Shattered Asylum

Chapter 30

I woke up to my phone screaming at me. My hand fumbles around the nightstand until I find it, yanking it off the charger. I silence the alarm and glance at the time. It is already 7:15 A.M.

This is the second time in three years that my nightmare hasn't been the thing to wake me up.

I bolt out of bed, panic setting in. My mind races as I gather what I need for school, black ripped skinny jeans and a hoodie, before running to the bathroom to brush my teeth, scrubbing furiously.

I barely finish before I dash back to my room, grabbing my black Converse and backpack, and rush downstairs. When I slide into the car, I glance at the clock: 7:28.

Groaning, I slam the car into gear and speed through the gates. I have a 22 minute drive and only 17 minutes to get there.

Why does the time fly when you're late?  

~

I got to school with two minutes to spare. I use this time to finger comb my hair, attempting to make it look presentable. As I go to put it in a ponytail, the purple mark on my neck reminds me of the night before. I groan, letting my hair fall back into place, strands sticking every which way.

By the time I walked to first period, I was already annoyed with the day. At least there is one plus side, we are leaving early. I spot Nora at her desk, absorbed in her phone.

"Hey, Nor," I say when I reach her.

"Hey, Av- WHAT THE HELL!?!" She gasps, her hand flying to her mouth.

"What?" I ask, glancing down at my clothes to make sure there isn't something on me.

"I think I can hear chirping from that nest you've got going on in your hair," she teases, poking at my tangled mess.

I roll my eyes and slap her hand away. "I woke up late. Leave me alone."

She raises her hands in mock surrender, fingers pressing over her lips to hide her grin.

Then she bends down, rummaging through her bag before resurfacing with a brush.

Ugh. I could squeeze her right now.

I snatch it from her and drag it through the tangled mess, wincing as it catches.

"What were you doing last night, anyway? You never answered my texts," she asks, watching me practically rip my hair out.

"Nothing much, just wasn't around my phone," I lie.

Nora's my best friend, and I'd love to tell her everything, but she's got a mouth on her. I don't need the whole school knowing my business, especially since I have no clue what is even going on between us.

She hums as she replies to a text, and I finally hand the brush back to her, offering a half-hearted glare.

"Thanks," I mutter.

Nora arches a brow, slipping the brush into her bag. "Wow. Pubes McGee saying thank you? Someone alert the press. This is a historic moment."

A laugh slips out before I can stop it, the nickname catching me off guard. I roll my eyes and flip her off as I slide into my seat, pulling out my notebook just as class is about to start.

Then Madison walks in, head down, looking like she is carrying the weight of the world.

She plops down behind me, laying her head on her desk. I can hear her sniffling, her shoulders shaking.

Is she crying?

She glances up at me through tear-streaked lashes, mascara running down her red cheeks. "What the hell are you looking at?!" She snaps.