A blank Slate

The Challenge

"Did you take all your pills?" Mom asked me quickly. I sighed, looking at the table. The tuesday compartment of the pill case was popped open. Empty.

"Yes. I did." I whispered, still trying to wake up. It'd been a long night. Being the cautious woman she was, she went down the list. Blood thinners, check. Blood pressure, check. Heart meds, check. Pain killers, check. Anxiety? I thought back. Come to think of it, I didn't remember taking a small blue pill.

"I forgot that one. Thanks." We said our goodbyes and hung up. It was five to five and I was getting ready to head out, but I couldn't go without my meds. I went into the kitchen and started digging through the medicine cabinet. After about three minutes of sifting and false alarms, I finally located the bottle. I popped a capsule in my mouth and swallowed it dry, heading out the door. 

It was still dark out and stars twinkled overhead. My neighborhood may not be much to look at, but it had a great night sky. It kinda made me glad to be alive. Mom would have killed me if she knew, but some nights I would sneak out and climb onto the roof. I would just lay there and think about how huge the world, the universe, really was. It got me thinking that maybe my problems weren't so bad after all. Other times I would pretend I could reach up and bring down one of the little lights, have a tiny star to call my own.

Not watching where I was going, I tripped on the uneven cement and went tumbling to the ground, my hands taking the brunt of the blow. I felt the skin tear and knew what it would have looked like if it was light enough to see. Using just the tips of my fingers, I opened my backpack and pulled out my black gym tee, wrapping it around my now bleeding appendages.

It took me about forty-five minutes to reach school after that. Six o' clock and I was one of about twenty people already at school. It was the time of day that I appreciated most because there was no one to bother me. Over on the other side of the room, I noticed my least favorite group of people.

"So Tyler and I broke up last night." Carrie stated matter-of-factly. She wore a tight lipped smile if for no other reason than to keep up appearances. Her hair and make-up were still perfect even though she wanted nothing more than to go home and sit on the couch in sweatpants and eat popcorn.

Bell gasped and put her hand over her mouth in obvious mock sympathy. "Wow Care. Maybe you're losing your touch." The other girls giggled making Carrie glower.

"Oh puh-lease, Bell. I could get anyone I want!" Carrie said defensively. Her blue eyes blazed in challenge, upset that her best friend would insult her at a time like this.

The younger blonde smiled. "It's a bet then? I pick the person?" Carrie faltered a bit, not actually expecting anything to result from her statement. She thought for a moment.

"Fine. Name the boy." She sat back and smiled confidently. The look on Bell's face made her think she had something up her sleeve, but she refused to let it bother her.

"Ah, ah, ah," Bell wagged her finger. "I said -person-" she emphasized. Carrie's eyes went wider than the rims on the cars my mom worked on.

"But-" Carrie started.

"No buts. You refuse and you lose the bet." The older girl sighed, agreeing. "Okay." Bell's eyes wandered the cafeteria until they landed on poor, unsuspecting me. "Her."

“Seriously Bell?” She exclaimed. “You know she doesn’t even talk! She’s new here anyway. I don’t think it’s fair to put her on the ‘screwed over’ end of some joke.” The blonde looked her over, grinning like mad.

“So you’re saying you can’t do it?” Carrie’s eyes hardened.

“Of course I can. Give me three weeks. I ask her out and she says yes, you owe me three favors for whatever, whenever I want.” Bell’s green eyes narrowed.

“Deal.” They shook on it, sealing my fate.