Misfortune at it's Finest

Chapter 2

It had been two weeks since I became friends with Marley and Steven. We had been hanging out ever since. They made me feel good about my self and protected me in the halls so no one was rude, I was really glad they had became my friends. Especially Steven.. I shook my head, it wasn't right to day dream about him when he had his girlfriend who was my friend also. I couldn't betray her like that. But he was so perfect....

Someone sat next to me snapping me out of my day dream. It was who I feared worst, Janney. I rolled my eyes acting as if she was wasting my time.

"W-what do you want?" I asked while kicking my self for not sounding confident. I could feel Janney feeling pleased with her self that she was still in control.

"Steven and Marley, you know them right? Of course you do, now I know they are your friends or something but I wouldn't trust them. They are back stabbers who will just make yourself feel worse about who you are once they get to really know you. I know you use this geek look as a way to stay innocent but I know you're not." Janney said. I looked at her shocked. She grinned.

"What do you know about me?" I asked regaining my strength.

"Enough to make them leave you in the ditch like you're road kill." She smiled wickedly.

I sighed. She knew. She knew why I had left my other school and came here.

"You know." I said.

"Of course I do, my dad is a lawyer and can look through any records he wants too. So I know all about you." She crossed her legs and raised her eyebrow with a smirk.

"Then you should know why I got kicked out." I said looking away.

"Oh yes, and when I find something of that, that thing-" she was cut off by Marley and Steven.

What thing are you talking about Jan? The only thing I see is you and it isn't a wonderful sight." Steven said hissing.

Janney made a face like he had broken her heart. "Oh Stevy, that's not the first time you've hurt my feelings." She laughed and walked off. I could tell that his anger turned to disgust but was softened by Marleys touch.

"She isn't worth it." Marley said kissing his arm.

"Bitch, she's a bitch." He snarled.

"Stop. It's fine." I said not wanting to talk because of the lump in my throat.

"What thing was she talking about anyways?" Marley asked.

No, please don't ask.. I can't loose her as a friend or Steven.

"Something from my past she claims to know." I said not wanting to tell my new friends. They looked at each other and shrugged. They sat down across from me so they could talk to me. Marley had a puzzled look on her face.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Oh. Well, I was just thinking," she paused. "I'm going shopping tomorrow because my birthday is in a couple of days and I was wondering if you'd like to come? Just a girls day?" She said with hope in her eyes.

"Of course." I chirped. She got quickly got excited.

"Okay good, because I wanna look for my 16th gown for my sweet 16. Mind helping?" She asked with her hands together in front of her chest.

"Of course M. Anything." I said smiling.

"Okay good and I'm gonna help you too." She said starting to eat. What did she mean, help me?

"M, what's going on in your mind?" I asked.

"Well since you are practically my best friend I want you to find a dress close to mine but not exactly the same. It's my birthday and all but I want you to feel good about yourself for once in your life." She said.

I wish I could've told her the truth. Right then, that my life wasn't all that bad before ...

"Did you call me your best friend?" I asked smiling.

She stopped talking. "Well, yeah I mean the girls who are supposedly my best friends are flaking my birthday for some triple date and don't even care, I told them they could bring their dates but they didn't want too." She said as if it wasn't a big deal.

"Well I'm glad you say I'm your best friend." I said, and I was genuinely happy about it.

"Why's that?" She asked.

"Before I came here, I had a so called best friend but something happened and I realized she wasn't all that great." I sighed remembering the night I lost it all. "You're the best friend I've ever had." I looked up and saw Marely crying.

"That was.. Beautiful!" She cried wiping her eyes onto Stevens sweatshirt. I looked at him as if to say, what the fuck did I do?

He rolled his eyes and mouthed "period." I nodded understanding.

She stopped crying and went back to her happy mood. "So tonight we look, yeah?" I nodded agreeing.

••••••••••••

I got home and looked at the clock on the stove. It was 4:30 and I still had an hour before I went shopping with Marley. I ran upstairs looking for my mom and wondered if my father had been home yet. He worked a lot and traveled a lot; him and my mom argued a lot about it. She thought he was sleeping around, he'd point to his finger and say I married you because I love you! And then they would be okay again.

I walked into my room to look for my yoga pants, Uggs, and over sized sweatshirt. I looked into the mirror.

A little makeup won't hurt anyone.. Would it? I asked my self. I shook my head remembering the last time I had worn makeup. I threw my light brown hair into a messy bun and changed. I stopped when I took off my shirt. I looked at the scars... My mom barged in my room. I threw my sweat shirt on.

"Mom!" I yelled. My father barged behind her. They were fighting again and wanted me to work it out with them, again.

"Honey, listen, if I was sleeping around I wouldn't be with you!" My dad barked. My mom knew that he hated it she accused him but she couldn't help it, she barely saw him.

"How do I know for sure?" She barked back. I rolled my eyes.

I cut into the sweet display before me.

"Mom, dad, I'm changing and going out with Marley for her 16th gown. She wants me to go with and find a dress." I said. My father handed me $500. I looked at him as if he were crazy. I knew we had money but.. Damn.

"You can't hand her that much!" I mom protested.

"I earned it, I can give it away, plus she's a straight A student since she left-"

"Stop!" I yelled. "Stop!"

They both looked at me, they were ashamed of themselves having their 17 year old daughter stop them from being childish.

"Mom, I understand that you don't think that I should carry around $500 dollars as a teen age girl, but the dress that she might choose for me is probably in that range. I also understand that you feel abandoned and betrayed by him being gone all the time but that's what he does for a living is travel. Dad loves you and wouldn't want to harm you in anyway. You two have been together since high school. Stop this non sense. Dad, I can see why mom thinks your cheating, you're gone a lot I understand but you never give her attention. So both of you just stop. Neither of you are perfect." I said huffing into my bed. Maybe they would never learn but I hoped they would stop for awhile.

I heard my father sign and my mother start weeping.

"Honey we are so sorry for pulling you into this all the time." My father said. I could feel him sit on my bed and rub my back like he used to do when everything was okay.