Break the Chain

1: Corpus Cristi

"Shit!" Why did I not see my arm lightly touching the hair curler? I hate not feeling anything on the back of my hand. Now I had a burn mark that reached across my small hand. "That's gonna leave a mark," I mumbled to myself.

"What did you say, Ali?" my mom called from the bottom of the stairs.

"Nothing! I was just telling Goobs to sit. He's going crazy up here," good cover, Alice.

I sternly looked over at my black and white dog to add to the act. Sometimes I think I deserve an Oscar.

I glanced down at my hand, noticing the blister starting to raise on my skin. I quietly cursed to myself, instantly becoming frustrated and angry at myself for the millionth time in my life. Why couldn't I ever do my hair, or anything, without something going wrong?

I quickly yanked my unfinished hair into a high ponytail and got ready to leave for school. Before I reached the door, I turned back to the dog that was resting on my bed.

"Goobs are you coming or what?" I said a little harshly, still mad from earlier. He quickly made his way to me and I reached out my hand to carry him.

Now I know what you're thinking. 'What kind of pet name is Goobs?' or 'What the hell was she thinking? The poor doggie.' Well two years ago, during Christmas time, my aunt surprised me with a dog. Her favorite candy is Goobers, so I decided to name him Goobs in honor of her.

"Hey mom," I quickly covered up my anger so she wouldn't ask anything. I let Goobs run free in the jungle that is the living room.

"Good morning. What happened to your hand?" Dammit I forgot to pull my sweater sleeve over my hand on the way down.

"Nothing. I just got a little too close to the curler again," I shrugged. "I should get going or I'll be late for my first day or school." I quickly grabbed a morning bar from the kitchen cabinet and started eating it to avoid the awkwardness that was between my stepdad and me.

Once I got through the front door, I let out a sigh of relief. Ever since my mom got married last year, it seems my problems went on crack.

Life and its stupid satanic ways.

As I walked down the street, I noticed a Starbucks and thanked Jesus that it was on the way to my new school.

"I'll have a grande vanilla frappe and berry scone," I said as I handed the money over the counter and moved to the end. While I was waiting, I looked at the now gone blister. I must have hit it on something. But what...?

"Goobs!" I thought out loud, causing everyone to stare at me. "Sorry, just a sneeze," I shyly said. Well at least I wouldn't go to school with a bubble attached to my skin.

"Grande vanilla frap and scone," the middle-aged woman called. I mumbled a quick thanks before heading to school.

The magical juices that is coffee flowed through my veins but didn't help me forget about the upcoming problems that I was about to walk into. Technically, it was my first day, but for everyone else, it was the start of the second semester.

No I'm not a military kid, but I've had my share of schools in this city. I'm guessing you wanna know the cause...? Freaking Erbs Palsey, the root of 95% of my problems.

Don't get cerebral and Erbs Palsey mixed up, please. Erbs is a nerve disconnection during birth. My stupid doctor pulled my head to get me out and broke the nerves from my shoulder down, so my right arm is curved in a weird way, but I can still do some things.

But apparently, the mean she-devils at each school seemed to track me down like bloodhounds (hehe that rhymed!) no matter how much I hid my hand behind my purse strap or shirt sleeves. So there I was switching schools again to start a new life.

Instinctly, I pulled my sleeve over my right hand before wincing over the fresh burn,even though I could barely feel the pain. I finally made my way up the steps of Golden Brook High and prayed that the coffee distracted me from the fears of being the only new girl.

______________________

'I hate my life,' I continuously chanted in my head on the walk home. Why did everyone always seem to hate me wherever I went?

I quickly ran up the stairs to try to avoid my mom's questions.

KNOCK KNOCK

"Alice...?"

"Yeah mom, it's open," I quickly logged onto my laptop so I wouldn't have to look her in the eyes.

To no avail, she always had to ask about school. And I don't blame her. I would be worried about me, too, if I were in her shoes.

"Oh, you know. Just the minor things. I got a crap history teacher for first period. And I sat alone at lunch," she curiously asked why, "because I don't know anyone." I pretty much left out the embarrassing details so mu mom wouldn't pop up at the school.

"Well it's getting late. Goodnight, Alice," my mother said as she walked out of my room.

I mumbled a 'night' before refocusing on my laptop.

'Hopefully I can find my textbooks online. I'm really lazy when it comes to carrying textbooks,' I thought to myself.

Then I heard arguing from the back of the house.

"Dammit," I harshly whispered. I already knew it was my mom and stepdad. I was so sick of them fighting all the time over stupid shit. Half the time, it wasn't even my mom's fault.

I quickly looked for Goobs and carried him back into my room before turning my radio up. Hopefully that would mask the raised voices.

'Don't listen to a word I said. HEY! These screams all sound the same. HEY!' my trusty old radio sang.

I laughed at Goobs.

"Just the perfect song, huh?" Apparently he agreed because he softly woofed back.

I had then remembered that I was sitting in a swivel chair. I had this ritual where I had to spin seven times in a swivel chair before doing anything else.

One time, I went to Office Depot and did that. Let's just say the manager wasn't liking me so much....

1....2.....3....4...

I heard someone walking past my closed door and I instantly wanted to know who it was. I finished my last three swivels (but not before almost kicking Goobs....klutz over here, remember?) and quickly walked to the kitchen.

My aunt had skilled me in the art of eavesdropping, so I was a Class A Russian spy by then. I could like in one of those small towns like Corpus Cristi, Texas, and be undetected.

See, I knew you guys wouldn't know what Corpus Cristi was. Busted!

I casually walked to the fridge to get a bottle of water. On the way back, though, I barely saw my stepdad- let's just call him Dude for the time being- walking out of the door.

"Dumbass," I whispered, shaking my head. He really pissed me off every week. Something new always had to happen. And I was sick of it.

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Okayyy so this is the complete first chappie. Hope you guys enjoyed reading it cause I honestly don't know what I wrote.

My thumbs usually don't talk to my brain when I'm writing.

I really like that song Little Talks by Of Mice And Men (I think) so go listen to it. You won't be disappointed. I think it fit the scene a little so I put my magical radio in there somewhere :D

But seriously, guys, I think my radio is psychic.....

M'kay I think I'm done blabbing. You know the drill. Comment, vote, do something to let me know you're reading this!

Magical powers to all.

-Diarra xx