight. Ladies do not [i]hit people[/i]," Trillian said, hitting her across the face. 

As she turned to run away, Ariel knew it was a hopeless cause. Her father grabbed her by the arm, pulling Ariel back towards him. A already long night, turning even longer. 

[Center][color=00eddd]~•☆•~•☆•~[/color][/center]

The next morning, Ariel had to be at work. She had taken extra care applying her makeup this morning as to cover the bruises. The last thing she wanted was for customers to ask questions. Sadly, she couldn't cover up the few on her arms, or the small one on her neck. She could just blame them on sports. She had done it her whole life, and people had never known the difference. Broken arm? Fell off the bike. Broken leg? Soccer practice. 

Work flew by, though she wasn't sure if it was a good thing or not. Saying good bye to her boss and clocking out, she most definitely wasn't ready to go home yet. Driving aimlessly down the road, she would find herself at Kavi's house. It surprised her that she still knew the directions. Ariel had only ever been here for a handful of school projects. 

[i]Oh well,[/i] she thought. [I]I'm already here. Might as well make the most of it.[/i]

Ringing the door bell, Ariel was greeting promptly by one of Kavi's siblings - Nikki, if she remembered correctly. 

"Can I help you?" The other girl asked, slightly suspicious. 

[Color=00eddd]"Can I speak to Kavi please?"[/color] 

"Sure. Come on it. I'll go get him for you."

Walking inside the house, Ariel stood at the bottom of the steps, careful not to touch anything as she waited on Kavi's arrival. [/indent]