PUBLISHING PAPERBACK (after writing the final draft, I wrote this 2 years ago.)
"I see through those silent lies of yours, Liv."
𝐎𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫, the girl who's known to be mute in school. No one knows why though, and she doesn't want anyo...
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I wake up to my alarm as usual, groaning when I turn and feel the sharp pain from my ribs. I lay in bed for a few minutes, contemplating everything. I don't wanna go to school.
Despite not wanting to go to school I still force myself to get up, go to the bathroom and do the usual. Shower, change clothes, put on makeup to cover my bruised jaw and black eye the best I can, which still isn't a lot, great, fix the bandage around my ribs, all that.
I slip on my shoes, grab my bag and phone then go downstairs just wanting to get this day over with already. Walking to school exhausts me already, my arms wrapped around my stomach trying my best to ease the pain.
By the time I make it to school the first bell is already ringing, making me head straight to math. I'm surprised to see Ashton sitting in the seat next to mine again. We have a boring lesson throughout all of class so we don't really say anything to each other. I take notes to the point my hand hurts by time the bell rings for art.
"See you at lunch," he says as we walk out of class and I nod. Ashton doesn't really talk much, besides for when he's arguing with Danny or Adrian-or just talking to them in general, also Divine now.
When I walk into art I see we have a sub today. I wish Mrs. Scarlett were here but I'm also thankful she's not so she can't ask questions when I have my head down all of class, attempting to sleep but can't, or about the black eye again. The sub says nothing about me having my head down, says nothing at all really to anyone-he just lets us do whatever.
Walking into lunch is the usual. Adrian, Ashton, and Danny already sitting with Divine at our table. Divine got lunch at school today, different, then she pushes a hamburger towards me as I sit.
"I snuck that for you, so you better eat it," she says and I nod for once, starving.
When I look towards Adrian I get the usual smile from him, making me smile. He's turning out to not be so bad, shocking.
I don't really try talking, or well just nodding my head or whatever, during lunch-not really in the mood to. I finish eating my hamburger, hearing Divine and Ashton talking. They seem to be getting really close.
"You okay, Liv?" Adrian asks, making me nod my head right away, pretending.
Danny speaks up, making me wish he didn't. "What uh...what happened to your eye?" I just shrug, and he doesn't ask anymore but I hear Adrian whispering to him, more like scolding him though I can't make out what he's saying. I'm surprised he's just now asked about it.
I cover my mouth, coughing out of nowhere. It goes on too long, Divine pushing her water towards me. I try to take it but realize it's more than just a cough, something itching its way up my throat. I stand up quickly, everyone at the table's eyes going to me as I rush to the restroom-I hear someone's fast footsteps behind me.
I don't bother shutting the door to the stall I tumble into, my ribs aching as I get to my knees and cough up the blood. I feel someone holding my hair back and right away know that it's Divine.
