Secrets are meant to be kept

What they dont know

“This is getting absurd.” Rene complains over the phone. “All this is stupid, I mean seriously, if we wanted—”

“I know Rene; you don’t have to explain it to me, thats just like preaching to the choir.” I say rolling my eyes, what I need explained is why she is calling me to rant. Its not as if we are close or anything, “They are trying to ensure that nobody gets left alone. Making family visit every once in a while makes it imperative that every child has somebody to lean on.”

“Honestly everyone knows that over half the population of Lakeside High doesn’t want to see their parents.” Rene states as if it were completely ridiculous to think otherwise.

Which, to be fair, is completely true. Lakeside is a place for snooty, rich guardians send their kin, so that they don’t have to deal with them. For most kids their parents bribe them to come here because of the scenery, but that is a bunch of bull. Lakeside is out in the middle of nowhere. There isn’t even a lake near here.

“Yeah, but some parents actually want to see their children.” I mutter flipping through my Sociology book.

“Yeah, some may, but even the ones that don’t comply easily. Mine actually tried to buy their way out of having to come. It is entirely ridiculous, if you ask me, because I didn’t do anything to deserve to come here. They, my parents, say that I come for the education, but I know that they sent me here so that they can go on vacations.” I could hear the pout in her voice and kind of felt sorry for her, even if she is just another rich kid.

My parents want to visit so bad that they would have paid to come for just a little bit. That isn’t necessary, of course, but if they had to they would. Other residences of the dorm say it’s a blessing, but I just wish they would leave me alone.

“Sorry about that Rene, but I have to go; with finals coming up I have to study harder to keep my grades high.” Sympathizing with others just isn’t my thing.

“Oh, I forgot, finals are soon. Sorry for interrupting your studies, guess I just needed someone to talk to. I’ll talk to you later okay?”

“Of course, tomorrow after class we can hang out.”

“That’s brilliant; we can get ready for parent visits together in my room.” Her voice started going up a few octaves in her excitement.

“That would be wonderful, Rene. I have to study now, but it was nice talking to you.”

“Swell! Bye, Joanne!” Rene chirps. Then, with a click, the call was ended.

I sigh, not that I don’t like Rene, because I don’t really have an opinion on her, or anyone else for that matter. But Rene being Rene, has been one of the few people to actually give me a chance here.

Rene stands about five foot seven with brown naturally – or what she calls natural – wavy hair, with big blue eyes. She isn’t exactly ‘preppy’ but she isn’t a loner either. She tries to act all tough but her pale eyes didn’t give the look she wanted until I got here, then I showed her some tricks that she picked up quick enough; which seems to be the reason she even talks to me in the first place.

I stand up and tread down the hall to the lounge room, where by now there should be some afternoon snacks out, seeing as it is now six thirty. The line at the table was huge, and me being new here, I wasn’t going to sit and wait looking stupid and alone.

I turn around, but a couple of younger girls come bounding in being chased by a pair of boys around the same age as them, and I get knocked into a table. Pain seared up my spine and my hips shook with the force. I close my eyes ignoring the mumbled apologies.

Then I make my next mistake; I hide my face behind the vial of black hair, desperately trying to wish myself away. Never show him that he got to you, he will revel in the glory of your fearfulness. Every. Time.

But that was only my second mistake, how had I let myself be alone with him?

“You tired now?” he sneers. “You wishing you were gone and away yet?” His large hands find my shoulder and he shoves me toward the wall.

Waist hitting the desk with so much force, I slump forward, knees buckling under the pressure.

“You’re so scared you can’t even talk!” He laughs roughly before pulling me up by the hair.

SLAM

A door outside shuts and it must be Her. He yanks me around pulling me up the door into my room. Silently telling me with his eyes that now was the time to be normal, now was the time that I have to pretend.

She climbs up the steps, hair flowing and smiles at me when she sees me, I know that I have to smile back and pretend that my spine isn’t shacking with pain….pretend that everything is fine… now is the time to pretend

Always pretend.