Never Good Enough

Never Good Enough: Chapter 7

"Alison, wake up!" Shouted Veronica. I'd opened my eyes slowly and yawned. The light from outside entered my eyes and made me squint. I heard the sound of a coffee maker brewing coffee downstairs.

"What time is it?" I asked, groggily. Veronica had yawned and ran her fingers through her hair.

"Six-thirty" She said. "Better prepare yourself for your first day of school, you wanna look good!"

 I'd yawned again and covered my face with my pillow. Waking up early was NOT my thing. I'd dropped my pillow and looked around my room. So, this was my new life.....things were just beginning. Veronica had lingered at the foot of my bed and then finally slowly walked out of my room. I got out of bed and then sat infront of the vanity mirror in my bedroom. How should I do my hair? How much make up should I wear? I don't wanna look fake, but I do wanna look pretty! I'd sighed and got up and went to the bathroom to wash my face.

The warm water hit my face, waking me up. The sweet scent of the strawberry melon face wash had wafted through my nostrils. Today is my first day of school here, I have to look and smell nice. This is all that matters now. After I'd washed and dried my face I headed downstairs.

"Good morning" I said cheerfully. Everyone looked up from what they were doing and said the same to me. I went to the fridge, grabbed a few slices of bread, and popped them in the toaster. I sat at the table across from Veronica who was eating her cereal. I'd silently sat in my chair thinking about what would happen today.

"Are you nervous?" Asked Veronica. I snapped out of my thoughts and turned to her while nodding.

"Yeah, a bit. But, you'll be there with me right?" I asked. She nodded and smiled while the cereal crunched in her mouth. My toast popped out of the toaster, releasing the tension in the kitchen. It was awkward being with people I wasn't used to being around yet. I quickly got out of my chair and grabbed the toast. I spread a bit of butter on it and sat back down at the table. I took a quick glance at the clock to see it was already six-fifty. School started at eight-thirty. I guess there was no rush, but I did want to be on time.

Veronica had left the table, putting her bowl in the sink, and hurried upstairs to shower. I slowly munched on my toast while my aunt and uncle sat in the livingroom reading the newspaper. 

"Well, I'm off to work!" My uncle said. Auntie had gotten up and given him a kiss on the cheek, while waving to him. I smiled and waved to him and he was out the door. I'd finished my toast not long after that and headed upstairs. I had to fix my hair, do my make up, brush my teeth, and pick out an outfit for today. I'd headed to my closet and looked through my clothes. I decided I'd wear a fancy light blue blouse. As for the bottoms, I didn't know if I should wear a skirt, jeans, shorts, or capris. I'd raided my closet and finally decided on wearing a cute pair of capris. As for shoes, I was also stuck. I had to be fashionable, but not over do it. I picked a pair of simple black high heels with sparkly straps.

I headed to the vanity mirror to do my hair. I decided I'd wear it down and have it cascade down my back. For a short second, I'd actually forgot about the life I left behind. I feel as if this is all that matters now, and I finally have a fresh start. I'd smiled and gotten dressed, applied mascara along with eyeliner, eye shadow and blush, brushed my teeth and I was done. 

I hope so bad for today to go well, this is my new life now I suppose....and this is all that matters. Right? My thoughts were interrupted as Veronica came in without knocking.

"Oh my gosh, you look gorgeous!" She said. I looked over at her and smiled, then at myself in the mirror. This is who I am. I'm not known as the girl with abusive parents to my friends anymore, I'm just me. The pretty popular girl, I could get used to this. Then, bad thoughts struck my mind. What if my parents come for me? What if my aunt gets overly suspicious and calls someone. I don't want help, I want a normal life! But could that help create a normal life for me? It just wouldn't be the same knowing I've been adopted by my aunt. I'm just here. Simple as that, that feeling is better then having everyone invovled in the placing of me in another home that I was too weak to tell anyone. I'm weak, I should've told someone before this mess. I don't know what to do now. 

"Alison?" Said Veronica. I blinked and snapped out of my negative thinking. 

"Yes?" I replied. She raised an eyebrow at me and opened her mouth slightly, as if she was about to say something. She then closed her mouth and sighed, while narrowing her eyes at me.

"Is there something up?" She finally asked. "You seem distracted, was the fight between you and your mother THAT bad?"

I scratched my head, looking for an excuse. Any excuse to not discuss my mother or the reason I'm here. 

"Shouldn't we be leaving?" I asked. Veronica rolled her eyes. I started to walk past her downstairs but she grabbed my shoulder and spun me around.

"Alison, seriously. What's going on?" She asked, in a demanding voice. I breathed in slowly, and replied.

"Nothing. Just, nothing. Please drop it. I came here to forget about her, not to discuss what happened. Okay?" I said, angrily. Her eyes flickered with a bit of hurt and confusion. She took her hand off of my shoulder and walked downstairs. I followed her out the door and into her car. We both climbed in not saying anything and staring straight ahead. I had tried to ignore the tension in the car and start a conversation. I didn't want her thinking I was upset with her for asking.

"So what's a school day like here?" I asked. She quickly looked over at me as if she'd been wanting to the whole time. 

"Just follow me around, you'll figure things out here." She said, calmly. I nodded and thought positively. Today was going to be fun, right? It's my first day. As long as I don't do anything to piss off the preps, or do anything embarrassing, weird or stupid, I should be okay. This is all part of the process of becoming a new me. I could see we were pulling up to the school, my heart was beating faster. I've never been to a new school before. This was a nerve wracking experience for me.

"Alright, we're here." Veronica said. I'd looked over at her as she got out of the car. Well, here goes nothing.