The Penny Worth Keeping (Not Continuing)

Chapter 13

~One Day Later~

After what had gone down with Tatum, I was almost excited for school to start. Sadly, that excitement didn't last because I forgot what not to look forward to; drama. The one thing that seems to follow me around wherever I choose to go. That brings up another thing I forgot; I'm not lucky enough to avoid it.

Tatum. His eyes did captivate me from the very start. They are responsible for the one question that cursed my mind; are we dating? He demonstrated he like me, and my heart exploded in happiness. Does that mean we are dating? Does that mean we should date?

The answer was yes!

I got to school early. Of course, my mom forced me to go. She wasn't afraid, so why should I be?

That's just the thing. She wasn't there, she doesn't know.

I didn't stay to the end though. I don't even know.

Anyways, I went and sat down at two brown picnic tables. Those tables, I barely ever sat at. They just seemed fitting for a gloomy day such as this one. While I sat I pictured faces. My mom's dark brown eyes, Tatum's jawline, Serenity's perfect teeth, my dad's... I couldn't recall his face. Mom burned all of his pictures, I only have one, hidden away in my room, for my eyes. My memory was failing.

A yellow bus came by, circling the corner to drop off some kids. I held my breath, hoping someone I knew would come out of the bus wearing a smile for me. It seems there were only smiles for other kids. None for this kid.

Kid is a silly word. I am not a kid anymore.

That didn't matter, nobody came up to me anyway.

If minds could show pictures, each picture in the school yard would be related. Different parts of the same horror movie that came true.

The next bus came around, carrying most of the football team. Josh got off and gave me a competitive glance. I gave him my "anytime, bro" look. The rest of the team hollered as Josh walked away in fear. In his mind, boys win against girls, but I proved him wrong.

I continued to watch passengers leave the bus, and then I almost fell over in shock. The next person off was Aiden. I forgot I didn't end things with him yet. I forgot to crush his heart for breaking mine. He approached me calm and collectively, like nothing had happened. It was time.

"Support, Kindness. Do you know what they mean?" I asked coldly.

"Yes." Aiden swallowed nervously.

"Don't lie to me, you stabbed me in the back!" I spit.

"I was-"

"Standing around while I was being beat!? Kicked, punched!?" I relaxed myself next. "We are over."

"It's Tatum isn't it! I knew I saw you two together!"

"That doesn't make you any worse! It was your own actions that caused this."

"He is dating Kaley, Mya!" Aiden was clearly mad.

"That doesn't make me want to stay with you!" I wanted to say more. I wanted to crush him into pieces and bury them. No. I needed to be calm, and stop.

"All of the good times we had." He didn't meet my eyes this time. Instead, he walked away.

After this outburst, my mind was returned to me. Other people around the school yard were playing games, wearing smiles. They didn't care about what happened, they were looking to what was ahead; life as it was.

I had to be Mya, not the girl who witnessed tragedy.

I patiently waited for someone to speak with to arrive. Lucky for me; I didn't see any trance of Serenity. She certainly had a few words to say to me. Public humiliation was her favourite way to get payback, now it was my turn to be on the other hand of things.

"Hey, Mya!" I heard from the distance. I whipped my head around to see Hannah walking towards me.

"Hi." I mumbled. It seemed Hannah thought we were super close now. At least it is nice to have someone to speak with.

"It is so nice to see you! First day back is always really weird. Now we have each other!" Hannah hugs me and giggles.

"Yes, I suppose it is nice to have you here."

"Listen, I heard about you and Serenity. News travels fast." She shrugs. "She is a bully, she went after me not too long ago. I know that she will not rest easy on this one, so if you will except it, I want to help you. I'm here for you."

"That is very generous, Hannah." I reply.

"I'm glad you think so!" She lights up." Hey there's Tatum, that guy who chased after you in the hospital."

"You saw that." I don't question, I know she saw it.

"Indeed I did, you want to talk to him, right?" Hannah understands.

"Yes."

"Mya has a boyfriend, Mya has a boyfriend!" She whispered to me, before walking away to a group of cheerleaders.

I then walk over to Tatum, sick of waiting. I couldn't wait another minute! I needed to speak with this boy, and if he wasn't in a hurry to get to me, I will. I wait for nobody! I'm Mya Sweenie!

I wait for the people with the guns who threaten everything.

I can't do this. I'm Mya Sweenie.

People will hear me if I call Tatum's name. What will they think?

I must not care what they think. I'm Mya Sweenie.

If I look out of place in the school yard, will the guns point at me? I must do what they want me to do.

I am a part of the picture. I'm Mya Sweenie.

"Tatum, come here please!"

I'm Mya Sweenie.

"Mya!"

"We need to talk." I inform him.

"We do, I...uh...I ended things with Kaley. Mya, you opened my eyes." Tatum surprises me. He actually broke up with the monster.

"Yeah?"

"Don't play dumb with me, please." He begs. "Mya, I-"

"I broke up with Aiden." I spit it out.

"Really?!"

"Tatum, I like you too."