The Queen Of Spades

Chapter 7, Continued, Again

On Monday my suspension was over and I woke up extra early—meaning 0430—to get ready after working out. When I was done with my normal morning routine, I went to the bathroom to get ready. I put on a black tank top with a silver spade outlined on the center of it, black ripped jeans with my silver "queen" necklace and a black choker and my favorite military issue pair of combat boots. After I was done with my outfit, I did my makeup, I made a spade in the corner of my eye with eyeliner and put on dark purple lipstick and then I was done. No eyeshadow, no foundation or anything other than to cover what I called my skeleton scars on my cheeks—from where my mouth was lengthened by a knife—just a spade and lipstick.

Olivia and I almost ran into each other in the hallway as I left the bathroom and walked downstairs together for breakfast before leaving for school. As always, Olivia, Noah, Caleb and I walked to school together and parted ways for first period. I went to my class, sat down and immediately was pummeled with questions for classmates who have never so much as said hi to me. "Oh my gosh what happened are you okay?" "Woah what happened to your arm?" "Are you okay?" "You're so brave I can't believe it, I would have rather died than lose my arm." I answered all of their questions with a snide comment and scrolled through socials on my phone until the bell rang.. When class started, I took out my sketchbook and started drawing. I drew the different versions of me I saw in the mirrors in my dreams, trying to remember exactly what they looked like and added my current attire to the mix at the end.

When the bell rang marking the end of fourth period I left for court, it was the last day of the case and I was going on the stand again so I made sure I wouldn't be late. I didn't bother changing into something professional and stayed in what I was already wearing. There was no point in keeping the facade up, they didn't get to control my life with fear. Not Oliver and not the stupid defense attorney. If the people in that courtroom wanted a scared, timid little girl that they could manipulate I would be sure to give them the opposite. Gideon wasn't coming with this time thankfully, but Caleb was. Caleb had changed into a suit before meeting me in the car to look more like a bodyguard and less like a wannabe gang leader. His gun that was usually tucked in his waistband was now in a holster along his ribs, covered by a suit jacket and his joking smile was replaced with a demeanor that made him seem twenty years older.