The Perks Of Being A Troublemaker

Chapter 4

The song is Beating Me Up by Rachel Platten.

And I pretend that I can handle it
And if I would my head won't drown
Can't let go you're like the chemical
You're racing through me
My heart just pounds, pounds, pounds

It's getting louder, louder
Everytime I think about you, about you
I'll be better off without you, without you
I wish my heart would stop
I wish my heart would stop
Beating me up

.......

"Where the hell have you been, Grace?" She spat my name and her words malice with hate.

This moment is when Grace felt anger and sadness consuming her, battling with her feelings on love and hate for her mother.

"I asked you. Where the hell have you been, Grace?" She asked again.

"Work." I answered softly but clearly for fear she would snapped and become violent.

Eventhough Grace knew it had been a long time since she last seen her mom became violence, she couldn't take any risk.

"And you could not cooked first?" She asked again but with more anger.

"I'm late for my shift so I need to hurry." I replied but I felt myself starts to shivered.

Oh no. Not now.

"And do I look like I care?" She asked but point it more like a statement.

Now, Grace let anger consume her heart, eating the sadness and fear.

"No. You don't. You never do."

There. Grace said it. The magic words. She's on her highway to hell.

Her mom walked towards her with clear resentment of disgust and madness in her face. By now, Grace couldn't even react except pray to God she would spare her life.

"How dare you talk back to me!" She screamed.

Grace closed her eyes, hoping this would be over soon.

......

It was one hell of a night and Grace faced it bravely. Like she always have. And it was also one of the night when she was dreamless and slept with uneasiness. But nonetheless still slept soundly. The only thing that wakes her up is her phone.

"Hello?"I said groggily as soon as I pick up the phone.

"Hello? Where the hell are you, Grace? It's already 9 in the morning. You already miss two classes. For a second there, I thought your jokes became true. You scared the shit out of me, Grace." Faye nagged, first thing when I greeted her.

"It is? I'm coming. I need to get ready though. Bye." I said then end the call. I know she would be mad at me later but I can't handle more reality first thing in the morning.

......

"Omigod! Grace! What the hell happen to you?!" Faye screamed as soon as she saw me standing at the hallway even when there's student everywhere, crowding the hallway to fetch their books.

"Just some accident. Don't make a big deal out of it, okay? I don't want to talk about it." I muttered but loud enough for Faye to heard her.

"But-" She started to say when I cut her off.