Petty Crimes

shitty beginnings

I used to be a romantic fool,

but then my soul was broke in two.

Now I'm the something on that middle,

ground that either loves or destroys.

       - J

" Jordana hurry up. I need to brush my teeth! " Astrid clawed at the bathroom door impatiently like a predator , as i wiped the blood drizzling down from my wrist with a damp cloth.

" I'm trying to piss Astrid! Can't you wait a minute? "
I shout back pulling my black hoodie over my head and rung out the water in the dampened cloth into the sink , the blood seeping out and trickling down the drain.

" No. Now get out or I'm gonna be late. " She groans as i unlock the bathroom door, giving her a scowl before walking down the hall to my bedroom. 

" Now. What to wear. " I say biting my nail, pulling out a mustard yellow turtle neck top and baggy jeans.

" Cute. " i smile brushing my hair as i look myself up and down in the mirror hanging on the back of my door.

I grab my backpack lying on the floor near my dresser and hoist it over my shoulder , swinging my keys in my left hand as i knock thoroughly on Astrid's door.

" Hurry up Astrid. I'm not being late because of you. Again. " i roll my eyes and knock again on her door.

" Coming! Wait for me in the car. " Astrid yells back from behind her door and i sigh walking down the hall to the front door.

" fine! you have 5 minutes tops! " climbing into the car i start up the engine and roll down the windows. God LA is too hot in the summer. Well its not what I'm used to.

Finally after 10 minutes of tapping the leather steering wheel Astrid gets into the car.

" God what were you doing in there. " i tease pulling out of the driveway.

The car stays silent , i look in the rear view mirror at Astrid. She's clicking away on her new flip phone. 

I clear my throat, trying to make conversation so I don't have to drive in silence. Too over concentrated..

" So. You excited for your first year of middle school? " I ask tapping the steering wheel before turning a corner, my blinkers clicking as i turn.

" Yeah, i guess. " My sister responds coldly. I sigh, leaning my head down and grabbing a necklace from the glovebox opposite the passenger seat.

I pull my hand round and hold it out openly to Astrid , her eyes glossy.

" Is that mom's necklace.? " She asks curiously and scoops up the jewellery from my open hand, clasping it into hers.

" Yeah. I thought you might wanna wear it. Start fresh y'know. " i shrug awkwardly.

All this motherly shit has me stunned. I'm all new to it. And its especially difficult when you're dealing with a moody teenage who loves getting into trouble. I'm dreading to see how much worse she gets in Middle School. Lord save me.

" Thanks. " She whispers tucking it into the back pocket of her jeans.

 I smile into the rear view mirror awkwardly before parking in the student parking area.

" Alrighty. I'll meet you here at 3. If you plan on going out call me first to let me know, okay? " I give my serious look at Astrid and she nods.

" if you run out of lunch money just message me , i'll leave some in the car just in case i'm busy. Have a good first day. " my smile beams at her , she nods and walks over to a group of Seventh graders with tight-fitting jeans and revealing shirts.

" Hey Jordana! " Nancy smiles , beckoning me over with a towering stack of textbooks in her arms. I return the smile and walk over.

" Hey Nancy! How many books did you get? " i giggle readjusting my backup on my shoulder.

" i see the nerd still has her braces and ugly glasses. What a skank. " a guy says laughing at me. I hold my stomach awkwardly and remove my glasses from my face , blinking a lot as my vision got blurry, better keep those on, even if you're getting bullied for it.

" oh cmon Jordana. They're just having a laugh. " Nancy reassures , placing her stack of textbooks into her locker.

I respond only with a hum and open my locker , putting in a book or two and my lunch. Which was a ham and cheese sandwich with a bottle of water and some lightly salted off-brand chips.

A blonde haired boy walks past me with the group of stoners. His piercing blue eyes drew me in , i couldn't look away. That was until Astrid caught my attention , that was a regular occurrence , usually for a bad reason.

" Yo Evie! " The band of 'popular guys' howled at her. Evie Zamora. Only in Eighth grade but she made an impression. A big splash. Known throughout the whole school as the hottest girl. Some even say she has a scar in her back from when she saved her baby brother from a fire. What do i think? I think its all bullshit.
Now she's ' Queen of the school ' and i'm surprised to see Astrid is a new addition to Evie's posse.

I roll my eyes , grabbing my backpack and walking out to an empty table in the sun.

" Hey. You're Astrid's sister , right? " There she was, the queen of the school , talking to me , the nerd.

" Uh, yeah that's me. " I say putting down my tray of food awkwardly.

" I'm Evie Zamora. " She outstretches her arm to shake my hand.

" Yeah, i know. " my long lashes flutter as i decide not the shake her hand and spoonful food into my mouth.

" Well , Astrid's really cool , so i assume you are too. Come hangout whenever at Melrose. " She winks placing down a piece of paper in front of me before strutting off.

' 3Vi3s C3ll '

was written on the paper , i scoff , tucking the folded paper into my pocket and finish eating my food.

" Where the fuck are you? " i ask down the line , Astrid yelling down back at me.

" Quit with the attitude, now. " I say sternly.

" You're at Melrose Avenue? Seriously Astrid,i told you to call me. I've been waiting for ages for you to come out school. " i scoff.

" Yeah, fine whatever. " I respond and hang up the phone. She really went all the way to Melrose Avenue with Evie Zamora. God knows what she's up to. She could be shop-lifting , doing drugs , or worse..