Candyman Jr.

Chapter 2 - I can't do this anymore

The humm of the bathroom sink filled the hotel room. Mom had been in there for hours now, I seriously didn't understand what she could be doing in there. I hadn't even brushed my teeth yet...

I sat back against the bed and fiddled with the remains of my broken deck. The front end was barely hanging on, thankfully my wheels were salvageable though. I glanced over at my other longboard and my eyes froze on the sucker and lollipop design.

'You'll be sharing the Astraea name every time you ride it.' 

Dad's words slithered into my mind and I immediately looked away from it. I'm not riding that. I looked over to my skateboard and huffed. The board was specifically made for tricks, it's definitely not gonna get me to class on time. It's better than walking I guess. 

The sinks song finally came to an end and just a few seconds later my mom came out.  Her fingers ran through the new curls in her raven locks. I was taken back, she was wearing a business dress. I hadn't seen her wear anything but sweats for awhile. 

"Hey mom, you look really pretty today." I said. 

She turned back to me, her azure eyes settled on me for a moment. She winced and turned back around, rushing out of the door. My chest became heavy and I took a breath. 

"So, she still can't talk to me huh?" I mumbled.

  

…

The sound of my wheels bounced off the walls of the empty school halls.  This was the first time I ever felt at ease here. No people, no stares, no whispers. Just me and butter smooth floors. Maybe I should come to school late more often! I turned around the corner in the halls and rode up to my locker. That's when my stomach dropped. The words 'CANDY MAN JR! STRIKES AGAIN!' and 'JUSTICE FOR CASSIDY' Was spray painted over my locker. 

My eyes froze on the name Cassidy. Cassidy, Cassidy, Cassidy. A chill ran down my spine and I looked away. 

"They'll never believe me, but I want Justice for you too." 

A weight dropped onto my shoulders and beckoned me to drop to the floor. If I wouldn't have said anything, none of this would have happened. I should've just stayed in my place in the background. Her smile came to mind and I just took a breath. 

My eyes scanned back over the words and settled on 'CANDYMAN.JR STRIKES AGAIN'. A flame ignited inside of me and my heart started to race. I just read the words over and over and over again. The flame that started inside me erupted and I stormed to the Janitors closet. I stole a rag from it and soaked it up. Then attacked my locker with it.  I slammed my fist into it and scrubbed it with all my might. I'm not Candyman. Jr! I'm not! I'm not! I scrubbed and I scrubbed, but I barely noticed a difference. 

"Why won't you come off! Come off! I said get off! I don't want to be you!" I yelled and bashed the rag into the locker. "I'm not you! I'm not!"

I beat the locker over and over and over again. My father's smile came into mind, I saw it all over the locker. So I just kept hitting it. Until, someone rested their hand on my shoulder. I jumped and turned around. The fire inside faded and my eyes focused on the bronze badge that adorned the officers blue uniform. I looked up into his eyes, and saw him looking from me, to my locker. 

"I umm, I'm sorry I just-"

"Kite, don't worry about it. Just get to class, alright?" He said and stepped back. 

I nodded and looked down to the floor. Something cold rested against my cheek, I rubbed my hands over my face. And I felt the tears that had been rolling down.