The Enigma Of Deceptive Love

Chapter 1: The Dirt

"I love you, and I always will."

"Alicia!"
No answer.
"Alicia!!"
No answer.
"Alicia! Don't make me come in there!"
No answer.

After years of feeling like a childhood dress that wouldn't fit, I was stuck in the world's expectations for me, until one day, when it finally became right for me to break free.

It was an awfully windy morning in Manhattan. I, Alicia Winston, was walking to school. Today, surprisingly enough, I was excited to go. It's not like I have something to look forward to in school everyday. Unless it's to get head put in the toilet to "wash off the dirt face".
Anyway, today, we have a talent competition and not to brag, but I am pretty confident about my singing. I've won a few awards and I'm proud of it.

After a long battle with the wind, I finally get to school. As always, two groups waiting for my arrival, and as always I go to the first group, getting a usual pity stare by the second group, say my hi's, wait to get dumped into the toilet or to get dragged into the auditorium.
Today, it was the auditorium. I was used to their procedure.
"Ki! Be a doll and bring a straightener for me please?"
"Just go with the flow Alicia, you're no fun anymore." One of her minions muttered out.

"I won't say this again. Bring. Me. The. Straightener." She said.
Her name? Samantha Green. Daughter of one of the richest businessmen in the country, Arthur Green. She had an older brother that passed away the previous year. Rebellious stage due to the death of her brother? Probably.

Ki finally brought her the straightener. I was getting ready for the arriving pain.
"Ki! I wanna straighten my hair!" Samantha said, stretching out almost all the words. I just stood there. I still don't know why.
She started speaking again "Kiiiiiiiii! What ifffff the straightener's too hottttt? I don't wanna burn my hairrrrr!!" I deserve a prize for not snatching her hair out.

"Ooooh what ifff?" She looked towards me with her eyes showing mixed feelings, slyness and.....Reluctance? Was I reading that right? Her? Probably not.

Ki, Kimberly Carrel, was her best "friend". Honestly speaking? Best "puppet." She would just take part in all her role plays. For now.

I'm still in shock, even though almost a decade has passed since the incident. Why didn't I think of connecting the dots? It was all right in front of me. When did everything go wrong? When did everyone change?
I scream....and scream.

Next thing I know, I am on a bed, in a half-painted white room, there's a worn out couch in front of me, with cotton sticking out here and there, like bones.
Someone's sitting on it. Surprisingly enough, not Sam. Thought that she'd be there, to apologize, at least a fake one. Pretending to cry a river through her bright green eyes. But no.

I fade away again.

There stands my mother. Her brown eyes, twinkling more than usual, with her unique comforting, yet awkward smile. Her thin pale skin, flashing like a ray of sunshine flashing through the dark void that I was in.
She's trying to tell me something. I can't quite catch it. Her voice becomes softer and softer, until eventually, it fades away. With her.