Broken (Edited edition)

Weekend

Mr. Jackson called the house after school yesterday on Friday, and told me that the first competition will be on Monday.  Today is Saturday, so two days before the competition.  I lay in my dark room with the blankets over my head, and feel the stress eating me up from the inside.  I've never been in a huge competition like this before, I'm not good with crowds of people watching me.  I'm okay with small crowds, but this was going to be the entire school.  I start to shiver under my sheets, and see my ceiling fan turn on."  Come on Lyca, up and at 'em."  Mark says in a cheery tone, and I pull the blankets away from my face.  I sit up in bed, and rub my eyes a bit."  What time is it?" I ask, and look over at my clock.  It almost seven in the morning.  I get up, and pull my clothes on."  What are we doing today?"  I ask, and he shrugs."  I was thinking maybe we go shopping around L.A., and probable meet up with the Grumps for dinner.  I also have to meet up with some other Youtubers, vloggers.  To speak with them about some new things going on with Youtube.  Danny will watch after you while I'm doing this okay?"  I nod, and pull on a long sleeved black shirt."  Are you ever going to be able to show off your skin."  He asks, and I look over at him."  Maybe, when I feel as if people will see me for me.  Everyone."  I say, and he looks down."  Not everyone, but most will accept you."

I sigh, and pull on my jacket.  I grab my bag of books, and walk with Mark out of the apartment.  He holds my hand as we push our way through thousands of people through the street.  The streets are always full of people, but today they seem more filled.  Some people look like tourists, taking pictures of every little thing, asking for people to take pictures of them near buildings."  Oh my gosh honey, let's take a picture in front of this building!"  A tourist says, and they take a picture of our apartment building.  Mark rolls his eyes, and we get into the car.  The tourist guy smiles at me, and I look away.  I don't want to get into the middle of his vacation. Because I don't even know him, and he's just way too happy for me.  Mark is angry for some reason, I'm guessing he doesn't like weekends because of Tourists."  Do you not like Tourists?"  I ask him, and he looks over at me while he's driving."  They're just everywhere on the weekends, taking pictures of every little thing.  It's just very stupid.  I didn't do that when I came out here for work.  I walked around, and enjoyed the sights.  I didn't take one single picture.  You can even check my phone, I still have every photo since I came to L.A.  The only photo I took was of me eating at my first Ramen restaurant."  I smile at him, and he smiles back.

He parks in one of the parking garages, and we walk out onto the streets to the outside mall.  We walk into a book store, and Mark says I can pick out one book today."  Am I able to pick a teen fiction?"  I ask, and he says sure.  He follows me through the store as I look for a good book."  How about this?"  I ask him, holding up The Martian.  He reads the back, and says it looks fantastic."  I've always had an interest in space."  I tell him, and he smirks."  So have I, I've always loved it.  It's one of my favorite things to research on."  He says as he pays for the book."  Do you mind...if I read that first?"  He asks, and I look over at him."  Sure, I'm still reading the rest of my chapter books from Boston.  So I'll be busy for a while.  Go ahead."  I say, and he smiles a thank you.  We walk into a small store that sells toys and knick knacks." I don't need toys." I say, and Mark smirks." Well, I want you to have some. Just in case, it doesn't have to be Barbie's or anything like that."

I find myself staring a huge brown teddy bear that's two sizes bigger than me.  It has black button eyes, and an adorable bow around its neck.  I touch it's leather nose, and smile.  It reminds me of Mark."  This is it?  This is the one you like?"  He asks, and I nod."  Yeah, I really like it."  I tell him, and stroke the nose of the bear.  Mark picks it up, and carries it over to the counter."  You are one spoiled girl, did you thank your daddy?"  The lady at the counter asks as she scans it."  Thank you."  I say as I look up at Mark, and he ruffles my hair up a bit."  You're very welcome sweetie."  He says, and hugs me.  We bring our things back to the car, and continue shopping.  We go into a candy store, because Mark need some candy right now."  I like caramel candy and jelly beans."  I tell him when he asks about my favorite candy."  I thought you would be like the girl who ate Twizzlers.  Because I like Twizzlers."  He says with a smile, and I laugh.  We get a huge bag of Twizzlers and a bag of caramel candies.  We also get some mint gum, and some other candies.