Shattered Echoes

Chapter One

My life was never a fairytale and it surely wasn't normal. I didn't really have a pleasant childhood growing up. From having an absent father who I never met to being bullied in middle school relentlessly for my skinny figure. The bullying wasn't so bad. I got spitted on, had stuff thrown at me, received ugly letters, and being named called. It made me fall into a deep depression, but not to the point where I would harm myself, but hate myself and felt self conscious. But thanks to my mom, she was the only one who made me feel safe. I never told her my struggles at school or with myself, but she knew something was going on. I just wish I spent more time with her than I did with my studies.

"Natalie, get the hell out of bed!"

That's my aunt, Theresa. Mom died shortly after I turned eleven and gave the house to her sister who doesn't take care of herself, let alone me. The house is a pretty good size, four bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a basement. I sleep in the basement, Theresa got the master bedroom with the bathroom and her daughter got my old room.

I sighed to myself, slowly getting up. "As if it's a bed." I grumbled to myself. I sleep in a cot. Very uncomfortable, but I've gotten used to it. Somewhat. I got up and gotten dressed for high school, hoping today wasn't going to be as bad as it usually is.

I walked up stairs, heading to the bathroom to brush my teeth. "Ugh, don't you ever knock?" The door slammed in my face. "Bitch." I muttered under my breath. That's Lexi, my stuck up cousin. Thinks she's too good for everyone, including her mom. I wouldn't blame her though, I never liked my aunt. She's always been a abusive and selfish junkie, guess that's why Lexie does her best to avoid her.

I walked to the kitchen, grabbing a honey bun, and decided to wait. We had twenty minutes left and I was getting impatient, I walked back over to the bathroom door, knocking, "Lexie, for Christ sake, let me in. I just need to brush and the bathroom is all yours." My voice was filled with annoyance.

The door swung open, she propped herself against the doorway with a cheeky smirk, "No matter how much you brush your teeth or shower, you will always smell like shit. Don't forget that, you skinny idiot." Her face dropped as she pushed passed me. I sighed and went to the bathroom, brushing my teeth.

After I got done, I rushed outside to see that Lexis car was gone. "Goddamnit!" I cursed. "Looks like we both missed her." Theresa said, sitting on the bench with a cigarette in hand. "Yeah? Well, you always miss her." I retorted.

She flicked her cigarette to the ground, "You better watch your mouth. I worked hard to get this house and you are just an unwanted object I have to put up with." She lazily got up and walked over to me and replied in a dry low tone, "And can easily take out." She added with a smirk. I clenched my teeth to stop from saying anything, and stormed off walking to school. She always said stuff like that to me growing up, but now that I'm older, it became physical. From slapping me to leaving cigarette burns on me, I gotten used to it. Don't get me wrong, it does hurt but I don't cry. I mean, I haven't cried since my mom died.

As I walked the halls I saw Jessica and Lexie at my locker giggling. I sighed as I saw 'fatty natty' written on it. Pushing pass them, I opened my locker and saw diet pills sitting where my books used to sit. The halls filled with laughter, "Take some, fat ass." Jessica spat. Jessica was my main bully. Popular, rich, and had a thing for picking on me. Lexie frowned, "Where did you get those?" She whispered to her. I ignored Jessica and headed to History class.

She was the reason I started to get bullied from middle school to high school. Lexie was like a bitchy mean older sister, but she wasn't like Jessica. Lexie used to sneak into the basement and play Barbie's with me when we were younger and gossiped about boys with me every now and then. And for some reason her and Jessica are friends.

"As you all know, we will be having a new student next Monday. So I want you all to treat him with kindness and respect." Mrs Martin interrupted the loud classroom as she passed out graded work. "That'll be the day." I mumbled with my hand rested on my chin.

"I heard he's from California. City boys have always been my type." Jessica commented to her friends with a cheeky grin. We live In a small town in Georgia, people from the city where rare for us. "You said hot guys were your type, not pussies." Jake chimed in, dabbing his friends with a sly smile.

She turned around in her chair, her light brown eyes glared at Jake, "I also said I liked smart guys, not you." She remarked with a flip of her long styled black hair and turned back around. Jake was your typical jock, white, blonde hair, green eyes, and douche baggy. He was Jessica's on and off again boyfriend. I never liked Jake, he got away with too many things that should've gotten him kicked out and his lack of respect for women. I always hear about how him and Jessica would get down and dirty with each other, in class and at lunch to his friends.

I won't say Jake is a saint but he's never bothered me which was odd considering his popularity and relationship with the queen bee herself. Aside from his actions, he was very attractive in his own way. I guess what made him attractive was the fact he didn't acknowledged me and he also had good hygiene. You could smell his deodorant and cologne as he passes in the halls, his smile was always noticeable considering his teeth were always white, and you'd never catch him with greasy hair. Not even once. And he was ripped.

But Jessica is the same way, always took care of herself and always wore runway makeup as if it was going out of style, not to mention she dressed like Hollywood. Her body was perfect. Curvy in the right places that always caught attention of young boys and disturbingly some of our teachers.

After the dreadful hours of my routine of getting laughed at and pushed around was over, I got in the passenger seat. "What's the matter? Didn't get the chance to leave me this time?" I looked at Lexie who looked frustrated. She rolled her eyes, "It's not my fault you were wasting time. Now put your seatbelt on, stupid." I put my belt on and we headed home.

"Hey, honey, how was school?" Theresa asked as we walked in the door. Lexie didn't bother look up from her phone and walked passed her without a word. "School was good." I said, throwing my bag over the coat rack.

"I wasn't talking to you." She said with a bitter face. She ran her hand over her messy greasy blonde hair and leaned over the counter, "I'm going to be having a man over tomorrow and I don't want you to show yourself, so stay in the basement." I looked at her puzzled, "Is this man important?" I lifted a brow. She smiled, "To me he is." I sighed. Of course he is, every man was.

I didn't bother to engage any further and went to my room, sitting on the cot, and taking my shoes off. "Hey, Nat?" Lexie came down. I looked up, "What?" She stopped at the end of the stairs, "Jessica is throwing a party tonight and I want you to come with." I held in a laugh, "And why would I do that? Nobody at school likes me, especially her." I shook my head.

"I wasn't asking. Be ready by eight." She went back up the stairs but paused, "And don't wear anything dorky." She added before leaving.

"Fuck." I swore under my breath.