Chapter One
"Get up!" Athena's father shouted, ripping her blue duvet off of her half naked body. Athena clenched her jaw before daring to open her chapped lips to speak.
"I'm awake," She replied, rubbing her eyes.
"Good." Her father snapped, throwing the cover back over her head. Huffing, she clawed it off. "You need to get up. You have mounds of chores to do before school. " Athena rolled out of her bed and stood, walking to her closet.
"I have a better idea," She said under her breath. "Why don't you two old farts do it yourself?" Her father narrowed his eyes at her.
"What did you just say?" He spat, taking a step closer to her.
"Nothing. Can you get out so I can get dressed?" Athena asked, placing her hand on her hip.
Athena's father stared at her for a second before he smiled, baring his yellow teeth. "I'll see you when you get home." Since her father had lost his job and his parents, something inside of him sapped and he had become abusive, blaming all of his problems on Athena. As her father left the room slowly, she shut the door behind him and pulled on the mandatory skirt and white blouse that her school required matched with black flats. Pulling her hair out of the tight pony tail it was in, she let her curly hair hang down her back. Escaping to the bathroom across the hall, she slipped past her mother who was passed out on the floor, hugging a bottle of vodka.. Closing the door softly behind her, she brushed her teeth and put a light coat of makeup on before returning to her room to pick up her car keys and book bag.
"I'm leaving," She announced into the dead silent house as she approached the front door. "Like anyone cares,"
~!~
"Athena!" The teacher snapped. Athena looked up from her book into the dull eyes of her English teacher, Mrs. Osi.
"Yes?"
"Where is your book? Mrs. Osi asked. Mrs. Osi was always trying to find a reason to write Athena up.
"Right here," She responded, holding up the book. The teacher glanced at the cover and gave a sharp nod before returning to the front of the class. "Class," She hissed, her voice shrill like nails on a chalkboard. "We are going to stray from The Lord of the Flies today and talk about the short story of Cinderella." The class groaned in response. "Now, Cinderella is a well-known fairy tale, having to do with a poor girl, a very rich guy, and the chance at love. Today, we are going to analyze Cinderella's life. To start off,, Cinderella was poor, unloved by almost every human being, and only had animals as friends. Secondly she was put into an environment that wasn't what she was use to." Mrs. Osi looked towards Athena. "Athena, care to enlighten us on what that's like?" The class was dead silent, waiting for Athena's reaction.
Athena laughed, rolling her eyes. "That was rude." She sat back, crossing her arms across her chest.
"Your father and mother are both alcoholics while your brother is in jail for the third time this year. Are you telling me you're not embarrassed?" Mrs. Osi asked, pacing. Athena glanced at the clock that was hanging on the porcelain white wall.
"I am embarrassed of them, but they're my family. At least I have one," Athena shot back. The class snickered.
"But you are friendless," Mrs. Osi said, scrambling for a hurtful comeback.
Athena nodded, "I am. But that doesn't mean I'm unhappy. I'm ranked number one in my class. Do you really think I achieve that by going out every weekend and getting wasted like you did when you were younger?" Mrs. Osi stood up straighter. Athena picked up her books and stood, facing the teacher. "And I don't have to take this type of bullying from you anymore."
