Labels│simon minter / ashley marie surcombe

IV. "settle a seat and take a listen"

CALLUM AIREY HOW THE HELL ARE YOU SO TALL AND SKINNY WHAT EVEN

oh and make sure you comment some questions in the previous q and a page before it closes :)

+Ashley Marie+

"We look like we got into a fight or some shit," I whisper with horror as Tara wraps the gauze around my arm one last time.

"Why are you surprised? Surely you've gotten used to this by now," the blonde scoffs and climbs into her twin bed.

"Well what are we going to tell our counselors this time?"

"Same thing. We take a kick boxing class."

"How many times can we use that excuse before they figure out that we're lying?"

"Until things become suspicious, so you better not make it obvious."

"This is ridiculous," I sigh with frustration and twist the ends of my colourful hair.

"What do you mean?"

"Why don't we just tell the police?"

"About Ivy, you mean?"

"Yeah, why do we let her abuse us if we can get out of this demented place we were placed in?"

"They won't believe us- they think we're children."

"We can't just consult them?"

"Ash... if Ivy finds out, we're screwed. I'd rather not take the chance and suck it up." I stay silent. I know she's right, but I don't want to admit it.

It isn't fair- we're stuck under that devil's watch and she knows it. People won't believe us.

"Just go to sleep, Ashely, we have to wake up early for school tomorrow," Tara says and it's her turn to sigh, twisting the knob of our lamp until the light dimmed and shut off.

I nestle myself further into my fluffy blanket, my head sinking into my pillow. I try to block out my violent thoughts of rebellion against Ivy by gazing at the slowly revolving fan above me, but it didn't work.

My frustration wrapped itself further around my mind, a lingering nuisance.

All I can say is I didn't get sleep at all that night.

•••

I stare blankly at the small pieces of cereal drifting around in my bowl, stirring it with my stone cold spoon.

"Ashley, eat faster, it's almost time to leave for school. Stop playing with your food," Tara scolds and stands up from her chair to drop it off in the kitchen sink. I frown and take a rather large spoonful of cereal and force myself to eat it.

"We've got 20 minutes, so pick up the pace," the blonde reminds me and jogs up the staircase.

I finish my bowl and place it in the sink with Tara's and head upstairs to quickly pick out an outfit and fix my hair before applying eyeliner and mascara, then floss and brush my teeth. I curse when I accidentally drop my glasses and have to check the lenses in a rushed manner. I slip on my flats and head downstairs, frantically searching everywhere in the kitchen for something to pack for lunch.