School Shenanigans [cw]

She was just desperate to get in to their classroom and just try and get through this day. Jeremy asked her what had happened and she just shook her head, trying not to let it show, but she was rather hurt. The rumors didn't matter, but Finn trying to talk to her when she wasn't ready to even look him in the eyes? That was what sucked the most. She was about to say something, but then miss thing of the whole school started yelling. Looking over she saw Kurtis, and the words that Vanessa spoke made her frown a little worried. What? Forced? That sounded really weird. Fuck this, this was it. She just had to go. "I don't feel good," she just muttered, grabbing her things as she left the school building. She could feel her whole body shake as she headed off of school grounds.

Jeremy was a little speechless as well, looking at his friend and then Vanessa. Though it could sound like something he'd actually do, didnt it just make sense? They were all just kids after all. Jeremy heard Zaira's mutter and watched her leave, but he just stood for a bit. Shaking his head he just decided that it was better to just go to class, though Zaira's reaction was a little peculiar. He swore there was a lot of things that he wasnt being kept up to date on, but he didnt know what.

Vanessa was just being malicious and Kurtis really felt that as everyone was staring at him. But what hurt the most was seeing Zaira leave. How he wanted to just chase after her and explain himself, but here on school ground it was just another incentive for people to pick apart at something that didnt concern them. He just grunted angrily and walked off to get out of the spotlight. Vanessa had a smile of delight on her lips as she shrugged a little and watched him go. "Go sort that out with your new bitch." she mumbled quietly before her friends surrounded her, asking her whether she was fine or telling her how much of a dick that Kurtis was. Kurtis left school and grabbed his phone to call Zaira but he wasnt even sure what to say so he just hung up before it rang.

Zaira just left school grounds, turning off her phone as she did so. She needed time to think and be alone, not be influenced by whatever one of those bitches would post on social media. And when she felt like this she just couldn't focus. She knew she would end up getting lost in the city, but she didn't really care.

Lunch rolled around and Damiano had gotten a spot outside in the shade. Some of his second year friends around him as they were discussing what had happened in class. He chuckled, leaning his head back to lay on the grass as a girl started braiding his hair. Him and his friends were not really seen as outcasts, rather they were a part of a unusual popular group. They were the creative, those that could paint and play music, those who everyone thought would go on to be famous but most likely would work a desk job instead.
Damiano looked up as he spotted Jeremy. His lips pulling up in to a smile as he waved him over, although it seemed as though he wasn't persuaded. He got up, the girl complaining that she wasn't done with the braid,  but he just chuckled and promised her he would be right back. Most people knew Damiano was gay, and the funny thing was that he had never had to deal with bullies, not even at a rumor filled school like Saint Jules. "Hi, you got a minute?" He asked Jeremy. Some first year girls who didn't know any better was trying to wave at both boys to get their attention. "I just wanted to know if you're doing alright?" Damiano had a soft spot for anyone who might be going through what Jeremy was right now. He was well aware that he was indeed one of the few that were lucky to both have an accepting family and a school that didn't discriminate.

Damiano sighed, adjusting his shirt a little as he looked at the nephilim. He looked tormented, like he couldn't find heads or tail in all of this. The mumble made him shake his head, "no, c'mon, let's go talk," he just said. But he wasn't one to just grab people, so he just led the way until they reached the school library. People went there all the time, even during lunch break, but it wasn't as crowded. He took him to one of the study halls within the library, sitting down on a couch and gesturing for the other guy to sit down. The seat he chose would be his own.
"Listen, I know I'm very straight forward, and things are rough right now, but I want you to know that you can talk to me, alright?" he said, his voice calm and rather sympathetic. "You don't have to like me to talk to me, but sometimes it's good to just voice your thoughts before you feel like you gotta explode."

School drama. Damiano breathed out, as he clearly had heard some rumors about a couple of first years that were crazy. Not that he ever believed rumors, he sort of just lived his life. But maybe that was easy to say when he hadn't been involved in anything crazy at the school before. But then it seemed that Jeremy voiced his biggest worry and the hybrid looked at him with sad eyes. To think that he had to hide or be ashamed of that part of him sounded painful. "I wouldn't ever," he said rather seriously. It would be breaking everything that he felt he stood for, but he could see why Jeremy couldn't necessarily just trust him. "How about I tell you some dirt on me, that way you have a secret you have to hold safe for me too," he suggested. Maybe it was childish, but why not act like their age?
He looked down as he turned a little serious before looking at Jeremy again. "I selfharm," he confessed, knowing it sounded rather unlikely, but it was true. Scoffing he shook his head, would he even believe him? Lifting up his shirt, he showed the small fine lines on his torso, scattered everywhere. Some were even a bit fresh. He covered up again, nodding a bit as he shrugged. "No one ever sees me without a shirt on, so my torso is the easiest place to hide it; The same goes for my thighs," he hadn't really talked to anyone about it, but he wasn't suicidal, he just felt like he needed it to keep in control.
"Everyone has secrets that they don't want to get out, secrets that would hurt the ones closest to you if they knew, so I get what it means to keep some things out of the limelight," he just said before getting up. Classes were starting soon, and it was best if they left one at a time, just to keep the nephilim safe. He grabbed a piece of paper and a pen, writing down his number before handing it to him. "Write me any time - even if it's just to vent or be mad at the world." And with that he left for class.

Damiano never really talked about it. It wasn't about hating himself as much as it was control. The pain he felt went he did it just took his mind off of the whirlwind inside of him with his lycan and daemon side being so destructive together.

A couple of days had passed, and he was at his family's restaurant working his shift. As he went to fill up some drinks he looked at his phone, smiling a bit. "What are you smiling about?" Giana teased him but he just pushed her away with a chuckle, telling her to go manage her tables.

[Messages between Damiano and Jeremy]
[Damiano:] Hello there. Don't mention it. And yeah, I heard some girl from your year is missing?

He got to pouring those drinks, heading out to serve them before notifying his mother that he'd be heading out for a smoke. She just let him, having given up on scolding him about smoking a long time ago, as he was clearly a good kid in all ways.

[Damiano:] Wow really? Damn, I'm sorry to hear that.
[Damiano:] Do you know who started spreading the rumor? I might be able to pull some strings. 

Jamie, huh? Well he did know a thing or two about that asshole. Being a second year, you kinda got to hear everything all the time, but he was smart enough to be involved in a lot of clubs so he could get all of the latest shit if he wanted.

[Damiano:] Oh I got shit on him dw
[Damiano:] And his sister Vanessa too - one of them being that they are siblings

He chuckled to himself, inhaling smoke into his lungs as he thought about what else to write.

[Damiano:] I got you

With that message he went back to work.

After work the real job began. He gathered a lot of info just by writing around to some people that he trusted. Turning on the TV to get a bit of a distraction he saw the news anchor talk about the missing girl from school. Her picture in the corner made it seem so weird that she wasn't found yet.

[Damiano:] Turn on the news

He just texted rather fast to Jeremy as he turned his gaze back on the screen.

"16 year old Emanuele Zaira Rojas, hasn't been seen for the last 54 hours. She was last seen leaving the school of Saint Jules in a distraught mood. If anyone have any information, please contact the police. A search party has been arrange to search through the area around the school as well as nearby cities. For further information, please contact the number on the screen right now, or show up tonight at Saint Jules main gate."

Damiano had a bad feeling about this, but Jeremy's response just clarified more. Fuck, this was serious, wasn't it? A teenager who ran away they almost always found, but this seemed sketchy. The harassment and bullying. And the fact that Jamie and perhaps Vanessa was involved. The next message from him worried him more.

[Damiano:] Come meet me at the school gate. We'll have to help find her.
[Damiano:] Remember to breathe, see ya there!

He texted before he headed out the door.

Heading to the school this time of day wasn't too bad as he got on his bike to get there. Tossing it in a hedge he went to the gate, feeling like the area was rather eerie at night. Maybe it was just because of the fine architecture? Seeing Jeremy already there didn't surprise him, feeling the buzz in his jeans he already knew it was him."I'm here," he said, lifting a hand as a greeting. He could feel the dread in Jeremy from miles away. That guy might not show it, but he sure had a lot of feelings. Damiano didn't like using his abilities, but in this case, maybe it was the best option, just to clear the nephilim's mind a little. "Breathe," he said, reaching out and touching his wrist as carefully as he could. That way he could make it more relaxing for the guy. "Alright, you know her best, but I know this school - There's going to come more people here soon, the search that they talked about on TV," he said. It was rather important that they kept their heads clear. "I want you to tell me who you trust with your life in this school."

This was maybe a little too much action for the nephilim. He wasnt well suited for handling it emotionally and as he saw Damiano, it was only like it got that more real and scary. He didnt realize that he wasnt watching his breathing before Damiano pointed it out and started touching his wrist. He could feel the sudden calm and drew in a few deep breaths. "Who I trust..?" he mumbled, scratching the back of his neck with his other hand. "Well there's Kurtis Trevino, but he is the worst to get a hold of." he said before he thought further. There were people he trusted but he really only trusted a fair few, one had moved far away and the other was missing. "Maybe Finn from my French class..? I dont really trust him with my life... But I kinda trust him." he mumbled though he wasnt sure. They were friends, sure. But not really that good friends.

Damiano nodded taking in the information. Okay, so one they could trust and the other was in a grey area. It was fine, he could work with fewer people. "Alright, now would any of the two ever hurt Zaira?" It was a rather serious question, but before people started turning up, he needed to know. He knew that Jamie already had a grudge against the girl, and no doubt his sister was in on that as well.
Once they had exchanged some information, more people started showing up, the sheriff standing at the gate and police handing out maps of the area. They were briefed shortly on what she had been wearing, what name she responded to as well as what number to call if they found anything. A group of K9 units showed up as well as an individual group of lycans who came to do whatever help they might be able to. Damiano could see Jamie in the crowd, and a bit further down he saw Vanessa with her usual band of barbies. "Alright, I have a hunch, but I hope I'm wrong," he muttered under his breath to Jeremy. Finn showed up as well, looking a bit nervous and jittery, but he wasn't good with feeling guilt for what had happened at school.
"Where's the Kurtis guy you mentioned?"

"... Dont fucking touch me." the lycan hissed under his breath, having a rather hard grip on Jeremy before letting go. His hair was covering it, but he had a pretty bad bruise on his eye. He looked at Damiano before he then saw Finn. "What is this slimey fuckface doing here?" he hissed before he went to the blonde guy, grabbing his collar as he wasted no time in budding their heads together quite literally speaking. He held onto him, sending the officers a polite smile and telling them that there was nothing to worry about, not letting Finn move while they were being watched till the police went away, before he looked at Finn with eyes that could kill. "Tell them what you did."