Fairy Tale

Chapter 8: BFFs

Emily woke up early. Her head was still pounding, and her body was stiff and sore. She dragged her self out of bed. She never did get around to her chores last night. She had to do them before school.

It would take her an hour. She had gotten pretty good at getting them done quickly. She also knew how to multitask. If she stayed on top of them, they weren't too bad. She was just finishing the moping when she heard footsteps behind her. She recognized the tread. She instantly tensed up. Ava was never out of her room this early.

"Why wasn't this done yesterday?" Her voice was sharp.

Emily turned with her head down. "I had a bike accident last night. I wasn't feeling well. I'm sorry Ava."

"Look at me."

Emily raised her head scared to see the look on her step mothers face. Her lips were pressed into a tight thin line, her eyes were cold as they took in her face.

"Stitches?"

"Jorge. I went back to Jorge. He did them."

She pursed her lips.

"Fine. But this is finished before you leave."

"Yes ma'am. Almost finished. Laundry is in the dryer, and I can fold it after school. Your shirts are hanging and drying. I'll also iron them after school."

"Fine." She snapped.

Emily nodded and scurried away, taking cleaning supplies with her, putting it all away and turning the coffee on, she jumped into the shower quickly.

Glancing at her face in the mirror she cringed. It looked awful. She was glad she had taken her glasses off, or those would have been smashed for sure. The road rash and bruise went from her cheek up the side of her face to her temple. The gash was red and angry, three black stitches stuck out and then Teresa's scratches on her other cheek.

She rewrapped her hand and took her sore body up the stairs. Her phone kept buzzing with texts from Sonya and Newt. She ignored them. She pulled on a pair of jeans a r shirt and hoodie. She felt her hair down, and grabbed her baseball hat, it could help cover the stitches and bruising. There was no way makeup was going to help, it would probably make it worse. She grabbed her ruined notebooks and laptop and headed back downstairs. She filled a travel mug of coffee. Left the muffins and fruit out of Ava and Teresa. Hoping that would be alright.

She slipped her boots on and had her hand on the door handle when there was another sharp voice behind her making her flinch and she hated that she did.

"Be careful today." Teresa whispered threateningly.

Emily didn't say anything. She left the house. And only realized her bike was still in the back of Minho's truck. She started the long trek to school on foot. She was a few blocks in when a car pulled up beside her.

"Get in, Looser! We're going for coffee." Sonya yelled from the car.

Emily kept her head tilted down, but looked over. Newt was leaning out the window, with his big goofy grin. But it slid off.

"Sonya stop the bloody car!"

Sonya slammed on the brakes. Newt was out of the car before it had come to a complete stop. He was in front of her so fast she hardly registered his movements. His hand gently tilted her chin up, so she was forced to look up at him and his gentle eyes went wide.

"What the bloody hell, Emy!"

Her eyes instantly filled with tears. Sonya had stopped the car and got out of the car, the car behind her didn't like that she pulled off and honked. Sonya just flipped him off and came over. Newt had pulled Emily into a hug.