unbreak the broken ✘ shawn hunter (BMW)

O N E

*4 Years Later*

"Nice of you to join us, Ms. Bell," Mr. Feeny says from the front of the classroom.

I was 20 minutes late to class this morning. Hey, at least I showed up at all. I graduated last year, 1998, and started college this year at Pennbrook University. It feels no different than high school seeing as it seems that everyone goes to college here.

Keith's friend sold me an older black Mazda MX-5 for cheap a couple months ago. I park it at the entrance of the trailer park where there is a parking lot for visitors. I didn't want Keith to have something to take away from me; even though I'm 18 now, I still live in the trailer. 

"Sorry, Mr. Feeny." I walk quickly to an empty seat in the back row. "Keith-"

My face turns red. I did not just call my dad Keith in front of the class. "Uh, my dad needed a ride to work."

"Stay after class, Ms. Bell." "Yessir." I bury my face in my textbook and groan slightly.

Obviously, I wasn't driving father dearest to work. He caught me getting into my car this morning and needed to "knock" some sense into me. "How could I hide this from him? What else am I hiding?"

He knocked some sense right into my abdomen.

I look up at the board and notice the one and only Shawn Hunter looking back at me from the second row. I smile and nod my head before focusing my attention on my favorite teacher.

-

Class ends quickly, seeing as I wasn't there for the full time. Mr. Feeny erases the chalk from the blackboard and then turns his attention to me.

"Ms. Bell, I'm concerned."

"Mr. Feeny, there's nothing to be concerned about." Mr. Feeny has always made sure to ask about my home life every time he suspects something is off.

My junior year of high school he saw a bruise on my cheese and has expressed his concern ever since. He didn't believe the whole 'I was play fighting with my friend, it was an accident ' cover. I guess I wouldn't either- you need actual friends in order to play fight with a friend.

"Ophelia," Feeny puts a caring hand on my shoulder, "Are you out of that house yet?"

"Trailer," I correct him, "And no. I would need somewhere else to go. I don't have anywhere else."

I pick up my bag with my things in it and smile at Feeny. "It's nothing I can't handle. Thank you for caring. I have to get to work. I'll see you in class tomorrow."

I head towards the door and hear, "Don't be late for class tomorrow, Ms. Bell."

"I won't be." I smile at him and leave.

I start heading towards the bathroom located right near the classroom. I quickly change into my red work Polo and black skirt, pinning my name tag to the right side of my shirt. I work at the Student Union here at Pennbrook. I get discounts on coffee (I make it myself and it's free), and get paid minimum wage.

The Student Union building is only a 5 minute walk from where my class was. I arrive two minutes before I'm supposed to and clock in, getting behind the coffee counter and cleaning the area a bit.

I look up and notice all of the people in here; some alone studying and some in their friend groups laughing and enjoying each others presence.

I've never had a best friend. I was always known for being 'Trailer Trash' and for being the girl who weirdly takes pictures of random things in my earlier years. Didn't know photography was a sin.