Love at first shot

January 9th, 2013 6:23AM-LEXI

'Gotta get up. C'mon get up'. My legs were cold, my head was pounding, and my back ached, unlike the usual morning pains when you wake, because ofcourse this time was different. It didn't matter what mattered was the fact that I had seven minutes to get ready for school and little to no desire to go. I sit up slowly , my head retaliating with another sledgehammer to my brain. Swinging my legs over my bed, I climb out and proceed to the bathroom. I flick on the light, my fingers skimming over the pink tiles. I stare down at my feet. They are flushed as red as the chipped polish on my toes. 'My ankles are already starting to swell', I think to myself bitterly. Shaking my head, I turn on the water, and splash my face. Gasping at the freezing water, I grip the edges of the sink looking up slowly at my reflection. Hazel eyes stare back at me skimming over my tiny nose, and pouted lips. I brush my hand through my curly auburn hair, grazing my fingers over the scar at the corner of my head. The water dripped from my face onto my nightgown and I sigh 'Just get through today Lex, get through today and you're home free'.

January 9th, 2013 6:48AM-LEXI

Sitting on the curb in front of my house, I rubbed my hands together peering back and forth at the line of cars a block away, searching for Carmen's black jeep. I stared down at the asphalt ignoring the rumblings in my stomach and heard a beep.

I looked up, seeing Carmen looking down at me from her tinted window. She pushed her glasses up on her head and stared at me, leaning back in her seat. "Ya gonna get in or sit there Lex?" she said unlocking the passenger door. I sighed and stood up, climbing in to the car and closed the door behind me. Once I was buckled in she pulled away from the curb and started to drive. After a few moments of silence, she looked at me through the corner of her eye and said "You do know you aren't obligated to tell him anything right?" I shook my head and looked out the window, "Of course I do. He needs to know Car. Try and think about how Henry would feel if you didn't tell him", I said pointedly. She shook her head and looked at me like I was stupid and said "Henry never cheated on me Alexandra. Henry will never cheat on me. And don't try to change the subject using you reverse psychology bullshit on me because you know its not the same. I know Riley loves you but I'll be damned if he doesn't have an ass backwards way of showing it."

I look at her and turn off the radio as we pull up to a stoplight, "Carmen he's trying. I know he's not perfect but he's trying and I know he's sorry." She looked at me, her whiskey colored eyes flaming with anger, "I know how imperfect Riley Harris is Alexandra. Trust me."

Shit...That's the second time in two minutes she's called me by my full name. I continue wearily, "He's going to do better Car." She stared at me, her eyes swimming with bitter tears, "What if he doesn't Lex? Then what? It's not just you anymore. I know you love him but now isn't the time to disregard everything he's done. Now isn't the time to be selfish." She pulled her glasses back on and started driving again.
"After all he is the one who-"
I cut her off and say "Yeah I know. He's the one who got me pregnant in the first place."

January 9th, 2013 6:47AM- BEN

I'm not crazy. Revenge is simple. Doing what needs to be done. The bastard deserves it. They all do. He never cared about anyone but himself and he will never care about anyone but himself.

I keep repeating this to myself as I scramble out of bed pulling off my shirt and walking to the bathroom. I turn on the hot water in the shower and grip the porcelain edges of the sink as the mirror starts to fog with steam.

I strip off the rest of my clothes and run my hands through my hair as I climb in the shower. The water is hot. Scalding hot but it wakes me up and brings forth the realization of what I'm about to do. The water raises welts along my chest. I switch off the water and walk out of the shower. I stare at my foggy reflection. Green eyes staring back at me. Angry, empty. My brown hair lying flat on my head and my temple pulsing. I slam my palm down hard on the sink. The mirror shakes and I start to as well.

Wrapping a towel around my waist, I leave the bathroom, dad's dog tags thumping against my chest. I pull on my black shirt and boxers and gather all of my things on my bed. I pick up the vest and pull it on and look at the mask. It's terrifying with red around the eyes and black flecks all over it. Its the monster that I'll become after today. I shake my head and toss that into the bag as well. I throw the rest of the things into the bag and take a deep breath before finishing getting dressed. As I dry my hair with a towel I look at the picture of my father and I by my bed and stare at it.

I feel the tears burn behind my eyes and take a deep breath before grabbing his dog tags and holding on tight. I squeeze my eyes shut. 'I'm doing the right thing Dad.' I flip the picture over and leave the room.